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Jaws

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Modeling for all the wrong reasons
I stopped visiting modeling shows when I was 20. I fell depressed about that whole thing; I didn’t click with the French modeling community as I discovered it.

Then last year I found out that one of the two big figure painting shows in France was actually running at some half an hour walk from my home. So I went. Only to leave after a few minutes slightly doubtful about what I could see without really knowing why. Yet I thought, that as I was getting a few complements in forums for my diorama work, it would be sort of cool if I were to present something the following year – just in order to see what some other people outside my usual circle of friends would think about my stuff.

Then the year went by, and by the end of November I still have only my unfinished Galilée diorama to present. But then I vaguely knew something didn’t click in it, it needed some extra time so that the shining engine would start working.

This is how I thought of the idea of a child standing over an upturned sunken boat with a shark head painted on it. I got the idea last summer while thinking about something else. Then quite suddenly the diorama popped out in my mind fully done, complete with colors and stuff, like I had order it from McDonald’s.

I fell a bit stupid about leaving all the other stuff pending while I aimed for gold and set for that short trip which would end hopefully at the beginning of the next February, in time for the championship.

About the Author

About Jean-Bernard André (jba)
FROM: RHONE, FRANCE

Here are my 10 rules for better dioramas! 1 -The diorama is everything modelling is about, it's the meeting point of the manufactured object that is the model and the human input, you can –and have to- tell stories with dioramas. 2 -When doing your diorama you should not be influenced by any tr...


Comments

Jean-Bernard, My most sincere and generous compliments to you for again presenting a TOTALLY original, and expertly rendered, personally-unique diorama. You are really a shining light of talent and inspiration here. The hobby advances because of people like YOU, sir!
AUG 07, 2009 - 02:18 PM
hey Alan thanks for your comments as always I am back for good this time and fortunately my red legs turned brown enough, I would like to be an honorary Brit honestly, if only because you can't find Cumberland Sausages, Bodington lager and decent fish and chips in France Karl thanks a lot -yet I don't know if this hobby really wants to be advancing as a whole, oh well no matter I am here to stay Thanks for the kind words guys, I have to outstretch myself to find anything clever to somewhat express that I really am very pleased with your comments
AUG 15, 2009 - 02:14 AM
My friend, I think you should create a new medal, you do not ride alone and give wonderful color but will also provide jobs to your feelings This is much much more difficult than any technique, which is complicated by Domi
AUG 15, 2009 - 10:20 AM
That boy look very cool
AUG 28, 2009 - 02:48 PM
Hey Bobby, there is one thing I didn't told in the SBS, it's that I didn't know how to paint the Asian kid properly, so the same day I had to paint it coming back in the tube there was that probably Philippino guy standing near me, and i fear he found me a bit queer Domi, Always an honour coming from such a creative diorama maker like you
AUG 28, 2009 - 10:30 PM
Jean-Bernard - first rule of public transport never look at anyone
AUG 29, 2009 - 10:00 AM
Hello Jean Bernard, What a great piece you did. Absolutely outstanding, and so is your story of the process. I totally agree with your thoughts about the modelling scene and especially about competitions. I wish to be as talented as you to realize all my ideas. But anway, seeing your stunning work encourages me to follw my way. Thank you for that, and thank you you for sharing your standpoints and ideas about modelling. You give great power to these "outlaws". Your diorama is again as all the others i know from you a masterpiece. I cant stop whatching the pics and i truly hope i will see it once in nature. I bet the impression is much deeper as from the pics. Maybe that your figure is not perfect what ever that means (I don´t tnink so) but you sculpted it your own. And for me the motion and balance is perfect. By the way my "Adler" is pretty close to be finshed i hope you will like it. Many thanks for all Peter
AUG 29, 2009 - 12:55 PM
That must be an ethnic weakness, but most of the time I find it very hard to do that Now Peter those are pretty nice things you said, and about my small dio too. You know there are all those posts in forums that say "oh yeah, we model for fun", it's true for a lot of the guys, but for some it simply is not. I mean, they spend the day at their office doing things others tell them to do, and then when they come back home and get into their hobby, they follow the same kind of rules in the hope of earning a golden medal.. oh well, that's none of my business anyway, but it's true I won't be attending one of those shows before a long time. There are great pictures of the SMS Adler with the front destroyed by a collision I think, now that would be a pretty nice thing to model Good luck with that model of yours, and I hope your originality will be rewarding, commercially too!
AUG 30, 2009 - 10:51 PM
......Stunning, you are not a modeller but an artist!
AUG 30, 2009 - 11:51 PM
thanks Martyn, maybe one day
AUG 31, 2009 - 07:17 PM