From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Mathieu_Ren=E9?= <creaturiste-AT-primus.ca> To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org> Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2008 06:45:19 -0400 Subject: [Puptcrit] Wire-core marionettes . WHAT MADE ME DO IT (or...it's not my fault!) A few months ago I was shown how the UK puppet company Faulty Optics make their large bunraku-inspired puppet's joints (elbows, knees). They use the spring from classic wood clothespins, coupled with more wire of similar gauge, to make a joint, which is then attached to the dowels forming the bones of the puppet. The foam or other material used to bulk up also provides the proper movement stoppers. So I made a few simple joints of this sort for a few puppets since I learned it. Very smooth movements! I also knew, from an Art Doll making book, that some doll artists make jointed dolls using twisted wire. There is an intriguing wire joint design by George Stuart in the book "Fantastic Figures", by Susanna Oroyan. I can't figure it out from the drawing, but it gives me ideas on how to achieve the same results. So I guessed it would be possible to make a smooth movement puppet from similar methods. And it works! .THE WHOLE STORY I couldn't sleep, so I just worked on a concept I came up with Monday while giving a workshop, but hadn't had time to try. I made a prototype bird marionette, using mostly wire which twisted, forms the bones and the joints of the limbs (I made stiff ankles this time, the feet are also formed in the same piece of wire as the lower leg). The neck seemed a bit too complex to make all in wire, so I chose to use a thick chain. I used a chain. It moves very well. The head is made of some wire twisted around a bolt. I also provided some extra wire to create a loop on each side of the head, to later attach the head wires. The body is a piece of blue insulation foam, with a heavy metal washer inserted as a center weight. The legs are attached to the foam body by another wire, which goes straight through and is bent on both ends to constrain movement of the hips properly. No parasite sideways movement allowed! Such a body will easily be bulked up with some strips of fiberfill and a fabric skin. I'm guessing there is a reasonnable limit of size of marionette using this method, as wire is heavy. Still, fiberfill and fabrics are supposedly lighter than most woods. The whole marionette is about 12 inches high (once strung in proper position). The marionette is not yet strung, but it already moves so smoothly I can't wait to animate it for real! But I will have to wait, as I got a lot more pressing things to do! I'll post pics when I can, along with other pics from other current projects. But for now, I'll sleep a bit. and probably keep working at it in my sleep. _______________________________________________ List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org Admin interface: http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit Archives: http://www.driftline.org
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