Show Updates

I’m feeling good about Momotaro and I’ll tell you why.

• The script draft is done.
  
• The schedule is created.
  
• Only three puppets are up in the air about being ready to rehearse with: Green Oni, Monkey and Bird.
  
• I have two more volunteers to help build props and sets; one from Greenwood Faire and one from the puppet guild—did I mention I love my guild? Why? Networking!
  
  
• I like the number of people who have told me they are coming to the Aki Matsuri to see my show. Mom has told a ton of her friends and my parents-in-law are flying down from Alaska for it.
  
• As for the needed 4th puppeteer, I still don’t have one. But my first choice is consulting her schedule and the way she has been talking, I think the answer will be yes.
  
• I went to Daiso the other day and I came across two more props there that I won’t have to make.
  
• 3 out of the four human puppets have hair…and I’m pretty happy with the way the main character’s hair turned out—although at first he started rather shaggy. He ended up with less than half the bangs he started out with, in fact.
  
• Let’s see, what else…the president of the Aki Matsuri came up with a nifty idea of a photo collage showing how the show was put together from the start. As you know, I have all the pictures already…plus it makes me feel like this show is even more professional. The Seattle Rep does stuff like that, you see. There are always pictures and sometimes drawings and designs from costumers or set designers.

Don’t you feel happier knowing all that too?

Hands…they’re getting easier

Here’s what I’ve been doing. First I take a toilet paper roll and cut it in half and up the side. I reduce the circle of the tube down so it fits over my thumb and my last two fingers together on my right hand and tape it in place. I flatten the top and add a piece of cardboard cut in a mitten shape. I add a little bulk with masking tape. Then I papier-mâché the whole thing with my standard three layers—not going for any detail at all on the mitten part.

Once that is dry I cover the mitten part with Japanese Paper clay. In the paper clay I create the fingers…all together so they are made on the mitten but completely cover it. I add fleshy parts for the base of the thumb and the bottom of the palm. Next comes another drying period. Watching clay dry is far from stimulating so usually I work on something else for a while. You’ve got to give it a day at least. Ho hum… Now, time to paint. My first layer is gesso to prepare the surface. Then I work a very dark green into the shaded areas and details. Green? Yes, green...Dad showed me this trick. Green is the way he showed me to darken skin tone.

I cover that over with a medium flesh tone…depending on ethnicity of the character a medium flesh tone should be lighter than the final tone. I use the final tone last of all in the shady places and in the details and wrinkles of the hand. Keep in mind that an African character’s palms are significantly lighter on the inside. In that case I would used green plus four skin tones—two for the outside and two for the inside. Lastly I paint in nails for characters in which it is important. Of course I finish out with a matte sealer. My puppets must be a tad weather resistant. Even a matte finish sealer is going to be shiny so I use a firm bristle brush to add texture as the sealer is drying.

So there you have it. Hope you find these instructions handy.