Hi,
My name is Holly.
I am from NSW, Australia.

I am currently in yr12, doing my HSC (Higher School Certificate) and am studying art as one of my subjects.

For my major art body of work I am constructing a series of marionette's based on social commentary/critisism.

The dolls are going to be made from wax and approximately 20cm tall.

I am urgently in need of some help and pointers on the controls & strings. (how to constuct? what materials to use?)


Every suggestion is apperciated.
Thank you!

Holly.

Well you are in luck, Holly, because you live in Australia.  There is a marionette/puppet convention being held in Perth, Australia next month!!!  That's right from April 2 - 12.  I was originally planning on attending but then plans sadly fell through at the last minute.  Luckily, I was able to get refunded on all my expenses.  The organization who is putting this on is UNIMA.  This might be PERFECT for you to attend some of the events and workshops.  Hopefully it is not too far to venture.  I thought I would try since it is at least being held in your round about neighborhood....ha ha ha.  As for controls, it really depends on how complex you want your marionette to be.  If you want your marionette just to be able to walk and bend over, then you can get away with a simple "airplane control."  That is where the control looks like a cross or airplane.  You can use something as simple as two popsicle sticks or get really elaborate and construct with wood and wire.  One of my favorite books on puppetry and marionettes is by David Currell entitled The Complete Book of Puppetry.  It is pretty easy to find and perhaps a local library might even have a copy for you to look through.  This was actually one of my first books on the subject.  I refer to it often.  Some other marionette books are:

Complete Book of Marionettes by Mabel and Les Beaton
Marionettes How to Make and Work Them by Helen Fling
Puppets Methods and Materials by Cedric Flower and Alan Fortney

Be sure to check out amazon.com for special deals on these books.  I think I got all of these books for less than $10 each!!!  In fact, I think I got one of them for less than a dollar!!!  Trial and error is how I started with my marionettes.  I think this is the most complex of all puppetry but that is only my personal opinion.  It is the one that I enjoy best though.  I think that you will do great.  Be sure to check out the forums carefully because I know there have been numerous past posts on the subject.

GOOD LUCK! :D
Nikole

Shawn the administrator hereat Puppets and Stuff is our resident specialist. I'm sure he can help you or at least reccomend some good books to guide you thru the process. Nikole has given you a good start.

Welcome to Puppets and Stuff. I hope you will share pictures of your puppet build............ perhaps we can learn together.


Billy D.

I have three books you should look for either at the library or to buy.
Link no longer available. Link no longer available. Link no longer available.

Welcome to the group, Holly - it looks like you've gotten some great advice. Don't forget to check eBay for marionette books, too. I've found a couple of great ones in the past that were offered by Australian sellers. (Waldo Lanchester's Hand and String Puppets, for one.) If you can get the books from a local source you will probably receive them more quickly, and won't have to pay so much for postage.   

Here are links to two of the best online sources for books about puppets and puppetry...

http://www.puppetbooks.co.uk/

http://www.maskandpuppetbooks.co.uk/


Good luck, and thanks for joining!



Ron G.


PS
The original version of Lanchester's book from the Forties is best, the recent reissue has been heavily abridged.

PPS
20 cm (just under 8 inches) seems a little small for working marionettes - though I have seen some toy ones that size in the past. I'm sure that size would be fine for video closeups, or if they don't have to be viewed from a great distance.

Thank you for all the excellent advice PuppetsAndPals, Billy, Shawn & Ron!
I will be on the look out for all the books you have suggested.


PuppetsAndPals,
The airplane control structure is perfect for my work, thank you!
The controls do need some function but they are basically for symbolic purpose, to represent the media 'controlling' aspects of life.
I'll be doing some experimentation into whether I will make them simple or complex (the more detail the more marks) and let you all know how it works out!


Ron,
Your comment on the planned size got me to thinking.
However, the project has size & weight restrictions (Not exactly sure, but I think they are around 1 metre cubed for space & 30kg in weight).
& the way I choose to display my characters (ie: if I hang them on hooks) may also be included in the size/weight of my project.
I'll do some trials with the beeswax soon and I may be able to make them slightly bigger which will make the character's message more effective.
Thanks!


As all my practical work so far has been mostly material testing (ie: texturising, shaping, etc) I do not have any progress pictures but hopefully I will very, very soon and will keep you all posted =]


Thank you again for all your help.
Keep the feedback coming, Holly.

Hey Holly!

I'm an Aussie too, though from Melbourne. If you're near Sydney, then you should go to the Rocks, where there is a puppet builder's workshop. They could help you a lot with info.

Here's their website:

http://www.thepuppetshop.com/

I also recommend the above books, and have the one by Currell.

Do check out my site, because you may find some helpful links to Aussie puppetry.

And chookas by the way for your building project!