Hi! I just finished my first attempt at working with latex. Things didn't go too badly. I cast a duck's bill for a puppet video I'll be shooting shortly.

If you would like to see my efforts please visit http://www.hupdaditty.com/tips-and-training/

I'd be happy of any advice. Cheers!

The beak looks real good!  I'm curious, how are you planning on attaching the beak to the head?

Cheers!

Shunaka

Cool! This is a first try?

Hey fellow Canadian there is a great video on latex puppet making from our very own Canadian and very talented Noreen Young you can email her for the DVD now it is really reasonably price and she is such a great support if you run into issues or farther questions from her DVD. 

LATEX PUPPET MAKING--
A teaching DVD and booklet that includes a 90 minute video explaining how to make simple latex puppets, body part templates, puppet stage plans and tips on puppet manipulation from Noreen Young, one of Canada's most acclaimed puppetry artists.

Here is her email address nyp at sympatico.ca replace the "at" with @ so she doesn't get spam mail...lol.

Wow, that's a great resource. Thank you. I will follow-up with Noreen Young.

Hi, I'm casting my first puppet head this weekend in the meantime here are the duck feet to go with the bill I cast a few weeks back. You can see the duck's bill at http://www.hupdaditty.com/tips-and-training/

There's also this that I found.  You may want to check this out as well. They have just about everything you can think of as far as supplies etc.  Also a lot of videos on youtube.

http://www.reynoldsam.com/

Happy feet!

Thanks so much for the link. I will follow up. Cheers!

Hi ROn,

Here's another resource for a variety of casting products.  They have some great videos on Youtube on using their products.  The art store where I work currently sells this stuff and I have had good results with the company. http://www.smooth-on.com/ Hope that helps.  Your first efforts are looking really good.

Since it says that you used Monster Clay and RD-407 latex, I'm guessing you got your supplies from Monster Makers?
Also, here's a tip for casting things solid color, add a bit of acrylic paint and maybe a little water. Cheap hobby acrylic paint works fine if it's added to the latex, but is a bad idea to use for actually painting latex. The tinted latex will cure to be a a shade or two darker.

That's a great tip on colouring the latex. I wouldn't have thought of that. Yes, I am using Monster Makers through their Canadian supplier here in Toronto. http://www.sculpturesupply.com Great folks.

Thanks codyart1 for the link. Excellent videos. Lots to review and learn there.

btw - I'm halfway through the moulding process on my first puppet head, details soon!

Thanks again everyone for all your help.

Update: The casting seemed to go well but it's taking a fair amount of time to remove the clay from the mould. I'm off today to buy a cheap heat gun to speed the process.

Return the heat gun and get a ceramic portable heater the small ones...they probably will be cheap this time of year since it is summer lol...you can just leave it in front of the latex container to dry it instead of holding a heating gun...that will kill your arm for sure.

StiqPuppets

That's not a bad idea at all. Actually I never got out to make my purchase. I ended up using sunshine to warm the clay. It's been very hot here so the clay softened and came from the mould quite quickly. A cheap and green solution!

The casting went well. Pictures soon!