Valerie Cowle
Ennismore, ONT

Nessie the Loch Ness Monster

In Scotland, as the sun retreats behind the mountains above Loch Ness, and the ruins of 14th century Urquhart Castle soak up the final rays of the day, out of the depths of the loch comes an awesome apparition. Rumours have abounded since 565 AD. as to the identity of the creature seen by few and imagined by many. Well, now your curiosity can now be satisfied as a rare picture has been taken of the elusive monster.

Theme Items

Butterfly Wings - The wings were used in the Castle Keep Gate

Red Gem - The gem was used as the setting sun

Camel - This was humanely dissected into five pieces and used for;

1)The head of the monster

2)The first hump of the monster

3)The legs were used to create two of the tree trunks

4)The remaining part of the body was used to create the third tree trunk

The mountains were made of earth tone streaky glass, I think bullseye though I have had it for a while so I am not sure. They were braced with clear glass from behind. The trees were made with the addition of 20 gauge copper wire to form branches. The loch water was made of two layers; the surface layer was clear ripple and below was streaky blue to give the effect of water. Underneath there is a lamp to illuminate the water and Nessie (the Loch Ness Monster) The hill and castle ruins were made from youghiogheny glass. The hill in the foreground was slumped to form a higher area for the castle ruins to stand on. The ruins’ mortar lines were painted with ‘Pebeo’ paints. The ruins of the keep have long been filled with earth and consequently have vegetation growing on the top of the keep. Nessie's head and first hump were made from pieces of the camel, the second hump and the tail were made from sheet copper and solder, and painted with ‘Color Magic’.The case was made from reclaimed cedar planks and aluminum angle.