The Punch and Judy Booth I recently painted for www.amazingcameraobscura.co.uk is up and entertaining the happy folk of Chapel St. Leonards, near bracing Skegness! The Punch & Judy Professor is also happy, as are Lincolnshire Borough Council. Always a pleasure to work with Tony at Amazing Camera Obscuras, who built this booth (in the driving rain, apparently!) and who displays his Amazing Camera Obscuras around the country. If you’re going Glastonbury Festival make sure you experience this Marvel of Nature and Science at the Green Kids Field. See my earlier posts for more on Camera Obscuras!
Miracle Theatre signwriting

A busy few days working for Miracle Theatre, Cornwall and their winter show “Doctor Livingstone, I presume?” It’s one of those ‘end of the pier’, fairground, ‘pop your head through a hole and have your picture taken’ things. (What are they called?) If anyone can come up with a name I’d be most grateful. Five days and late nights of illustration, tracing, painting, masking, building, spraying and varnishing later and we had our bespoke ‘stick your head through a hole…’ thing finished and ready for the Miracle Theatre tour of Cornwall. www.miracletheatre.co.uk
Signwriting – Camera Obscura animated
This signwriting project is an 8ft x 10ft illustrated facade of portable Camera Obscura, to be sited on Hastings Stade in East Sussex. Camera Obscura made by www.amazingcameraobscura.co.uk
Signwriting of Camera Obscura was recorded over weeks to make this simple stop frame slideshow.
Camera Obscura signwriting completed!
The signwriting of the Camera Obscura is complete.
Dipping into the paint over a period of a few weeks and the sign gradually takes shape. Background colours are applied using water based paints prior to adding outlines, text and details. The sign is finished with two coats of varnish. Details include a fishing boat and net sheds unique to Hastings.
Awaiting delivery to amazingcameraobscura.co.uk for installation on Hastings Stade seafront.
Camera Obscura design and signwriting – stage 3
Transferring the design to the sign.
By fitting the design into a grid of 20 x 10 I can work out the correct size to transfer to the wood in the workshop. The design is scaled up and pencil-drawn onto a sheet of primed and undercoated high quality 12mm plywood. Once the design is fully drawn I can cut the profile of the sign using an electric jigsaw. All bare edges are then sanded, primed and undercoated. Prior to starting painting the entire surface is given a light sanding and a second undercoat wash to ensure a smooth surface. The next stage is to attach 2 x 2 square battens to the reverse of the sign in order for it to be later bolted to the front of the Camera Obscura doorway by www.amazingcameraobscura.co.uk