Time to get moving!
I’ve always been fascinated by Automata. I used to call into Cabaret Mechanical Theatre when it was in Covent Garden in the 80’s and 90’s when ever I was in London. In more recent years, I found the MAD (Mechanical Art and Design) museum in Stratford on Avon. I’ve thought about trying to make my own over the years, but it always seemed to be rather difficult – I finally took the plunge in 2024!
(for those of you who don’t know an automaton is a moving, mechanical device, often constructed to look like a human or animal figure and automata is the plural form)
I had played a little bit on my own but then found a workshop with Fi Henshall where I made this small circus of puffins (small because there are only 3 and also they are pretty small at about 4cm from beak to tail) on a vintage tea tin. The cams that make the movement were cut from wood and tin fish were added to the front, leaping about taunting the puffins as they flap pass.
I then made a few more automata on my own. Here is a polymer clay pecking hen on a small tea tin.
I really wanted to go a bit deeper and so bought several books and watched plenty of videos (although I much prefer a book/written instruction or in-person/live learning). I then came across an online workshop with Puppets in Prague and although it is aimed at people with some experience working with wood, I discussed it with them and decided to give it a go. It’s a year-long class but broken down into modules so I was able to try a module to see if it would work for me. My husband is pretty handy with wood and has all the tools I might need so I knew that would be ok if I did need to use wood. I started the course in September 2024 and it has kept me pretty busy since then! I have learnt a lot and made quite a few automata!
Here is an automaton from a recent module which focused on adding sound to automata. I wanted to use a bell and came up with the idea of a town crier but I didn’t want to try and sculpt a human face so I decided to model it on one of my cats. I love adding the little details so the handle is also a scroll and underneath three mice or rats (everyone has a different opinion on which they are so they are going to be unspecified rodent species) play about as the handle is turned to ring the bell.
Here is Smudge the cat inspecting his polymer clay cat town crier likeness before he gets his coat and arms.
I have ended up using more wood than I anticipated so I have picked up a lot of new skills (thanks to my lessons and my husband!), and I’ve been having a great time! I love to learn new skills!
I am just starting to work on my final project so I will share more of that once it is complete. I will share more photos and videos when I have more time – at the moment, I have a deadline looming to finish up rather a complicated final project…. watch this space!
I guess it makes sense for me to enjoy automata as it’s a meeting of art and science and a lot of problem-solving – all of which I enjoy! I hope you enjoy my automata too!
