This is the first of 6 figures I will be making for this project. I'm pretty happy the way it turned out and I love to see the how the marionette moves with all those strings.....
His hands - one's carved and one's just started.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFfk6qHILf2WZk3rcDchUu0sjt56MV7rPfDt9tIs2kN-qxVrlDt3rxGoHmQEYSYo6W8vcRTw2TrWCQCWSpJchUQFMqtkT6-D5wfrDkOrMZ-HVY_QRkMu5qPHMwzYQVjYa6zE42HY04W4/s400/Hands1.jpg)
I'm actually making 2 copies of our hero - one is a full marionette and the other is a seated figure whose arms will move via rods from underneath. I "cast" the front of the head, (using more polymer clay), so they would be identical.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfX9KzP0BwxwQwDy3fWAFWIX-odct8mr24tP2D-gZ4d9tkcO8RLrrluZItSJvgwrvbzUKkIXpylVfMWC9nLaGyxfU5OQbhyRU4Eu4n4tNPH3pRS0NWKGLzeFRHXke1Z7fTK-noUQz7mQ8/s400/2+bodies.jpg)
All the arms, legs, boots, and heads - painted and aged - ready to be assembled.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLzfEDHheqZxoqH0qarFstHiDHYjxbwAbWXjgecNvvBx_Vsg8e6uNklZl_AeDUw7Pu-XF-7VHlThxwt3i5XP07Pe6V-LQiBdxSoa-lI16DCHRCMbJNCGQqM4teql2hlr-zPgh0GbsGOw/s400/Body+parts.jpg)
Dressing the seated figure.
Sometimes it seems like assembling a puzzle; they have to be put together in a specific order. I've learned this order after making a few frustrating mistakes in the past. Luckily, on these two figures, the vests can be slipped on from the back, which is not always the case.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT58gH3VMT9PFk4Um-qVDqWS7osttCmLrHpeJKVNZ3D1wH5CNkkX2rXA5kjBwz9iofoOSN9cChPSFz8z493rSLFtYlfbmHydm2BIKGzJ0QFw0ZUwJrVraVGyfOxGl-XChzhFS8U8VK4zQ/s400/Body+5.jpg)
The marionettes' body ready to be dressed. His socks are felt.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6igW_SGGvUgyBpnZdZuwefZ0cQSPX1Pb7NQxRqlmkQAy882HFY3MSWSjT-TwKLDHE73hsfuTISEV7EWlnGJrSgiZ2tB3HaiG0JiAzY9CCdIanZlA7mqcQLmo9_k5921Pz0ZosQfVyqFw/s400/Body+6.jpg)
His boots are ready to go on after his pants are on.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPzxC1upNlBtniB6FsLcBvdaA9Sx6dTyq2zMs_DW6mC_7WbtqUp8ZT4idnC_bF9kJpwEZUSUE01WrHrQ3GQz-TP50w8UA05_pTE61KWQdklRASNcMTw0Fh2hoHPgmnhk71CXeU8vretw/s400/Shoes+3.jpg)
Adding the strings to the the marionette - 12 in all.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0y8376ywUJoNzQpDg0o31JFUp92u-udQOOE9ghMhYGD82R_HN_1RTGq2wQnPSggdxTowgmCjd8mDtkmqprnjRc4ILBVTrOywARakAsV3OYqJKJJegkdzzumGsNfi_vuB0AZ5uB8BQYg/s400/Body+7.jpg)
His head showing the 3 strings that control the movement.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVUQ-Houh-GSre5-Hjm6Nr0TVqlYk35OkS9cx77k7Aj3c1KCKzORBaEhP5lQYHAGhd3VVm30BOJRNhsZCPKJaj4CXsSJJJeQWf2RMoBJg4gYNLg_85xW4WI_IJJ3HfMh5ER16A9WTS1M/s400/Head+2.jpg)
Stringing up the marionette. He seems a little dejected without his head.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYH4xiI1qG8Id282nEU22W4BMhxFBb2b4831eMVDWWUX7QmXCbIumhTC7c5MpWIoJiiDCEKIn04kcgVO_y8MqgnMfpfM4zoJApBgWKx66beu8bz9OMeGt3E1wez-5hT3AboHj-2z1XSsY/s400/Body+8.jpg)
All finished! except for maybe a little tweaking for functionality. He is approx. 18" tall.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_ve1VqVQ9vl7rtPKNNw0faHNp8_YjgGA-8TqniAQBHtC8gI318-cmGbp5tSRVXM1kEDcUpCA8sdeLhCxRRvpAUFQJ2JsXjT_OUdZMtvwtJb_xDvBiHho7HkuEtYRMblEXDM0-Xsbad0/s400/Body+9.jpg)
His back, showing his awesome European shoulder bag.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8Wqp6yaYtKHYHZGIM_ipKdKLOZNIaaZcj9zF1iQjvpzFiOB3NFyBDWdSpvlLBMbjb65o-hW3Ugp7oSIBEgV003ANadcFbXBp0BvzDym2ort37HB2JGs1VUWqYKQLVEzc3Le2uwCJOiM/s400/Body+10.jpg)
More to come. Next is the Fortune Teller............
What kind of wood do you use?
ReplyDeleteHi memira, I use basswood, sometimes called linden or lime wood.
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful, Tom
ReplyDeleteThanks Mark!
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