Making Mini Forest Folk

Woods are full of creatures, even if you can’t see them. Along the forest path, they are hiding between the tree foliage and in little burrows, quietly waiting for the coast to clear. Critters like squirrels and rabbits… and according to folklore, other sorts of creatures too. Such as gnomes, fairies, and trolls. Whimsical as they are, this sort of forest folk sparks the imagination like no other. So naturally, they are some of our favorite subjects for small creations, which is what we’re exploring in this article. We’ll be looking at creative ways of adding a small touch of forest folk whimsy to nature here and there, using natural materials and keeping it simple. Because sometimes all it takes is a bit of moss and some sticks to make the magic happen.

Before we get into all the whimsy, let’s start with a practical consideration. When making forest folk miniatures, you might run into one little issue. That is, they often tend to be a bit top-heavy. Whether it’s because we give them a large head for cute proportions, stick a bunch of wings on their back, or give them dainty skinny legs to balance on, chances are that they will topple over rather than stay in position. For this reason, it’s handy to make your forest folk as stick figurines. And by that, we mean a figurine on a stick or a spike that is inserted in the ground for anchoring. If done well, the stick itself will be completely hidden.

Rooted in its spot, a stick figurine keeps its balance well, even in more precarious postures and positions. Thus, it can bend over without toppling, stand on a ledge without falling off, and won’t be knocked down by the smallest gust of wind. This allows for interesting creations, like a little forest creature watching its reflection in the water. As for the stick itself, you might find some suitable twigs when sourcing materials in nature. As another option, you could use something like a wooden skewer.

Let’s start our exploration of forest folk with some of the most magical ones: fairies. Throughout history, these tiny mythical creatures have come in many different shapes and forms. Hundreds even, and often on the scary side. Nowadays, we know them mostly by a sparkly and vibrant image, but that’s not the image we’re going for here. After all, if these little creatures are so good at hiding in the woods, wouldn’t it make much more sense if they’d blend in effortlessly? By creating them with materials from the forest, they’ll look like they’re part of the forest. Easy to miss, but a delight to spot.

As for natural materials that you can use, there are more than plenty. For starters, certain kinds of stringy moss or dried up grass can be turned into hair for the fairy. Sure, it will look a bit wild, but then again most types of forest folk aren’t quite the well-groomed type. Another useful material you’ll find in abundance, is leaves. These can be used to create clothing, or a pair of fairy wings. For an extra interesting effect, you can treat the leaves with baking soda to have only their skeleton remain.

As mentioned above, there’s no such thing as a fairy archetype. There’s hundreds of them across history and local folklore. So, one fun approach to making fairies is to give them your own little twist. Introduce your own local variant of fairies. For example, imagine them wearing mushroom caps for a hat. All they would have to do in cases of intruders (that’s us going on a forest walk) is to crouch down and sit very still, and passersby wouldn’t suspect a thing.

Speaking of mushrooms and fairies, we’ve got an article dedicated to the all the magic that happens when you combine the two. Have a look at the mushroom crafts for fairy gardens for lots more whimsy. As for here, we’re moving on to a different kind of forest folk.

Our second forest creature is also an age-old one: the gnome. Like fairies, gnomes have been part of European folklore for centuries. They are closely in touch with nature, and like forest gardeners they make sure that all the plant life is thriving.

Gnomes are industrious little fellas, friends with all forest animals, as well as avid treasure hunters. When creating this kind of forest folk, it’s fun to involve little tools and show them being busy with one thing or another. From sweeping the leaves away from the doorstep to their burrows, to catching a fish for dinner, to washing the dirt off of a snail’s shell, there’s always plenty to do in a gnome’s day.

Next up are the trolls. These creatures have their origins in Scandinavian folklore, that describes them as being giant, monstrous and unkempt, with stony limbs and plants growing from their skin. Hostile in nature, they’re something to steer clear of.

When making your own trolls, it’s fun to loosely play with their Nordic origins. Instead of ill-natured giants, we can make tiny, cute versions of them. But just like their giant relatives, they’re wild looking, and like to live in caves and in the dark depths of the woods.

Given their stony appearance, working with pebbles and clay makes a great base for creating a troll. Their hair can be made with moss, and with glass beads you can give them some eyes. Of all the forest folk that we cover here, trolls are by far the most scruffy lot, so feel free to involve a bit of mud or snail slime to create the appearance of a never-washed little creature. And about making them cute… maybe reconsider that. I for one love myself a little grump.

Let’s look at one more kind of forest folk. Unlike the previous example, this one is not rooted in ancient folklore or magical in nature. They’re just little guys that like to roam the forest, always up for an adventure.

In their nomadic existence, it makes sense that this forest folk is quite pragmatic and opportunistic in using their natural surroundings. If they lose their hat, they could use an acorn cap in its stead. If they need something to carry what they’ve foraged, why not make a knapsack with a leaf and a stick? Put yourself in their tiny shoes, and you’ll see all kinds of clever ways to use natural materials from the forest to help your little creation on its way.

One of the best ways to capture the whimsy of this forest folk, is to have them meet a forest animal like a bird or a squirrel, which will look absolutely gigantic in comparison, and take a picture. Wondering how to set up such a meeting? Be sure to check out David M. Bird’s work.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this bit of forest whimsy, and that it will sprout an idea or two!