Orange Tip Butterfly
Read to the bottom to see ‘How I Made It’ and which lights and materials I used.
My idea for this year’s Sharrow Lantern Carnival was to make a couple of quick n easy lanterns to try out some puppet mechanisms. But once again, I found myself abandoning all other responsibilities in order to get them finished in time! Mind you, I have to admit, I’ve loved every minute, and I’m thoroughly pleased to see them working well and enjoyed so much on the night.
Taking inspiration from this year’s theme of ‘Spring Awakening’, I made a Spring-er spaniel and an orange tip butterfly. A sure sign that Spring is upon us!
Here they are seen together. It was a treat to have fleeting, in-depth conversations with strangers about puppetry techniques and see my lanterns carried off into the night! The Spring-er spaniel was a hasty make, but more on that later. For now, let’s take a look at the butterfly lantern.
I’d made a really simple willow and tissue orange tip butterfly a few years ago, which I quite liked and thought it would be good to see one illuminated and flying.
I’ve really enjoyed making my lantern at the public workshops amongst the creative hive I feel so at home in. If you’ve never made a lantern, look out for up-and-coming lantern events and get yourself along.
But with time snapping at my heels, I took my butterfly away with me to work on during the week leading up to the carnival.
It was good to take it for a test flight in the spring sunshine!
Time to get on with the colouring – Oops! I almost got something very wrong!
Adding the colour seemed to change my butterfly’s persona! I’ve no idea how many hours it took to make, but I was pleased to finish it the day before the carnival. No dripping glue on an unsuspecting crowd!
Sharrow Lantern Carnival
But first, a quick visit to Pitsmoor Adventure Playground en route!
Bring on the night!
Photos: Sarah Truman, Jo Veal
Photo: Tim Dennell
How I made it!
I didn’t really do any drawings before making the butterfly. I must have seen similar flapping-wing mechs on puppets, but I can’t remember specifics. However, I was given a copy of “Puppet Mechanisms & How to Make Them” by Jimmy Grimes, which is very insightful, but mostly, I figured things out along the way.
A fellow puppeteer asked how I made the flying-mech, as she wants to fly some crow puppets. So I’ve drawn up these handouts (which you’re welcome to download).
And looking up from carrying it…
Flying around the General Cemetery!
Big up Sharrow Lantern Carnival!!