HOLLY GRACE DESIGN

Peter Pan at the Gate, Dublin 

This project consisted of creating a small tinkerbell puppet that could be flown across the stage by puppeteers. The design, created by Caroline Bowman, reimagined tinkerbell as a colourful pixie-like creature. My job involved testing various materials for the wings and textured body. The finished body was textured with individual 'feathers' which were stained before being sewn onto a worbla shell. the wins were inspired by the patterns of moth wings. I started by drawing different variations before the shape was digitally finalised in order to be laser cut. Once cut the material was then carved and painted. One of the finishing touches was an acorn cap; a carved plastazote base covered in leather shapes and finished with a stalk. 

In addition to tinkerbell we also created a larger than life crocodile, to swim through the audience. A 1/5 scale crocodile was carved and patterned and enlarged by Caroline before I transferred the patterned shapes to plastazote sheets constructed the legs and body. These were supported with profiles and joined with a combination of webbing strips and aluminium supports. I also carved the hands and feet of the crocodile under the guidance of Caroline. The teeth were also carved, from white plastazote, using photographic references to inform the shape and different sizes. The body was finished with a combination of black plastidip and rosco paint mixed with flexcoat. 

During this project I learnt so much from the whole team. The project was led and designed by Caroline Bowman. The rest of the team included myself, Suzanne Law, Emily Tupholme, Ivan Thorley and Victoria.