Redcoat – 8″ Qee custom

This was my first time customising a large figure like this and i had a lot of fun making him!

He started life as a blank white DIY qee, to which I added glass taxidermy eyes, sculpted his face in sculpey and gave him a fluffy faux fur coat. His antlers were also sculpted in sculpey and i wanted them to be half way between horns and tree branches, with the oak leaves wrapping round to add to the natural, woodland feel of the character. I was also asked to send in an index card to be displayed with him, explaining what the character is about and the inspiration behind him:

Meet Redcoat, a monster older than he looks. He journeyed to America with the British Army and it was during the American Revolution he realised that all men (and presumably monsters) were created equal and that like, liberty and the pursuit of happiness was more his style, just like the founding fathers. Redcoat lives in the forests of New England (he’s English after all) and now spends his days in the sunshine tearing about with the squirrels.

As a British Artist i wanted to bring something very English to the theme of the show. I love the bold colour and iconic white cross design of the redcoats and thought they would be interesting as an animal’s fur, as if the animals were intrinsically patriotic and brave. Redcoats oak branch antlers give contrast against his fluffy fur coat.

Redcoat is my piece for the Civil War and Our Founding Fathers. July 10, 2012.OUR MILITARY KIDS, 6861 Elm Street, Suite 2-A, McLean, VA 22101. USA

…