Through my degree I have discovered an interest and joy in making puppetry, and have been fortunate enough to work on projects as a puppet designer & maker. Designing puppets taking references from nature, using new materials and techniques when it comes to construction.
I have come across a material called ‘plastazote’ which I thoroughly enjoy using as it has a wide range of uses. I primarily use it for creating puppets and props
Black panther puppet for 3rd year production of "The Visit"
Making small model to start
Understanding the skeletal structure
Making and testing the real skeleton with PVC pipe and 3D printed joints
Structure to sculpt the head
Using WED clay to sculpt the head
Applying strips of worbla over the sculpt using a heat gun
Carefully take off the layer of warble to use for the puppet
Pattern cutting plastazote to flesh out the skeleton and give it shape. This is the arm.
Fully assembled
Puppeteers practicing for the show
Panther in production of "The Visit"
Plastazote goose head workshop with Nick Barnes
Cover 3D printed goose head in masking tape
Drawing the pattern. Thinking how to break up the 3D object into 2D shapes.
Cut out each piece and lay flat on paper ready to photocopy and scale up
Cutting the pattern out of plastazote and joining each piece using contact adhesive
Assembled upper head
Attach the lower jaw with mechanism so it can move