Daily Mini Interview: Miniature Architectural Sculptures by Chisel & Mouse

Chisel & Mouse Create Architectural Sculptures in Miniature

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CHISEL-AND-MOUSE-9How did Chisel & Mouse come to be?

We [Robert and Gavin] ran a software company for 10 years and became disillusioned by corporate life. We took a year out, drew a ‘mind map’ and came up with Chisel & Mouse. Gavin has always been a keen model maker and I wanted to use 3D printers (which we use in our prototyping). We shared a passion for architecture and both wanted to make a something. Architectural sculptures met all of our requirements.

What are the advantages of knowing your partner so well, and how do each of your respective talents come together to form a successful team?​

We have complementary skills and interests. Gavin is focused on the creation and production of the models and I’m more focused on the presentation of the models and the company. We have cross over, and get involved in each others’ domains regularly but the ‘ownership’ stops too many tantrums! We switch from brothers to business partners back to brothers in an instance. Most of our big working decisions have been made on a dog walk.​

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Tell us a bit about your interest in 3D printing.

Advancements in 3D printing have made rapid prototyping easier and easier. You can work out the rubbish, tweak your design, and have another go at it. Since 3D printing is still somewhat in its infancy, speed is still an issue. As with the Ultimaker 7 for instance, it takes a ludicrous amount of time to print one object. You create a CAD drawing, send it out, and print it out. It’s revolutionary technology. It now takes us over 24 hours to print one of the standard sculptures from the Chisel & Mouse collection. And sometimes these works fall over at hour 21, so you have to start all over again.

Qp0s9WdeIb7h-1br2bO6LyII5jffC-Wo2VGXsj27zD0What’s the most challenging aspect of your day-to-day work on these miniature replicas?​

There are many! Applying the metal etched detail for the windows and doors on many of our models can be very tricky. Overhangs in general are difficult to create. Churches that come to a severe point, or church spire, are also challenging. On another note, working out which building or aspect of a building we are going to model can be very difficult.

What materials do you use to make your architectural sculptures?

Our models are made of a very hard resin plaster, which is free of toxic solvents. Some of the detailing, such as window frames and doors, are made of etched brass or nickel silver. The bases and some of the backs of the models are covered in black felt.

As for unique materials we’ve used to make these sculptures: toothpicks.

Do you have a favorite piece you’ve created? 

Hill House. I love Rennie Mackintosh and with Hill House, you can see his unorthodox style. At first glance, it looks like the outline of a building a child would draw, then you look more closely and you see his total lack of symmetry.

Upcoming miniature sculptures you’re excited about?

I’m really excited about the Capitol Records Building in Los Angeles. It represents a record deck, with a 7-inch record stacked out. As one record finishes, the arm goes back down. I’m really pleased to work on that one in miniature.

WxWKmGWZyPCI7EWTeQkAhg5Dh5UqnAR44bgVYB666O0,gbCmhvqKSMJa8Dib_9Hmmse2SGYv3P0F8wQYJVjBwsQAlso, there are a number of villas we will be working on including Farnsworth House. And of course the dollhouse in modernist style.

Are your architectural sculptures all one piece? Do any of the pieces move? 

Our works are primarily one solid piece. For our façade models, we’ll take one solid lump of plaster and add metal to it later on. As for our 3D-printed works of art, we use a combination of materials, such as plaster walls, metal windows and doors, and 3D-printed internal structures.

On the large dollhouse we created, you can remove the roof to look through the space. You can also pull out the first floor to look down into the room below.

Are your Chisel & Mouse sculptures one of a kind?

There’s definitely a craft element in our work. All of our sculptures are slightly unique. When we pull them out of their molds, that part is constant and consistent. But we’re always finishing up little bits here and there, and there’s nuances that make each sculpture distinct.

How many countries are represented through your Chisel & Mouse architectural sculptures?

We are focused on British and US architecture but we also have models from Germany, the Czech Republic, and Manila in the Philippines. Each month the list of buildings and countries keeps growing. We’re a bit more focused on creating buildings that you know and love and can readily recognize.

hill-house-front-medium-v3When clients ask to make a miniature model of their home, are there any details you cannot guarantee? 

When it comes to bespoke commissions, yes, we can create a 1-for-1 replica in miniature. However, there are certain parts of a building that one might leave off when creating it in smaller scale. Brickwork, for instance, we can create this look, but then the model becomes a bit fussy. So we might stylize a piece in such a way and leave off tiling and brickwork. If we had something like canopies or entryways that jut out across the pavement,we might recommend that these elements be artistically restricted from the final sculpture. The impression of a basement, for one.

Do you work within a particular miniature scale?

We try to work within a scale that fits the specific space the client has in mind. Not too small, but roughly a foot across let’s say. We can create much, much bigger architectural sculptures as well as smaller ones. However, when it comes to the small scale works, we do most of our work in plaster, and there comes a point with the detail when the plaster becomes too fragile. Staircases, for instance.

What’s your take on miniature furniture within an architectural structure?

Without furniture, it’s not at all possible to tell the function of the room. It allows viewers to dream the dream and see themselves inside the space.

Have you collaborated with any miniature artists?

We haven’t yet, but would love to. For our dollhouse project this is definitely something we want to do.

john-lewis-architectural-models-2Do you ever create sculptures of outdoor spaces or landscape design?

We would consider any structure. We were recently asked to work on a particular type of Syrian gate that has elaborate markings on the side. We would definitely consider other outdoor works.

What inspires you?​

Reproducing iconic buildings in exacting miniature​.

Motto that keeps you creating?​

We don’t really have a motto, just a passion to keep improving​.

Tool, material or technique you can’t live without?​

The trusty chisel. We work with plaster and the chisel is essential to get the models just right.​

What are your earliest memories with miniatures?

I must have had exposure as a child, but my clearest memory is from much more recently when I first saw the Vitra miniature chairs. I was blown away by the detail and level of craftsmanship​

cityscape-slide-02Advice to beginner architects, designers, and artists?​

Be proud of what you produce​.

What do you want miniature enthusiasts to know about you?​

We are obsessed with details​​.

What’s to come from Chisel & Mouse?

We are working on a series of cityscapes and will be releasing New York City, Chicago, and Tokyo in the new year. We are also developing a range of modernist dollhouses, and hope to release these in the autumn of 2016.

We’d love to collaborate with architecture and design schools in the future. And to have a display with all of our pieces would be a dream come true as well.

Anything else you’d like to add?​

We’re always keen for suggestions​. It would be great if miniature enthusiasts let us know what buildings they would like to see modeled.

Robert and Gavin Paisley are brothers and architecture enthusiasts. They launched Chisel & Mouse as a way to bring their passion for beautiful buildings to life. Their mission is to bring great architecture into your living room. Click here to shop the Chisel & Mouse collection of architectural sculptures, bookends, and cityscapes. And you can follow their updates on Facebook.

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Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Hernán Buljevich

Miniatures by Hernán Buljevich

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How did you first get into miniatures?

Angel sierraI started working on miniatures at university as I became interested in scale models as a way of representation. It was then when I realized what my future would be. I began to work with constructive details, and created replicas of existing places that I liked. Over time, I acquired experience and thought that my greatest accomplishment was the way I could pass down the essence of a place and its charmwhether a house, a restaurant, a bar, a historic building, or any kind of space, front door or interior roominto a miniature.

What inspires you?

The inspiration for my work stems from a lifelong love of classic Spanish culture, cuisine and bars. I started with Restaurante Botín in Madrid. Founded in 1725, Botín is one of the world’s oldest restaurants.

Every detail of my replicas is carefully carried out, not only to bring photographic accuracy but to represent the attractiveness of each place.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I am inspired by everyday life. I like to always be open to learning new things and new techniques, and I often apply other methods or techniques from another profession into what I do.

What materials do you use for your miniatures?

In order to perform said replicas I seek each material resembles the original: wood, cardboard, recycled materials. All materials I use are legitimate to carry out each of the works. It’s a matter of creativity. That’s how the miniatures get the different places owners’ attention. The owners are eventually attracted to the replicas and would like to have one of their own place.

Bodega de la Ardosa (3)Describe your process for making miniatures.

Having photographs of anywhere allows me to make a miniature. I get photos to paper, converting them into blueprints. I calculate the scale observing the photos. I think of each line, relief and measure of each part of the site. And then, I select the materials and all parts prepared to be later assembled, resulting in the final work.

Alma de España by Hernán is on view now at D. Thomas Fine Miniatures in New York!

Through photos or videos that can be sent by mail or email, one can start preparing miniatures. Many different materials can be used, enriching in detail the work to be accomplished. You desire one, you have it! Everyone wants his or her place in the world to be represented in a miniature.

Advice you would give to beginner artists?

What matters is the essence of the place or object we want to do, not accuracy. The important thing is to give the work life.

Tool you can’t live without?

I use many improvised and homemade tools. I can not live without my tweezers and nail files. These are what I use most.

What appeals to you most about what you do?

The creativity to find the materials to make things from real life in miniature, is a very fun challenge. The best we can recycle and transform any object.

Other activities and hobbies you enjoy?

I began with this as my hobby, really I am an architect. What I enjoy the most is traveling.

Argentinian artist Hernán Buljevich recreates well-known bars and restaurants in miniature. To see more of his work, visit his website or follow along on two Facebook accounts: here and here.

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Daily Mini Interview: Miniatures by Ryan McAmis

Miniature Cathedral by Ryan McAmis

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downloadDescribe your background in the arts.

I studied Communications Design at Pratt Institute, with a focus on Illustration. I also took a lot of painting classes there. I often spend time working on design projects, paintings, drawings, miniatures, music, and more. As far as picking a favorite, it really depends on what I’m into at the moment. For example, I’ll be really focused on illustration, then I’ll burn out and I’ll switch over to piano for week or so. When I’m hitting a wall there, I’ll work on the miniature cathedral. I have to say though, that the cathedral is the most relaxing and enjoyable. Drawing and piano tend to stress me out more.

What’s your process when creating works of art?1471365_10201077227282037_1384527851_n

I wish I had a set process—I’d probably be more productive. As far as the miniature cathedral, I start with a lot of research, followed by some sketches until I get a rough idea. Then I’ll do some scale vector drawings on the computer and get the proportions and measurements right. Once my plans are all set, I’ll start building the final pieces.

Where did the idea for your cathedral project stem from?

When I was a child I was obsessed with architecture and especially old cathedrals. I would spend all of my free time drawing from books on art history and architecture. I eventually started building models of cathedrals out of sugar cubes. Sometime around the 7th grade, I discovered foamcore. I would spend several months on these models. This went on through high school, until I went away to college. Now 20 years later, I decided to pick it up again as an adult and apply what I know now as far as techniques, materials and new technology available.

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What different types of materials have contributed to the construction of your cathedral project?

For example, let’s take one of the Gothic windows. In order to make this window, I use various materials to get the right textures. It can range from wood to clay and acrylic, even treated paper. Some pieces look best hand cut, some are better laser cut, whatever it takes to get the most perfect and realistic detail. 1502731_10201077219641846_1024527952_oThen I glue all these elements together and make a master Gothic window. The next step is to make a silicon mold of it, which I then use to cast multiple pieces in white plastic. Once the cast plastic windows are ready, I hand paint them. This is pretty much the same process for all the pieces for my cathedral, everything is eventually cast in white plastic and hand painted in the end.

Do you have plans to exhibit the work upon completion? 

I haven’t thought about it yet. The cathedral project is probably going to take about 5 years to complete. Unfortunately, I only get to work on it in my spare time. I work crazy long hours as an illustrator and graphic designer, so I can only squeeze in time early in the morning before work or late at night when I get home.floor+tomb

Does the cathedral piece have any secret chambers or hidden gems within it?

Recently my cat Leo passed away at the age of 22. I kept one of his fangs that fell out a couple months before he died as well as a bundle of his whiskers and lock of his hair, all of which I interred into one of the funerary wall monuments in the cathedral. So kitty has a little resting place in there. I do plan to add more secret things. I would love to figure out how to make a functioning gargoyle system so that if I pour a glass of water on the roof it runs off and drains out of the mouths of tiny gargoyles.rose+windows

What’s your favorite period of art history?

I’m really attracted to the austerity and simplicity of the early Renaissance, before it got it really extravagant. I love Fra Angelico, in fact the backgrounds of his paintings, the architectural elements and interiors that his subjects inhabit are big influences on the design of my cathedral. Giotto as well. His architectural backgrounds are really influential.

slides+TALL+frameOn the other hand, I’m also a huge fan of 20th century to present day art. Clyfford Still, Helen Frankenthaler, Louise Bourgeois as well as illustrators such as Saul Steinberg and Jan Lenica.

Advice for beginner artists?

Stay relaxed and don’t take yourself too seriously. Play around with the materials. The best breakthroughs usually come by accident.

Tool or material you can’t live without?

Smooth-On mold making and casting materials. 10339494_10202176916973592_2610120923667191120_o-1I also can’t live without my computer. I do all my designs on the computer first. Rounds and rounds of designs until I get it right, then I build the real thing.

Why miniatures? 

I’m able to build something I would never be able to build in real life.

To follow along on Ryan’s many mini adventures (and to see how the miniature cathedral turns out!), visit his website or check him out on Instagram.