The Vulture

Vultures were bad news also in 1932 (Victor Halperin: White Zombie, United Artists)

What would an evil wizard be without a demonic familiar? Sorceress de Belleville's familiar has taken the form of a vulture named Mabuya ('Evil Spirit' or 'Ghost' in Taino. Subtle!).

I sculpted the bird from modelling putty over a wire frame and took the colours from the turkey vulture*, indigenous to the Caribbean.

*Fun fact: Turkey vultures cool themselves through urohidrosis i.e. emptying their bowels and bladders on their well vascularized feet. The evaporating water from the feces removes heat from the circulating blood in the skin. Like sweating but far more disgusting.