Rusty the rooster

I was out hunting for records this morning and came across this fellah in junk shop. Had to have him. Might make a good painting subject too!

Jack of all puppets...

About 20 years ago, I was sifting through the bargain bin of a local bookstore and found a book on making puppets. Something struck a chord as I leafed through the pages so I bought it. Out of the blue, I started making puppets.

I remember loving the process: sculpting the heads, torsos, hands. I spent a few months bumbling my way through their creation. The Count was the only one I finished. The Ogre and the Sullen Clown never made it to the end.

It dawned on me that although I enjoyed making them that I would never use them for anything. I'm not an entertainer -- more of a behind-the-scenes guy. And I didn't know any puppeteers so the endeavor seemed fruitless.

So, as suddenly as I started, I stopped. Everything went in a box and I'd pretty much forgotten about them until my parents brought them over from their house a few weeks ago.