The marionettes shown on this page were created as the result of a joint art project that my partner Joe and myself decided to collaborate on back in the summer of 1995. They are all fully operational and stand approximately 28 inches high, plus at least the same again for the strings and the perch (control mechanism.)
The idea for their creation came about one day, as we were talking about the fact that as a child, I had love of puppets, and could regularly be found trying to make them out of all sorts of bits and bobs (I also made some great puppet theatres out of cardboard boxes!)
Joe, as well as being incredibly creative, has a fascination for making things work and a knack for helping to make my visions a reality. So after some time spent researching stringing arrangements and operating mechanisms etc. one by one they started to be born.
Their creation was very labour intensive, with heads, hands and feet having to be modelled first in plasticene before moulds could be taken, then the moulds had to be made and finally filled. Even then a lot of filing and sanding was needed to get them to a stage where they were finally ready for painting.
The bodies were made from wood, before being strategically padded. They were also fully jointed, to give them movement that was as realistic as their looks. Then came the hair (the dark haired marionette dressed in black, has tiny gold beads threaded in hers) the hats, and finally the clothes. All designed and hand made with amazing attention to detail.
(This was written whilst watching Joe at work)
Marionette Maker
You fashion tiny people with your hands.
Plasticene and good reception,
make you creator.
You control their destiny,
...your channel, pure.
Your strong hands, deft.
Stroking, and smoothing,
the features appear, as if by magic.
And the child is born.
You give them hips, and lips,
soulful eyes, that follow your every move.
Blocks of wood…bodies now,
casually lounge, joint perfect.
Awaiting their various heads, hands and feet.
Waiting for you to bring them alive.
You painted her tiny face onto a dull grey surface,
and as you painted, I saw the smile appear on her face,
it lit up her eyes.
A thank you perhaps, for her existence, for not interfering,
for allowing her to be.
(Adam is creating Eve from one of his ribs)
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As you will see from the photos, the marionettes were created with two distinct styles. Two of the marionettes are incredibly realistic, (as well as being very beautiful). They both still live at home with us at present, though the blonde one can be very willful and often expresses a desire to leave! :-)
The other two are out in the world living their own lives!! The blonde marionette in the yellow dungarees was given to my niece for her eleventh birthday and has been well loved. Whilst the other was sold to a gentlemen who uses him as part of his act in his job as a children's entertainer.
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