IN OCTOBER OF 2014, I set aside my scrimshaw ostrich eggs and carved an astonishing number of jack-o-lanterns.
(You can still buy or visit my work here, and custom orders are always welcome!)
PSYCH-O-LANTERN
The process!
The pumpkins were carved over a two-week period in October of 2014. I squeezed three 16x9cm frames onto each pumpkin, which I documented immediately after completion with my Canon something-or-other. For better or worse, no fancy photo editing or equipment was used to make the film!
My carving process began by tracing the basic lines of each image with a knife, then freehanding the gradients of light and dark and fine-tuning the image with the light source inside. I used a combination of linoleum cutting tools, woodcutting tools, and hobby knives with replaceable blades. Since each frame took anywhere from two to six hours to complete, I had plenty of time to catch up on B horror movies. (Witchboard, people!)
If you have any questions about tools and techniques, or about the project in general, drop me a line at leviathan@leviathanbell.com. I'd love to hear from you!
Note the pumpkinshrapnel-covered candy wrappers in the images below.
And here's the video!
Psycho: Pumpkin Stop Motion of the Shower Scene
Check out a side-by-side photo comparison with the original, or play the two films together. You can even compare it to Gus Van Sant's Psycho!
Psych-o-Lantern Gallery
The Hall of Pumpkins! That's me offering Mr. Hitchcock a pumpkin in the end titles.
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