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| "Robert the Rusty" in old, mis-matched and rusting armour. |
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I've been making historical costume since I was a kid. I've always had an experiential bent to my interest in history: I want to know what it feels like.
Naturally my first attempts were crude, but effective. I learned a bit of sewing, some leather work and eventually design and patterning.
My "Ratcatcher Robert" character is dressed in clothing of the 1350's that wears like the real thing. This sort of experience gives me an appreciation of cleverness and practicality of the medieval mind, as well as an appreciation for the clothes we wear today.
I'm not a fashion nazi, in that I'm not averse to sewing machines and substituting cottons for wools for performing here in the desert southwest. But the overall precision of effect is very important to me, so I've become skilled at distressing fabric and steel to give things that "lived in" look. I've learned that in order to do that convincingly you must first make the article complete and new, then age it back -- there are no shortcuts. In fact, aging articles is where my painter's eye and touch come in quite handy.
I've learned some good tricks and techniques from my association with costume and props professionals here at New Mexico State University, and during my work with the Denver Center Theater Company.
Clearly, I'm not the guy to sew up your wedding dress...unless the theme of your wedding is "Medieval- peasants-in-a-mud-bog" (in which case, I'M YOUR MAN)!
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| Frankenstein Makeup |
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| Bob "Sherwood" at the ready. |
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| Arming up |
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| The Green Doublet |
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| Ratcatcher Robert |
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| Cowboy Bob |
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| Leather |
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| King Robert |
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| Frankenstein |
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| Knight |
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| Rat Armor |
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| Robert the Rusty |
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| Don Quixote |
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| Beast |
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| "Rat" wenches |
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| Dressed for a parade at 17 |
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