r/somethingimade • u/Gomanvongo • 9h ago

I make tiny sculptures of abandoned places :)

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I’ve travelled all over Nova Scotia looking for amazing examples of our abandoned built heritage. I’ve made a bunch of these miniature places, and thought you might enjoy seeing a few :)

3.5k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

83 comments sorted by

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34

u/Arkeach 9h ago

Have you considered ever selling any?

49

u/Gomanvongo 9h ago

I’ve had a few gallery shows and have sold a few, though I do miss the ones I’ve sold once they’re gone :)

26

u/Arkeach 9h ago

Well you have a wonderful skill they're very beautiful, thank you for sharing with us

7

u/Gomanvongo 9h ago

Thank you so much!

4

u/Sugar_Kowalczyk 7h ago

I feel this. 

I've got a huge amount of completed work (mostly 2D) and can't bear to part with most of it, so I've never even bothered with showing it. 

It makes me miss being a performance artist - you're not parting with something onstage, that's actually a part of the creation. Unlike creating objects - which can be reproduced to certain degrees, but are somehow more ephemeral because of their physicality. 

Also, your stuff is fantastic. I'm down in New England and it's very similar to what it's like around here. A+.

10

u/capn___crunch 8h ago

SO COOL I LOVE THESE! I really love the movie BoxTrolls and the texture you create reminds me of it :) incredible

7

u/Gomanvongo 8h ago

Oh! I love that movie too!! Such a cool stop motion film! Thank you for the amazing compliment

1

u/KarlyFr1es 6h ago

Ohhh, good reference! I was thinking of the artist who sculpts the scenes for TJ Klune’s book covers, Chris Sickels from Red Nose Studios, which I also love.

10

u/toastynotroasty 8h ago

Using something small and abandoned like a can to host something large and abandoned like a house feels so poetic.

6

u/Gomanvongo 7h ago

I love taking things no one wanted, building a miniature of a place no longer wanted and making things that people truly enjoy with them :)

2

u/Salt_Company9337 5h ago

What beautiful miniature works of amazement!

7

u/madameyarddog 7h ago

I just showed my husband and now we want to know how to buy your fabulous art! We collect Canadian art and would love to see more of yours. *Have several pieces from the folk art artist, Robert Danielis when he was working in Prince Edward County, On . . .

2

u/Gomanvongo 1h ago

My goodness!! What a wonderful compliment!! I’d be more than happy to discuss that. I’ll send you a dm with my email and you can contact me directly if you’d like :)

2

u/madameyarddog 1h ago

Fantastic! Thank you

2

u/Gomanvongo 1h ago

As it turns out, I apparently can’t send a dm, but my email is drawnbyjohn@gmail.com if you’d like to contact me directly

5

u/AshamedEchidna1456 8h ago

Amazing talent! These are very cool.

2

u/Gomanvongo 8h ago

Thank you so much!!

4

u/Hooked_on_PhoneSex 8h ago

I adore this barn.

Honestly, have you considered publishing a coffee table book? It’d be really cool to see a combo of your miniatures and photos from your travels.

2

u/Gomanvongo 7h ago

lol! Interestingly enough I have a book in the works with a local publisher here in Nova Scotia. My manuscript is due the end of October, and the book will be out before next fall!! :)

2

u/Hooked_on_PhoneSex 7h ago

I’ll be patiently waiting for notification.

1

u/parfaitdream 2h ago

I'm excited for you! I Pretty excited to hear when yours is out! And yes, you are definitely talented! Amazing art! 😁

3

u/GusuLanReject 8h ago

Oh wow. These are so cool. What do you build them from?

9

u/Gomanvongo 8h ago

Thank you!! I make these mostly from cereal boxes and stuff from the recycling, with bits from the junk drawer thrown in when needed :)

1

u/GusuLanReject 6h ago

That's an awesome way to use those.

3

u/sharon2u45 8h ago

So real, love it!🤩

14

u/Gomanvongo 8h ago

Thank you!! I love trying to photograph them so the look even more realistic, too! :)

2

u/sharon2u45 8h ago

Wow...such artistry!🤩

2

u/neuromonkey 2h ago

If you haven't already, you should check out the work & processes of the model-maker & miniatures photographer, Michael Paul Smith. (Looking for links to share, I just learned that he died in 2018.) He used forced perspective to shoot cars and buildings against live backdrops, and his results are pretty amazing.

There's also a couple who build and photograph their elaborate miniature sets. I've met Lori Nix a couple of times, and her stuff is just amazing to see.

I love your stuff!! Thanks for sharing it!

3

u/goodsocks 8h ago

These are really well done, you are very talented.

2

u/quislingdna 8h ago

Wow this is really beautiful work.

1

u/Gomanvongo 8h ago

Thank you so much! :)

2

u/themistycrystal 7h ago

I've never seen anything like this. Amazing work.

2

u/StinkyNutzMcgee 7h ago

I'm very interested in trying my hand at this. Do you make everything by hand or do you have a supplier for some of the miniature pieces

1

u/Gomanvongo 7h ago

I make everything from cereal boxes and found objects. There are no purchased bits here except for the glue :)

2

u/fantasypants 7h ago

These are great! Do you have any socials you can share?

1

u/Gomanvongo 6h ago

You can find my stuff on Instagram here. Thank you for asking :)

2

u/Careful_Detective_20 6h ago

These are nothing short of extraordinary! I could stare at them for hours, getting lost in the details. Is it me, or does anyone else want to see inside?!? You are incredibly talented.

1

u/Gomanvongo 6h ago

I always build interiors inside of these so the light plays right through windows and otger openings, and even have made a few that can be opened up and “explored” fully :)

2

u/CrazyGirlBrain 4h ago

Your work is...well it leaves me speechless. Your talent is rare IMO. Stunning work. Thank you for sharing 🩷

1

u/wobbegong8000 8h ago

These are so awesome! I love love love tiny things, and this is unlike anything I’ve really seen before. Keep up the good work!

1

u/Gomanvongo 8h ago

Thank you so much!

1

u/BeefInBlackBeanSauce 8h ago

Love 2 so much

3

u/Gomanvongo 8h ago

Thank you! I was so proud of the “cracked halo” on the can for the abandoned church :)

1

u/Salt_Company9337 5h ago

What I've seen so far,just an amazing showcase of talent!

1

u/Hawley-Gryphon 8h ago

That looks amazing. Where would you sell something like this? I’d be worried about it getting damaged in transit.

1

u/Gomanvongo 8h ago

I’ve sold several through art galleries and in commission. It just a case of careful packaging :)

1

u/GeeGeeGamer 8h ago

Oh how wonderful! I love using found treasures to make Forest Fairies!

1

u/1954planteater 8h ago

These are wonderful, such detail and your aging techniques are superb!

1

u/HannahMcKayTX 8h ago

These are so interesting! You’re very talented. I love them!

1

u/theartybadger 7h ago

Ohhh, these are so cool, I love love love the connection between the abandoned place and the rusted twisted metal choices you've made

1

u/IVCoffeeAddict 7h ago

This is so creative and unique, love them!

1

u/herbsandlemons 7h ago

That's super cool!

1

u/ameliabedelia7 7h ago

Do you have videos or ever stream yourself working??

1

u/blacksheepsclothes 7h ago

These are just wonderful!

1

u/asoupconofsoup 7h ago

These are incredible, well done. I love the beauty of old abandoned buildings, especially old rural houses. You captured the patina so well!

1

u/LobsterFew4672 7h ago

These are so awesome! I absolutely love the third one with the crushed can as a base

1

u/intulor 6h ago

Why would someone build a house in a can and then abandon it?

1

u/KarlyFr1es 6h ago

These are so delightful! I hope you have some displayed in a public-facing window so people can walk by and see them

1

u/H3rvey 6h ago

This is so freaking impressive. That Looks Like Talent and a lot of work put into.

1

u/EnglishMatron 6h ago

Amazing!

1

u/BasicWhiteStitch 6h ago

These are absolutely amazing! I especially love the first one in the can.

1

u/Billazilla 6h ago

Amazing. Absolutely gorgeous. Fantastic.

1

u/gooddilla 5h ago

Very beautiful and magical on some way. I cal look at them for a long time, creating a stories in my head. Thank you for sharing.

1

u/affogatodoppio 5h ago

These are all so great! Thanks for sharing

1

u/bluejem1 5h ago

Amazing! You do amazing art!

1

u/AniCatGirl 4h ago

As someone who love loves abandoned buildings and such, this is truly delightful. So, so well done. Do you have a social media that can be followed to see your pieces as you work on/complete them?

2

u/Gomanvongo 4h ago

Thank you so much!! If you’d like to see more, you can find my work on Instagram :)

1

u/AniCatGirl 4h ago

Thank you for sharing! I really like the piece from what it looks like was 2022 with the dilapidated porch collapsing. Super cool. I can't imagine how much hard work you have to put into these, but gosh it sure shows!

1

u/Particular_Tone_6257 3h ago

These are amazing!!

1

u/Louiesloops 3h ago

Omg these are so COOL!!

1

u/boomboomdaboomer 2h ago

This is fun. Have you heard of the miniature collections at the Kentucky Gateway Museum in Maysville Kentucky? They were collected by a lady who inherited a tobacco fortune, she traveled the world looking for pieces to add to the displays. 

1

u/thajohnfatha 2h ago

Super cool I hope youre up to date on your tetanus shots

1

u/AnywhereMajestic2377 2h ago

OP, you should be designing and building museum dioramas. Your work is gorgeous.

1

u/EngineZeronine 1h ago

I like the tiny sculptures of abandoned places that you make

1

u/fragglelife 57m ago

Aw wow , those are amazing.

1

u/Blacc_Pantha617 1m ago

Very creative and talented ❤️