A Steampunk Bestiary: Raven, Trilobite, Wiwaxia, and Hallucigenia

 

Steampunk Raven

Corvus corax steampunkus  (2012)

This life-sized raven-inspired mixed media work is sculpted from polymer clay over a wire armature, and contains various metal inclusions (mostly old watch parts, jewelry bits, and hardware).  The eyes are made of high-grade glass and are custom-painted.

There is a lidded hollow within the bird's back, containing clockwork gears, and illuminated by a miniature brass light fixture.

The Raven was exhibited in 2012 at the Victoria Steam Expo III at the Fairmont Empress Hotel, and in 2013 at the Victoria Event Centre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steampunk Fossils

The works below are a collection of mixed media steampunk-inspired sculptures based upon fossils of creatures known from the Burgess Shale in the Canadian Rockies.  These pieces were exhibited at the Victoria Steam Expo II, held Sept. 24-25, 2011, at Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC, Canada.  (The first two made a return appearance June 1-2, 2013, at the Victoria Steam Expo IV at the Victoria Event Centre in downtown Victoria, BC.)

 

Steampunk Trilobite

Trilobitus steampunkus  (2010)

Loosely based upon the trilobite species Olenoides serratus, the main body of this piece measures approximately 12.5 inches/32 cm in length.  It is constructed from leather (lower portion), wood, polymer clay, salvaged watch parts, brass leaf, and various brass and other metal inclusions.  It also contains a functioning clock. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steampunk Wiwaxia

Wiwaxia steampunkus (2011)

This steampunked Wiwaxia's body is comprised of 146 individually formed scales, made of polymer clay embossed with clockwork parts and vintage jewelry.  The bottom of the creature is lined with dark brown velvet and the spines are formed from layers of heavily primed card and foil, the foil also having been embossed with gears and jewelry pieces.  This piece is about 6.5 inches long and 9.5 inches tall.

 

 

Steampunk Hallucigenia

 

Hallucigenia steampunkus  (2011)

One of the more bizarre of the fossils known from the Burgess Shale, Hallucigenia has not even been identified with certainty as a distinct animal;  it may be simply part of some larger creature, a mystery that makes the species (if that is what it is) somehow all the more alluring...