Sunday, 10 April 2016

Creature Makers of Note

As a celebration of the CREATURE SHOP and the work that was produced under the direction of Jim Henson, I want to explore the other artists whose hands helped sculpt and colour these memorable productions. It has never been just Jim.

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Brian Froud

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Genius conceptual designs and illustrations that inspired Henson's Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. He imagined the creatures, goblins and fae folk who caught Jim's attention and set the visual tone for his two feature length fantasy films.

Wendy Froud

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Sent Jim a marionette during the development stages of The Dark Crystal and later was asked to make the Gelflings for the film.
She also worked in the Creature Shop on Labyrinth production.

Toby Froud

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Played 'Toby' in Labyrinth and has now grown up to create his own creatures and direct his own films. Literally BORN into Henson's world and lives up to the legacy.
Heather Henson and Toby Froud worked together on the puppet films 'LESSONS LEARNED' and 'YAMASONG'.

Heather Henson
Jim's youngest daughter. Though all of his children have done incredible things, Heather's devotion to OLD FASHIONED, TRADITIONAL puppetry warms my heart. 'Hand Made Puppet Dreams' project supports independent artists and their visions.


Frank Oz
Frank and Jim were such lovely friends. Frank was the Bert to Jim's Ernie. Piggy and Kermit.
They had a harmonious relationship as puppeteers, friends and colleagues.

Ron Mueck
http://www.inkoherence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/ron-mueck-ludo.jpg

Ron Mueck was a creature designer for Labyrinth and performed (with Rob Mills) as Ludo.

http://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2013/10/the-hyperrealistic-sculptures-of-ron-mueck/m01_RTR2RLX9/main_1200.jpg

He's also the dude who makes the giant faces.

Jim Henson surrounded himself with fellow visual thinkers.
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In Labyrinth, he makes references to M C Esher
http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/labyrinth/images/f/f1/Escherjareth.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20111008144515

... L.Frank Baum, Lewis Carroll and Maurice Sendak.

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