The Making of Shrump, Bianca Judd’s First Creature
by Bianca Judd
I have loved puppets and creatures since I was a child. Classic films such as Labyrinth, Legend, The Dark Crystal, and Troll inspired me and captivated my imagination, but I never thought I would get the chance to make my own creatures.
Shrump was my first actual creature creation. In addition to those films I watched as a child, I credit my inspiration for Shrump to long woodland walks with my dog and a life-long love of creatures and puppets. I created him for my final project as part of the Make-up FX and Prosthetic Creation course at Gorton Studio.
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(Shrump, the Stan Winston School Creature Contest Winner.)
(Shrump moves! The creature is puppeteered by rods attached to the armature in his limbs.)
Two Decades in Theatre
My move into creature creation has been a very recent career change. I have spent most of the last 20 years working in theatre and community arts. Though I originally trained as a performer, I found that I also enjoyed the practical side of creating props, sets, and costumes. After having my children, I worked as a youth theatre director, all the time involving the young people in the design and creation aspects of our productions. My experience also includes work on various festivals and education projects.
Believing in Your Design
Like most people accustomed to working in the theater arts, I am used to working with tiny (if any) budgets and materials sourced from whatever I can scrape together, so having access to the facilities and materials at Gorton Studio was a huge luxury for me. I received expert advice and encouragement from my tutor, Dave Bonneywell, and the rest of the team. They helped me believe that my design was possible. I sculpted Schump in clay with a bark texture, latex fungus and moss growing out of him. I molded him out of fiberglass first and then foam which I painted, seamed, and finished. He has armature in his limbs and rods attached. I even created some mushroom friends.
(Shrump was sculpted in clay and molded in fiberglass before becoming a foam hand-puppet.)
Although I had previously taken a short course in sculpture, my work on Shrump was the first time I had tried many of the processes involved, including fiberglassing, foam fabrication, seaming, armature, and painting with PAX paints.
(Puppet reflexology, combining all my skills. Body parts sculpted in Plastalina clay.)
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the studio, and I am keen to continue working in this exciting industry.
More Work by SFX Artist Bianca Judd
(My first prosthetic project: sculpt, mold, application, and paint effects.)
(Finished facial appliance, including flocking.)
(Sculpting project: a study on anatomy and texture by Bianca Judd.)
(Shrump and his creator, artist Bianca Judd.)
If you would like to know more and follow Bianca, click HERE: Bianca Judd, Special Effects Artist
Also, check out the rest of our TOP TEN winners HERE: Creature Contest Winner Announcement
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