KING CHARLES III
As always with a real known person, I start by looking at as many reference photos and characatures as possible.
Despite characatures not coming easy to me, he did turn out rather well.
But it was a very long process.
He was begun in 2019 and not completed until Coronation year 2023.
Having made a pulp neck tube, I then built up a head shape in corrugated cardboard.
When the pulp was hard the back of the head was cut off and the cardboard core removed.
The head was then tacked together with a few blobs of hot glue and more pulp was used to seal and fix it permanently back together.
These days I would make the neck tube and bulk out the head with scrunched up aluminium foil.
The foil is so light that it can be left inside the puppet.
Every pulp head is built up in layers so it can dry out properly.
This is doubly true for a portrait head where getting the features recognisable is so important .
To help with sculpting the ears, cardboard shapes are hot glued to the pulp head.
Pulp would adhere to the cardboard so a layer of electrical insulation tape is applied.
When the pulp has hardened it easily separates from the tape, allowing the card to be removed.
This creates a finished back of the ear, which is a good solid shell into which the front of the ear can be sculpted.
It always amuses me that what went on as soft mushy pulp, becomes so hard and strong that it needs power tools to cut and sand it when dry !
So far I am very happy with the sculpt.
Getting the nose right will seal the deal.
The nose is built up in many layers to make sure the centre dries out fully.
"The HAIR Apparent!"
Terrible pun, but yes it's indeed time to sculpt the Heir :-))
Glove underbody with its usual D-rings to hang up the puppet.
The longer strap allows him to hang on top of another puppet, using the same hanging hook, thus saving space inside the theatre.
I seldom build a jacket in a single piece that gets 'dressed' onto the puppet in one go.
Especially when it's a complex tight fitting uniform like this.
It is much easy to work on it as separate components.
then attach each part to the body individually.
Sewing on beads is fiddly and time consuming.
Fortunately it doesn't need to be done in my workshop.
It can be done anywhere
So here we are in the canteen area on reshoots for Star Wars Episode seven.
Charles got some of his embellishments in between me filming scenes with Maz Kanata.
Filming always involves hours of 'hanging around'.
Ed Sheran was also 'hanging around' waiting to film his cameo as a Stormtrooper.
He sat at the table behind me for most of the day while I was sewing on gold beads.
And no, it's not cool ( or indeed allowed) to ask for selfies at work.
So I didn't.
Back home in the workshop, I decided a red belt would look better - All Change !
More beadwork.
The costume parts are not fixed too the puppet yet: only pinned.
For that matter the head isn't fixed to the body yet either. everything is loose.
I was making monkey heads at the same time as building Charles .
There are nearly always several puppets being built at once.
This was 2019 and at this point Prince Charles got put away into the 'To Be Finished Later" box and forgotten about for years.
Only after the death of our Queen did he get started again and made ready for his Coronation.
As well as a Coronation Cloak, this puppet is getting a spectacular bejewelled Crown.
My plan for the 2023 was to have a thief ('Blindy-Peaker') try and steal the Crown.
But of course Mr. Punch saves the day.
Normally I get the beads I need for most puppets from recycled necklaces and bracelets from Charity shops.
With so many matching beads and gems needed for the crown , this time it was trip to Lichfield's bead store "Spellbound'
The very strong magnets embedded in his hair are matched with equally strong ones on the crowns wire framework.
This crown will be heavy - it needs to be totally secure!
Once the framework is made from thick wire, the beads can start to go on using much thinner gold coloured wire . Again from 'Spellbound'
Time consuming, fiddly but hugely rewarding fun.
UNEASY LIES THE HEAD THAT WEARS THE CROWN
Shakespeare
The weight turned out to be so great that even stronger magnets were needed in the puppet head. These were quickly anchored into place with pink P38 car body filler.
The cloak also needed magnets to hold it in place. Some were built into the cloak itself.
Bur some had to be added into the back of the puppet. Then disguised over with matching fabrics.
It has taken a lot of work, but now Charles with his cloak and crown can hang upsidedown in the theatre just like any other puppet.
It's vital that nothing falls off while he hangs up, or while I get my hand inside.
The real Royal Robe had four big tassels ...so naturally I had to copy that.
At last the final bit of paintwork can be done, It really transforms him.
All finished ! And I am very happy with the result ...so were my audiences.
But all they kept saying was-
"Charles is nice : Where's Camilla?.."
So of course- I built her too.
To see her being made, just click the picture of her with King Charles.
She was fun build - Enjoy !
