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I specialize in the production and creation of stop motion and traditional puppets, offering two distinct material options for clients. The first option involves utilizing recycled materials, sourced from second-hand or donated sources, resulting in a more limited selection but a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach.

The second option involves using materials procured directly from high-quality providers or crafting custom parts by hand. The choice of material significantly influences the overall cost of the puppet, alongside factors such as size, shape, and functionality. Please note that the following rough pricing estimates for both stop motion and hand puppets are subject to variation based on the specific design and requirements of the character:

Hand Puppet

 Recycled: £150

High-quality:£300

Stop motion Puppet

 Recycled: £180

High-quality:£350

 I am committed to delivering high-quality puppetry services tailored to meet the unique needs of each project. Thank you for considering my offerings in this creative endeavour.

Materials play a significant role in the creation of puppets, as they contribute to durability, customization, and the portrayal of character personality. Quercus utilizes a blend of professional-grade, recycled, and synthetic materials to craft tactile narratives for your project.

The choice of materials varies depending on the type of puppet being created. For stop motion puppets, synthetic materials such as metal, wood, and glue are commonly used. On the other hand, hand puppets often involve a more natural crafting approach, utilizing stitching and fabrics. Please refer to the detailed listing below for the specific types of materials expected for each type of puppet.

Stop motion

1) Aluminium wire: Used for creating movable skeletal armatures or components like hands, tails, and feet.

2) Reticulated foam: Often used to create muscle structures and pad out the basic body type of the puppet.

3) Fabrics: Synthetic or organic materials are commonly used for their stretchability and movement. Custom fabric options can be created through dyeing, painting, and handcrafting.

4.) Paper patterns: Miniature patterns serve as guidelines for creating custom clothing for the puppet, adapted from recycled patterns to fit the puppet's body type and style.

5) Monster clay/super sculpey: These materials are used for creating custom body shapes, maquettes or intricate details like hands, heads, and skin textures, which can be mass-produced for exact replicas through casting.

6) Balsa wood: A lightweight and sturdy material that is easily carved, sanded, and adapted. Typically used for creating the chest, hips, and head of a puppet to anchor the character.

7) K&S brass tube: Small square brass tubes that can be cut to provide stability for joints. Different sizes of tubing allow for easy attachment and detachment, making the puppet's head removable and hands replaceable in case of damage.

8) Organic recycled wool and fur: sourced from animals, and organically recycled through excess waste. The material is carded, dry felted, and directly attached to the puppet wig.

9) Silicone: is commonly used in stop motion puppet fabrication for creating soft casts for sculptures or custom component reconstruction. It is also used for artificial puppet skin, which can be dyed and pigmented to achieve different skin tones, both realistic and fantastical.

10) Resin: is utilized to cast custom heads that can be sanded, shaped, and hand-painted to perfectly match your character's design. Hollow resin is a lightweight material that can accommodate micro mechanics, such as replaceable eyes for expression and interchangeable mouthpieces.

11) Sewing: Stop motion puppetry involves a combination of machine  and hand stitching, typically done to enhance the durability of clothing, micro embroidery, and material texturing.

12) Recycled Materials: Many accessible materials can be incorporated into the creation of a stop motion character. Whether using metal dish cleaning rags for puppet hair or integrating recycled technology into a functional hand, a wide range of materials can be adapted to suit your specific needs.

Hand Puppet

1)   Plasticine clay: This type of molding material is used to sculpt and model a base head with the ability to shape and create a completely customizable head for your character.

2)   Paper patterns: Custom paper patterns for the puppet's head, body, and limbs. These components can be adapted for live hand puppets or standard hand and rod puppets.

3) Reticulated foam sheets: Used in the construction of a foam skeleton for the body and head shape.

3)    Fleece Fabric: A durable and stretchy material with a soft texture, available in a variety of colors. Typically used as the base skin tone for hand puppets.

4)  Alternative Recycled Fabrics: Sourced from a variety of materials, including old clothing, recycled duvet covers, and blankets. Material types vary depending on the recycled piece, including cotton, linen, polyester, wool, denim, etc.

5)  Felt: A stiff material commonly used for key characteristics and detailing such as tongues, eyelets, wrinkles, scales, and props.

6)   Basic stainless steel: Steel rods are cut, bent, and adapted to fit various practical uses, including rods for movement and motor control of the puppet.

7)    Fabric paint and dyes: If you're unsatisfied with the shade of your material, hand dyeing allows for specific color adaptation and texture modification using practical dyeing methods.

8)     Sewing: Machine stitching is utilized for durability in these puppets, providing stability and strength within the pockets. Minor details, such as hair and attachments, are hand-stitched onto the puppet.

9)    Basic metal/woodwork: Through a combination of trick wires, pulleys, and custom-built parts, intricate movements like blinking, talking, and breathing life into a stationary object can be achieved.

10)  Plastic Molding: We recycle plastic to create functional mouthpieces for lip sync and dialogue.

11)  Gluing: Fabric adhesive and stitching ensure limbs and loose body parts are permanently attached to the character without risk of falling off.

Timeframes for custom Puppet can differ on a multitude of different reasons however a rough estimate of a basic hand Puppet or stop motion Puppet can be found below.

Basic

• Stop motion: 2-3 mouths

• Hand Puppet: 2-5 mouths 

Complicated

•  Stop motion: 3-8 mouths

• Hand Puppet: 5-8 mouths

Please note these times of a rough estimate based on very reduced simple versions of both puppetry types more complicated styles designs mechanics movements et cetera may require a longer timeframe depending on the labour and skills required.

I specialize primarily in stop motion and hand puppetry, each encompassing a variety of techniques and construction methods.

Below is a list of the different types of subgenre puppets provided within this service:

1. Hand Puppet Arm and Rod: Rod puppets are manipulated by a puppeteer who controls the head with a rod held inside the puppet glove. The puppet's body hangs over the puppeteer's forearm, with the possibility of extending further.

2. Rod Puppet: A smaller puppet usually with fixed expression and dangling limbs, movement is controlled by a singular rod typically attached to the hips or the head. This method is often used for background puppetry or smaller characters.

3. Live Hand Puppet: Similar to an arm and rod puppet, a live hand puppet functions with one main difference - the character's hands are now gloves and only physically moved by the performer. This type of puppet typically has more than one puppeteer controlling the mouth and arms.

4. Stop Motion Puppet Aluminium Wire Puppet: A small skeletal structure made out of aluminum wire provides the base of a character, with hips crafted from softwood, muscles constructed with foam, and skin molded overusing fabric or silicon. These are commonly used types of stop motion puppets in independent films, cost-effective projects, or models.

 Please note that other construction methods for stop motion puppets, such as steel armatures, are still being developed and practiced and will not be provided within the service at this current point in time.

The creative and business process is a collaborative journey where clear communication, open feedback, and mutual respect are prioritized.

Here is a rough breakdown of the full process:

• The process begins with an initial email from the client outlining their requirements.

• A face-to-face online meeting is organized to better understand the project and establish a connection between the artist and client.

• A contract is drafted, allowing for client input and modifications until both parties reach a mutual agreement.

• The contract is signed at the project's commencement, with 50% payment upfront for material procurement.

• Early concept work and designs are shared with the client for feedback.

• Upon design approval, blueprinting and experimentation begin, involving pattern creation, mechanics testing, and ongoing client feedback.

• Regular updates and discussions occur on a weekly or monthly basis, with the option for additional meetings or non-verbal updates via email.

• Progress photos are taken to document key stages of the creative process.

• Three adaptation or editing notes are provided to the client during the fabrication phase for major changes to the puppet.

• Upon completion, the remaining 50% payment is required before the puppet is delivered to the client.

•   This structured approach ensures a transparent and collaborative process, fostering a successful partnership between the artist and client