Are good puppeteers also good at drawing?

[TheCreatureWork]

I was wondering how many of you out there are not only good puppeteers, but can also draw really, really, well? I wonder if there is a link? I just ran through my noggin how many really good puppeteers there are that are also very artistic, and I was amazed to find about 90% of them were! This might be a stupid question, but these are the type of things I think about while on vacation :)

[puppetise]

well over the years i have gotton really gtood at drawing mystical creatures and live animal scetches

[Teenager's]

I draw all the time and have for awhile....and I think when it comes to puppets....Personally if I can't draw it I can't build it.

[maniacal muppet]

("Begins big, stuck-up voice, kinda like Link's") Well, if I do say so myself, I'm not too bad of a puppeteer and I have a talent for drawing as well... (Insert Link smiley here.):)

[DannyRWW]

I actually started as a a cartoonist and found puppetry as another outlet for my creativity ( I also developed some issues with my fine motor skills and found operating a puppet easier than drawing). Ironically I get paid by the school I work at to teach art and puppetry to children so its all good. I also have to teach fourth grade every day so I am happy summer is coming (for a whole month I get paid to do nothing but work with puppets... I couldn't ask for a better job)!

[spcglider]

Most puppet builders need a modicum of 2-D artistic talent simply for doing sketches of what they intend to build. And that seems to be fairly universal.

I'd be interested to see, however, the correllation between the types of puppets that they are involved with and the art style the are most proficient at. Do Muppet-style puppet folks excel at cartoon-y art? Do marionette puppeteers excel at finer, more realistic interpretations? Etc.

-Gordon

[D'Snowth]

I was wondering how many of you out there are not only good puppeteers, but can also draw really, really, well? *Raises hand* ME! ME! ME-ME-ME-ME-ME!

[Super Scooter]

When I was younger, I either wanted to be a comic book artist or a puppeteer. Not meaning to "blow my own horn", but I think I'm fairly good at drawing/painting.

[Teenager's]

I'd be interested to see, however, the correllation between the types of puppets that they are involved with and the art style the are most proficient at. Do Muppet-style puppet folks excel at cartoon-y art? Do marionette puppeteers excel at finer, more realistic interpretations? Etc.

-Gordon

Oh.....Thats an interesting question Gordon...

[ploobis]

I am a puppeteer and a cartoonist my self.

I think Caroll Spinney was a cartoonist too. He drew the Mr. Hooper portrait on Big Bird's wall.

[Buck-Beaver]

I don't think there is necessarily a connection...although a lot of puppeteers are great visual artists too. I started doing puppets as a teenager partially because I was interested in and studying animation, but couldn't draw to save my life. I've gotten a little better. Just a little though.

That being said, I think it's really important for people who build puppets to have classical art skills. I don't really, but I know builders who do and they build much more interesting puppets.

[Whispers]

XD I consider myself a pretty amateur artist but when people see my CG artwork they think its pretty topnotch haha. But I think creativity is one of the essential parts of puppetry and sort of goes hand in hand with it.
I'm not surprised that so many good puppeteers are also good artists

[Buck-Beaver]

I think my CG work looks pretty good too, but CG is cheating I think. :p

[Jinx]

Well, just to throw a monkey-wrench into things, I cannot draw to save my life... which is of course why I am a graphic designer for a living!

I find it very interesting that both of my parents, both of my brothers and both of my sisters can all draw, but I cannot. Weird....

[DannyRWW]

Well, just to throw a monkey-wrench into things, I cannot draw to save my life... which is of course why I am a graphic designer for a living!

I find it very interesting that both of my parents, both of my brothers and both of my sisters can all draw, but I cannot. Weird....

Hmmm...I have four brothers and every single one of us can draw except the youngest (he tried but to no avail).

Maybe this is a little off subject but I find it interesting that most people here make puppets and perform them. I've tried making puppets but have failed in this (every puppet I make is hideous...especially when I get to the mouth plate). I love performing however.
Now since we've been talking about being good artist, I can see how have a strong foundation in cartooning (or other types of drawing) could be very helpful in designing puppets. I used to love to draw ( and sculpt for that matter) and it was actually in a sculpting class I was teaching that I was led to puppetry (someone suggested I offer a puppet making class which was a disaster...but I did learn how to sew). I would bet that most people who can make puppets have a foundation in drawing, but I can garuantee that everyone who can draw cannot make puppets.
Sorry if I want off on a complete tangent here.

[RockerRob]

I sure hope I can draw since I am an industrial designer and I do mainly hand drawing. Building puppets is a new thing since I took a class in college, but puppeteering is not new because I have been doing that since I was 3, and refining my skills became important to me for some reason in Jr. High. I like to draw and make and perform puppets, but the drawing thing is what makes the money. I have fun doing both... most of the time.

[ploobis]

Jim Henson was a great artist. How do ya think he came up with The Muppets?

:)

[Tztz]

I actually started with animation. I've been an animator and animation director for few years until I couldn't take it any more. Building puppets was always my dream and I decided to go all the way with it.
Today I am, luckily, not involved in any animation project but I use my drawing skills whenever I'm designing a puppet character. For me, designing a puppet is like drawing, but in a new exciting way.

[wickedpuppets]

I would have to fancy myself as a 'good puppeteer' :crazy: but for the life of me I cannot draw to save my life.

I am however a graphic designer and CGI artist lol, but STILL can NOT draw on a piece of paper lol.

as for my designs and CGI work, I've done sites and graphics for Nissian, Holiday Inn, Bike Shows, Big Concerts, Cities, etc etc but NOPE just can't seem to draw :boo:

-Loki-

[CoOKiE]

Almost like Danny, i've ALWAYS loved the two... Cartooning and Puppetry. Growing up i think i was leaning more towards cartooning... then i got into theatre and then voice acting... and using all those.. i have control of the "cartoon" which is a character... and i voice them as well... Which each drawing theres a personality, along with puppets.

BUT as opposite from Jinx... i'm the one in my family with talent. Not saying no one else can't do anything.. but as for art... entertainment art, visual art... thats not them... thats all me

[ploobis]

If you go to my Myspace website you will see a lot of my drawings and cartoon creations.

My website is www.myspace.com/jesseoliver1

"ENJOY!" :)

[CoOKiE]

If you go to my Myspace website you will see a lot of my drawings and cartoon creations.

My website is www.myspace.com/jesseoliver1

"ENJOY!" :)

i see the talent... i'm not a fan of that style of art tho (Ren and Stimpy style... but i did love that show growing up). However I liked the 2 pics of the dog, Ralphie.

[ploobis]

i see the talent... i'm not a fan of that style of art tho (Ren and Stimpy style... but i did love that show growing up). However I liked the 2 pics of the dog, Ralphie.

Thank you

Yes it's true, Aside from being a true Muppet Fan I am also a fan of Ren & Stimpy and classic MGM cartoons by Tex Avery and stuff like that.

I love being a Puppeteer and a Cartoonist!

[Kiki]

I am the left-hander and I've loved to draw (cartoon-style usually) all my life and I've had no lessons or anything. I'm not a professional puppeteer or anything but I've been doing it fer about 2 years and I'm okay. I have also played the guitar for years now and I'm perty good at it, too! :D

[Pork]

Well I reckon my drawing skills and puppet skills rate about the same, they are broth alright but not great haha, I like both just as hobbies, but maybe if I practiced more.

[practicecactus]

I tend to draw a lot. My stuff here (http://practicecactus.deviantart.com/gallery/). Haven't made a puppet in ages though, but I think puppet makers go about it from two angles. Cartoonist-like designing and then making it real, or an artisan way of designing it from a practical materials kinda way.
My $0.02.

[Pork]

Your drawing are so good. I love Chewbacca and Oola. They are awesome!

[Frogpuppeteer]

i also fall under the cartoonist puppeteer category

[Phantom]

I draw well, but wish I was better. I build well and wish I built better. There's a connection for you.


Hmmm... never satisfied....

[TheCreatureWork]

Are ya'll left handed or right? LOL

[Kiki]

If you go to my Myspace website you will see a lot of my drawings and cartoon creations.

My website is www.myspace.com/jesseoliver1 (http://www.myspace.com/jesseoliver1)

"ENJOY!" :)

Those are great, man! I did your style!

I tend to draw a lot. My stuff here (http://practicecactus.deviantart.com/gallery/). Haven't made a puppet in ages though, but I think puppet makers go about it from two angles. Cartoonist-like designing and then making it real, or an artisan way of designing it from a practical materials kinda way.
My $0.02.

That's so awesome! Well done!

Are ya'll left handed or right? LOL

Lefty right 'ere *raises hand* lol!

[dwayne1115]

this is an interesting thread, i wonder if you could also ask are all puppeteers good at acting or even singging. I cant Draw if my life depened on it but i can act and sing so i think it really depends on the person. I have always wanted to try and build a puppet but i'm scared and i second guess myself to much when it comes to the muppets and puppets.

[aaronmojo]

I'm a freelance illustrator and a puppet-builder, but the "technical" aspects of building puppets always trip me up. I am a fairly good performer, though, and getting better at it. I'd better be since we're starting a business soon! Kids can be ruthless!

[dwayne1115]

kids can be ruthless to an extent. what kind of bussness are you doing. I always wanted to start a puppet show for birthdays school things and such, then expand it have a studio with clowns and all kinds of kids entertainment.

[RockerRob]

I think the real question here is, "Are puppet builders good at drawing?". Puppeteers and Puppet builders, or puppet builders/puppeteers are different creatures. Some people's creativity comes out in just the manipulation of the puppet (these people may also be natural actors), and the builder is wildly creative and uses puppets as an outlet, but then they have to try their puppet out and become puppeteers by default.

[Pork]

This is very interesting. I think I agree with you RockerRob.