:Exhibition:
My piece Kit is inspired by Jim Henson's muppets, more specifically Rowlf and Bean Bunny. Kit is soft with rounded and exaggerated shapes. Large ears and eyes similar to Jim Henson's muppets. Kit is meant to be whimsical and fun, a representation of childhood wonder. Title: Kit Size: 3ft by 1ft Medium: foam, faux fur, felt Date of Completion: 12/2022 |
Inspiration
Planning
There are multiple styles of muppets Jim Henson created, full body muppets worn as suits, live hand muppets that require two people, I chose to create the traditional hand and rod muppet, in which the hand operates the mouth, and rods are attached to both hands and controlled by the puppeteer. I intend to create a character that could believably fit into the muppets world and cast, and a simple but distinctive design is key. |
I decided to make my puppet based on a fennec fox, for their already exaggerated features, like big ears and big eyes. The puppet will likely end up looking ambiguous and that is expected, muppets have a mythical element to them.
I then began the process of cutting foam. Using an electric knife I cut out the general shapes. I traced the top and bottom mouth piece onto the foam first so the head would be the right size. I also cut out the jaw from a larger scrap from the head. I cut out the ears and hot glued an extra piece onto the base, to make the ears more sturdy. last I cut out the body piece, making sure the middle hole was large enough for my arm to fit through. When the pieces were roughed out with the electric knife it was time for me to start smoothing out the shapes with scissors. This part might be the most labor intensive, it takes up a lot of time and the scissors really start to hurt your hand, though it does not help me to not own left handed scissors, which make a significant difference.
It is at this stage that my piece begins to look comparable to the inspiration pieces. The features look exaggerated and interesting while remaining rounded and friendly looking. I covered half of the face in masking tape, then removed it in chunks and cut it to lay flat on paper so I could cut out pieces of fur. This gives me a pattern to work with that is accurate to the 3d shape of the head. Sewing the fur together and putting it on the head so it fit snug was very difficult. In the future I would further minimize the amount of pieces I cut the head into, and not split it down the middle. It makes sense for a larger shape but made work much harder on a small puppet head. Hot gluing the edges of the fur to the foam was a very important step, as sewing into the foam would only ruin it. The final touches were put on, buttons for the eyes and nose and googly eyes put onto the buttons. This insured a whimsical appearance. |
Critique
Rowlf (left) and Bean Bunny (center) by Jim Henson and Kit (right) my myself.
similarities include
-Rowlf has distinctively large, flat eyes with a smaller black pupil that gives him an exaggerated expression. Likewise, Kit has large, expressive eyes with large whites and smaller pupil.
- Bean Bunny has these large ears that take up most of his head, and Kit as well has very large, expressive ears. Large ears give off the impression the character has good hearing, and that is true of rabbits and fennec foxes.
- The style of puppet is similar throughout all three. They have rounded heads, soft fur, and big eyes, mouths, and ears.
differences include
- The texture of each puppet is differing. Rowlf has a wild, curly fabric with a shorter fabric of a different color around the face to ensure that the features are clearly visible and easy to read. Bean Bunny has a more realistic, longer fur that sticks out at unpredictable angles, implying a frazzled or energetic character. His inner ears are felt and the clothes a short, soft fur texture to differentiate from the fur on the body. Kit has a consistent, short hair throughout the body. The features are visible and not blocked out by the fur. The short hair gives the impression of lightness and coolness, a trait fennec foxes evolved to have, living in the desert.
-Rowlf and Bean Bunny have large noses as the focal point of the face, this contrasts with Kit's small nose, fennec foxes have small snouts and giving him a large nose would make the design look strange.
-Finally, the expressions are noticeably different. Rowlf has these tilted oval shaped eyes that give a relaxed or sad expression. His large mouth looks like a smile the way it hangs open. Bean Bunny's mouth is shaped into a smile and the eyelids give a content expression. Kit's expression, by comparison, feels flat, I had thought a neutral expression would leave more possibilities open, but it actually would have looked better with a more defined and exaggerated expression like the others have.
similarities include
-Rowlf has distinctively large, flat eyes with a smaller black pupil that gives him an exaggerated expression. Likewise, Kit has large, expressive eyes with large whites and smaller pupil.
- Bean Bunny has these large ears that take up most of his head, and Kit as well has very large, expressive ears. Large ears give off the impression the character has good hearing, and that is true of rabbits and fennec foxes.
- The style of puppet is similar throughout all three. They have rounded heads, soft fur, and big eyes, mouths, and ears.
differences include
- The texture of each puppet is differing. Rowlf has a wild, curly fabric with a shorter fabric of a different color around the face to ensure that the features are clearly visible and easy to read. Bean Bunny has a more realistic, longer fur that sticks out at unpredictable angles, implying a frazzled or energetic character. His inner ears are felt and the clothes a short, soft fur texture to differentiate from the fur on the body. Kit has a consistent, short hair throughout the body. The features are visible and not blocked out by the fur. The short hair gives the impression of lightness and coolness, a trait fennec foxes evolved to have, living in the desert.
-Rowlf and Bean Bunny have large noses as the focal point of the face, this contrasts with Kit's small nose, fennec foxes have small snouts and giving him a large nose would make the design look strange.
-Finally, the expressions are noticeably different. Rowlf has these tilted oval shaped eyes that give a relaxed or sad expression. His large mouth looks like a smile the way it hangs open. Bean Bunny's mouth is shaped into a smile and the eyelids give a content expression. Kit's expression, by comparison, feels flat, I had thought a neutral expression would leave more possibilities open, but it actually would have looked better with a more defined and exaggerated expression like the others have.
Reflection
This project has been one of my favorite to work on, after my cardboard piece, I wanted to do a similar costuming project. Though I have more experience doing digital art, seeing a piece come together physically, in front of your eyes, is very satisfying. If I were to change anything, I would carve out a more exaggerated shape for the face, and go for a more specific expression, as it came out looking a little flat. I would also cut the fabric into fewer pieces, as it's difficult to sew and attach the smaller pieces to the head.
ACT Connection
1.) Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork:
My artist of inspiration is Jim Henson. He is the creative mind behind the muppets and several other beloved puppetry shows like seseme street and fragle rock. His puppets have exaggerated features and big personalities, and I wanted to emulate that in my puppet.
2.) What is the overall approach ( point of view ) the author ( from your research ) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Puppetry is an art like any other, it is for all ages to consume and enjoy.
3.) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I really enjoyed making this puppet, carving foam and sewing fabric, it's something I'm interested in doing again.
4.) What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
Puppetry is an underappreciated art, especially in the modern day.
5.) What kind of inferences ( conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning ) did you make while reading your research?
Shape language and exaggeration are important to a piece, shape language sends messages to the viewer about the nature of the piece and exaggeration sets it apart from others.
My artist of inspiration is Jim Henson. He is the creative mind behind the muppets and several other beloved puppetry shows like seseme street and fragle rock. His puppets have exaggerated features and big personalities, and I wanted to emulate that in my puppet.
2.) What is the overall approach ( point of view ) the author ( from your research ) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Puppetry is an art like any other, it is for all ages to consume and enjoy.
3.) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I really enjoyed making this puppet, carving foam and sewing fabric, it's something I'm interested in doing again.
4.) What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
Puppetry is an underappreciated art, especially in the modern day.
5.) What kind of inferences ( conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning ) did you make while reading your research?
Shape language and exaggeration are important to a piece, shape language sends messages to the viewer about the nature of the piece and exaggeration sets it apart from others.