Crystal Cave finished

Welcome to my diorama blog!
On this blog I want to share my newest creative adventure into the world of dioramas!  Here are some photos so far! The project is far from completion so these photos show a bit of the development of the project from its beginning as a solid block of foam.  The concept started with the Triple Cave and now I'm onto my third cave piece!
The Triple Cave is basically about three caves. One is the 'Underworld' cave, the middle cave is the 'Crystal or gallery cave' and the upper cave is the 'paradise' cave.  Everything is handmade in foam or air dried clay.

unfinished cave 

The idea came to me from memories of when I was a young boy in the 1960s.  I loved making models and this developed into battle scenes using plastic soldiers. This eventually developed into making dioramas like this one.  I was just day dreaming one day when I thought it was time to revisit his time in my life and have ago at making another diorama!  The results so far are very pleasing although i have yet to fully perfect the art of making figures out of air dried clay! I've decided to try using oven baked clay as the 'pros' use it and it would seem to be much better for detail and working.
The lighting too will change. I'm hoping to put in a better lighting system using really small LED lights. Eventually I would like to install this diorama  in a dark space so that people could get the full effect.

The Underworld Cave developmental stage

Tree Cave in development

Detail of finished Underworld Cave

not finished Cernunos cave

Paradise Cave finished

Finished Triple Caves 60 x 60 x 90cm

                                                     DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS

Original 600 x900 block of foam. Caves cut out using a specialized foam cutting tool.

Here you see the three caves with basic LED lights.

Closer view of two of the Artist Monks and artwork on the wall.

View of the Underworld Cave, still unfinished.

Lastest development including the third monk and some crystals. The monks are using little stencils and 'aerosol cans'!  The stencils must be the smallest in the world measuring only 30cms square!  I used an air brush to spray them on the walls.  Like all good street artists the monks are wearing masks!

The Underworld Cave' with skulls and some snakes. I've painted the figures again but I'm planning to remake them all as I want to do better.

Crystals have been added to the pool. Still unfinished

The creator at work

close up of one of the details of the crystal spring pool

the latest images of the crystal cave.  The pool has been filled and now there are snakes!