Cams, Corpses and Coolness
November 15th, 2010 by John WolfeAside from posting the 2010 haunt photos, I’ve been a little quiet lately, so I thought I’d provide some updates on a few things. First up, the giveaway for Ethan Black’s awesome Halloween artwork closes tonight. I’ll be in touch with the winners tomorrow.
Up next, some webcammy stuff: Though I’m putting the shop feed on hiatus for a while, I definitely want to fire it up much sooner in 2011 than I did this past year. I’m going to get some initial work done on the armature for my new Skinwalker corpse prop and once I’m ready to start the mache process, I may launch the broadcasts again. A lot of this depends on how cold it gets in the shop, since my cam and laptop may not be too thrilled about working in twenty degree temps. I’ll play it by ear and will post a blog entry once I’m ready to start running the cam again.
Speaking of the shop and corpses, since I’m trying to be more prepared for Halloween 2011, and because I’m wanting to finish several props prior to next October, my blogging frequency is going to diminish to around two to three posts per week from this point forward. Though the frequency will be down, I’m wanting the majority of entries to be loaded with content.
I’ll primarily be doing prop update vids, detailed how-to videos for creating your own corpses, some creative writing posts and, of course, more giveaways. 
I’ll still be doing my best to find spooky vids on You Tube for posts as well, but the majority of my entries will be content I’m creating from scratch, so it’s going to take a lot longer to add new posts.
Now for the coolness: I’d like to thank everyone for all of their support leading up to Halloween 2010! Your very cool kindess helped make this past October a personal best for SeasonOfShadows.com in so many ways.
A special thanks to Goldie, Camile, Ethan, Autumnforest, The Frog Queen, ssflipo13, SK Austin, themadblonde, Pam Morris, Doug, Julie, Damian the HalloweeNut, Dex1879, Victor “The Undertaker” Ives, Stephanie D., JoeInMemphis, Herstrangekind, GhoulishCop, pjunts and EllasFire!
Also, a big thanks to Annamarie Dodge, Paul Melniczek, NyteWynd and all the other great folks who primarily interact with me via e-mail blog updates, and to those souls who consistently visit but choose to remain anonymous — all of you guys rock!
November 16th, 2010 at 12:30 am
I suspect your computer and cam would love the twenty degree temperatures. Unlike humans technology loves the freezing cold. Bastard computers!*shakes a fist*
November 16th, 2010 at 8:29 am
Kateryna Fury,
LOL! Thanks. I guess I should set ‘em up and see if they thrive in my soon to be icicle-laden workshop.
November 16th, 2010 at 11:41 am
Looking forward to see what you have in store for us next.
November 16th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
John I think that’s great news regarding the webcam action happening sooner in 2011 than as in this year. I often get asked when your going to be back on webcam so it’s nice to see I’m not the only one that misses watching you work. As you already know, for me watching you on webcam is powerfully relaxing. Lately I have felt the absence of the webcam in a big way but I’m now accustomed to the schedule of regular webcam season. I was thrilled to read your thinking about starting that up again much sooner than usual. Thank you soooooo much my friend.
I also think it’s an excellent idea regarding blogging style and content. I am your biggest fan of your writings John!!! You compose your thoughts and ideas in the most unique fashion! If you did write books, no matter how many, I would be one of the first people in line to buy them. Plus you know me, I’m much more old fashioned than most and I think there is something very special about the thought and time that goes into creating something extraordinary. Nowadays everything is slammed out so fast, with a touch of a button and with the increased drive of instant gratification these days, I’m hard pressed to find artist out there that take their time, do it by hand and from the mind and sticking with their original content. It reminds me of my grandparents cooking, and my Mom to for that matter, in that whatever meal they prepared, it started from scratch. Not from a box, not from a push of some button, not from a near by store but rather all from hand. John, those meals and how they tasted AND the ANTICIPATION to devour the food are some of my most fondest memories in life.
Recycling that around to you, your work, your ethics, your mind and thought process continue to astound me at every turn my dear. YOU ARE very much like a fine cooked meal from Grandma and Poppo; I can’t wait to see what you do next and how it will make me feel and….I ALWAYS want more, more, more, more
I know, I know, insatiable but not really because I am very much satisfied.
Please do keep true to yourself always John. That’s just part of what makes you YOU and is also the fuel behind SeasonofShadows. I welcome this change with open arms my friend. I would rather see your very own unique content than someone else work. However, you do find bitchin strange videos on youtube but I happily sacrifice that for more of your own stuff.
You have my full and unconditional support my friend, now and forever more John. Congratulations on the ever growing expansion of SeasonofShadows. You both have come a long way baby. Keep up the great work, please!
November 16th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Julie,
Thanks. I appreciate your interest!
Goldie,
Thanks, my friend. With the goals I have for 2011 being focused more on the prop building journey and how-to stuff for making props, I think an earlier start to the cam should fit right in. I’m glad you’ve been enjoying watching the process unfold on the camera! And please thank those people for me who are asking you about the webcam as well. I don’t really have a date set for starting the broadcasts yet. Since my plans for the Skinwalker will also be taking me into some unfamiliar territory (very much like the Angel of Death did), I’m not sure how long it’s going to take to build his inner-skeleton. I’m guessing I’ll probably be working on his basic structure until somewhere in February.
Thanks as well for your very kind feedback about my writing style as well as my overall style for creating! Unique is probably the best way to describe my approach to just about everything I do. Of course, I know your use of the word unique is meant in a much kinder way than my use of it for describing my approach.
With everything you’ve told me about your Poppo, I would have to imagine he was a magnificent cook (along with your mom and grandma)! Though he and I never worked on similar projects (aside from gardening), it’s quite an honor to know you value my work in such a way that is comparable to his.
I certainly appreciate all of your wonderful support and feedback, as always, Goldie. Thank you so much.
November 16th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
::starts looking at prices on space heaters for John’s shop and scarves to wrap the camera with to send on over to SoS-Central::
20 degrees?!? Yikes, I’m shivering on your behalf just thinking about it! Whatever you can do and whatever you can post, you know we will gobble it up with glee! So do what you can, whenever you can, and know that you have all our support and love and appreciation!!!
RE: your skin walker- do you think you’ll be making his framework/armature out of wood or pvc pipes? I’ve used pvc that was drilled at the joints and then secured with bolts and washers, added duct tape and cotton batting to flesh them out, to make a few characters for our haunt and I’ve been very happy with it. The nifty thing about it is, with it being hollow tubes, you can pound 2 or 4 foot pieces of rebar into the ground to give the character stability and then the pvc pipe just slips down right onto the rebar like a sleeve. It gives characters balance that I know I could never get on my own without it and there’s no visible stand. I’ll be tickled to see what you use. The armature for the angel and his wings that you created was brilliant! The joints and the way you used the wood putty and joined the pieces like Lincoln logs was fantastic! Seamless and utter perfection!!
I guess it’s silly to feel like Halloween comes at the end of the year and after Halloween we start a new one with new projects and ideas but here’s to a happy new Halloween haunting season in 2011 and all the fun and friendship we’ll all share here! :raises bottle of Coke!:: Thank you, John, you are so wonderful!! cheers!
!
November 16th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
Thanks for the kind word, but truth be told John, You Rock! Thank you for all the great things you share and give to all of us during the year. Can`t wait to see what you`ll come up with this year.
November 17th, 2010 at 12:36 am
I can’t help but think about how cold your fingers are going to get! Hopefully winter will be mild and you can work without the threat of frostbite. I can’t wait to watch you build the Skinwalker. There is something wonderful about starting a new project and figuring things out along the way.
November 18th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Camile,
I probably could use space heaters, scarves, thermal long johns, thermoses for hot chocolate, you name it, whatever I can get my hands on!
Though our days have mostly been in the 40s and 50s, our nights have no trouble getting down into the twenties. Lately we’ve been sitting at around 30 degrees for our lows, but very soon they’ll be hovering in the twenties. I may have to do a lot of broadcasts in the afternoon, before the sun goes down. If that’s the case, then I might do weekend broadcasts only until the weather warms up. It was about thirty-three degrees last night when I was outside filming the intro segment for my 2010 Halloween Haunt video and thankfully my digital camera was a real trooper. Hopefully my webcam and laptop will be cool with it too.
Those are some excellent suggestions about the armature for the new Walker prop! I really like the ideas for mounting on rebar as well as means for concealing the joints. I haven’t made up mind exactly what I’m going to use, but lightweight is always good and since he’s going to be a full-body corpse, pvc would definitely do the trick. I’ll probably do some sort of hybrid between pvc (or possibly wood dowels) and newspaper. The pvc or wood will be used where he requires rigidity and the newspaper will be used in exposed areas that I need to look like bone. I definitely want to push the envelope on him as much as I can, really going for a prop that can support itself, but one that also doesn’t have too much of the support system hidden behind bulk. He needs to be thin with really ragged, torn skin — all traits that will give him that rotten, just from the grave look.
Glad you liked my concoctions for the Angel’s armature. Thanks! I just sort of did my own thing on him and was constantly experimenting until something worked. I redid quite a few things on the Angel until I finally got the look I was going for along with the stability he required. Creating the AOD was about a lot of trial and error and I suspect it will be a similar process for the Skinwalker.
I toast you right back, my friend, and wish you a happy new haunt prep and 2011 Halloween season as well! I always get excited about the off-season and love working on bringing the ideas that are rattling around in my head to life in some way.
Thank you!
ssflipo13,
Thanks. That’s very kind. I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate having your company, comments and feedback as I work on the process!
Herstrangekind,
Cold fingers are something I’ve been trying to figure out how to deal with for a while now when it comes to applying mache in the winter. I’m seriously thinking about buying a hot plate or some kind of submersible heating element for keeping my water and glue mixture a comfortable temperature.
You’re absolutely right, though I’ve never enjoyed word puzzles or things like solving a Rubix Cube, I do enjoy figuring out the challenges that come with venturing into new creative territories and Halloween projects!
Thanks for your support.
November 18th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
I have a little mini crockpot for dips that would be perfect! It looks like it holds about 2 cups, and it only has an on/off switch-no temperature adjustment. Is that something you could use?
November 19th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Herstrangekind,
A crockpot is a great idea! Thanks. I never even thought of using one of those. That’s definitely an item that would solve the issue of my mache mixture freezing my hands.
November 26th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
John, I’m right there with you on the need to sacrifice blog time for propwork. My blogging has consistantly been given a back seat to my time in the shop. I often wondered how you managed to do both so effectively. I’ve been trying to work on better balancing my time, but fear that it will be a hard habit to break.
I look forward to seeing you Skinwalker progress, and whatever else you come up with this year. If your 20 degree workshop proves to be too much of a hurdle, you could always borrow my space heater. Of course then I’ll be stuck in the cold
And as Ive said before, No need to thank me for visiting your site. It is I who owe you the thanks for putting this together for the benefit of us. Thanks John, your time and devotion has been, is, and will always be much appreciated.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
SKAustin,
I hear you about trying to better balance your time and the fact that entails a lot of hard habits to break. I look at everything I do associated with Season of Shadows, whether it be blogging or prop work, as a creative endeavor and I’ve never been good at cutting myself off at a certain point when I’m engaged in something I consider creative. Setting deadlines or timetables seems to be in direct opposition to being creative because it breaks that flow.
I think that’s why I’ve decided to back off a bit on blogging because I know I can’t set a timetable for myself and I really was starting to have a hard time balancing everything.
LOL! Thanks. I appreciate the space heater offer. I do have one, but it does very little to heat up the shop, mostly it gives me a quick opportunity to warm my hands a bit.
I appreciate your comment and look forward to seeing your off-season prep develop too, my friend.