Where did the characters come
from?
"I
was born in a rural area without television, phone or other children nearby.
My playtime entertainment depended upon my own imagination and creation.
I had a favorite place in a grove of trees in the middle of a field. There
were huge rocks on which to play above the ground; which was densely covered
in Trillium lilies. I conceived little characters that lived hidden beneath
the large green leaves. Their imagined presence always gave me a sense
of security and confidence as I played alone for hours.
The
faces I created are the physical interpretation of how I envisioned those characters".
How did the concept behind
them evolve?
"A
small child in our family was having a bit of difficulty understanding certain
lessons of virtue. I developed a cast of imaginary friends who helped
to guide our spirits and we playfully referred to them when she needed to put
extra effort into positive behavior; or was confronted with a difficult situation.
The
purpose was to encourage her to search within herself to shape the quality of
her nature and it was very effective. That was the beginning of a concept
of fictional characters that portray our life's journey and define our growth
in a positive, hopeful way. A poetic fable developed; defining the Dilly
Wizard as a subliminal soul emerging throughout our practical existence.
They aspire to give us comfort; security and courage; inspiration, ambition
and confidence; hope and humor; faith and peace; satisfaction and realization....
our guides on "The Journey of our Worth".
Where did the name come from?
"Wizards
are universally intriguing but not always endearing. I wanted to personalize
them in a way that represented a sweet and positive nature. One day I
remembered an expression from my childhood. "You are a real dilly",
was a phrase I often heard following something I had said or done. I never
thought about it having any meaning except to convey recognition of my childish
antics. Dilly represented the childhood connection I felt for the faces
I sculpted. Unsure if the word had a proper meaning, I looked in the dictionary
and to my surprise and amusement, I found the perfect definition. Dilly
- A remarkable thing. The name communicated what I had intended their
meaning to be.... that we all begin as similar souls; possessing a free will
to be our best.
"There is no greater
gift we have to offer."
