I like the edges of the mouth already.

I like the foam grips on this one. I've always kind of kept with simple pockets or straps on mouth plates so that the puppet was more universal when it came to the puppeteer using it. (I have really big hands and always seem to end up working with women who have tiny hands.)  This looks like it may have the same universal use with a bit more control.

Shawn, that's exactly what I'm hoping. As I mentioned, these puppets are for a show I hope to be doing with my family and the other main puppeteer will be my older daughter, whose hands are dramatically smaller than my large mitts. I'm hoping the foam will accommodate all operators.

That dude is awesome, i can just imagine the whole artist/poet personna!!!
the new puppet looks fun already, the funny thing is i started to make a new puppet a while ago and the head is identical to the one you have just come up with, the only difference is i put mine together two months ago now!! still, the mouthplate and grip look brilliant, ill have to experiment with that sort of mouthgrip, it seems like it could have many uses.

Got a little done on the new guy today. Again, not entirely happy with how he's turning out, but good experience. Good thing he's being made from scraps! Had trouble finding a good head form around that mouth assembly and I feel there has to be a better approach than mine. I have no idea where this one is going and I suspect that's still my biggest problem building.

You're like shooting them out!

The glasses were purchased, but they were part of a gift to me so unfortunately I have no idea where they were from.

Ah rats - sometimes I guess wrong! They look good

Quittin' time for today. I added eyelids and eyebags;

Basic mouth interior. Then I decided to age him a bit with some airbrushing;

Eyeliner and hair;

Added teeth. I temporarily added the beard thinking he may turn into the local farmer?

He's coming along and turning out better than I thought he would. The good is that he's a little more balanced than the last one; the ears are pretty much the same size and shape and the face is slightly more even.
Bad part; Gluing the rest of the face so forward over the mouth assembly and then using spray glue to adhere the face fleece stiffened up the mouth a bit. Still works fine, but not as fluidly as before.
I may learn slowly, but I do learn!

So I understand: the wrinkling is just the airbrushed paint? That is really good, it looks so natural I just thought you'd sewn the fleece in areas to create wrinkles...

That's right, Na. Airbrushing is really great for that sort of stuff. I used Tamiya paint and it seemed to work more easily on the fleece than other acrylics I've tried.. or maybe I'm just getting used to painting on fleece!