Foam Latex Puppet Making 101 with Kathi Zung is proof that high production values is not always key to a great product. This DVD is done on the cheap but is by far one of my best stop-motion animation resources on a topic that continues to mystify me. I suspect that this single reference will save me more grief than the pile of books on the topic that I’ve accumulated. At $25US you really can’t go wrong and just to make you feel all warm inside she appears to send a word of encouragement via email to everyone who purchases. Business with a hug, you have to love that.
I continue to bumble along in my low tech puppet making adventures. The process of covering armatures with foam and trimming it into shape has turned out to be very difficult. I seem determined to tightly wrap the armature with strips of foam which always leads to trouble. The joint areas are the main issue where movement ends up pinching or streaching the foam prevent the gestures wanted. I suspect the main issue is wrapping to tight which gives the shapes I want but ultimately is a trap. I’m going to give the method one more shot without wrapping, simply two pieces of foam glued together, front and back.
For the sake of sanity, I’m going to proceed with applying latex skin to one of the puppets just so I can experiment. My only fear is that the unresolved construction issues are building up and I’m feeling a little stuck. At some point I’ll going to move on to Kathi’s DVD and toss the whole “sniped foam” process… OK, OK, I confess I like exploring the process but a little success at this point would be nice.
A lot of my spare time is currently being used up attending films at the Vancouver International Fim Festival. I attended some industry presentations on animation and editing. I’m still working on my notes from these talks which I should make available in the next few days. The text will be more for personal use but I did record everything which might result in some interesting sound bites for people to listen to. Hmmm, is that the sound of copyright lawyers calling I hear…
3 responses so far ↓
1 Kathi // Jan 24, 2007 at 9:18 pm
You. Can. Do. IT! I’m still waiting to see your finished puppet…! Now break out the clay and start molding! I’ll practically hold your hand throughout the process, I promise.
2 Dee // Jan 25, 2007 at 6:26 am
The great puppet gods have spoken!!!
If Kathi says “I can do it” then what the heck am I waiting for?!? The truth is that I’m a little intimated and at the awkward “I think I can, I think I can… na, maybe I can’t… na, I can, I can” stage. I can’t tell you how much this little nudge means to me - huge thanks!
How go your creative efforts?
3 Kathi // Aug 25, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Hey! Have you made that Puppet yet?!! Last month I made puppets for a McDonald’s commercial and a Pampers spot too. So as I use my powers for evil, I expect you to use them for Good! Now get to it. I also just had a baby a few months ago, so no excuse for not making a puppet will be accepted! : )
Leave a Comment