wood-paper-wood: The process of making a toy from your imagination with Zeel Posted on
Wooden characters by Zeel in the workshop awaiting arms 2024
Zeel: It is fairly natural to me as I was always encouraged and allowed to make things at home as a child as my mum loved making things herself – she could turn her hand to any kind of craft. At home, I would make 3-D characters from papier mâché.
The use of wood comes from my grandfather Fred being a cabinet maker, plus the fact that it’s just a fantastic, warm, living material to use. I started that long after he died in the 90’s. As soon as I got a big enough workshop, I couldn’t resist. I wouldn’t say I am a master craftsman, as I do the woodwork in my own way. However we are all striving to improve, so hopefully I am making improvements as I go.
The hand turned and carved characters by Zeel before painting, 2024
CS: I really like how your unique drawing style is reflected in a wooden sculpture, which might initially be thought of as such a different medium. Did this come naturally to you? Do you find drawing and sculpting to be similar in any way?
Zeel: They are really different processes, but the more you do both, the better you get at both. Because the more you make a character the better you can draw him from any angle, And the better you can draw, the better you can think about the design ideas you are working on prior to making in 3d.
Grimaldi Characters by Zeel hand turned in wood, 2024
CS: How did this specific collection come about? And what inspired you?
Zeel: Louise knew what I could do and commissioned me to make this collection of panto characters. So there was a brief to work to. I was inspired by old engravings and photos of Drury Lane pantomime characters. I love the way that they made such strange characters from myth and folklore, but also they turned everyday objects and creatures into surreal and spectacular costumes.
Vegetable King, Magic Parrot and Wood Demo by Zeel all based on toy theatre characters from the Victorian Harlequinade
CS: Did you do a lot of research into the pantomime tradition and its characters?
Zeel: Yes I looked at the Pollock’s Toyshop archive, loads of books in our collection at home, on the www, and I went on a great trip to Sands Picture Archive.
Sketches of characters by Zeel with wooden Faries realised in wood and painted, 2024
CS: What about the look of each one of them?
Zeel: I started with a drawing from the original source and then had to work out a design for parts that could be carved, or turned, from wood, with hand tools, or my wood lathe. So the look of each one is the result of that process and the organic process of making them. To a certain extent they make themselves.
Painted wooden pieces before assembling by Zeel, 2024
CS: How long did the collection take to realise?
Zeel: I guess it was about a year mulling over it and looking at research. The making itself was about 15 weeks, a labour of love, getting into my workshop every weekend for about 3 months.
Zeel collection of wooden characters before going to exhibition at Benjamin Pollock’s Toyshop, Christmas 2024
CS: Did you find yourself facing any new challenge while working on it?
Zeel: Each one is a new challenge, they are all unique. Painting is always difficult. But in the end, there you have a new character.
Wooden Dragon by Zeel, 2024
CS: Silly question: do you have a favourite character out of the collection of 16 characters?
Zeel: The frog 🐸 is the one I have been wanting to do for a long time. So yeah, I like the frog most, right now anyway!
Jointed Wooden Frog by Zeel, 2024
Interview by Chiara Scoglio
(January 2025)