File spoon-archives/puptcrit.archive/puptcrit_1999/puptcrit.9907, message 168


From: "Murvin Irving" <bluesrooster-AT-hotmail.com>
Subject: PUPT: Puppets from felt
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 16:26:54 PDT


Hello-

Well said Evy.  I spent $500 bucks on materials nearly 20 years ago to make 
a latex rubber mask.  After I spent months and months on a full head 
sculpture, the multi-piece plaster mold cracked uncontrollably (too much 
water in the mix).  I nearly had a breakdown.  I thought I knew everything 
about mask making.  After all, I was seventeen and had read a magazine about 
it.

I always recommend a few tries at something before launching headlong into 
it.

- Murv


>
>Dear Dave,
>
>Using a new, unfamiliar material can be a daunting experience. It's a lot
>like cooking for me. I want to try a new recipe from a foreign land, but 
>I'm
>frightened because even if I can figure out where to buy taro root I have 
>no
>idea how to prepare it once I get it home. Can I eat the peel, or will it
>kill me? This is why classes are such a great jumping off point.
>
>Assuming that you don't have access to a basic "how to make a moving mouth
>puppet class," I would suggest using one of Drew and Donald's books and
>making the simplest foam puppet that you can. I get the feeling that you're
>tempted to make your first "whole head" everything that you envision for 
>the
>finished product. You're probably a creative guy, with lots of experience 
>and
>ideas in your head, and you CAN make whatever you want to out of any medium
>that you choose.
>
>However, it will not be a waste of your time to follow the steps and make a
>basic, simple, foam puppet that you do not have to design. You will learn 
>so
>much from the process that you will soon be able to make more complex
>puppets, adding and changing as you go along, and improvising with the
>techniques of felt that you've already mastered. Remember, the first one of
>anything that you do isn't supposed to look great. At least, I hope not, or
>I'm in trouble.
>
>If you learn anything from the clay, paper bag, felt techniques that you 
>are
>experimenting with, let me know!
>
>Happy building!
>
>Evy
>
>
>   --- Personal replies to: Evy500-AT-aol.com
>   --- List replies to:     puptcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
>   --- Admin commands to:   majordomo-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu


_______________________________________________________________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com


  --- Personal replies to: "Murvin Irving" <bluesrooster-AT-hotmail.com>
  --- List replies to:     puptcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
  --- Admin commands to:   majordomo-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu

   

Driftline Main Page

 

Display software: ArchTracker © Malgosia Askanas, 2000-2005