We caught up with Olivia Franklin, the talented creator behind our Nessie puppet, to learn more about her inspiration, the sketches and designs that led to its creation, and the intricate crafting process that brought our Nessie to life.
Over to Olivia…
In designing Nessie I originally stuck close to traditional depictions of the Loch Ness Monster, blue-grey in colour and a little intimidating. In further discussion with the centre we agreed that this depiction of Nessie should lean for more towards friend than foe, looking approachable and bright to interest the kids at the centre. Our design of Nessie was also inspired by different aspects of Scottish nature and textiles.
Before Nessie could be realised as an articulated puppet in 3D, a finalised concept sketch was needed. Variations for scale colour, scale fabric/texture, mouth, hat and eye colour, and facial expressions were decided on. This was important for making sure I as a fabricator was on the same page as everyone at The Loch Ness Centre about how they wanted her to be realised in 3D space. Concept art and technical drawings like this are often considered the stepping stone between an idea and a tangible piece of artwork.
Many of Nessie’s design details were handpicked. The fabric used to cover Nessie’s body was designed to be reminiscent of cable kilt hose, and the toorie (pompom) on her Tam o’ Shanter is the colour of a Scottish thistle. The Loch Ness Centre also selected the tartan fabric to be used because of it’s heritage and relevance to Nessie.
The process of building soft puppet differs with each unique design and the types of motion you’d like it to have. Often upholstery foam is used to make a hollow head so that the puppet is able to move and accommodate a person’s hand. Many soft puppets have flat, ridged mouth plates that the fingers and thumb are strapped to allow for mouth movement. One of Nessie’s unique features is that she is able to scrunch her face using a string that can be tugged that connects to her eyes, creating a wealth of new expressions.
Apart from movement, the eyes and expression of a soft puppet are really what bring it to life. Each Nessie puppet has a hand-painted set of eyes and an intricately hand-crafted smile which is what makes them all slightly unique. When brought into motion by a performer, each Nessie puppet gains her own sense of humour and personality, resulting in an energetic character guests can really believe in.
If you’re visiting us this October half-term, be sure to grab your family ticket online in advance and save £10! And for the little adventurers, don’t miss the Activity Pack, available at the Ticket Office, and keep an eye out for the hidden puppets scattered throughout the Centre!
