As a professional artist with many years in model and puppetry making, I can help you with bringing your project and ideas to life.
Models
Being able to “think in three dimensions” enables me to visualise the end result, which is a big advantage when building models. I have made numerous boats, planes, buildings, ships in bottles, through to realistic animals of all sorts.
Some of the larger things I’ve made have been life-sized whales, like the 8m male orca (killer whale) that graced the ceiling at the Picton Aquarium for years. Some of the other life-sized whales have been inflatable, including one when a local radio station broadcast ran their morning session from inside a humpback! My model of the extinct NZ eagle, the Harpogornis with its 3m wingspan hangs in Nelson Museum.
I have made numerous birds, some as decoys for research purposes, others for displays. All NZ’s penguins, several albatrosses, dolphins, sharks and many other fish, turtles, and two massive 2m long weta for Wellington Zoo have all been created. And also designed and built educational / interactive visitor displays in four DoC visitor centres and in three aquariums.
Talk to me about your project and what I can do for you.
Puppets
Puppets allow the operator to step ‘outside themselves’ because the ‘performance’ transfers to the puppet. This makes puppets incredibly versatile allowing people who don’t normally have the confidence to perform on their own to feel comfortable.
I have created many hand puppets, string-controlled marionettes, finger puppets, full body animal costumes and character hats. I have even turned drivable cars into animal characters! Some puppets are so real most people think they are alive, while others are obviously caricatures, depending on the requirements.
I run puppet making workshops so people can try making their own puppets.
Get in touch with me to talk ideas and make the world alot more fun!
