What are the
different elements of making the puppet?
Every puppet is unique and needs to move and look a certain
way for that character, presenting new challenges and requiring different
skills.
The “Citizen Puppet” puppets have carved Styrofoam heads
with moving mouth mechanisms, skeleton structures, fabric bodies and foam
hands.
How do you approach
it?
Blind summits puppets evolve a lot during the R&D
process. Puppet heads and bodies will be swapped around, passed between
performers and characters will emerge.
I begin with the head. The most important thing to think about is
creating a characterful face with a mechanism that is strong and easy to
use.
I then think about what movement is needed from the puppet. The
“Citizen Puppet” cast are mainly seated puppets so leg and arm joints are very
simple. I make a skeleton structure of fibre glass rods and webbing. Then I fit
that into a fabric body and stuff it with wadding. Finally it’s the fun bits
like sewing shoes, casting hands and making costume.
What are the most
challenging moments of the make?
Getting the jaw mechanism right is very important, It’s all
about pivot points and tension. The lesson that I have
learned is that you should always work from life. Even if the head is very
exaggerated and cartoonlike, always look at where the joint would be on a real
skull.
What is your
favourite part to make?
Ears! Carving the ears is weirdly satisfying.
Who is your favourite
Blind Summit puppet?
The other day I was looking through the boxes and found a
puppet called Mildred. It was like
finding a beautiful antique; she has so much character even without a puppeteer
moving her.
What is your
favourite material to work with, and which one do you hate?
I like sculpting with
polymer clay like Fimo or Sculpey as you can put so much detail in it. Once I
was asked to make a very large carnival puppet and thought that chicken wire
would be a good idea. It wasn't. Chicken wire is Satan’s own invention.
http://www.helenfoanpuppetry.com/
This is so great! Would you mind sharing how you keep the styrofoam heads from getting dents and gouges?
ReplyDeleteI love Sculpey too, but it adds so much weight to the puppet. Any workarounds you've found? Thanks again for this post!
Hi Lacy,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment!
Helen has sent me her response to your comment to pass on...
"We cover the Styrofoam in a few coats of Jesmonite to keep the heads protected and gives a good surface to paint. Sculpey is too heavy for the puppets but great to make moulds from. If you make hands or delicate parts from it then make a mould and cast it in a lighter material."