Mr Punch is in Prison!

All the mechanism is strung and tested. Just a few little finishing touches to go and then I will make a film!

Another Automaton with Mechanism from Above

I have finished this Cat Girl puppet

 and the mechanism box

 so if I can get the mechanism to work I will post a video later. I am hoping that her hands and tail will move and if not she can just be a still puppet.

Puppet Character with Ladybirds

A girl very carefully catching ladybirds. 

A Fabric Beetle

After being bothered by stink bugs I've had a go at making a fabric beetle. I thought this may be just the character that I need to add a bit of drama to some unfinished works.

He has a good creepy underside. I am going to enjoy making more beetles.

And now this problem piece has a sort of group dynamic and some composition.

Half Finished Things

After a few weeks of drawing I am going back to finish characters that had been half finished and very unresolved. I am still not sure about this one but I love her dress and her flower friend.

As I am posting this I have already had a better idea for the bugs in her hands. I think as she looks so disinterested the bugs that she's holding need to be doing something spectacular.

These two are a bit too benign. Agghhh still unresolved!

Automaton of a Bug in a Box is Finished

Painting done and bug made, this is my favorite automaton so far and she still slams that lid with a good smack.

A few seconds looking at the bug and then smack! and the lid is shut.

Automaton of a Bug in an Box

Another automaton at the test stage. This one is based on a comment from the fabulously talented printmaker Sue Brown re. not letting people know that you are collecting dead insects as your friends may send you samples in match boxes which can be disarming!! So this is the sketch I made after her comment. 

And here is the automaton in the raw.

I did try to make a match box but the friction of the box inner and shell kept jamming, at the moment this has a good slam to the lid. I have a little shaping and sanding still to finish but I can't wait to get painting and making a disarming bug. 

Sue's work is wonderful and she has a beautiful blog!

A Puppet Character that is Keeping Very Still

I have combined my recent experiments in making bugs and in aging/distressing fabric to dress and accessorise this latest Puppet Character. She is keeping very still because she has wasps in her hair.

 I haven't quite got my fabric insects to look as creepy as the real thing and I'm not sure really I want to.

Wooden Figures with Bugs

Another group of wooden figures, mainly because I enjoyed making the bugs. I have started a macabre collection of found dead insects with the aim of getting a more lifelike finished fabric bug.  These were meant to be cute bugs but I do want some less friendly and as yet I just can't make them as terrifying as the real thing.