Puppeteering

I've gotten into this, not heavily but a bit.

I bought a marionette in Prague that I simply love.
I also have been watching my Muppet Show dvd's and am inspired.

I want to make a 3 person puppet, but need to figure out how to form the head and make him light. Chicken wire and...? Should be interesting.

Also, I know I've seen flaming puppets. These are the large cage kind, and while I'm not interested in that, I am interested in what combinations might be found between the arts.

Thoughts?
Thanks!

Although I don't know much about puppets, I imagine that just chicken wire and paper maché would make a good shell to design the puppet on...

While reading this I thought that depending on how big you make this puppet, maybe you could even use that green foam that you stick fake flowers in?(That's the best description I can give, I don't honestly know the real name of the stuff) But that may make it a little too light, and if your planing on making you puppet really big, I don't think those green foam blocks come in any sizes bigger then the size of a flower pot.

Also just doing a quick search I found this, hope it helps:
http://www.sagecraft.com/puppetry/building/index.html#instructions

Mortimer (cause that's what I'm naming him) is going to have a big head

I thought about paper mache but since we'll be outside, I'm worried about if we get caught in the rain. I don't think he'd stand up to it.

Floral foam, hmmmm....now that's an idea. Thanks!

Oasis foam? (the english name anyway) I'm not sure if that'd work- it is very light, but it's also extremely crumbly, and I didn't think it would hold paint all that well.. so unless you're making a frog, it wouldn't look so good..

Varnished papier mache should at least take a rain shower or two, I reckon..? If you varnish inside and out..

oasis foam will crumble to dust and that dust is not very nice and can be breathed in. I would use a more spongy foam that gives you less chance of the dust.

Spongey foam. Hmmmmm....If I could laquer it against the elements. I went to the craft shop the other day and looked at it but it is so prone to weather.

Would a chicken wire and wire frame and some kind of fleece fabric work maybe? Though that wouldn't give me the details I want for him.

Herm.

Thanks all. Lots to think about!
Any more suggestions would be appreciated and entertained.

hey pele as far as laquring you can use liquid latex.

That is what we uses for all of our big foam props it is stretchy so it wont get cracks and it is very water proof.

Another suggestion just occurred to me- you could use layered tissue paper soaked in watered-down PVA glue, over a wire frame..? It's not hard to paint, should be pretty tough, and it's cheap

Blueberry, what kind of liquid latex? I am only familiar with the kind used for make-up purposes. Is it the same one?

That's what I use for paper mache hamamelis. My fear is that it would be fragile. I know it's easy to put a hole in paper mache when moving it around, or it always has been for me at least. Could be I'm making it wrong. lol

Hi Pele- if you can get hold of this book, I'll think you'll find it useful-

http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Screamer-Guide-Papier-Cloth/dp/0879051639/ref=cm_syf_dtl_pl_3

Many years ago i read a copy in the library- it uses papier mache techniques, but with cloth instead of paper and PVA instead of wallpaper paste, to produce a much more resilient and sturdy item.

'Screamers' aren't puppets, but I think the techniques would translate very well to the craft of puppet creation.

(I think it's also possible to mix in wood glue for a really solid finish)