An exclusive community, of only 48 one-of-a-kind mechanical sculptures.
If a BIGHEAD isn’t listed here, it’s not a BIGHEAD
(please report anyone copying, or trying to duplicate these sculptures).
NOTE: Wherever possible, I included a few pictures, which lend insights on their creation and mechanical configuration. I am in the process of trying to locate all owners (no small feat, as they are spread out all over the world), which is why most are still listed as ‘awaiting notification.’
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Starting with the very first (and extremely crude) carving attempts, followed by the rest (in no particular order).
TEX (left): The VERY FIRST!… Carved from a single block of wood (I found alongside a dumpster), and is the actual head that started it all… Animations include: Side to-side eyes, trapdoor mouth. Tex was rudimentary at best, but always cool to see how it all began… DAWDERHEAD (right): The first complete wood carving, posted online to evaluate the reactions.. Animations: Jaw, side-to-side (self-centering) eyes, blinkers.
UPDATE (2019): After believing these were destroyed in a fire years ago, the heads were discovered, safely packed away in storage.
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ALONG CAME THE SPOONHEADS
(still crude but acquiring a unique style).
THE SPOONHEADS: All carved from wood (Augustus was carved from Jelutope), while I was still developing my style and approach. Although crude, these were the first actual sculptures that paved the way for what was to come. Their purpose was for me to experiment with carving techniques and mechanical configurations, to see if this was something I wanted to pursue……. Name was changed to BIGHEADS, when I honed my style for public commissions (but I still include them as members of the BIGHEAD community).
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THEN CAME THE BIGHEAD MECHANICAL SCULPTURES
Entertaining millions around the world!
(LISTED IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER).
LUGNUT: THE LAST BIGHEAD MECHANICAL SCULPTURE CREATED.
Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, closing eyelids, upper-lip smile, mouth, stickout tongue, custom attire.
Lugnut resides in my personal collection.
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THE SIAMESE TWINS: A most unique configuration.
When I saw that other Siamese twins were simply two separate heads on a body, I took it as a challenge to configure a way to operate both heads at the same time… Animations to both heads include: Side-to-side eyes, closing eyelids, upper-lip smiles, moving mouths, stickout tongues, duel or simultaneous animation control, both arm movement.
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CAPPUCCINO JOE: The first sculpture (carved wood) to be called a BIGHEAD. Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, moving jaw, custom attire.
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ARTIMUS: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, glowing eyes, closing eyelids, moving eyebrows, jaw, stickout tongue, wiggling ears, snort of smoke, expanding wings.
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BLUE: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, closing and surprised eyelids, upper lip smile, jaw.
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CUSTER: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, closing eyelids, wiggling nose, wiggling ears, jaw, stickout tongue, custom attire. Owner: (Reported as DESTROYED beyond restoration in 2011).
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GORT: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes (stretched), closing eyelids, upper-lip movement, mouth, moving arm, custom sculpt, custom attire.
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GUCKY: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, glowing eyes, upper-lip smile, mouth, custom sculpt, custom attire.
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CHORD: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, closing eyelids, raising eyebrows, upper lip smile, jaw, stickout tongue, custom attire.
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ANGUS: (prototype)… Animations include: Side-to-side eye, upper lip smile, lower jaw, closing eyelid, stickout tongue, custom sculpted body.
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CLETUS: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, winker and blinkers,, raising and lowering eyebrows, upper lip smile, jaw, spitter, 3ft long booger pulled from nose.
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LIL’ A: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, closing eyelids, upper lip, wiggling ears, stickout tongue, custom attire.
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MABOOCH: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, closing eyelids, upper-lip smile, mouth, stickout tongue, custom attire… Seen on ‘Arab’s Got Talent’.
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OBAMA: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, closing eyelids, upper-lip smile, lower-lip movement, custom attire.
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DNA: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, closing eyelids, upper-lip smile, moving mouth, moving arm, custom control configuration, custom attire… Although I didn’t realize it, this sculpture is very similar to a CGI character. It was a complete coincidence, but credit to that artist should also be given accordingly, as we share the same creative vision.
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SHRUNKEN ED: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, closing eyelids, upper-lip smile, stickout tongue, mouth, custom ‘upside-down’ control configuration.
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THURSTON: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, closing eyelids, raising eyebrows, moving mouth, silk ‘magic trick’ pulled from ear, custom hearing aid, custom attire.
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SYDNEY (prototype): Animations include: Side-to-side eye, closing eyelid, upper-lip smile, mouth, raising and lowering legs, custom control configuration… Created to experiment with multi-joint configuration.
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OTTO: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, closing eyelids, upper-lip smile, moving mouth, moving arm, custom control configuration, custom attire. This controller remains one of the most unique and beautiful.
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CROC: Animations include: Moving mouth, with a spitter (that’s all)… My personal opinion is that the best creations are the simplest, as it allows more of the character to shine through… These were some promotional pictures taken for a comedy channel.
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NASH: Carved-wood… Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, moving mouth, hand carved into a peace sign.
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PEARL: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, winkers & blinker, crossing eyes, upper-lip smile, mouth, stickout tongue, custom attire.
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THE WIZARD: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, closing eyelids, upper-lip smile, stickout tongue, mouth, glowing crystal in hand, cane mouth movement, glowing eyes and moving mouth on cane face, custom attire.
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TERRENCE: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, winker & blinkers, raising eyebrows, upper-lip smile, stickout tongue, mouth, custom attire… Exhibited in the Ventriloquist Central collection.
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DRAGGY: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, closing eyelids, wiggling ears, lower jaw, moving hand, custom control configuration, custom sculpt.
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HOWARD: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, closing eyelids, upper-lip smile, mouth, removable false-teeth, raising toupee, custom air-tank, custom attire.
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SIR NILITY: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, closing eyelids, moving mouth, custom sculpted armor.
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THE JESTER: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, closing eyelids, upper-lip smile, stickout tongue, mouth, silk pulled from both ears, moving mouth on wand, silk pull from wands ear, custom attire.
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SPECIAL K: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, winker & blinkers, glowing eyes, upper-lip smile, stickout tongue, mouth, LED light effect on chest, custom sculpted body.
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MINI VEE: Custom-made caricature of the owner, Jimmy Vee… Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, closing eyelids, upper-lip smile, mouth, custom attire.
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GERTY: Animations: Side-to-side eyes, blinkers & winker, raising & lowering eyebrows, mouth, stickout tongue, attire.
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BUBBASAHN: Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, crossing eyes, closing eyelids, upper lip smile, jaw, stickout tongue, custom attire.
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NAUSSIUS: Carved-wood… Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, closing eyelids, mouth, stickout tongue, custom attire.
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THE SEE-THRU MAN: Originally created for gallery display, it now resides in my personal collection… It’s unique style of sculpting makes it impossible to cast or duplicate, ensuring it remains a one-of-a-kind.
Animations include: Side-to-side eyes, closing eyelids, raising eyebrows, wiggling ears, upper-lip smile, stickout tongue, mouth, custom ‘see-thru’ sculpture for viewing mechanics.
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MONKEY CEE & LIL DOO: Animations to both heads include: Side-to-side eyes, closing eyelids, winker, upper-lip smiles, wiggling ears, moving mouths, stickout tongues, duel or simultaneous animation controls.
Note: I do regard any ‘duel sculptures’ above, as two sculptures in the total count (it’s only fair).
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‘The remaining three BIGHEAD mechanical sculptures are not depicted, as the client desired to remain anonymous. In 2016, they were destroyed in fire. One has the possibility of restoration.
Split Enz: Sculpture was destroyed beyond restoration in 2016.
The Magician: Sculpture was destroyed beyond restoration in 2016.
The Bum: Sculpture was heavily damaged in 2016, and the pieces have been sent to my studio for possible restoration.
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IN CLOSING
The question is often asked why I created only 48 bigheads (and not the fifty originally intended).
I stopped sculpting bigheads in 2012 for two reasons.
- The frustration with individuals stealing my designs and calling them their own, and owners casting duplicates and knockoffs of originals (without no respect of the artist code).
It’s worth noting that all BIGHEAD mechanical sculptures remain a reflection of vanishing techiniques, as each one was created before the era of 3-D printing, and computer programs such as Zbrush, Mudbox, Blender, and others. I say this with a respectful nod to the incredibly talented new wave of artists, who utilize such technologies.
The entire process was guided by inspiration to guide the hands and fingers while shaping and molding each character into existence. They wear their imperfections as a badge of honor.
There is something very special about that.
If anything, the artistic process used for the 48 BIGHEAD sculptures will make them more precious with the passing of time.
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VIDEOS
(Disregard any website given in the videos, which were created before site transfer)