Hey there, Rhoady...Nice puppet and video!  I'm not even going to pretend I know the slightest thing about shadow puppets, but I do know a thing or two about paint and painting.  (I'm a scenic designer).  You mentioned your magnets and puppet sticking to the paint on the background.  Next time around, you might want to think about using watercolors for background.  They're pretty simple to control if you're not used to them.  More importantly, they don't create a texture and they don't stand out from the paper.  You can't feel the paint on the pater at all once it's dried.  Just a thought...

Keep up the good work!!!  I'm impressed!!!

Hmm. I didn't even think about watercolors. I have no real experience with them but I'll have to play around with them for my next attempt at this style. Thanks a lot~! That should solve a lot of the issues I ran into this run.

Very nice video~! As always your a library of useful knowledge! You need to open a puppetry school or something as you always seem to know just what to say/reference. People could really benefit from you.

Been there, done that. http://schoolofpuppetry.com.au was (one of) my site(s) from about 2010 until end of last year. Turns out that playing expert when you're really not is harder than it looks - never claimed to be one but that's what everyone expects when you try to provide an encyclopedia for puppetry. Actually, I much prefer just offering help if I can, and keeping quiet when I don't know anything about the topic. There's so much I learn from everyone else that it's good to just sit on the sidelines rather than stick my nose in everywhere.

I'll take all your tips to heart for sure. Any quality in my work just hides the fact that I for the most part don't know what I'm doing haha so this is all very useful.

Thanks - but I don't know what I'm doing either. I've had 2 classes in shadow puppets and a browse through a couple of books, but mostly I've just figured stuff out on my own. A lot of the theory of puppetry is applicable to all types, like knowing where to put joints and thinking about movement or character.

I suppose since you all have been so helpful throughout this I can make another one. Hmm...I might just know what to make...but you'll have to wait and see haha~!

:D I'll do an exchange: I am in the middle of making up some art to decorate my room with, using some concepts that you've inspired me with. Once it's done I'll post some pics here. It won't be like the painting, but it will be a move-able piece of art... don't know when I'll finish it as I'm currently hurrying some work to meet a deadline and the art is being done bit-by-bit in breaks.

At least if I post it you'll feel less like you're making something just for me

@kyledixondesigns

Watercolours are a great idea! They'll create a nice smooth surface, but still have a painted look to it.