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Video update: The making of two giant arachnids at Seattle Center

Jake Ellison
/
KPLU

Earlier this month, we wrote about the creation of two huge “daddy longlegs” standing atop the roof of the Armory at the Seattle Center. The harvestmen, created by 3-D mural artist Marlin Peterson, cast long shadows and look pretty darn realistic (considering the widest span between leg tips is 100 feet).

Peterson has released a two-minute video showing the creation of the spiders from concept to paint:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5vogtKL-Ps

“It was simple, but difficult and technical at the same time … is that believable?” Peterson wrote on his blog.

Here’s Peterson’s rundown for how long it took to create the mural, which is primarily visible from the top of the Space Needle.

  • about 12 trips up into the Needle?
  • about 2 weeks to make the models and create the digital plan of action?
  • about 3 days making the outlines by dragging fat lumber crayons over the rough composite roof?
  • about 6 gallons of house paint of about 7 colors?
  • about 2 weeks of rolling paint?
  • about 15 4-inch rollers?
  • about $120 dollars of spray paint that I never used because it was too windy (!!)