{"id":189,"date":"2018-01-15T12:53:38","date_gmt":"2018-01-15T12:53:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/newtest.subsign.design\/stories\/?p=189"},"modified":"2018-01-15T12:53:38","modified_gmt":"2018-01-15T12:53:38","slug":"spotlight-28","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/subsign.co\/stories\/spotlight-28\/","title":{"rendered":"Subsign Spotlight #028."},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"article__para\">As you may already know, we like to get in touch with artists that express their creativity through their work. So, we come back to you with another interview. Hope you will enjoy it!<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Subsign: Before we get things rolling, let\u2019s get acquainted. Tell us a few things about yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Name:<\/span>\u00a0David Gilliver.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Age:<\/span>\u00a037.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Job title:<\/span>\u00a0Professional Photographer \/ Artist.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Where you&#8217;re from:<\/span>\u00a0Glasgow, Scotland.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">A little bit about yourself:<\/span>\u00a0I am obsessed with Formula 1 and love film. I recently went to the Silverstone Grand Prix (which was amazing) and the most recent movie that I watched was Alien Covenant (7\/10).<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article__img \" src=\"https:\/\/subsign.co\/public\/img\/stories\/spotlight-28\/spt-1.jpg\" alt=\"Subsign Spotlight #028\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Subsign: What was your childhood like? Do you think your experiences from childhood have influenced your present creative endeavors?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">David:<\/span>\u00a0I had a very happy childhood and I was lucky enough to have a lot of toys when I was growing up. Toys from Star Wars, He-Man, Transformers. So yes, I can see how my childhood has influenced my work as I have always loved toys \/ figurines and creating dioramas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article__img \" src=\"https:\/\/subsign.co\/public\/img\/stories\/spotlight-28\/spt-2.jpg\" alt=\"Subsign Spotlight #028\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Subsign: How would you describe your work style?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">David:<\/span>\u00a0Playful.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article__img \" src=\"https:\/\/subsign.co\/public\/img\/stories\/spotlight-28\/spt-3.jpg\" alt=\"Subsign Spotlight #028\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Subsign: How big are the figurines?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">David:<\/span>\u00a0The figurines are HO scale, and stand at only around 2 centimetres tall. They really are pretty tiny, and so a lot of patience is required when setting up each miniature diorama. The Star Wars toys are a little larger which is why I mainly use doll\u2019s house props in these scenes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article__img \" src=\"https:\/\/subsign.co\/public\/img\/stories\/spotlight-28\/spt-4.jpg\" alt=\"Subsign Spotlight #028\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Subsign: What is your favourite subject matter and why?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">David:<\/span>\u00a0I have always enjoyed using food products in my scenes partly because I enjoy creating amusing scenes using them, but also because they help lend a real sense of scale to the figures. Taking the figurines outside also helps show off just how tiny they are.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article__img \" src=\"https:\/\/subsign.co\/public\/img\/stories\/spotlight-28\/spt-5.jpg\" alt=\"Subsign Spotlight #028\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Subsign: How do you get your ideas for the pictures?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">David:<\/span>\u00a0My ideas are normally formed in one of two ways:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"article__para\">\n<li class=\"article__list-item\">they will be inspired by looking at the figurines and working a scene around them<\/li>\n<li class=\"article__list-item\">or a prop will inspire me to build a scene around it<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article__img \" src=\"https:\/\/subsign.co\/public\/img\/stories\/spotlight-28\/spt-6.jpg\" alt=\"Subsign Spotlight #028\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Subsign: Why do you like to take pictures of the small figurines?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">David:<\/span>\u00a0The \u2018little people\u2019 fascinate me. I enjoy finding new figures frozen in a particular pose as I almost feel like I have to help them find a task to complete or be involved in, somehow helping them fulfil their purpose. Often, I place the figures in scenarios where they have a gargantuan task to complete which sometimes invokes a sense of sympathy inside of me for them. Or if I\u2019m feeling a little more playful, I will simply aim to create a scene that makes me laugh.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\">The Star Wars figures are a little easier to work with: not only are they larger (mostly around 6\u201d in size) but their joints are movable so I can bend them into different poses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article__img \" src=\"https:\/\/subsign.co\/public\/img\/stories\/spotlight-28\/spt-7.jpg\" alt=\"Subsign Spotlight #028\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Subsign: How long does it take to stage the pictures? What are the processes behind it?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">David:<\/span>\u00a0The time taken to construct each scene will vary depending on the complexity of the diorama involved. Some will take as little as 20-30 minutes to prepare, and others may take hours to get just right before I start photographing the scene with my macro lens.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\">Once I have each scene set up just the way I want it, I will photograph it from a few different angles in order to ensure that I have managed to capture the diorama effectively. Once I\u2019m happy with what I have captured, the editing process begins.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article__img \" src=\"https:\/\/subsign.co\/public\/img\/stories\/spotlight-28\/spt-8.jpg\" alt=\"Subsign Spotlight #028\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Subsign: How long have you been doing it for?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">David:<\/span>\u00a0I started creating miniature dioramas over 15 years ago during my Fine Art Photography degree at the Glasgow School of Art (1997 \u2013 2001). Miniature figurines and toys have always fascinated me and I get a lot of enjoyment from thinking up new ideas, and how to inject humour into any particular scenario.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article__img \" src=\"https:\/\/subsign.co\/public\/img\/stories\/spotlight-28\/spt-9.jpg\" alt=\"Subsign Spotlight #028\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Subsign: Is there a message in any of the pictures?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">David:<\/span>\u00a0Yes, sometimes a thought or feeling will help inspire a diorama and I will use the photograph to help convey a message.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article__img \" src=\"https:\/\/subsign.co\/public\/img\/stories\/spotlight-28\/spt-10.jpg\" alt=\"Subsign Spotlight #028\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Subsign: If the little people could speak, what do you think they would say about the positions you put them in?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">David:<\/span>\u00a0I wonder! Hopefully they would thank me for allowing them to fulfil their potential in the various scenarios they find themselves placed in. Or maybe they would tell me to stop being so silly\u2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Subsign: Where can we see more of your work?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">David:<\/span>\u00a0If anyone out there is keen on viewing a more extensive collection of my work, you can do so by heading on over to my website:<a class=\"article__link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.davidgilliver.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.DavidGilliver.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Subsign: Did you come across any difficulties creating the works?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">David:<\/span>\u00a0As always when shooting the \u2018little people\u2019 work with the tiny figurines, there were a few practical hurdles to overcome. Things like ensuring the figurines remained in place etc.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article__img \" src=\"https:\/\/subsign.co\/public\/img\/stories\/spotlight-28\/spt-11.jpg\" alt=\"Subsign Spotlight #028\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Subsign: Who do you admire as a visionary?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">David:<\/span>\u00a0<em>David Levinthal<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 I studied his work during my degree at Art School.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Subsign: What advice could you give to someone starting out in the creative field of work?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">David:<\/span>\u00a0Perseverance is key. Believe in yourself and just keep going. Things will start to happen eventually\u2026you just have to make them happen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article__img \" src=\"https:\/\/subsign.co\/public\/img\/stories\/spotlight-28\/spt-12.jpg\" alt=\"Subsign Spotlight #028\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Subsign: If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">David:<\/span>\u00a0I have always wished that I had been better at painting. I would love to be able to paint amazing landscapes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article__img \" src=\"https:\/\/subsign.co\/public\/img\/stories\/spotlight-28\/spt-13.jpg\" alt=\"Subsign Spotlight #028\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Subsign: Can you recommend for our readers a book, a song and a movie?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">David:<\/span>\u00a0Movies are my thing. 3 great films I would recommend are:\u00a0<em>The Game, The Fisher King and Vanilla Sky<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Subsign: If you could throw any kind of party, what would it be like and what would it be for?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">David:<\/span>\u00a0It would involve sunshine, red wine and a swimming pool! What would it be for? Celebrating the \u2018little\u2019 things in life\u2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article__img \" src=\"https:\/\/subsign.co\/public\/img\/stories\/spotlight-28\/spt-14.jpg\" alt=\"Subsign Spotlight #028\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">Subsign: What did you want to be as a grown up?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><span class=\"text-bold\">David:<\/span>\u00a0A Naturalist, like David Attenborough.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article__img \" src=\"https:\/\/subsign.co\/public\/img\/stories\/spotlight-28\/spt-15.jpg\" alt=\"Subsign Spotlight #028\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\">If you know a creative that should be in the spotlight feel free to contact us at\u00a0<a class=\"article__link\" href=\"mailto:jojo@subsign.co\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">jojo@subsign.co<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__para\">For more of David\u2019s work you can follow him on the links:\u00a0<a class=\"article__link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.davidgilliver.com\/photography\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">David Gilliver<\/a>,\u00a0<a class=\"article__link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.davidgilliver.com\/photography\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">David Gilliver on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As you may already know, we like to get in touch with artists that express their creativity through their work. So, we come back to you with another interview. Hope you will enjoy it! Subsign: Before we get things rolling, let\u2019s get acquainted. Tell us a few things about yourself. Name:\u00a0David Gilliver. Age:\u00a037. Job title:\u00a0Professional [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":158,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spotlight"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/subsign.co\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/subsign.co\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/subsign.co\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/subsign.co\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/subsign.co\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=189"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/subsign.co\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/subsign.co\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/158"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/subsign.co\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/subsign.co\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/subsign.co\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}