Years ago, I did this sketch of ol' Burnsie lookin real mean and angry just for laughs. I tweaked his brow tight over one eye and raised over the other and gave him this intense look. Everyone liked that drawing. I remember Paul saying that it would make a great sculpture or paperweight or something. I kept it in mind and put the idea on my list of cool things I should try to do.
Then I got laid off during the writers strike. I had plenty of time to do some things and projects I simply didn't have time for while I was working on the show. I decided to dig out the Burns project.
I couldn't find the original sketch I did (I know I have it someplace in some old box of memories), so I drew up a new one with the same look on Burns. I also sketched a side view so I could push the attitude with his posture as well.
The pre-baked Burns awaits his fate in the hot oven! Indy waits with him.
You really get familiar with a character when you have to figure them out in 3 dimensions! I was constantly adjusting his posture to keep him like a vulture. It was fun figuring out how his mouth and teeth form his beaky mouth.
The roof of his mouth was really hard to paint! And the bright yellow paint I used didn't cover real well so I was paintin with yellow for a long time. Experience. The coat came out with a nice sheen to it. His tie got a shiny satin finish.
The desk is a separate piece by itself with a cradle for when Burns is displayed with it. I simply finished a piece of wood and glued stuff on it. The blotter is construction paper with foam corners. The pens and holder are sculpted.
The big red button to "release the hounds" was sculpted in 2 pieces, the button itself and the brass housing it sits in. I did this because I wanted to be able to really press the button. I glued a small bit of foam under the button so it gives and pops back when you press it.
The plaques for his desk button can be changed. They are just painted cardboard. Here are some other ideas I had.
The pens are a piece of armature wire with sculpey around it. The paint was cool on these! it was black with little bits of gold in it! Burns demands the best!
I made Burns with the original paper-weight idea in mind, so he comes off the desk display and can work on his own anywhere you put him. He looks very ominous on his own... sitting there... staring...!
Burnsie's eyes glow in the dark too! I coated his eyes with glow-in-the-dark paint, so when the lights go out, he's still staring at you. Hmm-hmm-mahh-ha-haaa...!
YOU'RE FIRED!
