Puppet eyes? Posted by Monster on Apr 18, 2009
Hello everyone! As regards to the monster puppet, I should be able to start making it hopefully in a few weeks, I am searching for materials I could use to create it. One thing that I'm thinking of.. is eyes. I was hoping to place eyes under all that hair but I was wondering, what can I use for eyes?

Like...what do puppet creators use for realistic eyes? Or materials to make eyes?
Re: Puppet eyes? Posted by VampireWombat on Apr 18, 2009
Well... It all depends on how realistic you're wanting and how much you want to spend on the eyes. If you want truly realistic eyes, Taxidermy eyes are probably the most realistic you can get. But they're not cheap. There are different teddy bear/doll eyes that can be used that aren't as realistic, but are much cheaper.
If you're wanting to make eyes, there are several options too. If you have the resources and skills you can make them using liquid acrylic in a latex or silicone mold. This method can get you very realistic eyes, but takes a lot of work. Another method is using polymer clay to make the eyes. Or you could just buy some sort of spheres or half spheres that are the size you want and then paint them.
I go the less realistic route and just use ping pong balls with an iris cut out of a google eye.   
I hope this helps. If you want more info about any of what I mentioned, just asked. And I'm sure someone else will add in something else later.
Re: Puppet eyes? Posted by Monster on Apr 19, 2009
Thank you for the advice! I am rather looking for semi realistic eyes so the teddy bear eyes sound like a rather good bet, also, I haven't heard the use of polymer clay... What is it's properties (e.g, do I have to heat it to set it? etc)?
Re: Puppet eyes? Posted by littlebitwired on Apr 19, 2009
As a dollmaker, I usually end up making my own eyes. I use polymer clay which you bake in the oven. Usual brands are sculpey or fimo. Or apoxie sculpt which dries by air. Not sure how big you need to make them. With the apoxie sculpt or air dry clays you can cover styrofoam balls but not the polymer as styrofoam is toxic in the oven.
You basically paint the eyeballs white then, add your iris colour, then give them a nice thick glaze with sculpey glaze. It's nice and thick and gives the iris a nice shine.
Then you position the dried eyeballs on the puppet and add eye lids in fabric corresponding to your skin color.
Hope that helps. There's a similar technique shown here: http://tutorials.theclaystore.com/dolls/doll-eyes/

Nancy
http://littlebitwired.blogspot.com
Re: Puppet eyes? Posted by Matt on Apr 19, 2009
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https://youtu.be/http://www.youtube.com/v/bRk-Yz1C1mg&hl=en&fs=1


Last week Puppets and Stuff member Stiqman began hosting a live feed on blogtv.com. One of the topics discussed was eyes and he recorded the above video. That should give you a list as well as a visual to some eye making materials. Also the video below is another method and also covers how to make Muppet style eye lids. The link will get you to the other parts since this is only part 1 of 3.



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https://youtu.be/http://www.youtube.com/v/2C_K30A7m3E&hl=en&fs=1

Re: Puppet eyes? Posted by kermit3001 on Jun 10, 2009
wow...thats my video...the last one posted.   i was randomly searching through this blog and i saw it...i am so flattered   i hope i can contribute a lot to this blog
Re: Puppet eyes? Posted by Matt on Jun 10, 2009
Yeah and its a really good video. It really shows your skill as a puppet builder.
Re: Puppet eyes? Posted by MsPuppet on Aug 01, 2009
do a search on eyes. We have discussed this subject several times, and lots of good ideas are posted.
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