Miniature Magic: Talented Artist Creates Tiny Versions of Rooms from “Harry Potter”
Many of MuggleNet’s fans are wonderfully talented, and we very much love to see all your artwork. One of these artists is Sean Valentine from South Wales. He designs miniature rooms from the scenes of Harry Potter movies. Not only do they look amazing, but even the tiniest detail has been included. I was able to speak with Mr. Valentine about his work.
Credit: Sean Valentine
Each room has as much detail as you’d expect the life-size versions to have. Candles, working light fixtures, and personal effects are all included in the scenes depending on who the room may belong to. Valentine says actualizing projects like this don’t often go according to plan – but in a good way.
Basic plans are drawn up for the cabinet they sit in and a rough plan of the room; mind you, I never really stick to the plan as your imagination goes wild when [you] make them, so things get added along the way.
Credit: Sean Valentine
The Weasley family’s kitchen and dining room look cozy and welcoming. But the scene doesn’t stop there. If you look out the faux windows and doors, you’ll see the scenery outside the room looks like a field where one might find the real-life Burrow. In the corner, you can see Mrs. Weasley’s latest knitting project magically creating itself as it seems to float above a wingback chair. On the other side of the room, a pot scrubs itself clean as it, too, looks like it magically floats above the sink.
When asked how big (or rather how tiny) these creations actually are, Mr. Valentine says they are on a 1:12 scale. This size is the standard scale for a dollhouse one might find their kids playing with. However, the materials Valentine uses are far more realistic than what you would find in any dollhouse.
I had to use new materials that I had not used before, like real sandstone and marble; [the Gryffindor common room] took about a year to make as it was being done in my spare time after work and weekends.
Credit: Sean Valentine
The Gryffindor common room features the beds of two students with all their belongings. A furnace sits in the middle of the room similar to what’s shown in the movies. Candles and lights give the room a pleasant glow. If you look closely, you can spot a mischievous Niffler sitting on a trunk.
When asked which scene was his favorite to create, Valentine says he has three:
Out of all of my miniatures, I would have to say I have 3 favorites, which are Dumbledore[‘]s [o]ffice, The [sic] Gryffindor Tower, and [t]he Great Hall, but I have only ever kept to [sic] of my miniatures, of which I have made around 15 different yet rememberable [sic] rooms from the movies.
Credit: Sean Valentine
The Great Hall is a sight to behold. Tiny table settings are placed as though students are about to walk in at any moment. A night sky can be seen through the window behind the head table, and if you look just to the right of that, you’ll catch a glimpse of the House points counter on the wall, although, from this angle, it might be a little hard to tell who will win the House Cup this year. Even the ceiling has been enchanted to look like the night sky, and candles hang to give more light.
I’m sure you’re curious to know where Valentine acquired many of these tiny pieces to make the rooms. I was too, so I asked him.
When making the miniatures, I buy materials from around the world to create them; I always use a camera to look at the miniatures, and if it looks real and [like] a full[-]size room, then I know I have done it right. I also use many other talented artisans from across the globe to make certain items that I am unable to do myself, and I buy some of the furniture in [sic], and a lot of it gets taken apart and redone differently to get the effect I am looking for.
Credit: Sean Valentine
I’d like to extend a special thank you to Sean Valentine for sharing his creations with MuggleNet. If you have a creation you’d like to be featured, email all relevant information to submissions@staff.mugglenet.com.
