Animated flip book movie made with watercolor and clock parts

Check out this lovely animated/kinetic work by Juan Fontanive.

From the video description:

Juan Fontanive creates machines that combine moving images with clockwork mechanisms. His hand-made screens and metal structures are deeply influenced by the moving image — from shutters and reels to illusory flickering. Responding to the lack of movement found in our current electronics age, he is interested in actual movement in relation to virtual. His machines long to free images; they combine to form a medium in themselves exploring the vividness of living things.

Here is where you can see more animated art Juan Fontanive.

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Variations on an automaton theme by Keith Newstead

More automaton goodness from one of the greats, Keith Newstead! If you think you've seen it all with the sheep and the wolf after the first 10 seconds, just wait. You will be treated to a classic variant and then a very new twist on the theme.

You can see more automata by Keith Newstead on his web site.

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One book with five amazing dinosaur automata you can make!

Check this book on how to make moving paper dinosaurs!

From the book description:

Create moving models of five different dinosaur species — from ichthyosaurus, the fish lizard, to Tyrannosaurus rex, the tyrant king, along with the armor-plated stegosaurus, the flying pterodactylus, and the bone-haded pachycephalosaurus. Kids ages 10 and up can follow simple directions that explain how to build the crank-powered replicas. The book is also loaded with facts about all sorts of dinosaurs and includes a background play scene and a convenient pocket for storing loose pieces

Though it's sold in book format, it really a kit, or five kits to be exact. Dinosaurs and automata -- two things that kids love!

Here is where you can get Amazing Automata -- Dinosaurs!
 

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Working with cams and different types of cam followers

My 16 article on automaton-making for Cabaret Mechanical Theatre is now live on their web site. In this installment, I discuss different sorts of cam followers and how they can be used. The cam gets a lot of attention, but is almost without value in the absence of a cam follower. Read on to learn about the basic types, their advantages, and disadvantages.

Here is where you can read my article on Cam Followers for Automata.

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Medieval Rack Clock designed by Clayton Boyer

Check out this wonderful Medieval Rack Clock designed by Clayton Boyer. The one shown here was beautifully built by Jeff Hecht.

Plans for this clock (and many others) available at www.lisaboyer.com

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Artist Aaron Kramer interviews automaton legend Paul Spooner

What a treat! Here we have artist Aaron Kramer interviewing the inimitable Paul Spooner. I have always loved Paul Spooner's automata. He is one of the main reasons I ever became interested in the subject. I know he has inspired hundreds of others and delighted countless people with his mechanical wit.

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Dancing pirate automaton by Tim Donald

Here's a fun dancing pirate automaton by Tim Donald. The dancing action is not unlike the classic dancing figure folk toy known as a limberjack or a jig doll. According to Wikipedia they have had many names, but the common element is a figure with loose joints that appears to dance when placed just above a vibrating board. The automaton shown here is different in that the floor is stationary and the dancer is made to move by turning a hand-crank. This version probably makes things a lot easier!

Here is where you can see more automata by Tim Donald.

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