A Christmas Puppet

This past Christmas, I had a request to make a puppet for a very special little girl who also happens to be an aspiring puppeteer.  There were no specifications, only something fun.  I knew the puppet needed to be a girl and have a certain Sesame Street style of face.  A few days before she was to be delivered, I got to work and came up with this little mop-haired, freckled friend.

I love her stumpy, chubby style- it sort of balances her over-sized purple nose.  Thanks to Nikki, my wife, the puppet had beautiful lemon yellow braids.  By the way, speaking of delivery, it is the hardest thing to send a puppet on its way when it is completed.  You spend hours with this thing and at times even catch yourself talking to it.  Geppetto and Pinocchio's relationship is so much more clear now.

Christmas morning I receive a photo text with the picture below and a quote that said, "My new best friend!" I think she was named Suzie.  Nothing like the power of creativity and puppets to get in touch with the inner child-like happiness in all of us.

 And then this happened...

Pearl's a Singer... In a Nightclub

"Pearl's a Singer" is a song written by Leiber and Stoller and is featured in the musical revue show Smokey Joe's Cafe. It's a great song which put an image in my head of an older woman that has had her time playing the clubs trying to get her big break, however, it never came and so she is stuck in the corner of a cloudy bar singing old standards and no one pays attention.  Even though she never made it big, she is very content with her life and never goes out with out the proper dress or her make-up (heavily) caked upon her face.  When I started making Pearl, I kind of had a vision of Carol Channing in my head, but a very un-classy version Carol.  Carol has had great success, but Pearl's still just a singer... in a night club.  It all starts with a drawing- originally, Pearl was going to be a bleached blond, but I found some really fun, shaggy yak looking fur for her hair, so I changed.  The only thing I'm a slave to is the glue gun.  Once hot glue meets fleece, fur or fabric- it's all over.  I also put some photos of Carol in my sketchbook.  I think the thing I got most from her was the expression in her mouth.

Next, I started working on a foam base.  I knew Pearl need to be (clear throat) a little fuller in the in the chest area.  First time I've ever done implants.

After getting the foam structure done and a covering of skin, I made her a tight-fitting dress.  It was my wife that said to gather the dress in the front for more... exposure.  It did give her a little more, how shall we put it?  Curve appeal.

A couple of arms complete with elbow length gloves.  Every classy lady wears elbow length gloves ALL. THE. TIME.

Now, time to put the pieces together.

I decided she need a bit of a sleeve.  When she waved I didn't want to see that old lady extra skin jiggle.  Pearl may be bold, but she still has her modesty.

Making the dress floor length.

Add a little jewelry, a sequin overskirt and belt and a little (ok, a lot) of make-up.  I had purchased some round sunglasses at a dollar store and was going to pop the lenses out for Pearl's Carol-inspired eyewear, but then I found a pair horn-rimmed cat glasses in my costume storage, I knew those had to belong to Pearl.

Does anyone remember Grace Jones?  She was an actress that was famous in the '80s.  I think she was in a Mad Max movie at some point.  No, I'm not remembering Tina Turner in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome... but suddenly I hear playing in the back ground "We Don't Need Another Hero... Here in Thunderdome."  Look it up. Anyway, I think Pearl looks like Grace Jones in this picture. 

All that talk of Tina Turner and I realize, she has Tina Turner hair. I just need to put a curve in her hand so she can hold her microphone and Pearl will be ready to sit on her stool and talk about the days with Frank, Dean and Sammy.

First Inspiration

For as long as I can remember, I have always been fascinated by puppets. Not sure why- perhaps it is the character? Maybe the creativity? Or it could be they just make me happy. Yes, I was like a lot of kids when I was younger in which I would take an old sock, add mismatched button eyes, a scrap of felt and create a friend that would always do what I said (get it?). I did silly shows and painted backgrounds on large pieces of cardboard- the whole wagon (traveling show) through the neighborhood bit.  Everyone probably thought, "Look at that poor little gypsy child.  He's so cold he has socks on his hands."

But lately, as I grow older (and in need of more friends that will do what I say- ha!) I have been really interested in the craft of puppetry and creating specific characters- hopefully of a much better quality than that of just an odd stocking that no longer has a match. In that interest, I have been reading a lot about different styles of puppets through history and from different cultures while slowly carving out a space in a spare bedroom as an art room (puppet laboratory.)

Over the years, some friends, co-workers and myself have made puppets specific for shows- from tiny glove and finger puppets to full-size head to foot (and beyond) walk about body puppets. I have lots of pictures of the finished products, but very few of the process. It's that process that leads to the inspiration of creativity which makes building things from scratch so darn interesting.

So hear I am. Posting the first of what I think will be a fun experiment. I'll try to add pictures and sketches as I go along and maybe even a video or two. To get me started: a wonderful piece of inspiration/art/comedy/pure joy. This is one of my favorite scenes from the first season of the Muppet Show. Who knew a chunk of foam could make me laugh so hard?!?!

 

Oh yea, and later I'll explain the significance of the name Pink Wand Puppets.  Hope you enjoy and follow along!