The Marionette maker

  I have always been fascinated by marionettes - and have a few which I have collected over the years.  They hang happily around my house and studio and I have an affinity with them and their characters.  The making of marionettes and puppets has also always beckoned so I decided to that now was the time to pursue the construction of this very complicated, multi faceted and dying art form.

There is a lot to learn - not just the stringing and movement but also the weighting of the marionettes.

I will document my attempts - they wont be great but I am determined that now is the best time to move forward .  In part it reflects my feelings about figures versus hangings somehow marionettes are considered more acceptable but to heck with that - I am just constructing because it has been a long time in my head to make one, two or maybe more.

 

So yesterday I set to the task and began the process - I love the body language posibilities this offers me - something which I have struggled with  with my figures- but something that I have consciously worked with - so far so good.

So hopefully today I will proceed with papier mache covering and possible stringing so she (??) can hang around too.

Thanks for the comments.- much appreciated.

Zaz;0)

figures versus hangings

Over the years I have constantly worked with both figures-(3 dimensional form)  and hangings.  I prefer to work 3dimensionally and naturally drawn to express myself in that way but commercially it is pictures and hangings that sell most.

I struggle with the desciptions of my figures - are they dolls? or not ?  I dislike the term 'doll' but am unsure why - it is just a name but the time, design element and work that goes into my figures is way above that that I dedicate to pictures and hangings.  I am always striving for a new figure - always experimenting, always searching for new materials and methods.

This dilema rears again now with the prospect of the  'open studio' period - I find myself working with figures but feeling guilty that I should be producing hangings to sell.

 

Currently I am working with wood and papier mache - a new idea and technique although both media I have worked with before but separately.  These figures will be painted . stitched and finished ready for open studio  - and the development into further models will continue.

The big question for me is......................do I work with hangings or continue unashamedly with my figures?

Zaz;0)

towards the light

I guess I need the light to inspire me and in these dark wintry days it can be so hard to get going.  We have had some snow but not so much to worry about - and the light from the window on to my little ship that sits on the window sill provides a glow that warms my heart.

 

Today is a studio day with decisions to  be made about where my work is going, as well  as experiments with new figures - also exciting.

zaz;0)

on the work table

I am readdressing my wooden figures that I believe have so much potential but something that got missed when life got in the way!

Carved wood, balsa , soft wood - together with material and paper - now what can go be wrong with that ?

still working - zaz;0)