Any Advice on making My First Puppet?

[Gelfling Girl]

So, my dad (JanicesMainDude) and I are planning on building a puppet, and we could use some advise. Considering that this will be our first puppet, would it be easier for us to try to make a puppet similar to one of the Muppets or an original design?

 

[D'Snowth]

You could actually go either, but as far as design and conception is concerned, being your first puppet, I wouldn't try anything too complicated, start with something simple.

That was a mistake of mine, and as a result, as I've mentioned before, it took me years of little odd alterations and modifications here and there to get Steve to look right, and not so sloppy and cookie-cutter.

You know what I'd recommend for starters? Build your own Anything Muppet, that way, you have a simple puppet to work with, and you can experiment with different eyes, and accessories and such, to give you an idea on how to work with them.

 

[Gelfling Girl]

Thanks. That's a great idea.

 

[Melonpool]

I would buy one of the simple series puppets from Project Puppet ( http://www.projectpuppet.com/ ). I recommend the Glorified Sock Puppet puppet as a first design. You can make it with little-to-no sewing experience and finish it in a couple of days. That will gove you some background to tackle your next project -- whether it's another Project Puppet puppet or one of your own design.

 

[Gelfling Girl]

This is just a bit more information:
We've been watching the Foam Book DVD's and we plan on using the three-piece head method. We'll probably be making the puppet over the weekend (less worries about school/work getting in the way), and if things go alright, I'll try to post pictures or possibly a video on here.

 

[Puppetainer]

Overall I agree with my fellow posters here. The foam book is a good starting place too. I have to say that I'm a BIG fan of the Project Puppet stuff. They also have some great free tutorials on their site.

Also here's a link to some free videos by Paul Louis Muller to give you a whole how-to on making a simple puppet.
http://www.ehow.com/video_2389536_tools-supplies-how-puppet.html

I hope all the advice is helpful for you. I would encourage you to have fun with whatever method you choose! Puppetry should first and foremost be FUN! Don't be too hard on yourself with your first effort either. My first puppet was so rough that I dubbed him "Franky", short for Frankenstein. But I have learned so much with each new puppet that I make and each new one looks better than the last. So dig in and have fun! I look forward to hearing how it goes.

 

[CoOKiE]

I would save the Muppet replica making for later on. I did years of my own designs, then decided to try and make replicas... My first one was HORRIBLE. It made me never want to attempt again. I was expecting greatness and i failed.

So, word of advice... DO NOT expect greatness. Accept the art you make and take it as a learning experience.

The thing about that character, was i made his head HUGE... Other then that the rest came out perfect... but i junked him. He created a false image that said, "with this, its proof you'll always fail." So, i junked those bad vibes and have done better lol.

I've tried replica making since and done good

 

[Gelfling Girl]

Thanks, guys. Where would I be without you?

 

[Gelfling Girl]

Update

My dad and I just went to Hobby Lobby to get some materials to make the puppet. I'm so excited that we're about to get started soon. The design is fairly simple, nothing like blinking eyes or remote controls or anything like that. We based it off of the character Delilah from this fanfic I wrote. I can't wait to get started, even though it might take quite a while for us to build the whole puppet, considering there's school and work on the weekdays. Although we seem to be having trouble finding green craft eyes. We managed to find a pair at Hobby Lobby, although they were frog eyes. Oh well, maybe we could make a pair.

 

[dwmckim]

Thanks, guys. Where would I be without you?

Pittsbugh?