How do I make a human looking Muppet?

[Jessica6868]

I have loved the Muppets all my life but just now feel like I am ready to actually make one of my own. I want it to be a character of myself and carve the head out of a block of foam. I could not find any foam blocks so I bought some thick foam and glued it together. I don't know where to start. I mean I have carved clay before but for some reason this foam is really intimidating me. I have drawn up a few sketches of how I want her to look, but fear I will waste the foam if I just start cutting without any direction. I am VERY inspired by this site and all the wonderful creative members, Please Help Me.

Thanks,
Jess

 

[Muppetlab]

Can you upload a sketch of what you want to build? There may be a simpler pattern out there that will give you the shape your looking for

 

[Jessica6868]

I am in the process of trying to build 2 human like puppets. I have included sketches for both so I won't be a bother trying to gather information multiple times. My sketches are rough but they are basically, exactly what I want to accomplish. I just don't know how to go about getting the desired results.

Thank you for any and all help you can provide.
Jess


SKETCHES

Male Muppet Head, Nose, and Mouth Sketch
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=361187950658300&l=4b26b26a34

Male Muppet Form Sketch
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=361187970658298&l=2fa2c71217

Female Muppet Head and Eye Sketch
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=361188450658250&l=a6730d6ba3

Female Muppet Form Sketch
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=361187940658301&l=f32970dcf6

Female Mouth Sketch
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=361188453991583&l=4d9237d66a

Muppet Hand Sketch
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=361187993991629&l=2535fca656

 

[staceyrebecca]

If you're carving from block foam (or created block foam, you'll want to first draw the profile of what you want to carve on the side & just start hacking away with a pair of scissors! I took a carving workshop from John Kennedy & that's what he had us do. His book may help (Although I'm not sure 100% suree, I haven't looked at it in years):
http://www.amazon.com/Puppet-Planet...st+Amazing+Puppet-Making+Book+in+the+Universe.


If you want a different method, using sheets of polyfoam, Drew Allison's book is also good & one of the first books I looked at that I found to be helpful back in the day.
http://www.amazon.com/Foam-Book-Bui...&qid=1366780589&sr=1-3&keywords=puppet+making

Good luck building your first puppet!


Good luck!

 

[Jessica6868]

Thank you!! I will post pictures as I venture into this scary adventure. Foam is waaay to expensive to waste sooooo I hope I know what I am doing before I murder me some foam. LOL.

Thanks for the Luck!! I'm going to need all Luck that I can get!!
Jess

Here are My Blocks of Foam!! Step 1 - Finished!!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=362381157205646&l=abdb4351a5

 

[Jessica6868]

Okay, so I bought more foam but this time sheet foam because I found a really awesome head pattern. Only problem is that the two heads I created are rather large. How could I make bodies for them that are light enough for me to actually make them useable and manageable. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jess