Vettes of Atlanta Magazine Corvette Diorama Captures A Moment In Time How do you capture a moment in time? Many would instinctively reach for their cell phone to take a photo, but what if your artistic talents ran deeper?...
Vettes of Atlanta Magazine
Corvette Diorama Captures A Moment In Time
Rod Witmer – Diorama Artist Corvette Cruisers of Atlanta
How do you capture a moment in time?
Many would instinctively reach for their cell phone to take a photo, but what if your artistic talents ran deeper? What if you wanted to breathe life into that moment and create a three-dimensional reenactment?
If you’re Rod Witmer, a founding member of Corvette Cruisers of Atlanta, you create a diorama.
As you students of Greek recall, the term “diorama” comes from the Greek “dia” (through) and “orama” (view). In the 19th century, it referred to a painted scene that changed appearance depending on the lighting.
The world of dioramas has expanded and thus captured the imagination of many for generations. This art form blends imagination, craftsmanship, and artistic creativity.
The culmination is a scene with breathtaking detail and realism that conveys a story.
So you can imagine our excitement when we got an invitation to visit Rod’s workshop and look at a Corvette diorama nearing completion.
Artistic Outlet
Rod Worley – Editor – Even at a casual glance, your diorama grabs your attention. How long have you been creating them, and why a car theme?
Rod Witmer – Diorama Artist – Thanks; well, I started building dioramas about 25 years ago. Over those years, I’ve built around 45 to 50 of these.
It’s an artistic outlet that lets me unwind and create something deeply personal for others. The theme usually revolves around vehicles because I like the contours and design of cars.
Basically, I’m just a car guy at heart who has been building model cars since I was a kid. That’s back when Revell, Monogram, and Aurora were the big three model companies.
I remember being enamored by all those little pieces when you opened the box. Some people would quickly put the lid back on the box when they saw all those pieces. I saw it as a challenge.
It Has To “Wow” Me
Rod Worley – Editor – The symmetry and balance of your dioramas are terrific. What scale do you use?
Rod Witmer – Diorama Artist – This diorama is on a 1/24 scale. They have 1/25 and 1/32 scales, which are popular too.
They’re popular because so much is available at those three scales to add realism and help tell the story. In this piece, the car is the focal point, but everything else has to be on the correct scale and look like it belongs.
That attention to detail extends to minor details like shrubbery, vines, and signage. Even when you have a concept in mind and have all the pieces, it still has to tell a story.
It has to “Wow” me when it’s completed; if it doesn’t, I take it apart and start over. Ultimately, I want the diorama to impact the recipient and move them on an emotional level.
Attention To Detail
Rod Worley – Editor – Your art has layers that quietly emerge as you study it more. How do you create such detail?
Rod Witmer – Diorama Artist – Attention to detail is just part of my nature and part of why it takes me 20 to 60 hours to create one.
Car model kits and store-purchased accessories can only take you so far when recreating realistic scenes. Often, you’ve got to get creative to take it to the next level.
For example, I use sewing thread for ignition wires on my 1/24 scale engines. I’ve removed the copper from really fine electrical wiring and used the casing for radiator hoses.
Sometimes, you have to research on YouTube to figure out how to make something. Let’s say you want to create a tarp; how do you make one?
Well, you could buy a pack of handy wipes and dry them out. Then, you do a 50% mix of Elmer’s glue and water.
You drape the dried handy wipe over the desired area and then saturate it with the mixture. It will harden in a day or two, and you can paint it.
The extra time and attention to detail bring these dioramas to life. If I was driving down the road and looked over to see it, that’s how I want it to look.
Bringing Stories To Life
There are educational, artistic, entertainment, and interactive dioramas today, but ultimately, they go beyond being a scaled representation.
The true magic of a diorama lies in the ability to bring stories to life in three dimensions.
Nor are they just static pieces; they embody moments and events while evoking emotions and wonderment.
Spend some time with one of these from Rod Witmer, and you’ll experience how they uniquely capture a moment in time.
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