Darryl (stiqman puppets) suggested that the eyes might look better closer together, subject to personal taste of course. I'd wanted him manic but... Through the magic of photoshop I tried this, and I see that brining the eyes closer does humanise him and makes him a little friendlier. The great thing is I can still move them as they are stitched on, not glued. The first shot is original, second is the eyes moved but on the same angle, third adjustment they are moved but also straightened.
After I posted the picture to my gallery i realised who the wide eyes look like, Sid the sloth from ice age! Teeth are pretty like him too!
My Father thinks the wide eyes would make him a good train driver (get it?)
I do have more pics of him now but it's not going to happen tonight!
Scoob

I think the third is the best. The eyes are a lot more focused.

In regards to what you said about having feedback and wanting to improve, I think this has to be the best site for it. Whilst comments are usually positive here, if anyone has a suggestion (and I use the word 'suggestion' because it always is, rather than on other sites where it may be more 'criticism') they will say it and with the best of intentions. I like this vcommunity for the fact that it's about healthy criticism, rather than just attachking faults. (I liken it to what is done in the publishing world. Never make a suggestion for change unless you can give an example of what to do instead that would actually improve things)

Anyway, my actual point is that your work is very good, and that improvement comes from learning the 'finer details' of building; eg. a small movement of the eyes is all the difference! As you progress, the work will get better and better as your learn more and more about the details.

Thanks Na, now I just have to have the courage to unpick him and re-sew them (I'd have to redo the pupils too as the focus would change) Till then don't you just love photoshop!
Yeah, I loved all the feedback, but I have to say it was better once I let it be known that I was up for more. I love Darryls blogtv posts too, it's a shame it will be a while before I can experiment with an awl to add whiskers and get some "smoke" fishing line to string up the arm! but it's on the agenda!
Scoob

You are right about the rabbit looking like Sid the Sloth with the eyes wide!!  Too funny!  I also like the third placement of the eyes!  It just seems like I can look right at him and talk to him!  Again WELL DONE!!

That is great work with the photoshop.....I have it but rarely have the time to fiddle with it as much as I want.  I noticed that you said you wanted the rabbit to have a little "off" look.  One way this could be achieved with the eyes closer by adding a smaller pupil to one eye and you may get away with putting it a little off center.  You then would get the rabbit that isn't the brightest carrot in the bunch.

BTW thanks for the feedback on Blog TV, hope to see you out and join us.  

Daryl H

It is a pity that we live to far away to have an evening to work together. It would be great but the site will do ........
The rabbit get an another personality when you change his eyes, a lot more a sniffing rabbit.

Hi Scubasteve, I do not think we have met. I have been on and off from the site from some time now. But this place, as you have discovered, is a fantastic place to learn and make great friends in the puppetry community. It is a definit plus for any puppet enthousiast. So nice to meet you :D

I think you did a splendid job on your puppet. I cant wait to get my own workshop to be able to do puppets again. Not sure it will be as charming as yours, but with practice I know I will get there.

I really love the friendly nature of your rabbit. He seems so cuddly. No wonder your daughter liked him so much.

Keep up the great work!

I love him he has a Sesame Street quality to him!! Nice work.

I like the third one too, but the first one make it looks like  rabbit (The 3rd is more like human cartoon)

Thanks Na, now I just have to have the courage to unpick him and re-sew them (I'd have to redo the pupils too as the focus would change) Till then don't you just love photoshop!

Ah, don't feel too bad. Taking a look at my earlier puppets, I too think, "why did I do that, and not that?" It's the same with all learning and crafts, the more you learn, the more refined your work can be. As for photoshop, why yes, I do love it! I actually stuff up quite a bit on my puppets, but thank goodness not enough to see it in a photo (or without a teensy bit of touch up needed).

I think though it's important to remember *why* you're making something. You can get away with a lot of crappy work in theatre, but not so much for TV or film. I tend to work more in mind for live performance, so I don't worry too much about being a perfectionist. I also think that sometimes the crappy things work in your favour sometimes. As an example, I was making a 'turntable' for a miniature lego city (see my gallery for a pic), where a bunch of lego people were to turn in a circle. The way I'd designed it worked ideally in my head, but practically not so much. I ended up having to change the mechanism, but in the end the change actually improved the 'turning' (my design called for a 270 degree turn, the change allowed for a 360, which was so much better). Sometimes going with the flaw, instead of against it, works just as well or better.