"DAVY JONES' CATCH"
This group of PP pieces we are calling, for the moment, findings from"Davy Jones' Grotto." They are based on the techniques used on stage and screen to "distress" costume and prop pieces. Although, for the most part, clothing on screen is given a "worn" look to enhance reality, when it comes to "Costumers" (a nickname used for period or fantasy flims), especially of the pirate sort, often the desired look is ragged, torn and even mouldy.
If the character, like Davy , has lived hundreds of years at the bottom of the sea, a bit of theatrical license is used--let it be supposed that any fabric would still exist, let alone be tattered.
When a display of POTC III costumes was shown at the El Captian, the skill of the costumers and prop masters was inspiring. The original concept of PiRATE PRiMiTiVE was based on some of that work.
Recently Mac was wearing "The Kraken," an early piece in the collection, and decided to distress it, to give it a patina of shine that a beast from under the sea might well possess. She was limited by the fact that the original necklace not only was not made with that in mind, but that the multi-fisted piece only became a kraken after she looked it over when it was finished. However, she carefully coated the wooden beads and the fists as many as ten times with washes of color and gilt and was quite pleased. A new line was created.
The next two pieces were made from scratch. Many experiments were made on these prototypes. They are still very much PP, but in quite a different way. The captain, who prefers a more elegant look, was doubtful, but began to warm to the idea when he realized that he would not have to wear garb based on the idea. Mac had already built a "marooned" ensemble, complete with a very distressed hat with extra decorations courtesy of willing sea-gulls flying over. He didn't lean toward her distressing his finery.
It may not immediately seem that way, but there is much more work and art in the Davy pieces. All of the nautical knotwork and crafting that goes into a PP piece is there plus a vision of what such a piece should evoke. New skills and materials have been sought and a new eye has been developed. We don't expect all of you to fall overboard for these creations, but for those who want something different, with a theatrical touch, these may be just the thing!
Comments and suggestions, as always, would be most appreciated.
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