A brief intro: this is my first attempt at a puppet. I spent two months last year sculpting in clay with the intention of casting it in latex. Had to give up because I couldn't get a decent result. So I switched to a traditional foam head. I've spent three weeks on experiments with patterns and finally found something that is working for me. But now that I step back it doesn't look as feminine as I would like. Any suggestions for improvement would be appreciated. I plan to skin it in latex because my need for a completed puppet is time-sensitive and I don't have the option of also learning how to create a pattern for fleece and sewing and hiding seams.

Thanks. (A larger version can be viewed here: http://alifeinthelibrary.com/test_head.jpg)

It's hard to tell from the photo angle but the first thing that came to my mind is the forehead looks very strong and masculine, maybe shaving that away a little might help a bit?

Aside from that I think that the smaller details on a finished puppet will add a lot to the femininity. Things like, long hair, earrings, lipstick, curled eyelashes, etc, are all typically feminine (and a little cliché) and adding a couple I think would make a big difference.

I agree with AaronTV, re: eyelashes, etc. Ignoring that no woman looks alike and to me it looks perfectly 'feminine', perhaps giving her some angular cheekbones would help?

Well both my suggestions have already been mentioned. Reduce or remove the brow and add in some cheek bones. Like Na said adding the later details like hair an costume will go a long way to make her character as a female.

I think the head looks great, but as you have said, not feminine at all, there are certain things that make a puppet head look female even before adding on the usual eyelashes, lips, jewelry, etc... things like making the eyebrow A LOT smaller (as already mentioned) giving the head a small, petite nose without a big nose bridge, reducing the size of the jaw to a more slimline dainty jawline and chin (so no square jaw, rather tapering it down from the cheeks, getting smaller towards the jaw) and as people have already suggested, some nice high cheekbones, these things generally give the impression of a female face shape even before adding on the female facial accessories. a lot can be said about the eyes too though, if you make some nice curvy eyelids then the rest will be slightly easier and sometimes it will help to direct towards the other things you should do to the face.

hope this helps a little.

I'm starting to wonder if there's an inherent problem with puppetry, regarding stereotypes and facial features. ... Not wanting to start an argument/discussion, I just think it's worth putting out there for people to mull over.

Don't know if it is a problem but puppetry in general relies heavily on stereotypes. Puppets tend to be caricatures or larger then life. Of course that does not mean you can not break those stereotypes. Like I always say there are not rules in puppet building.

im not saying that the puppet has to have certain facial features to make it male or female, but since puppets are a very visually lead thing, the audience need to know from the off what they are looking at and whether it is male or female, the same obviously doesn't need to be said when the puppet is a monster or something that is usually male or female, but saying all of that, there aren't any rules, we can only give our opinions and help people as much as we can by giving advice.

I can't see all the reply but they were good ideas. Try also making the mouth plate smaller. It tends to make the jaw line more feminine.

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Don't know if it is a problem but puppetry in general relies heavily on stereotypes. Puppets tend to be caricatures or larger then life. Of course that does not mean you can not break those stereotypes. Like I always say there are not rules in puppet building.

Yeah, after I posted it I thought a bit more about it; there's almost a requirement to fulfill stereotypes in puppetry as you're conveying 'instant' information via visuals. I can't imagine how you'd do a non-verbal puppet show without either using stereotype visuals, or stereotype gestures.

Of course there are no rules but I do think the medium trends towards it by nature. I'd never thought about it before and actually I'm planning on draft a blog post for future use because I think there's something to be explored about the pull-and-tug of filling a visual need and ways in which puppetry could be more inclusive of the less binary people out there.

... Anyway, sorry for the derail, it just got me thinking is all.