Inspirations for Scenic Model Making
by Arden Weaver, University of Minnesota- Duluth
Maybe I look at Pinterest as much as the next designer. Should I admit Pinterest has become an addiction? We all have our favorite picts, but today I thought I’d share with you some stage model making inspirations. I started following three artists a few years ago, and I find them fascinating. No doubt you have seen their work as well. I’m speaking of Ronan Jim Sevellec, (a Parisian artist); Peter Gabrielse, (once a stage designer, now designing shadow boxes) and Charles Matton (an artist whose work has an aire of sophistication). I’m sure you can add to this list. It is my opinion that these artists provide great inspiration for theatrical stage model making. Below are details and examples of work by each of these artists.
1. Ronan-Jim Sevellec
Ronan Jim Sevellec specializes in box dioramas of tiny artists’ workshops and old antique rooms displayed in various eccentric and romantic locations around Paris. The YouTube article linked below does not specify Sevellec’s preferred scale. One presumes it is standard “dollhouse,” ½-inch to 1-foot. The level of detail is stunning How about using this YouTube as a guide to making your future portfolio?
Check out “portrait de Ronan Jim Sevellec” on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9TuYAuCvCo
Ronan-Jim Sevellec
2. Peter Gabrielse
Peter Gabrielse is a shadow box artist and his work contains excellent examples of box diorama. I discovered his work first on Pinterest. It 
was very obvious to me that his previous life in theater influences his work today. When you view his web pages, you’ll see his studio and all the paraphernalia that goes into his craft. It’s a great tour, with many helpful hints on how to set up your model making studio.
When you look at the many examples of Gabrielse’ work you will discover how he has evolved each individual design with the use of an architectural element. Often times these details are full scale items that are carefully placed in the miniature box environment.
Check out “Peter Gabriëlse box-sculptures (kijkkasten) “ on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMV29cFSFLg
Peter Gabrielse - Home | Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/petergabrielse/
Peter Gabrielse settled in a chateau manor house in rural Normandy. The Chateau has an interesting history and is featured on its own web site.
Check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_CwSbps9R0 for details about the Chateau.
3. Charles Matton
French artist, Charles Matton, presents his miniature enclosures containing painstakingly exact reflections of reality. Below is a miniature of a loft.
'Self Portrait in The New York Loft 26th Street' by Charles Matton, 1986
A New York Loft 26th Street
Read more about Matton at
https://www.wallpaper.com/art/charles-matton-retrospective-at-all-visual-arts#frAP4O0QPxlPuo3r.99
####################
If you haven’t seen much of these three artists, you can visit their web sites as well as find them on Pinterest.
ALSO, here is a site devoted to the art of the Box Diorama.
"We all are familiar with shoebox dioramas from grammar school, but this Web site is devoted to looking at the box diorama as art, as practiced by many in the field of military miniatures and figure sculpting and painting." (from the Box Dioramas.com site)
Using Pinterest for your professional work
I believe it’s how you organize your collection of pics on Pinterest that makes your files efficient while entertaining. As you visit different files/sites on Pinterest, it doesn’t take long to see how some folks organize their pics into themes. At the very beginning I told myself I would not have fifty themes. So the challenge was to select just a dozen or so categories to pigeon hole my selections; categories that inspire my research. I have failed miserably. On last count I have amassed fifty plus boards. Just for the fun of it, I have listed the more favored categories/boards I use to organize my thoughtful selection of images on Pinterest:
• ‘Drawing is where it’s at’, Michael Massey, artist at St. Edwards, Texas
Anywhere from drawing tutorials to fine examples of drawing skill
• Interiors painted and drawn
Mostly watercolor sketches of interiors, showing the use of light coming into a room, stage lighting has always inspired me to do more
• Sculpture
Anything that aesthetically pleases my eye, lots of yard art, large oversized objects
• Wire Art
The creativity seen from a spool of wire into figures and objects
• Flowers
So many artists that illustrate/paint flowers are totally awesome
• Steam Punk
Not really into steam punk, just fascinating stuff to look at
• Garden Art
Vegetable and flower gardens are enhanced with art
• Chickens
We raised chickens for a short while, understandable affection for these egg layers
• Model Making Details, 287 pins
Love to make stage models, and small miniatures, examples for inspiration
• Figures, 100 pins
The human form, interprets scale in any environment
• Architecture, 49 pins
Inspirational details for stage scenery
• Bird Houses, 147 Pins
You can’t believe how many bird houses you can find on Pinterest
• Places Seen in Person, 160 Pins
Great fun to see pictures of places you have actually visited in person
• Where I want to Visit, 21 Pins
Always hoping to see more of this world
• Fire Escapes, 64 Pins
Stage scenery design research, for Street Scene, by Elmer Rice
• Daughter, 87 Pins
Images I believe my daughter and her daughters, my grand-daughters, would like to see
• Artists, 147 Pins
Often find images of the artists working in their studios.
• Hassam Paintings, 59 Pins
Interested in Hassam since I worked at the Congdon Mansion, Glensheen. A beautiful piece of his work resides in the family dining room, a giclee print, the original is in the Tweed Museum of Art vault on campus.
• Wood Working Projects, 222 Pins
Been a wood worker all my life, here’s a few projects for inspiration
• Wood Working, 212 Pins
This site shows shop organization and specialty tools
• Ceramics, 304 Pins
I’ve always wanted to take a ceramics course, last year learned how to turn clay on a wheel. Thank you Liz James for the University of Minnesota Duluth tutorial
• Shadow Boxes, 150 Pins
Miniature proscenium stage designs, Peter Gabrielse work is great
• Books, 63 Pins
The Book as art, interesting, haven’t had the courage to carve up a book yet
• Pencils, 85 Pins
My career has been dictated by the use of the No. 2 pencil, thus my interest in the subject
• Fish, 215 Pins
Always enjoyed ‘gone fishin instead of just ah wishin’, Harold Ensley, sportsman friend, Kansas City, Missouri, spoke at my Junction City High School graduation
• Trees, 116 Pins
Only God can grow a tree, but there are some beautiful paintings of trees by scene painters and illustrators
• Clothes Pins, 104 Pins
Clothes pins have been around for a long time, interesting history
• Paper Props, 246 Pins
All paper stage props from fake money, stamps, passports and letters, used this resource for stage and museum work
• Card Board Creations, 71 Pins
On occasion I have designed scenic elements out of card board, very creative images, leads one to say, you can make anything out of cardboard
• Collage, 38 Pins
Have always used the collage technique in scene design class with great success
• Wabi Sabi, 21 Pins
Texture, texture, and more texture, discover the world of Wabi Sabi
There you have it, a list of the boards I have used in Pinterest. What categories do you follow? Hope to see you on Pinterest someday. [ ]
Arden Weaver
University of Minnesota Duluth
(editor's note: You can find Arden on Pinterest at
https://www.pinterest.com/ardenweaver/boards/)