Whale Shark Puppet

After some time away and gaining insight, inspiration and a clear head...
It was time to get serious about making puppets.
With the "Tea Cart" still in production, I put it aside and began work on a new puppet - a Whale Shark.

First...some research followed by a few design sketches and form concepts...
And then it was time to find the wood...
Some of you who know my work, may recognise the selected chunk.
It is the base used for the "thylacine" puppet...
It is a piece of "beef wood" - an Australian wood that is very rare and has a very unique grain pattern. This was also selected as I was searching for a grain pattern that would resemble the pattern on the back of a whale shark.
On with the rough cutting...And blocking out ...
And after a lot of work...The grain patter worked brilliantly!
Both hand carving tools and Arbortech power carving tools were used to get the Whale Shark to this stage.


Stay tuned as this Whale Shark enters the final stages of birth...