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Drawing and Carving
The models for the Illuminations are made from large blocks of polystyrene. To achieve the scale necessary, the design is projected onto the blocks so that we can draw out the shape to the required size.
Once drawn, the outline of the feature is cut out using a hot wire to melt through the polystyrene. With the basic shape established we then carve the polystyrene to create a 3D model using basic equipment such as kitchen knifes and wire brushes. All of this carving is done by hand by one of Illumination's artists.
The final stage of the carving process involves smoothing down the figures with sandpaper.
Photo Gallery
Illuminations artist Shoichi Yasuda drawing the outline - Drawing and Carving - Making of a Blackpool Illumination - © Sarah Myerscough
Shoichi Yasuda using a hot wire to cut out the outline from the polystyrene - Drawing and Carving - Making of a Blackpool Illumination - © Sarah Myerscough
Sarah Myerscough (me) carving Cupide - Drawing and Carving - Making of a Blackpool Illumination - © Sarah Myerscough
Semi-carved Cupide model with a copy of the design done by Laurence for guidance - Drawing and Carving - Making of a Blackpool Illumination - © Sarah Myerscough
Sarah Myerscough (me) carving detail of Cupide - Drawing and Carving - Making of a Blackpool Illumination - © Sarah Myerscough
Sarah Myerscough (me) sanding down the nearly finished model of Cupide - Drawing and Carving - Making of a Blackpool Illumination - © Sarah Myerscough
Sarah Myerscough (me) with a finished model of Cupide - Drawing and Carving - Making of a Blackpool Illumination - © Sarah Myerscough
What are Blackpool Illuminations?
If you have landed on this page from Google or another search engine or from a link on a website, you might just be wondering what you are looking at.
Blackpool Illuminations is the greatest free light show on earth, where Sarah Myerscough (me) works as an artist. The Illuminations are an annual event that takes place from late August / early September to November, along six miles of the promenade in Blackpool, a seaside resort in the North West of England.
Blackpool itself is the most visited seaside resort in Europe and provides family entertainment throughout the year. It has three piers, the 518ft Blackpool Tower featuring an excellent circus, miles of golden sands, a huge amusement park (Blackpool Pleasure Beach), a waxworks (Madame Tussaud's), a Sea Life Centre, a Ripley's Believe It Or Not, a zoo (Blackpool Zoo), two major theatres (Grand Theatre and The Opera House), dozens of amusement arcades (including Coral Island), a water park (Blackpool Sandcastle) and much, much more...
Where should you go next?
If you have landed on this page by chance and are wondering where to go next:
- For more behind the scenes photographs of the Illuminations, select another page from the Blackpool Illuminations Gallery menu.
- For information about my life as an artist, take a look at my Timeline pages.
- If you are interested in purchasing artworks, take a look at my For Sale pages.
- If you're not sure what you want, why not try my Lucky Dip?
- Finally, if your appetite has been whet for a visit to Blackpool, take a look at my About Blackpool pages for links to Blackpool attractions, accommodation, events and more, but don't forget to bookmark me and come back some time!
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