Books, articles, talks, and press.

Seventeen years of documenting the craft — in book form, in trade press, and from the podium.

Books

The Prop Building Guidebook

3rd edition, 2023

For Theatre, Film, and TV.

View book page →

The Prop Effects Guidebook

2nd edition, 2025

Lights, Motion, Sound, and Magic.

View book page →

Prop Building for Beginners

2021

Twenty Props for Stage and Screen.

Articles & Publications

Engineering Performance: Realistic Animatronic Dogs for Theatrical Applications

Zoë Scherpbier, Carlitos Ayma Gonzalez, Kelly Simons, Eric Hart, Courtney Liu, Blake Hament · Systems and Information Engineering Design Symposium (SIEDS) · 2025

The Art of Artiface

American Craft magazine · 2019

Bubble Blowing Doll

Stage Directions magazine · 2018

Talks & Lectures

The Art and Magic of Animatronics

Easttown Library Foundation, annual STEM for Adults Lecture · 2025

Animatronics: Breathing Life into Technology

USITT Conference · 2025

Animatronics: Where Objects Come to Life

SPMinar · 2023

Shop Talk: Beyond the Scenes with Prop Artisans

NY Public Library for the Performing Arts · 2021

Simple Pneumatics

USITT Conference · 2018

Press & Media Appearances

Feathers, motors and magic: UNCSA students create a stage-worthy dove

Winston-Salem Journal · 2026

Role Call: People to Watch

American Theatre Magazine · 2023

Animatronics: Where Robotics and Art Merge

Career Calling Podcast · 2023

The Tricks that Make Slasher Films Look Real

Vox Media · 2021

TheatreArtLife Podcast

2021