PROJECT: GROMIT UNLEASHED 2
CLIENT: THE GRAND APPEAL / AARDMAN ANIMATIONS
Gromit Unleashed 2 follows the success of the award-winning Gromit Unleashed and Shaun in the City arts trails, which raised over £6 million for The Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children's Hospital Charity.
This exciting new trail runs from July 2nd until September 2nd 2018 in Bristol and the surrounding areas, featuring Nick Park’s Academy Award® winning character Gromit along with his pal Wallace and arch nemesis Feathers McGraw!
The trail features 67 giant sculptures designed by high-profile artists, designers, innovators and local talent. Perfect for some great family days out, while also raising funds for a very worthwhile charity!
OBJECTIVE: I was asked to create a design for one of twelve Wallace sculptures to be part of the trail - on the theme of David Bowie!
What a gift of a theme! Such an iconic figure and much loved by many (I'm a fan myself..), I'll admit to feeling like this was quite a responsibility to deliver something which captured a combination of both personalities, Bowie and Wallace.
These are the official publicity photos of the finished sculpture, entitled 'Space Oddi-tea'
In creating the design, my approach was for the sculpture to be like Wallace’s personal tribute to the musical genius and ultimate Starman, David Bowie. It interested me that the two characters appear to have/had a shared interest in space, I imagined that Wallace's favourite Bowie tracks might include Starman, Life on Mars and Space Oddity.
Wallace obviously isn't usually one for radical fashion statements, but here he has been inspired to up his style game, taking particular influence from Bowie’s alter ego Ziggy Stardust!
Pictured below are a selection of process shots, showing how the design was realised. The 'blank' Wallace was supplied to me with custom hair and shoulder pads (based on my visuals) - already expertly added by top modelmakers Amalgam - thanks guys!
If you click on the first image it should pop up as a lightbox, so you can step through the images one by one. Hover over the image in the pop-out window and there's a brief explanation/caption to go along with each image...
Once the painting was complete, the sculpture was finished with a gloss varnish before going out on the trail.
Below are the approved designs, from different angles. The only real change I made at the painting stage was in the colour of the tank top edging and the Starman lettering on the back - these were simply things I reconsidered once the design was underway...
This picture was taken for the Press Launch of Gromit Unleashed 2, ahead of the trail starting
'Space Oddi-tea' will be located at Wapping Wharf for the duration of the trail. Wapping Wharf are also the kind sponsors of this sculpture - so thanks very much to them!
He is number 30 on the trail map. And can also be found on the very snazzy 'Detect-O-Gromit 2' app, which can be downloaded via the App Store / Google Play.
If you're out doing the trail - I really hope you enjoy it & I'd love to see your photos of 'Space Oddi-tea', so please do tag me as @carys_ink on Twitter and Instagram - Thank you!
RELATED PROJECTS
GRRRRROMIT! - Mexican-wrestler/Tiger inspired Gromit for the first Gromit Unleashed trail
Selection of other painting projects for Gromit Unleashed, Shaun in The City, Olympics 2012 & Bristol Zoo's Wow!Gorillas
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