Intro To Professional Puppet Building

Building a simple, professional, hand-rod style puppet for practice or performance.

What you'll learn
Use a simple building method to fabricate a professional style hand/rod puppet.
Reduce toxic fumes in puppet building with alternate gluing techniques.
Learn best practices in handling and working with various puppet building materials.
Create an engaging character for practice or performance.
Requirements
Assemble materials and tools needed. Best to view tools and materials videos before proceeding and decide on alternates if you already have some of the tools.
Description
A comprehensive introduction to the tools and materials used in puppet building and creating one from a simple pattern for beginners and a quick easy build for experienced builders. Building puppets and creating shows for my puppet company Up In Arms over the years, I've learned how to make engaging, functioning, professional-style puppets. I like to teach new builders to simplify the process, allow yourself to make mistakes and enjoy the journey as I break down my methods in an easy-to-learn course. Step by step, we'll explore the tools, materials and best practices in building your very own professional-style hand/rod puppet. Students are provided downloadable pattern PDFs for both US and EU standard paper sizes. While suggestions are made in what tools and materials to use, students are encouraged to be creative in using alternate methods and materials. All of the building methods are covered including cutting and gluing foam, machine and hand sewing fabric, installation of snaps and the proper placement of eyes and attaching a tongue and hair. When using toxic materials like contact cement, students are always encouraged to use proper protection which includes wearing a fume rated respirator mask, working in a well ventilated area and using protective disposable gloves.

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Before We Get Started

Section 2: Introduction and Tools

Lecture 2 Puppet Building Tools

Section 3: Puppet Building Materials

Lecture 3 Workshop Materials

Section 4: Downloadable Puppet Patterns

Lecture 4 Please be sure to print on card, cover or photo stock.

Section 5: Prepare Your Materials

Lecture 5 Preparing Your Materials

Section 6: Begin Assembly

Lecture 6 Mouth Plate & Foam Skull Assembly

Section 7: Let's Get Snappy and Sew

Lecture 7 Snaps & Machine Sewing

Section 8: Hand & Rod Assembly

Lecture 8 Hand & Rod Assembly

Section 9: Inserting the Skull & Finishing the Arms

Lecture 9 Finishing The Skull & Arms

Section 10: Let Your Puppet Breathe

Lecture 10 Inserting Mouth, Nose & Tongue

Section 11: Finishing Touches

Lecture 11 Finishing Touches

The beginner or novice builder can pick up some skills, learn 'best practices' and build a relatively simple, professional-style, hand/rod puppet with step by step instruction. For advanced builders, it's a great pattern to have to make a quick practice puppet.