Dont forget to bring popcorn, Tony and his paper castle

It's not often you get the chance to be involved in a movie but that's what has been happening over the last week.

Don't worry - neither Al or myself will be in front of the camera (we weren't looking forward to the extra 10lbs it adds to your weight) but rather have been working away on the details of the set.

We were charged with "papering the castle" to create a scene that could be used to create an imagined fairy tale of paper walls and leaves. The shots of this are being used for camera tests and pre-production and although the production company ImaginationFilm had very specific areas that needed covered they were also happy to leave the creative decisions to ourselves. The art department - including the wonderfully talented Malorie Shmyr - did a great job of painting our paper (which was Tyvek) and the leaves. It really made our jobs so much easier to be able to have this to begin with.

Over the three days install we managed to get through about 70 sticks of glue (and one of the three glue guns which burnt out) but had a great time. Al in particular enjoyed playing in the cherry picker while I enjoyed having my feet firmly on the ground.

We were also assisted at different points by Jordan, Michelle and Juniper who really helped speed the process up. Thanks to all of them...look forward to seeing you when we do the strike and take it all down a week today! - FIN

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The Mighty Boosh - The Crimp
The Mighty Boosh TV (Season 3 Episode 3 - 2007)

It's not often you get the chance to be involved in a movie but that's what has been happening over the last week.

Don't worry - neither Al or myself will be in front of the camera (we weren't looking forward to the extra 10lbs it adds to your weight) but rather have been working away on the details of the set.

We were charged with "papering the castle" to create a scene that could be used to create an imagined fairy tale of paper walls and leaves. The shots of this are being used for camera tests and pre-production and although the production company ImaginationFilm had very specific areas that needed covered they were also happy to leave the creative decisions to ourselves. The art department - including the wonderfully talented Malorie Shmyr - did a great job of painting our paper (which was Tyvek) and the leaves. It really made our jobs so much easier to be able to have this to begin with.

Over the three days install we managed to get through about 70 sticks of glue (and one of the three glue guns which burnt out) but had a great time. Al in particular enjoyed playing in the cherry picker while I enjoyed having my feet firmly on the ground.

We were also assisted at different points by Jordan, Michelle and Juniper who really helped speed the process up. Thanks to all of them...look forward to seeing you when we do the strike and take it all down a week today! - FIN

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The Mighty Boosh - The Crimp
The Mighty Boosh TV (Season 3 Episode 3 - 2007)

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Any colour you like

Last week saw us complete our third visit to Banchory since the project started, and it is safe to say that the community engagement aspect is well under way.

On Thursday we opened our Drop In Studio, on the High Street. The idea being that folk can visit us to find out about the project and to share their ideas. It also gives us a great chance to meet the community.

To help kick things off with a sugar rush we ordered cakes from the cracking Birdhouse Cafe and then rented an urn so that we could chuck a little caffeine into the mix!

On the first day we had somewhere around 60-70 visitors, very much due to Vhairi Walker who basically grabbed people off the street! Things went so well we opened the shop again on Friday afternoon and had at least another 50 visitors.

We started working on a series of short interviews with the team at Cordiners Sawmills. As well as meeting some lovely folk at the West Church Friday coffee morning.

We are looking forward to coming back down next week! - AL

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Pink Floyd - Any Colour You Like
The Dark Side of The Moon (1973)

Last week saw us complete our third visit to Banchory since the project started, and it is safe to say that the community engagement aspect is well under way.

On Thursday we opened our Drop In Studio, on the High Street. The idea being that folk can visit us to find out about the project and to share their ideas. It also gives us a great chance to meet the community.

To help kick things off with a sugar rush we ordered cakes from the cracking Birdhouse Cafe and then rented an urn so that we could chuck a little caffeine into the mix!

On the first day we had somewhere around 60-70 visitors, very much due to Vhairi Walker who basically grabbed people off the street! Things went so well we opened the shop again on Friday afternoon and had at least another 50 visitors.

We started working on a series of short interviews with the team at Cordiners Sawmills. As well as meeting some lovely folk at the West Church Friday coffee morning.

We are looking forward to coming back down next week! - AL

BLOG TITLE

Pink Floyd - Any Colour You Like
The Dark Side of The Moon (1973)

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You were the dreamboat pedalo...

As promised we said we would get something up here soon so will start with our week in Edinburgh working on the Halmyre Street mural with our buddies as part of Blameless (website coming soon!).


The whole project was organised by the superbly energetic Fraser Gray and Morvern Cunningham (of Leith Late fame)  and our theme was a watery one - which tied in well with the weather we had for most of the week!

Have a selection of images below from talented photographer and nice guy Eoin Carey (with a couple of iPhone pics by me) and a brilliant film from the equally talented and good folks at Cagoule Productions.

The s.s.Explorer rides the waves with all kinds of detritus and creatures below the surface while the sky betrays nothing of the turmoil beneath with birds enjoying the setting sun (which also represents the people of Leith - see the profile? Our contribution was a text piece breaking the surface reading "Wha'll Buy My Caller Herrin'". A song sung by the local fisherwomen of the of the past.

As usual, great fun, collaboration (with the discussion that surrounds that...) and also food - the best home-cooked Thai meal EVER.

Here's to the next one.

Oh, and for those of you who follow our musical additions to our posts its worth checking this one out. You would think the lyrics were written especially for this job... - FIN

photo © Eoin Carey 2013

photo © Eoin Carey 2013

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Glasvegas - Lonesome Swan
Glasvegas (2008)

As promised we said we would get something up here soon so will start with our week in Edinburgh working on the Halmyre Street mural with our buddies as part of Blameless (website coming soon!).


The whole project was organised by the superbly energetic Fraser Gray and Morvern Cunningham (of Leith Late fame)  and our theme was a watery one - which tied in well with the weather we had for most of the week!

Have a selection of images below from talented photographer and nice guy Eoin Carey (with a couple of iPhone pics by me) and a brilliant film from the equally talented and good folks at Cagoule Productions.

The s.s.Explorer rides the waves with all kinds of detritus and creatures below the surface while the sky betrays nothing of the turmoil beneath with birds enjoying the setting sun (which also represents the people of Leith - see the profile? Our contribution was a text piece breaking the surface reading "Wha'll Buy My Caller Herrin'". A song sung by the local fisherwomen of the of the past.

As usual, great fun, collaboration (with the discussion that surrounds that...) and also food - the best home-cooked Thai meal EVER.

Here's to the next one.

Oh, and for those of you who follow our musical additions to our posts its worth checking this one out. You would think the lyrics were written especially for this job... - FIN

photo © Eoin Carey 2013

photo © Eoin Carey 2013

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Glasvegas - Lonesome Swan
Glasvegas (2008)

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Will they tear apart? Will you break my heart?

Sometimes you get asked if you want to do a job a little bit different, something that challenges you practically and mentally. That's what happened to us last week...

We were contacted by Nicolette from a Canadian production company called ImagiNation. They are planning on producing a film that will be partly filmed in Scotland and the bulk of that was to be filmed at Aldourie Castle on the shores of Loch Ness. 

The film is based on the idea of a child's imagining of a paper castle and they have the backing of an Oscar winner for Art Direction in Avatar (has also worked on Alice In Wonderland and Return to Oz) as well as some other well known names in the industry.

We were asked if we could assist by doing some test pieces of paper art on the entrance to the castle. After a number of attempts we found adhesive that worked and was gentle on the sandstone. Most of the pieces were created by an artist and assistant in Canada and our job was to group them into a suitable arrangement. That was great and it all went well...

As part of our thanks we were then invited to a special dinner on Friday evening. When I say special I mean SPECIAL!

They flew a top Canadian chef (Blair Lebsack from RGE RD) over together with ingredients and alcohol to make a Scottish/Canadian Fusion meal. It was a special night with other interesting invited guests - no names - sharing some amazing food, drink and chat.

We then stayed the night in beds that had without doubt the softest pillows I have ever slept on. I could only describe them as "marshmallows wrapped in clouds". Check out the pics below - some aren't great quality (done on an iPhone) but hope they give you an idea of the work, evening and location.

Sometimes you have to take jobs as they come along...who knows what they might lead to. - FIN

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Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers - Paper Castles

Paper Castles/Teenage Love - Single (1957)

Sometimes you get asked if you want to do a job a little bit different, something that challenges you practically and mentally. That's what happened to us last week...

We were contacted by Nicolette from a Canadian production company called ImagiNation. They are planning on producing a film that will be partly filmed in Scotland and the bulk of that was to be filmed at Aldourie Castle on the shores of Loch Ness. 

The film is based on the idea of a child's imagining of a paper castle and they have the backing of an Oscar winner for Art Direction in Avatar (has also worked on Alice In Wonderland and Return to Oz) as well as some other well known names in the industry.

We were asked if we could assist by doing some test pieces of paper art on the entrance to the castle. After a number of attempts we found adhesive that worked and was gentle on the sandstone. Most of the pieces were created by an artist and assistant in Canada and our job was to group them into a suitable arrangement. That was great and it all went well...

As part of our thanks we were then invited to a special dinner on Friday evening. When I say special I mean SPECIAL!

They flew a top Canadian chef (Blair Lebsack from RGE RD) over together with ingredients and alcohol to make a Scottish/Canadian Fusion meal. It was a special night with other interesting invited guests - no names - sharing some amazing food, drink and chat.

We then stayed the night in beds that had without doubt the softest pillows I have ever slept on. I could only describe them as "marshmallows wrapped in clouds". Check out the pics below - some aren't great quality (done on an iPhone) but hope they give you an idea of the work, evening and location.

Sometimes you have to take jobs as they come along...who knows what they might lead to. - FIN

BLOG TITLE

Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers - Paper Castles

Paper Castles/Teenage Love - Single (1957)

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Hey, you are alone. You are alone. You are alone.

Happy New Year to everyone out there!

We just got back to work yesterday and are easing ourselves back into things slowly. Catching up on emails and catching up on whats happening in the creative industries and art world...

Prior to Christmas we were invited by IG:LU to take part in their joint show. Our installation "But take comfort in that I die at peace with the world and myself - not afraid" is a result of Al and I chucking a few ideas about. While thinking about winter themes came across some images of Scott in Antarctica. We then discovered that it was 100 years ago that the expedition failed so we have played with the idea of glorious failure (compared to 2012 being the year of huge sporting success for the UK) and misplaced patriotism. We made a crest-like wall piece that included icons of the winter and a motto together with two screen-prints. A metallic black one with Scott's hut and a graphic distortion of the word 'Aurora' and a metallic white one with 'Australis' (together making The Southern Lights)

Attached is a couple of quick pics taken on the iPhone. Hopefully get a proper shot done soon! - FIN

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Exitmusic - The Cold
Passage (2012)

Happy New Year to everyone out there!

We just got back to work yesterday and are easing ourselves back into things slowly. Catching up on emails and catching up on whats happening in the creative industries and art world...

Prior to Christmas we were invited by IG:LU to take part in their joint show. Our installation "But take comfort in that I die at peace with the world and myself - not afraid" is a result of Al and I chucking a few ideas about. While thinking about winter themes came across some images of Scott in Antarctica. We then discovered that it was 100 years ago that the expedition failed so we have played with the idea of glorious failure (compared to 2012 being the year of huge sporting success for the UK) and misplaced patriotism. We made a crest-like wall piece that included icons of the winter and a motto together with two screen-prints. A metallic black one with Scott's hut and a graphic distortion of the word 'Aurora' and a metallic white one with 'Australis' (together making The Southern Lights)

Attached is a couple of quick pics taken on the iPhone. Hopefully get a proper shot done soon! - FIN

BLOG TITLE
Exitmusic - The Cold
Passage (2012)

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As sure as night is dark and day is light

I was working on a proposal for a potential upcoming project this afternoon, and while looking for the site on Google Street View I stumbled across some footage of our John O'Groats project Are We There Yet?

It is good to be able to still walk around it, even though the bulk of the building has now been removed!

If you would like to have your own we walk along the Google line then click here.  - AL

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Johnny Cash - I Walk The Line

I Walk The Line (1956)

I was working on a proposal for a potential upcoming project this afternoon, and while looking for the site on Google Street View I stumbled across some footage of our John O'Groats project Are We There Yet?

It is good to be able to still walk around it, even though the bulk of the building has now been removed!

If you would like to have your own we walk along the Google line then click here.  - AL

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Johnny Cash - I Walk The Line

I Walk The Line (1956)

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Inside out and outside in you bring eyesight to the blind.

Been a long day yesterday and got back up North at about 10pm but it was worth it... Spent the day finishing our large wall pieces in a new optometrists showroom in Inverness (Goskirk Pettinger) and it was great fun. We ran into a few challenges last week but dealt with them and its looking pretty good now. 

Idea behind it began with a discovery in an old kids textbook of a description of sight and used the words "without light we would be lost" together with a couple of other statements we have included on the walls. The eye is an incredibly complex and beautiful part of the body and even something as seemingly simple as eye colour is pretty amazing. We took an iris and took a very thin vertical strip from the middle of this including the pupil and expanded it horizontally to create a series of stripes which made up our back wall. We also used a couple of sketches of lightbulbs together with rods and cones which we tied together with the stripes... we think it works and look forward to getting to see it when the shop is complete. 

In the meantime, here are a couple of images of the work as it was completed today. - FIN

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Placebo - Eyesight to the Blind

B Side of Nancy Boy (1997)

Been a long day yesterday and got back up North at about 10pm but it was worth it... Spent the day finishing our large wall pieces in a new optometrists showroom in Inverness (Goskirk Pettinger) and it was great fun. We ran into a few challenges last week but dealt with them and its looking pretty good now. 

Idea behind it began with a discovery in an old kids textbook of a description of sight and used the words "without light we would be lost" together with a couple of other statements we have included on the walls. The eye is an incredibly complex and beautiful part of the body and even something as seemingly simple as eye colour is pretty amazing. We took an iris and took a very thin vertical strip from the middle of this including the pupil and expanded it horizontally to create a series of stripes which made up our back wall. We also used a couple of sketches of lightbulbs together with rods and cones which we tied together with the stripes... we think it works and look forward to getting to see it when the shop is complete. 

In the meantime, here are a couple of images of the work as it was completed today. - FIN

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Placebo - Eyesight to the Blind

B Side of Nancy Boy (1997)

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Rollin' down the Seaboard Line

Here are some images of a rather large stencil we just completed with a group of 12 teenagers from the Seaboard villages.

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Johnny Cash - Orange Blossom Special
Orange Blossom Special (1965)

Here are some images of a rather large stencil we just completed with a group of 12 teenagers from the Seaboard villages.

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Johnny Cash - Orange Blossom Special
Orange Blossom Special (1965)

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So sing a lonely song

DUFI were asked to paint two walls in a new music room in Brora. We were asked to work with three lads from the community, and before we even met them they came up with a concept for the painting - The Doors to the Decks.

Here are a few images - enjoy!

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The Doors - Love her Madly
L.A.Woman (1971)

DUFI were asked to paint two walls in a new music room in Brora. We were asked to work with three lads from the community, and before we even met them they came up with a concept for the painting - The Doors to the Decks.

Here are a few images - enjoy!

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The Doors - Love her Madly
L.A.Woman (1971)

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Breaking bottles in the hall...

Well a couple of years ago, something happened. People started to hear about DUFI. People started asking us to paint their walls!
Here are some photos of our first public work, we ran a bunch of workshops and let the kids design their own stencils and helped them paint it. We reckon they did a pretty good job...

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Pink Floyd - Hey You
The Wall (1979)

Well a couple of years ago, something happened. People started to hear about DUFI. People started asking us to paint their walls!
Here are some photos of our first public work, we ran a bunch of workshops and let the kids design their own stencils and helped them paint it. We reckon they did a pretty good job...

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Pink Floyd - Hey You
The Wall (1979)

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When autumn leaves start to fall

Here is another early DUFI work. Starting to play around with multiple layers, different paints and spot varnishing!

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Eva Cassidy - Autumn Leaves

Songbird (2008)

Here is another early DUFI work. Starting to play around with multiple layers, different paints and spot varnishing!

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Eva Cassidy - Autumn Leaves

Songbird (2008)

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In the beginning...

Well DUFI all began back one cold winter’s night in 2001. After a day of creative work, for other people’s profit, Fin and AL were sitting having a drink and talking about how they both felt the need for some creativity for creativity’s sake. The next evening - some spray cans, cardboard boxes and Stanley blades later - the wall in Fin’s spare room was the proud receiver of the first DUFI! Unfortunately all that now remains of those first steps is this small Polaroid and a few sketches.

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AC/DC - Let There Be Rock

Let There Be Rock (1977)

Well DUFI all began back one cold winter’s night in 2001. After a day of creative work, for other people’s profit, Fin and AL were sitting having a drink and talking about how they both felt the need for some creativity for creativity’s sake. The next evening - some spray cans, cardboard boxes and Stanley blades later - the wall in Fin’s spare room was the proud receiver of the first DUFI! Unfortunately all that now remains of those first steps is this small Polaroid and a few sketches.

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AC/DC - Let There Be Rock

Let There Be Rock (1977)

reade more... Résuméabuiyad