Hi all,

I have question. I made a puppet head using the wedge method, it's more round shape the football, but I'm having difficulty with the mouth opening.  When I cut a slit in the head for the mouth an insert the mouth board my foam tears in the corners of the mouth when ever I pull the foam over the upper and bottom lips.  What am I doing wrong?  I'm sorry I don't have any pictures since I can't find my camera. Hopefully I explained this pretty clear.  I wouldn't have a problem if I was making some sort of animal that had a muzzel, then of course the head would have a round opening for the muzzel, but I'm making people puppets. Thanks for your help.



Angel

Is the mouth slit cut so the mouth is in the open position?....puppets have to be made so that the mouth is always open and your hand makes the mouth close.  Then they will spring open again this may solve your problem.

Daryl H 

I'm not sure I can visualize the problem yet.  Is the mouth opening small compared to the head (like Bunsen Honeydew) and what is the wedge method?  Pardon my cluelessness.  Is that from the Foam Book?

Daryl,
OK i think I see what you're talking about.  Instead of just a straight cut I need to, I guess, take out some of the foam to actually make an opening. Here's a pic that I tried to draw, I'm not an artist but is this what you're talking about?




Puppetlady,
I don't recall the wedge method being in the foam book.  The wedge method is when you cut out several wedges, usually about 6-8, and glue them together to make a ball.  I have a pic some where on my computer.  I'll try to locate it and post it for you.  A very good tutorial is on You Tube, it's by Thistledown Puppets and it call the "Building the Red Panda"
It's by Phillip Hatter, he is so talented.  He uses this method for his build.  Click here and look at the right hand side.    http://www.youtube.com/thistledownpuppets

At the bottom of the video section click on all to see all of the videos.  There's nine parts to this build and he builds the head in parts 1 & 2.   Hope this helps

Angel

Yes your picture is right...however you might run into the problem of having the mouth to hard to close due to taking out the foam.  When building heads you need to build it with a mouth open or make it separate  jaw to it isn't attached to the top of the head.  The mouthplate will keep the pieces together.  I hope this makes sense?  You could always try and remove the foam and see if it works (which I hope it does) However I couldn't tell you with out pictures or knowing the structure of the head.  The Panda video's are great and you should observe how his mouths are built open.

Is this clear?

Daryl H

No Longer Available
Here is the entire 9 part video series of thistledownpuppets's "Building the Red Panda".

Philip Hatter walks you through his design process for a hand-made puppet that he built for a local art show/charity event.

Thistledown Puppets web site.

I really don't want the chin separate, like the three piece head method.  I guess I'm trying to get a head like the Rotondo Puppet head, from project puppet, ball shape.  I know I can just use a pattern, I actually have that particular pattern, but I want to create my own.  This way once I've learned then I can make any shape head I may need.   I've watched Philip's video several times, but his puppet mouth is made for an animal with a muzzle.  I want the roundness of a ball without using a three piece head. I can add foam to build a jaw.  Someone stated about using a ball.  Marking and cutting it and using that for a pattern.  OK if I did that, then would I do the mouth like I explained in my last post?   Sorry to make this so confussing, I'm just determined to get this right, I know there has to be a way.  Anyway thanks for all input.  All advise is extremely helpful.

Hopefully I can get a camera soon, so I can post some pics.   Thanks anyway.

Angel

Thanks Shawn for adding Phillip's link here for everone.  Love Philip's video I actually downloaded his entire tutorial to my phone that way I can always refer to it.  But tell me...how do make a people puppet without a muzzle LOL.....using the same technique?


Angel

Angel,

Yes you want to do the mouth the way you showed in your picture. Remember that when manipulateing a mouth puppet you want to move the bottom jaw not "flip" the upper head.  So I think you want your top cut to be "straight" across and then you lower cut goes down. I don't think you need a very large opening and it is going to take some experimentation.  

Have you made the mouth plate yet?  I think you are going to want that to try out your mouth opening and gauge the size of opening you need.

He is a picture of the foam of a puppet head built the way you are tyring to build a puppet.  I know you want to make your own pattern but perhaps this picture will give you some ideas on how to get the job done.  I've used this design for several puppets and the mouth action is very good when compared to other puppets I have used.