Hi folks!
I thought I'd try to add to the knowledge a bit, by posting a gallery with descriptions I've titled "Da Cat Wit' Da Attitude, Dood". "Da Cat" TM LaFontsee Character Design, is a latex and poly foam ventriloquist figure creation, that features wiggling eyebrows, poseable limbs, gripping paws, and arm rod.
Feel free to ask questions. I'll do my best to answer as quickly as I'm able.
Larry LaFontsee
LaFontsee Character Design
home of "Characterman!"

This is quite awesome. Do you mind sharing info about the gripping paws part?

Gripping Paws: I use the same 12g, rubber coated copper wire as I use for the poseable limbs. Anything thinner, it doesn't hold, anything thicker, it doesn't manipulate easily, or quickly.
I buy it in rolls, have it handy for lots of projects. The big thing to remember when using wire is to either cap the ends, bead them with a ball of resing, small wood bead, or just using a very thin needle  nose pliers, curl the ends closed...that way, say at the end of fingers on soft puppets (like Da Cat), the wire won't poke through someday!! This wire should stay flexible and not break, pretty much indefinitely. I've never had a problem with it.
I can independanlty pose the fingers, or close them around an object...let's say the performer (a ventriloquist, or puppeteer for that matter), was doing a sketch that involved a telephone. The 12g is strong enough to keep a "grip" on the receiver. I've got pics of Da Cat holding a heavy, changeable bit screwdriver...I moved that hand all over the place while shooting pics, and never once did the screwdriver fall out. No velcro, no tape, Just GRIP.

Hope that helps!

Larry LaFontsee
LaFontsee Character Design
Fox Valley, WI

He really makes me think of Fritz the cat! Great!

Hi Larry. I see you did make it here. FANTASTIC!
Folks Larry is a factory of talent, If you havent see his work checkout his facebook page/website. Great to have you here my friend!!!

Buds,
Sonny

Very nice work! Great character in that face!

I should have know that Sonny knew you already.   Did he send you here?

You guys are makin' my head swell. Thanks...hee hee.
@Sonny, yup, thanks for steering me here, buddy. Nice site. Some pretty cool stuff in the archives, loads of ideas and great talents here. Wish I'd come here sooner!

@Shawn: Yup, Sonny put me on to this site!!

@Rikka: Y'knowwww, I hadn't thought about it 'til now, but Yeah...he DOES bear a strong resemblence to Fritz!! ha! It's funny how there are so many influences I've forgotten about, until it's brought to my attention. As it happens, I was a huge fan of Ralph Bakshi's film work. When "Fritz the Cat" came out in the '70's, as the first X rated cartoon, I couldn't get in to see it. It's tame by today's standards, but certainly a milestone in terms of cinematic developments.

As I write this, I'm reminded of so many influences, from so many different people, places, disciplines...some very G rated, some, like Fritz, not so much Disney,(especially the original Nine Old Men) Warner Bros Looney Tunes(and the Termite Terrace Gang with Bob Clampett, Tex Avery, Chuck Jones and other animation luminaries)played heavily in my interest in the arts. Never wanted to be a "fine" artist...I was too busy being "wowed" by cartoons, puppets, ventriloquism, and characters....no regrets there. I love what I do.

Thanks again everyone!
Larry LaFontsee
LaFontsee Character Design

Fritz might be tame now concerning sex and violence, but the joke is still sharp as a whip ("A hole in nature"- what a way to swear at somebody!). I was introduced to Fritz only 2 years ago.
I am all taken in by the artwork of D&D and WarCraft... Ever since my first time of reading the hobbit I am down with the fantasy- germ.
Who says what art is fine, anyhow? I did think any art was! No wonder you love what you do: you're doing great!

I'm glad Sonny sent you our way! I love your work.............. I really want to try latex. I recently bought two special effects mask supply and have not used it yet. I did open it up and it is quite thick. What do you use to thin it down before pouring into a mold.

Not sure what brand or kind of latex you purchased, but it should not be so viscous as to be unable to pour.
I use Monstermakers mask latex www.monstermakers.com and it's just right for pouring into molds...it's about the ammonia mix (all liquid latex has some amount of ammonia, and when you crack the seal on fresh latex, you'll know it...one whiff of that ammonia up close, and your nose will shut, and your eyes water---though, I don't recommend breathing the stuff anymore than you have to).

I wonder if  you got MOLD latex, which is a brushable latex, meant for brushing up a mold, not casting?
If you DID get MOLD latex, no worries, cuz you CAN make molds for lots of puppet materials with that! So, hang on and don't dispare!

Different latex mixes, made for different applications, have differing levels of ammonia in them. Generally, the more ammonia, the thinner the latex.
Let's say you were going to make expandable bladders in a foam latex puppet's cheeks to "puff" out with forced air: You'd use "dipping latex", which is the same thing they make balloons and condoms out of...much thinner stuff.

After several bad episodes with latex and other supplies purchased in hobby shops, I learned the hard way to buy from factory or a distributor that has fresh product. Quite often, product sits on retail store shelves for a long time, rendering them useless. I've had that problem with latex, silicone, resins....so, beware the local hobby shop. Get factory direct whenever you can!

Also, if you're getting latex shipped to you during cold winter months, have them ship it during the week, monday or tuesday latest, so it won't sit on some freezing dock somewhere over a weekend. Latex freezes, and is worthless after that.


Larry LaFontsee
LaFontsee Character Design
Fox Valley, WI