First Up: A Pile of Heads.
Many times I begin a project with a body part, most often is a torso. Heads are right up there though. I usually do not have a preconceived notion of what the final product will look like, but prefer to just start with a part and go from there. The end result is driven by materials, paint, patina (dirt), and availability of parts.
Heads are fun, fun to make and think about, but also critical to the final personality. Of the ones above, only the gas pump/meter has a potential body. Its the film strip projector you can see a bit of in the photo. The rest will sit on the bench while I ponder potential uses for them.
Next are two pieces that are in the works. The first is waiting for me to figure out its legs.
I love the look and feel of this one. I am quite happy with the head, which is a combination of an electrical service conduit and an old projector bulb. Right now the base I have it on allows it to kind of wobble around, and I may leave like that. But the skeletal nature of the arms keeps making me think of replicating that in its legs. I need to think on it some more.
The there this:
Not the best photo, but this uses an old projecting microscope as the body. Its kind of different from what I have done in the past, which makes it cool. The challenge here is what do I do to round out the body and what kind of head do I use with it. Again this needs more thought and tinkering. trying various parts, figuring out how to attach them and how they work, or don't work, as a whole. Like any other creative endeavor its part tinkering, part head scratching, and part flash of inspiration.
Hopefully this post gives you a sense of how I get "from here to there", its never a straight path, but always a fun one to walk.