Good resources for puppet building and performing

[robotgirl]

I was curious if someone could point me in the right direction or at least toss a couple ideas my way:

I just graduated from college with a degree in drawing. I've been making spastic little puppets for about the last four years, trying to do some new art innovative creatures as well as more "traditional" puppets. I would really love to learn more about making/performing however I always hit dead ends whenever trying to find some good resources. Since I am based in NY i figured that there would be a decent amount of opportunities and resources, perhaps I just am blind? Can anyone help the new kid out?

Thanks
-v

 

[Fozzie Bear]

www.puppeteers.org

Hope it helps!!

And welcome to MuppetCentral.com

 

[pdbooch]

Do you mean the NYC or NY State?

I was curious if someone could point me in the right direction or at least toss a couple ideas my way:

I just graduated from college with a degree in drawing. I've been making spastic little puppets for about the last four years, trying to do some new art innovative creatures as well as more "traditional" puppets. I would really love to learn more about making/performing however I always hit dead ends whenever trying to find some good resources. Since I am based in NY i figured that there would be a decent amount of opportunities and resources, perhaps I just am blind? Can anyone help the new kid out?

Thanks
-v

 

[robotgirl]

Do you mean the NYC or NY State?

New York City... i know there are some things out there, but honestly I dont know where to begin. I have a fine arts background, but this seems like a completely different realm.

 

[mkelley]

How about a reply from one new (well, one new but very old) person to another?

You're right when you imply puppet making and performing is like no other art in the world. Puppet making combines nearly all the arts -- skulpting, painting, drawing, sewing, collage, etc. Performing your puppets takes in all account of performing arts. It's a massive topic, and there are few if any places on the net that pull it all together.

When I first started making puppets I sewed them. It's an easy way to get some good looking puppets made quickly, and there are some terrific patterns out there:

http://www.biblepuppet.com/
http://www.letusteachkids.com/puppets/puppetpatterns.htm
http://www.puppetpatterns.com/1001_people.htm

among many others. Then after a few short weeks I realized I needed more from my puppets, and so I got into foam puppets. The definitive source is The Foam Book and the videos from Grey Seal:

http://www.greysealpuppets.com/foambookvideo.html

I'm sold on foam, covered or not, but if might not suit you. You should at least check it out (at the very least buy the book, although for me the videos were invaluable). Here's another site (by a regular -- probably the *most* active member -- of this forum) that talks about foam construction:

http://www.bear-town.com/backstage_pages/tumbles_intro.htm

Just making the puppet head and body is only half, though: you'll need costumes, and they can be as elaborate as any stage play. I particularly like the reference books given on this site:

http://www.puppetbuilder.com/index2.html

Specifically, here:

http://www.puppetbuilder.com/books/index.html

And then you're off into performing, with the *many* different elements of that. To start with:

http://home.earthlink.net/~lbrodie/extra/camramnp.html

although for video it also works for stage.

I've been collecting sites (you might note) and if anyone has any other great sites please add them (so I can ste... um, copy them down).

Good luck -- this is a hobby (career) that can last a lifetime.

 

[robotgirl]

thanks so much, some of those are definitely very useful sites. I've already made some puppets (foam, wire and marionettes) but really thats what I enjoy. Is it typical or expected for you to design and fabricate and perform? Anyone know of opportunities that are just design and fabrication related?

thanks a lot once more

 

[Buck-Beaver]

The first stop on the net for most puppetry information is The Puppetry Homepage. You'll find links there to most of the puppetry-related info on the `net.

To keep on top of NYC puppet happenings subscribe to the Henson Foundation newsletter - check out http://www.hensonfoundation.org for all the details.