August 2020, Sculpted by Carol Willett
Jousting Rabbit
Impoverished Medieval knights unable to pay for a horse nevertheless wanted to make their ride look impressive.
This rabbit, embellished with ribbon, buttons, braid, gears, armor and pinwheel is all ready for show in the jousting lists. His Pin-Wheel helps reduce drag on the tight turns.
Sculpted in papier, cloth mache and foam board.
Jousting Snail
Medieval knights low on funds, nonetheless, wanted to make their ride look impressive.
This snail is resplendent with gold gilt trim, extravagant carving, elegantly set glass beads, kitten’s paw shells and gold braid. The leopard print along his lower body gives him speed.
Jousting Frog
Out of pocket Medieval knights still wanted their jousting mounts to look impressive. This frog is colorful with hand painted fabric flowers, dichroic glass beads and a gold chain halter. His red throat pouch is expanded as he croaks a warning to other contenders. His riding rig on top resembles an Indian elephant Hathi Howdah.
Jousting Pig
If you simply must ride a Pig to the big tournament, the least you can do is to “pimp your ride”.
This Medieval porker is resplendent with yellow jingle shells, colored faux pearls, umbonium shells, silver braid and an augur studded riding cage. He reminds me of the highly ornamented elephants I met in India.
Ship of the Desert
Out of pocket Medieval knights still wanted their jousting mounts to look impressive. This frog is colorful with hand painted fabric flowers, dichroic glass beads and a gold chain halter. His red throat pouch is expanded as he croaks a warning to other contenders. His riding rig on top resembles an Indian elephant Hathi Howdah.
Camels have long been known as “ships of the desert”. This one combines the best of both the four-legged variety and the elegant Arab Dhows that sail the Nile and the Red Sea.
This is one of my few sculptures sporting fake eyelashes. His saddle is made of soft fur, his neck ropes of hemp braid and he has a genuine antique silver amulet from Yemen acting as an outrigger panel.
Witness Protection Mascot
Even the Department of Justice Witness Protection Program needs a mascot. Who better to do it than a Chameleon with green eye-frill, rainbow patchwork legs and feet and a leopard motif? I think the dragonfly on top is his handler.
When Owls Dream
Out of pocket Medieval knights still wanted their jousting mounts to look impressive. This frog is colorful with hand painted fabric flowers, dichroic glass beads and a gold chain halter. His red throat pouch is expanded as he croaks a warning to other contenders. His riding rig on top resembles an Indian elephant Hathi Howdah.
In our dreams we can be anything and anyone we imagine. When Owls dream, they may explore what it would be like to become a Giraffe, Snake, Bee, Chameleon, Salmon, Horseshoe Crab, Luna Moth or even a Dragonfly.
This one has developed personas across species.
Dandy Lion
In Regency England, a top hat, monocle and lush bow tie were obligatory at the theatre and all formal events. This lion is most decidedly a Dandy – his mane resembles the straw like petals of the yellow flowered weeds that grace my garden.
Regal Eagle
Eagles are not the most colorful of birds. If they could choose, they might go for the mosaic look of crushed seashells, glass beads and gold buttons. This one is intricately carved from insulating foam and wears a beaded dragonfly torque around its neck.
Bug Mobile
For 20 years I happily drove a yellow VW “Bug”. This little car is one that a snail might proudly take on the road. Its pinwheel provides extra propulsion.
It is encrusted with fired clay ornaments, buttons, beads and faux pearls as well as a great many gears that serve no purpose other than to look really nifty.
Verne’s Fish
The imagination of Jules Verne has always filled me with admiration. His creative mechanics fueled what we now think of as Steam Punk style. Had he also been a biologist he might have invented this version of a heavily ornamented mechanical fish encrusted with fired clay squiggles, leaves and dots. There is also a periscope on top which might come in handy.
Verne’s Turtle
If Jules Verne had designed a turtle, I bet it would have had wheels and steam generator. This one also boasts a pinwheel, lots of gears and nifty orange dots. It is carved from foam board with fired clay and metal accents. White Umbonium shells fill the gaps in its shell
Verne’s Frog
Jules Verne had a genius for expanding on the core characteristics of a thing and then going way over the top. A frog built to his specifications might be covered in shiny warts, have a huge spring gear in its hind legs and a green pinwheel for good measure. Pockets are filled with small pearl umbonium shells.
Verne’s Nautilus
Yes, I know the mechanical one was meant to operate at 20,000 leagues under the sea, but this one is a model that has not changed since the time of the dinosaurs. It is a coal-powered Chambered Nautilus with steam-punky gears, buttons, periscope and fired clay exhaust tubes. That’s a real starfish at the edge of its tentacles.
Verne’s Pelican
I’ve always assumed that Pelicans are paddling like crazy as they bob on the waves – perhaps with the aid of a water wheel? This one is lavishly embellished with fired clay, feather and fabric flower, and lots and lots of beads. The handmade glass eye is keeping watch.
Verne’s Crawdad
Ripe with white Umbonium shells, metal gears, gold buttons and ruby cabochons, this mechanical Crawdad is ready to party. He is carved from foam board with a hot knife.
Verne’s Rhino
This steam punk version of an African Rhino is keeping a close eye on the colorful butterfly perched on his horn. He is carved from foam board and sports gears, sundial, clock parts, an anchor, gold chain and a gilded dragon.
Pi-Rat
He is dastardly and dangerous with his steak-knife sword, but also appreciates the value of higher mathematics – hence the symbol for “Pi” tattooed on his bicep. His teeth and sharp nails are made of white augur shells. He has a glass bead bracelet and requisite gold earring that every pirate needs.
Bee-lzebub
I was admiring the bumble bees on our butterfly bush when this pun came to mind. This is a bee who admires steam punk and probably has connections with the underworld. A blue dragonfly on his abdomen is along for the ride.
Whale on Vacation
Shy and retiring creatures that they are, most Whales prefer to fly (rather than swim) when they go on vacation. Two blimps and any number of pin wheels are involved. In order to be inconspicuous, whales cloak themselves in feathers so that people will simply mistake them for large birds.
Peligrosso
Gross denotes things that are large, and ungainly. Peli is the first half of the word Pelican. Peligrosso in Spanish means dangerous or troublesome. Put them altogether and you get a large, dangerous 18th century Pirate Pelican with a real attitude. His wings are tooled black leather topped with fold lace, his dagger juts just right from his cummerbund, and the red feather in his hat warns you that this is one bird that offers no quarter.
Best Friends
Shy and retiring creatures that they are, most Whales prefer to fly (rather than swim) when they go on vacation. Two blimps and any number of pin wheels are involved. In order to be inconspicuous, whales cloak themselves in feathers so that people will simply mistake them for large birds.
Sometimes we love our friends because of (rather than in spite of) their warts – especially when they remind them of ourselves. This ornately dressed Renaissance monster with horns, tusks and warts is fondly contemplating his pet frog who wartily looks right back.
I had enormous fun with this costume. It’s yarn and silk and decoupage and beads and buttons and paint – Oh, my!
Hare Krishna
Gross denotes things that are large, and ungainly. Peli is the first half of the word Pelican. Peligrosso in Spanish means dangerous or troublesome. Put them altogether and you get a large, dangerous 18th century Pirate Pelican with a real attitude. His wings are tooled black leather topped with fold lace, his dagger juts just right from his cummerbund, and the red feather in his hat warns you that this is one bird that offers no quarter.
Here is a throwback to the bunnies of the late 1960’s that used to hang around the Haight Ashbury district of San Francisco. They were especially prominent around the airport. I remember them for always offering orange flowers in exchange for a donation.
This one is executed in papier and cloth mache with wire whiskers, hand made eyes and fabric flowers.
Hare Stylist
This is the famous bunny who cuts, curls and colors the hair of Hares. She has a gem-laden tiara, accents of lavender bows at the wrists and waist of her gold, pale orange and sumptuous purple silk brocade harem-pants. Her own whiskers have been meticulously curled. She can’t wait to get her paws on your hair!
The Fine Art of Self Defense
Gross denotes things that are large, and ungainly. Peli is the first half of the word Pelican. Peligrosso in Spanish means dangerous or troublesome. Put them altogether and you get a large, dangerous 18th century Pirate Pelican with a real attitude. His wings are tooled black leather topped with fold lace, his dagger juts just right from his cummerbund, and the red feather in his hat warns you that this is one bird that offers no quarter.
If you want a thing done right, it’s best to do it yourself. This little fantail goldfish is doing its best to imitate the fierce reef shark. Its driftwood base from the Alligator River here in NC has two tiny crabs, a mound of kitten’s paw seashells and offers several hidey holes if the shark’s fin does.t deter predators.
Sculpted of papier mache.
Admiral-Tea
Puffins are staunch and adorable seabirds who “fly” underwater. This one was conscripted into the British Navy (you can see a sailing ship on the teapot) and rapidly rose to the rank of admiral. Here you see him in his Napoleonic-Era British splendor, all buttons and brass and braid (even on his cocked hat). Atop his silk ribbon nest he presides over afternoon tea. This is one of my “Tea Pet” series.
Punctuali-Tea
As I learned in the military, punctuality is next to godliness, because if you are late, all is lost. That’s the message of this Alice-in-Wonderland-ish White Rabbit on its way to afternoon tea. It has clocks on both sides of the decorative pot as well as on its purple top hat. You can make the pinwheel spin with a puff of breath.
Just Not My Cup of Tea
While the phrase means “not to my taste”, I think it would be cool to find an octopus writing up out of your teacup. It certainly would provoke conversation. This is another in my Tea Pet series. It is made from an antique teacup and saucer and baked clay.
Blue Tea Horses
Well they can’t be Seahorses if they are nestled in a tea pot! These fired clay beauties are covered with swirls, glass beating and six different kinds of blue paint to give them depth and texture. Their manes can be gently bent into different poses. The teapot has been decoupaged and is trimmed with Kitten’s Paw seashells. Another in my Tea Pet series.
Tea for Tou(Can)
“Tea for two and two for tea….” That old song from Tin Pan Alley was the inspiration for this member of my Tea Pet Series. This brilliant South American Toucan hides out in a flowered teapot amid silk hibiscus and paper flowers with their own matching butterflies. The Toucan is made of fired clay. Another in my Tea Pet series.
Bubble Bath
This petite baby dragon is getting its first bubble bath in an elegant teacup. It is made of fired clay with augur shell horns. Another in my Tea Pet series.
Five Legged Pot Pet
If a teapot was animated, and became a household pet, I think it would have five legs. The fifth leg faces backwards by the way. Made of papier mache and many kinds of cocktail napkins. The original in my Tea Pet series.
Tribal Tea
Even in the wildest warrens, the leading lights among the Bunnies dress formally for high tea. This papier mache and cloth mache tribal elder (note the silver topped baton) is ready to preside over the tea table. Another in my Tea Pet series.
Here, Kit-Tea!
If a teapot was animated, and became a household pet, I think it would have five legs. The fifth leg faces backwards by the way. Made of papier mache and many kinds of cocktail napkins. The original in my Tea Pet series.
In the perennial battle between cat and mice I like to think that occasionally, the mouse gets the upper paw.
In this highly decoupaged teapot, a kitten sticks its head up unaware that there is a mouse atop the lid. Though you can’t see it from this frontal view, the cat is highly decorated with fired-clay ornamentation around the back of its head. The title of the piece is fired onto the handle of the pot.
Another in my Tea Pet series.
