Yeah see it is that pen thingy...   I don't have one. Guess I really need to invest in one.  Had a tablet and pen ages ago but like with software changing operating systems kind of made it non usable.

no...n, n, n, no. The pen tool in your tools palette in your drawing program it draws lines that have vector points that you can drag around the place. you can use your mouse... Inkscape is another free, portable program that draws in vector. You can import your scans and add a layer and vector draw on that layer etc.then export to BMP or vector .

Ahh... ok I get it. Duhhhh.   Have to practice with that. Past tries at drawing with my mouse have not always been real successful.  Really need to download Gimp and most likely Inkscape also. Tired them once but since upgraded in machines and never downloaded and re-installed. Part of the issue is that I do so little graphic work it seems in the last couple works that I've kind of let things slide. Even with Photoshop I've forgotten so much that I knew at one time.

Hey Shawn, thanks to your tips I am now into another level! I did this horse head from a plasticine model. It took a day. The nostrils need work, and the ears are a little fat, and  from the side, comments from family are that it looks like a donkey... but that is due to my modelling more than the  pattern taking. In taking the pattern, I see one will have to take into account foam thicknesses a bit more, as thin bits like the ears and nostrils get too fat with inside and outside foams. I stumbled on a good way of doing the eyes, and eyelids. Thanks again for your help.

         

You are so welcome.  I actually saw this guy in the Gallery and commented there that I like your design better then mine.   I think yours looks a bit more equine (did I spell that right?. Yeah the thickness of foam can be an issue. I am thinking that in some cases it might be better to simply make sculpt the base skeleton so to speak and then add the detail on top. I knew the nostrils where going to be an issue on mine so in patterning I kind of simplified it a bit. I figure I may need to pinch my ends or even cut some foam edges on a something other then a 90 degree angle. That is something I often do anyway so not that new to me.

It looks like your ears are two pieces of foam glued togeather. I haven't gotten to ears yet but was figuring I would use one piece and darts to make the shape. Mine will end up larger then a normal hand puppet so I may have to add some wire structure to hold them up but I think for a hand puppet they would support themselves.  If taking a pattern of the clay model I wonder if just using the tape on the back side of the ear as the pattern would get the right shape?

Wow, cool Mule!

Ha ha Rika, then a mule it is! He's a half breed!.. part shetland.
  Shawn, the ears still have to be double sided on the cloths, but I might try taking a big slice out of the front foam so the  base of the ear is a cylinder but goes quickly to like a lilly flower, and one foam layer mostly, or even just the back foam layer but glued in a curve...we'll see. The nostrils next try I'll try what I did with the eye. The whole head cloth was amazingly  one solid cloth piece, except the ears, so I cut a slit for the eye, then sewed a cylinder into that slit , much like an arm into a shirt hole, and left it inverted, which made a nice lid, then put the eyeball into it. I did a cloth covered wooden ball eye first try, but ended with a PVC half sphere (tutorial in the making)covered in cloth as it was lighter and sat flatter... but whatever the case, the techniqeu works a treat.

oh... forgot to say, the ears could have some sticks or something operated from within the skull, to make them wiggle to give some expression. I had a little play around with that.

I love this face, he is so real and anthropomorph at the same time.

I'm really intrigued by your PVC half sphere. Can't wait to see the tutorial on that.

Not real sure what you mean by "then sewed a cylinder into that slit". I can't get a close enough look in the photos of they eye. It almost looks like there are no seams. Can you get a close up of the eye?  They look really good.

Hi Shawn, not too complicated on the PVC half sphere. Just  like a ping pong ball cut in half, but they are stronger, and you can make them the size, and to a degree, the  shape you want.. and pretty much for free.
   Here are a couple pics of the eye closer up for you to  study, and hopefully an understandable diagram of proceedure. Not too complicated once you have done it once.

      

Got it... I thought maybe that was what you meant but wanted to clarify.  Thanks for the details.

Is the eye sewn just to the tube from the back rather than the head fabric on the front?  I wonder if the tube extension could be used to move the eyeball independently in the socket if you could find a way to keep the ball pressed against the head skin tightly. Then your "mule" could go cross eyed while he wiggles his ears.

Yes Snail. At first I did cut a slit in the foam as well as the cloth,for the cloth tube to go through, and had a  wooden ball, which could lend itself towards a moving mechanism, but since it was a 'draft' puppet, I went simpler and just did the half sphere covered, and hand stitched from the front. You have given me some food for thought.... I feel something coming on.

Good idea Sail! It would be a bit like a ball and socket joint then.  Hmmm...