Both plate spinning clowns were made from the left over bits of lime wood from carving Joey & Judy.
By jumbling up the parts (a bit like a police photofit) new characters can be made from otherwise wasted wood.
'Regular' puppet hands are my least favourite thing to make as they are time consuming and fiddly.
'Props-holding' and 'gripping' hands are much simpler and faster to cut and shape from solid bits of pine .
After a rummage round my fabric boxes I decided to alter the designs.
It's good to be flexible and work with what's to hand.
I always start with a colour matched inner glove with a D-Ring hanger.
A professional puppet is a hardworking tool, not a toy.
It needs a strong, durable underbody to endure all the rough use, packing and unpacking it will get in it's lifetime.
Cutting out the trousers and adding a little detailing at the pockets.
If I don't try on some part of a puppets costume as a hat then something is wrong...
Life is too short not to have FUN !
Finessing the Hair. Then the sculpt is all done and painting can start.
Drying out the pulp next to the radiator along with another puppet and the 'Show Times' board.
I've decided not to put his grip hand on his trousers as this will hinder them from bouncing up and down.
A change of plan means adding a new wooden upper arm, then gluing and pinning the hand in position.
PVA wood glue and fabric bandages help make the join super strong.
It would be a shame to drop the puppet in the future and have the hand snap off. A bit of extra work now should prevent that.
Dont panic !
He wont stay looking post apocalyptic like this.
Hair is painted, and the excess paint spread over his face just to give it a uniform base for the flesh colour to go onto.
I'm very pleased with how he turned out. Once he is varnished I can start to assemble the rest of his costume.
He will stay swaddled in this plastic bag until he is varnished.
it would be a shame to get paint or varnish on his clothes at this stage.
Next task is to construct shirt sleeves over the wooden arms.
Below: a pair of cuffs and the collar unit with shoulder loops for the braces.
Almost done. Next time I'm shopping in 'The Range' I will pick up some oversized yellow buttons to put on his braces. That will complete him.
