I recently showed you some stick figures I made in 2016 and updated in 2020. The project made me want to try some more figures. I will be showing you the results of those efforts over the next couple of weeks while describing the process and any changes I made.
Here is the first example of the recent stick figures I made, though it was the last one I did, and it’s created out of leftovers. Let’s call it Stick Animal.
What started me off on making an animal rather than a person was this knot on the wood. I thought it looked like an eye and I could not stop envisioning it as such.
I tried to figure out how to match it. I ended up taking a small piece of a thin stick and jamming it tight into a washer. Then I drilled out the “body” and inserted the “eye” into it, gluing it tight.
Spoiler alert, all the stick figurines I made in this project have arms, so I had some small stick pieces on hand. I took four sticks at random and nailed them to the body, not worrying about making them even – I was able to move the legs enough to adjust them to allow the animal to stand.
So far so good. I decided the animal needed a tail. I had saved the wire from some wirebound notebooks – I cut a piece, stretched it out, and nailed it to the animal.
Now it needed a mouth. This body part had to wait a while – I didn’t know what would be the right thing. Then one day I saw a red bottle cap on the ground. I picked it up, washed it, bent it in half, and nailed it to the animal. Now…he had a mouth with teeth!
I felt this animal was just as he should be. Here he is again.
Claudia McGill and Her Art World 
Love your animal. Does it have a name?
Thank you. No, haven’t gotten that far. I’m still getting used to having made it (if that makes sense). I don’t know where it came from, just suddenly I started doing it. I think I’m surprised it actually worked. Got any suggestions? And I think anyone could make a similar one, depending on the local materials…love to see what you might come up with!
I’ve thought of your animal as a chameleon, because of the eyes, but didn’t want to spoil your fun in thinking of one, perhaps not of this world? Stick insect is too obvious. Moving on to animals during lockdown, who (which?) has had so much freedom from people during lockdown is the next natural step. It’s truly a beaut.
I think he’s a non-definable creature, that’s what I’m thinking (after I realized I had not tried to figure out what he could be at all during any part of his creation!) I love the chameleon idea, don’t think I would have ever thought of that, since I don’t remember ever seeing one in person.
They’re lovely creatures. Good that you haven’t identified the creature. Naming it will take away his freedom – as you were while making – not thinking is such a holiday!!
Yes. The restful feeling of just doing something and not thinking or editing or hemming yourself in, just let it go.
Very interesting creation!
Thank you. It was fun to make it.
He is! Can’t wait to see more. (K)
This is wonderful!!
Lot of fun to make and finding parts for him is a big part of it.
♥♥♥
This is fabulous, Claudia! I love that you constructed this critter from repurposed found objects and created all of these interesting forms and textures. I think it is completely brilliant and look forward to perhaps seeing an entire menagerie of these beasts being breathed into life by your imagination.
Thank you. I will certainly be doing more. It’s just a matter of looking around and happening on the right parts. It is really fun to do this, I don’t think I’ve ever gone down this path before.
Very inventive and interesting looking. Looking forward to seeing more as they come.
Thank you. It was fun to make, from finding the parts for it to putting it together.
You’re welcome.
Delightful! Especially love the upcycled mouth and tail
Thank you. It goes to show that my lifelong habit of picking things up off the ground might actually have practical applications!
Fantastic!
Thank you. I am surprised by how this little guy turned out.
So freakin’ cute, this stick animal! You’ve inspired me to dig all the beach driftwood out of the trash can (I’m cleaning my studio!) and save it for a little ‘sticky’ of my own. Thanks for the inspiration!
You’re welcome. I’m hoping sometime to be able to go to a river and find some driftwood, here my selection is fallen branches from trees, in storms and the like.