I'm working on this puppet and I need advice. I'm linking the front and side of this puppet. I tried building the back of the head to where the jaw meets and it seems to severely limit the mouth. Do you guys build the back of the head? any advice is greatly appreciated.

Your mouth plate is what joins the top of the head and lower jaw together. Then your cloth covering is what fills in the gap you see and gives extra "strength" to the joining of the two.

There are patterns that are "connected" via the foam like Project Puppet but you don't have to do it that way. In those cases the pattern is designed in the open mouth position.

Here is an example of a full foam head puppet in Billies gallery.
http://puppetsandstuff.com/community/index.php?action=gallery&g2_itemId=4471

Also in his gallery is the Blue Boy pattern which is an example of this method.
http://puppetsandstuff.com/2008gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=6016&g2_GALLERYSID=abb7201ab1eeac61efffd80a2bcbb5b4

Both of these you'll notice that not only is mouth in the open position on pattern but there are darts at the back of the head. These not only round the head out but open it up even more.

Thanks for the info then I'm not going to build a back in foam just fabric.

Shawn, I've been trying to figure this out...if I don't have foam in the back of the head how do I make the back of the head look good? Do you ever chat real time? I really need help please.

Here are a few photo from a puppet I made several years ago.  Maybe this will help. 



Let me know if you have any questions.

Julie

Hey Rich. Have you ever draped fabric before to create your fabric cover? Here is a tutorial over at Project Puppet that shows how it is done. http://www.projectpuppet.com/servlet/Page?template=puppet-facial-features-tutorial#9 You might notice that on the puppet they are showing this on it is like yours and does not have the foam on the lower back half.

Yes sometimes I use the chat if I am here and see someone else on-line.

Shawn, I've been trying to figure this out...if I don't have foam in the back of the head how do I make the back of the head look good? Do you ever chat real time? I really need help please.

Using the three-piece head technique explained in 'The Foam Book', most puppets I've seen simply attach the neck to the back of the head/bottom of the jaw; that is, the neck attachment is the 'fourth' quarter of the sphere, the 'three' being the top two head pieces and the mouth.

I thought I had an image example of it, but it turns out I don't... But Julie's second picture is what I mean. If you look at it, you'll notice there is a 'missing' section in the first image, bottom left; that's where the neck is added in the second image.

Anyway, attaching the neck this way means that the shape of the head, plus the tubular shape of the neck, means that the bottom of the head is roughly rounded. Any mishapen areas can be covered with hair or other head accessories.

Thanks guys this is the missing information that I needed!

You're welcome - hope it all helps