For me it is very hard to get satisfied with my stuff, esspecially after seen great and wonderful things like you did. I am onto modelling with a new airdrying clay and it (just like it says on the package) works different from other airdrying clays, so I have trouble getting things right. Maybe I should try latex, too... ;-)

Another little tip I can pass on, I found kinda by accident a few years back...I had made an extruded foam armature for a project, and the clay wouldn't stick well (I can't seem to remember WHICH brand clay, but it was a plasticene of some sort...they're all quite different!oil based, waxed based, etc)...

It occured to me that the clay wouldn't stick to the surface, because no real "surface tension", or stick was there to begin with. The answer to my problem was "Mod Podge"! I happened to have some laying around. Since it dries pretty fast,

I coated up the exterior of the armature, with a couple of thick coats---using one of my trusty disposable chip brushes, of course---and a while later, I had a sealed armature, that the clay stuck to like nobody's business ...you'll notice that "Mod Podge" seems an AWFUL lot like Elmer's Glue. I swear, it's essentially the same stuff...so, for you paper mache puppet guys and gals, you probably have gallon jugs of Elmer's in the shop already----try that. It works great for this, also!!

This method comes in handy building props too...you can create just about anything with extruded foam...you can saw it, drill it, knife it, chip it, sand it, rasp it, file it into any shape...it's a great material for down and dirty fast puppets and lightweight marionettes too, as well as el-cheapo underskulls you can hook up fast and cheap mechanix to with good old hot glue (careful with heat and chemicals though...they can, and will melt the stuff). Silicone calks work really well on it..

Have fun wit' buildin' dem puppets dis weekend!!!
Larry LaFontsee

LaFontsee Character Design

Fox Vally, WI

Nice Tips Larry, The wife uses Mod Pogde for sealing her jigsaw puzzles. It comes in two 'flavors' Gloss and Matte.

Sonny, glad ya mentioned that....seems to me that the matte works a bit better than the gloss for "stickability" (is that even a word??!), so that the clay can cling and "schmear" into the surface of the armature. Don't know why, just seems to so.

Larry LaFontsee
LaFontsee Character Design
Fox Valley, WI

"schmear"....lol

yes I do that too with my latex process.

There is the problem again: what to use in Europe?

There is the problem again: what to use in Europe?

I would look for a store in your area that sells theatrical makeup. They may be able to give you an idea of where to buy or they may even have Latex for mask making. If there are not makeup or costume shops in your area perhaps the local University has a theater department and you could check with them.  Krylon is a makeup company that is actually based in Germany I think. http://www.kryolan.com/index.php

Gee, thanks- they are even in Hamburg, that is not far off!

You do really nice work. I enjoyed seeing the cat progress photos.

Wow Larry! You're great! I love your work and you've already added so much to the forum with all your helpful tips. I've not worked with latex before either but it is something on my to do list and reading all your stuff gets me fired up to try it! I also loved your list of influences earlier in the thread. I'm right there with you. Disney's nine old men and the Termite Terrace crowd are HUGE influences and sources of inspiration!

I also (as Rikka mentioned) love fantasy art. I'm a very big Frazetta enthusiast and I think it was Rikka's comment about who decides what's "fine art" that reminded me of an experience I had.

While studying art in college I had a professor who asked us to bring in a print or photo of a painting from one of our favorite artists to serve as a springboard for an upcoming assignment. I brought in a print of a Frazetta painting that I love. He looked at it and in his most condescending tone said, "No. This is commercial art. You need to bring in a piece of fine art." I tried challenging him by pointing out that Frazetta actually did study with an Italian master as a boy. And weren't many of the great Renaissance artists hired by various citizens and organizations (i.e. the church) to produce much of their work? Didn't that make them the commercial artists of their time? Well, as clever a response as that may have been a classroom is not a democracy and I had to choose an artist he approved of.

I didn't say it was a great story...just one that Rikka reminded me of. So if I've bored you please blame her.