Ode To The Sea IV

Industrial Design Topic: Abstract Sculpture

I decided to jump in and have a go at a weekly industrial design topic. I'm certainly lacking skills when it comes to plausible theoretical sci-fi/fantasy ID concepts (you know, working out the how/why and the nuts & bolts), but this weeks topic happened to be Abstract Sculpture, so I thought I'd get my toes wet as the topic affords a somewhat more gentle way to approach the subject. The pitch also demanded a story, or background to the design so I'll post that below as well. Apologies for my writing skills. Just try to visualize a Marlin. :)

The people from the city never climbed the hill - fearing what they didn't understand. It was late March when the the first rumors started to circulate amongst the more observant citizens. The summit of the hill was beginning to change shape... beginning to grow. But few people took notice of the gossip back then as they had more localized rumors to contend with. It seemed things were going missing.

Only little things at first, like sections of fencing, containers, and scrap metal. But by mid Autumn, larger things were vanishing: Engines, telephone poles, corrugated roofs - even whole sections of airplanes. The city officials were at a loss as to what to do. The ever growing shape on the neighboring hill was obviously at the heart of the matter, but the people from the city never climbed the hill; they feared what they didn't understand.

But then, as the last of winters cold embrace had began to fade into Spring, the disappearances stopped.

.............

The first rays of dawn had already cast their light upon the city below when the old man reached the foot of the hill. He noted to himself, as he always did, that the sun broke upon his back a few steps earlier than it had the day before. Several months ago he would have already reached his shack at the summit and be in his cot with a belly warm with sup; but the year gone had been long and he feared the chill of the winter would stay with him this time.

Stumbling, with a heavy load of metal at his shoulder, he halted for a while and lifted his head to the structure above - his gaze taking in each section in turn. A sudden smile alighted on the old mans face, and for a moment his wrinkled brow softened into youth. He hauled the metal from his shoulder and gave it to the brambles that lined the trail.

That morning, when the people in the city below had just begun to stir, the old man lay down in his cot and decided he would sleep from now on... his work being done.

Sperm Whales vs Mobile Phones

I hate my mobile phone - I really do. I hate all mobile phones. I hated the fact I was considered socially impotent when I didn't have one and all my friends and family did. I hate how, now I do have one, my friends seem to think I suddenly need random (but annoyingly constant) updates on their daily life... "I've just had a mushroom omelette and now I'm sitting down to watch a documentary on sperm whales!" Oh really. Well I've just been trying to use my free time more constructively, but now (thanks to your unnecessary update) I find myself in the shed with a hammer and several rusty nails.

Sperm whales, indeed!

I hate mobile phones becouse my friend and I could have had a nice conversation about sperm whales this evening - over a few beers. He could have introduced the topic during the course of the conversation and everything would have been nice and pleasant. I would have come home knowing some very interesting facts about the beasts. But no... I already know too much about his week - and many others who seem to be on my "contacts" list.

Gone are the days of catching up over a few beers at the weekend. I don't need to know about the funny incidents at work... You already told me! I don't need to see what state your kitchen was in when the kids went wild... I got's da picture! I don't need to know about how your lawn mower burst into flames... You sent me a freakin' video! And I certainly don't want to hear any more about bloody sperm whales. I used to love their shape and how they attracted barnicles, but now I don't give a hoot about them. I hate my mobile phone - and I hate sperm whales!

So, in the spirit of retaliation, here's a beautiful image of a whale shark. It's not even a bloody mammal, you fool. This'll teach you to spam text to me about filthy whales!


Note: For those that may scream about the lack of a "sketch" - or even a speedpaint in this blog update, I will point out that I did happen to cover my own back (see blog sub-title regarding "odd random thaught"). I do, however, have sketches to post now that my overtime frenzy is at an end. I shall commence scanning operations tomorrow.

Scribble +2

Amphitrite

This is the remnants of a good idea gone bad. Rather than sticking (roughly) to the initial concept that came to mind, and taking into account what I learned from yesterdays amphipod sketches, I lost my way and proceeded to cobble/scribble together a sad mess. And after I started the week so promisingly too... :-(

Crustaceans/Amphipods

While fishing about (excuse the pun) for some good crustacean references, I noticed that, although there seems to be thousands of different verieties of those tiny shrimp-like organisms going about their business in the oceans - and looking remarkably similar, it's the little differences that make one species look rather cuddly, and another quite horrible. Is it something to do with the combination of colour, the proportion and shape of different body parts in relation to one another, and maybe the look of their eyes?

Some of the transparent ones have little tubby bellies and tiny black eyes - rather like Oliver Hardy. Those are uber cute. Others are bright pink or mottled silver and certainly catch the eye. But then I come across ones with a colour that can only be described as rotting flesh - with sickly looking eyes and elongated legs that stick out at odd angles. Yuk!

I know it's that subconscious association we have with the illness, desease and disfigurement of our own species but, as usually happens, the simple act of putting pencil to paper makes everything you take the time to really look at become something of beauty.