[StephenLawson]

Originally posted by JohnReid@Dec 3 2003, 07:37 AM
[b] Hey Stephen!Fact based dioramas,Fiction based dioramas or somewhere in between? I am with the somewhere in between crowd.My dioramas are somewhat loosely based on historical facts but I would not want a historian to look at my work and take it as gospel.I believe in artistic licence within certain limits as long as the artist does not try to present the work as fact.The, is this probable standard, should be loosely applied when it comes to works of art.Cheers! John.

JohnReid; it all depends on what your focus of a diorama is. Each diorama (as defined by IPMS USA) should tell a story. If you were a witness to an historical event you would develope your own version of what you witnessed. This is based on your own experiences and education. Thats why a title is often soooo important. As it gives the viewer a hint of your point for doing the piece. Usually its very obvious but often it may only appear to be a sub-plot. This all depends on your execution of displaying the subject matter.

Being exact in representing a diorama for modelers is mostly based on the position of a machine and the action that takes place around it. Though its position can remain static for a long period of time, the action around the machine can change moment to moment. This alone allows modelers to 'tell the rest of the story' with the artistic licence you mention. I have done this with success on many occasions. Go for it!!!