Racoon Friends

Mid-2022, I was commissioned to create two bookend racoons. The style and color was determined by several examples the client provided from various ETSY/Pinterest photos of other types of metal animal sculptures. "Panel" construction and rusted, not too realistic and not too cartoony. They wanted one racoon sitting, with its front paws raised over its head. (Like a thief caught in the act, or a "WOOT WOOT!" raise your hands in the air pose.) The second racoon needed to look like it was in motion, climbing down the books.
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​Before I cut and assembled the final metal versions (seen here in front of the Polynesian head), I wanted to make sure that the individual segments I created from my sketches would work when I started assembling them. To test my engineering, I printed out paper versions of each racoon and assembled those with hot glue. Lifesize paper models of the finished design assured me that my metal versions would work.

This was a fun project! And now those two scamps are living in their forever home in London, England.