Pirates of Penzance - Pre-Production

Foamcore model for Pirates of Penzance


We have started work on the Eugene Opera's production of The Pirates of Penzance, scheduled for the end of the year 2006. Here is the initial 3D concept model with dimensions. Our goal is to create a "Stage-on-a-Stage" to play with the English roots of the production, with an additinal tip of the hat to the British Music Hall.

The Grand Experiment

Another facet to the creating of purchasable online content is the ability to produce products virtually, before considering investing in manufacturing them physically. Our first experiment in virtual product testing is in the form of Bunn, an anime inspired rabbit that, in his virtual form, sits on your IMVU avatar’s shoulder as a pet. With no capital at all, an inspired designer can test an idea as a purchasable item, watch to see if it is popular, and even tweak and evolve a design before considering making it a physical product.

To see Bunn in the IMVU catalog, you can visit: http://www.imvu.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=425_493&products_id=103231

Working with IMVU

I recently started work with the small team at IMVU.com, an online 3D chat community founded by many of my friends from my There. I am working with Matt Danzig as a fellow art director responsible for creating dynamic 3D environments for IMVU members to purchase, and use as the basis of their own unique designs. I am happy to say this is the most enjoyable work I have done in a long while. Beyond merely concept, I am responsible for designing, building, texturing, and tech-ing original 3D content that frequently makes it online and purchasable the same day it is created. Here are a few of the environments I have worked on so far, with countless more to come.

Glass Beads

I have wanted to try my hand at glass for the past few years. This weekend I got my chance when I took a glass bead making class at the Eugene Glass School (www.eugeneglassschool.org). I had a blast and have to be careful not to become swept away with this addictive art form. Here are a few of my first attempts. Of course, now I need to find out how to take decent pictures of these things.

Singing the Praises for SketchUp

For the past several years I have been using a program called SketchUp to help me pre-visualize projects I need to conceptualize. SketchUp allows me to very quickly mass together an environment, find a nice camera angle, and then print it out as an armature for my final drawing. What makes it the most powerful is that I can then hand a client a concept that is not only accurate, but to scale! Being confident that your designs are actually build-able is amazingly valuable, and with some clients I can even send them the rough SketchUp model as well. This truly does help blur the line between pure concept and production! I encourage you to check out SketchUp at www.sketchup.com, and take if for a spin.

To personalize my models even further, I have created my own hand drawn “rogues gallery” of scale people to populate my virtual environments.

To see an animated version of the above example, check out the "Concept" section of my website, www.doncarsoncreative.com

Hansel & Gretel Final Rehearsal

Final rehearsal and ready for Opening night, this upcoming Friday.

Hansel & Gretel Rehearsals

Rehearsals continue and the lighting is starting to soften the flat sets, and give them the illusion of depth and dimension. Still a few nitpicking to do, but all in all everything is coming together nicely.

Hansel & Gretel Sets Loaded into Theatre

The Hansel & Gretel sets are loaded into the Hult Center today. The biggest challenge is to avoid throwing yourself into the orchestra pit upon seeing your designs hung for the first time. Bathed in only florescent work lights you have to suspend your disbelief and have faith that the talent of the show’s lighting designer will pull together the look and feel you had hoped for months before, while at the drawing table.