Sculptor Turns Waste Materials into Animal Sculptures

Ptolemy Elrington, the founder of Hubcap Creatures, turns remains into incredible animal sculptures. He builds the creatures using 95% recycled materials including shopping carts, scrap metal, and hubcaps. The other 5% comes from recycled materials found. Ptolemy chooses to leave scars or marks on the materials, as he believes that they “add texture and history to the creatures they decorate.”

He says: “I am an artist, I am a professional sculptor; I have been doing it for 18 years and I love it! “

Using welding tools, drills, and screwdrivers, bring the hubcap creatures to life. So far he has created amazing sculptures of animals, such as a fox, a shark, a wolf and a dragonfly. In your website, offers made-to-order sculptures and pre-built creations.

Some of his artworks for sale include the following:

• 3m tall samurai, complete with sword and armor
• an adorable red and white fox
• a 1.3 m long MiG fighter plane
• a dragon and an egg, which has a glow-in-the-dark feature
• a metallic owl with a BMW emblem for an eye
• a greyhound dog
• a beautiful African gray parrot
• a giant mechanical spider, and more

“When I see a particular animal and I really like its appearance, I think I want to try to capture the essence of that animal, to try to capture the feeling of that animal,” he says. “It is something that I always strive to do in my work. And until now, I’ve never gotten there, and that’s one of the things that drives me to keep doing things, to keep trying, and to keep doing new things. “

There seems to be no limit to what Ptolemy can create.

So how did you start making animal sculptures?

“I have always liked to draw, I have always liked to do things,” he says. “I have been inspired by all the things that surround me, especially nature. It has a lot to do with the idea that people should stop throwing things away and start reusing them. “

It’s true that the world throws away perfectly good articles most of the time. However, instead of getting rid of things the moment they are no longer useful, we should donate or recycle them. This not only helps the environment, but gives items a new purpose and extends their useful life.

According to his site, he studied art and design at Bradford and Illkley Community College in England in the mid-1980s. After college, he accepted stage design and stage design and construction jobs, large-scale community art sculpture projects, and artwork. independent art.

This whole experience culminated in him being able to create your own business following his passion full time. He works alone, but he wouldn’t do it any other way. Many artists work best in solitude because it allows them to fully concentrate on their craft. Although he spends most of his time in his workshop, he also holds exhibitions in the community.

He has been asked to make appearances across Europe, including in London, Brighton, Scotland, Barcelona, ​​Spain, and Athens, Greece. Ptolemy has also appeared on television on British programming networks. His work has also made it to the newspapers. The Times, The Telegraph, The Daily Mail, The Sun and other local and international newspapers have featured his animal sculptures.

The main clients he has worked for include:

• DEFRA (formerly MAFF)
• The Eden Project
• Kenwood
• the RSPB
• The Environment Agency
• WWF
• Essex County Council
• Brighton County Council
• Ronseal, Anglo water
• East coast trains
• Ecover and more

He currently lives and works in Brighton, creating animal sculptures for anyone who wants it.

What inspires the owner of Hubcap Creations to keep going

When you do Art To earn a living, the daily routine sometimes takes away your passion. After all, when you have bills to pay, the ability to put food on the table is a premium. Even so, Ptolemy continues to enjoy his work and could not imagine doing anything else.

“Sometimes, strangely, I find finishing a piece a bit disappointing; sometimes i don’t really want to finish it. But since this is my profession and I have to pay the rent, eventually I have to put a piece aside and move one, but it’s not always easy, ”he says.

“People sometimes ask me what keeps me motivated and there are the obvious things… earning the daily bark. But there is also something else; It is a type of [a] Deep-seated instinct, if you will: an urge, a need, a desire to keep doing it. And if you don’t fulfill that wish, you become restless and unhappy. “

If only we could find that spark within ourselves, the greater purpose that we are all seeking. The story of Ptolemy shows that when you find him, everything fits. Of course, you have to push yourself, but when you are in the flow, nothing can stop you. We hope that everyone can discover their passion in life, because we all deserve to have satisfying jobs.

Sure, everyone has to pay bills and take responsibility, but that doesn’t mean we have to live a robotic existence. All these artists We had to overcome immense obstacles to achieve their dreams, but the key is that they kept going. Ptolemy’s incredible animal sculptures portray a story of perseverance and strength, showing the beauty that comes from second chances.

Final thoughts on the sculptor who turns forgotten remains into animal sculptures

When most people see hubcaps and junk on the side of the road, they don’t think twice. The owner of Hubcap Creatures is actually looking for these garden waste materials for his animal sculptures. For him, garbage does not exist; they are just discarded materials that can serve a new purpose in the form of art.

We hope you have enjoyed hearing about this talented artist and are inspired to follow your own dreams! Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.