MAN EATING SHARK Automaton
©2009 MAN EATING SHARK • In this relaxed position, the man's mouth is closed, his arms rest on his knees, his feet dangle freely just above the ground, and the shark's tail and mouth are up. Interactive mixed-media sculpture measures 28'' h x 24'' w x 20'' d.
OK – I’ve finished my automaton! The obvious answer to my earlier question ‘One Shark + Headless Man = ?’ is MAN EATING SHARK. And, if you look closely at the photo above, you’ll notice that the man’s head does float above his neck! So, in a way, this dude is headless.
I shot the photos below from various angles and have included a few closeups. Have fun viewing these images. If you want to see additional photos and some of the construction steps for MAN EATING SHARK check out my posts of February 3rd and March 7th. This automaton is for sale – click here for details.
©2009 MAN EATING SHARK • When you turn the crank at the lower right, the man uses his hands and arms to raise the shark, his mouth opens hungrily, his legs move up and down and back and forth, and the shark's tail and mouth wriggle up and down furiously.
©2009 MAN EATING SHARK • I sculpted the head from papier mache and molding paste with eyes from a thrift shop doll. I made the cap and eyebrows from recycled tin and formed the teeth from steel wire inserted into 'jaws' made from foam board covered and texturized with Golden Molding Paste. I coated the recycled wood body with Golden Light Molding Paste, and painted the head, body, chair and base with custom mixtures of Golden Acrylic paints.
©2009 MAN EATING SHARK • Close-up of man's face with mouth open. Wires visible at rear are screwed to head and back of chair, so head 'floats' slightly above neck.
©2009 MAN EATING SHARK • Close-up of tin cap with killer shark on crown. I pop-riveted the band to ten textured tin pieces that form upper part of cap, and I added texture to the bill with a ball pein hammer.
©2009 MAN EATING SHARK • Close-up view of right side of crank mechanism. Main shaft consists of three 16-gauge galvanized steel wires bent to identical shapes and wrapped with 18 gauge copper wire.
©2009 MAN EATING SHARK • I modeled these copper hands after my own hands. The thumbs and fingers on each hand are movable, held together at the center with a copper pop-rivet. The hands themselves are slightly movable, too, and are joined to the wooden arms with looped wire pins, which I also used to attach the shark to the arms.
©2009 MAN EATING SHARK • Close-up angled view shows delicate balance of shark's body on arms.
©2009 MAN EATING SHARK • Detail view of shark's head showing hinge join to main body.
©2009 MAN EATING SHARK • Recycled tin plaque at rear of base. I used a ball pein hammer to create texture over entire surface, punched holes to create title with a nail, then painted the interior of each hole black, and hammered my name and date into the tin with steel punches. Four aluminum risers, from Boeing Surplus, raise the plaque about 3/8" from the surface of the base. I formed a 16 gauge wire frame to fit the curved edges of the plaque, and steel screws hold everything securely to the base..
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