Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
If there is one thing I have learned as an artist over the years is the importance of expressing emotion in a diorama. It does not matter what the medium or story is, if there is no emotion, the work will lack the initial impact on the viewer, which ultimately determines the success of the subject.
There are no guarantees a chosen subject will work out. However, there are some key principles, when applied, that can help to get you there. It is my goal to try and share some key fundamentals, like research and layers over time, that will instill some passion and emotion in the work that will hopefully dovetail with the story you hope to tell.
One thing I try to do is build the story with out a figurine or vehicle until the very end because you never know if the scene will stand up on it's own. If it won't, then it is very unlikely that any figurine or vehicle will produce the intended goal. Focus on the scene as much as you can, and then treat the figures or vehicles as "icing on the cake."
Note: The photos used in this video are from the Archives and War Diaries of Canada.
DISCLAIMER: I pay for all the products and materials I use in this video content, unless otherwise stated. I do not receive any affiliate sponsorship, fees, funds, support, or gifts from company products, and/or any other companies, (unless otherwise stated). I only endorse products for the benefit of the community and my own personal use, apart from any indicated sponsor.
If there is one thing I have learned as an artist over the years is the importance of expressing emotion in a diorama. It does not matter what the medium or story is, if there is no emotion, the work will lack the initial impact on the viewer, which ultimately determines the success of the subject.
There are no guarantees a chosen subject will work out. However, there are some key principles, when applied, that can help to get you there. It is my goal to try and share some key fundamentals, like research and layers over time, that will instill some passion and emotion in the work that will hopefully dovetail with the story you hope to tell.
One thing I try to do is build the story with out a figurine or vehicle until the very end because you never know if the scene will stand up on it's own. If it won't, then it is very unlikely that any figurine or vehicle will produce the intended goal. Focus on the scene as much as you can, and then treat the figures or vehicles as "icing on the cake."
Note: The photos used in this video are from the Archives and War Diaries of Canada.
DISCLAIMER: I pay for all the products and materials I use in this video content, unless otherwise stated. I do not receive any affiliate sponsorship, fees, funds, support, or gifts from company products, and/or any other companies, (unless otherwise stated). I only endorse products for the benefit of the community and my own personal use, apart from any indicated sponsor.
