Comment: You are a magnificent Artist of puppet making! The photos of you working in your shop always are inspiring. Are those Insull paper mache heads hanging there too?
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Answer: Yes, they are - the two heads on the left in the above photo are Insull paper mache heads that our son, Kevin, has rebuilt so they have a ball neck base (left) and new and more traditional, easier-to-manipulate controls (right). Kevin did an amazing job on these, but he said they took far too much work and would be the last ones he did! Now those are the exact words I said about similar jobs 30 years ago! "Like father; like son." The heads are hanging in my shop because I am painting them. (These heads are not for sale - the work has been completed at the request of their owner.)
I too think you do awesome work and am glad to have had the chance to visit your studio in Littleton. I have always wondered how they built up the layers of mache and what they used as a binder?? Do they lay the Mache out in a mold or build it up on a clay sculture?? Thanks, Dave
ReplyDeleteI understand the paper machie was pressed into a mold. Binder? I do not know. (I use wall paper paste.)
ReplyDeleteIs the living mouth made out of leather and if so how does it react to being painted? does it get stiff or does it stay pliable. I would love to find more info on how Insull built these figures and the techniques used.
ReplyDeleteVery good work. W.S. Berger as long as I knew him called them Davenport figures, never heard him say Insull, I guess because sold through Davenport's Magic Shop. I had one of these figures with all controls from 1954 until 1959.
ReplyDeleteI use latex paint very sparingly on the leather with "Textile Medium" added to the paint being used on the leather. The additive retains a measure of flexibility.
ReplyDeleteThe white compound that is on the puppets---is that Bondo?
ReplyDeleteMy son did the refurbishing of these figures. I'm not sure what material he used. (I'll ask.)I do know it was not Bondo.
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