Arin Egoraptor pt 1 - Making a head!
Hey readers,
Now that Danny is all but finished, it is time to turn my attention to Arin. I think Arin is going to be easier in some respects, since he is a little more traditional and won't require me to make any specific clothing.
Before I talk about that, I feel it is vital to mention that I saw a home cotton candy machine earlier today. I have so many questions - beyond my normal cotton candy related ones. First of all, who has enough of a craving for cotton candy to need to make it at home? Is it tough to do? I have used those soft serve ice cream machines and I can't get a good swirl like the professionals. Is the same true for a good cotton candy ball? More important than all of that, the machine uses hard candy to make cotton candy. How do that work? The box clearly shows a jolly rancher and a mint being used. Does that make minty cotton candy - and if so, what is that like? I feel like I am being pressured into buying this objectively absurd device just to see how that works. Can I use a bag of jolly ranchers to make a crazy cotton candy flower?
Maybe if I suddenly find myself buying this machine I will blog about it. In the meantime, you will have to settle for a few dozen blogs about puppet building. I have been using the same pattern for human heads since my first human head puppet - the JoshPrime puppet. The chin always felt really pronounced to me, and I wanted to make some mild adjustments to the Arin puppet. I also wanted to vary the head design of the two enough that they looked like they were unique builds. I have seen some head making tutorials, but I didn't have the base required in them, instead I tried free handing some adjustments to the head pattern I already have. Mistake 1: There is a reason that the patterns are made the way they are, mess with the secret formula and you wind up with New Coke. Anyway, I didn't know about New Coke at the time, so I tweaked the design. It looks great in theory, but the final product has a much smaller chin than I was imagining. It is really pronounced in this stage, but it will be less glaring as the puppet's body, clothes and hair come in.
The head came together just like Danny's. Notice I am using a pale pink for Arin. Since he usually goes with the pink characters - especially in their series of Kirby's/GameGrumps Dream course where Danny is always blue and Arin is always pink. Just like last time, I could do the Henson stitch and try to hide some seams, but I want them to have the seams showing. I really like the look of the seams. I should do a puppet that doesn't have them at some point - even if it is just to practice the hidden seam stitch - but I really like seeing the seams. Honestly though, is anyone out there really thinking that Kermit is real? Would a seam down his face ruin the illusion for them? Sorry if you thought Kermit was real readers. There is a dude with his hand up Kermit's ass whenever you see him talking. I know - shocking. Yes, Miss Piggy too.
I am getting better with the mouthplates and the sewn in style. However, I have almost used the entire lid of my plastic tub, so I need to figure out if it is worth buying more tubs or coming up with a different solution. I can't really stack anything on that tub anymore. Mistake 2: I also realized that I had left my hot glue gun plugged in and hot for much longer than I intended. See how the glue is a slightly browned color? That is because the glue inside was cooked. At least I caught it before things got worse!
As you can see in this picture, Arin really has no neck. I still think it is going to work out fine, but I must admit I am a little nervous I might be remaking a head later. I found the whole mouth and foam head attaching process to be much easier this time. I also am really getting better at hand stitching so the long seam down his back was quick work. That would have been daunting even two months ago, so I am really happy with my progress.
I have a lot of thoughts about Arin's hair. I have a few techniques I want to try, but I know I have my standby to fall back on if it doesn't work out. Arin has a unique blonde streak in his hair that should be easy to replicate in puppet form. I am confident he is going to be as recognizable as Danny is, just by the hair alone.
I really wanted to avoid them not making sense alone. Like, I don't want Arin to look like Arin only because Danny brings it together. We will see if I can pull that off.
Keep making fun stuff!
Until next time,
JoshPrime
Now that Danny is all but finished, it is time to turn my attention to Arin. I think Arin is going to be easier in some respects, since he is a little more traditional and won't require me to make any specific clothing.
Before I talk about that, I feel it is vital to mention that I saw a home cotton candy machine earlier today. I have so many questions - beyond my normal cotton candy related ones. First of all, who has enough of a craving for cotton candy to need to make it at home? Is it tough to do? I have used those soft serve ice cream machines and I can't get a good swirl like the professionals. Is the same true for a good cotton candy ball? More important than all of that, the machine uses hard candy to make cotton candy. How do that work? The box clearly shows a jolly rancher and a mint being used. Does that make minty cotton candy - and if so, what is that like? I feel like I am being pressured into buying this objectively absurd device just to see how that works. Can I use a bag of jolly ranchers to make a crazy cotton candy flower?
Maybe if I suddenly find myself buying this machine I will blog about it. In the meantime, you will have to settle for a few dozen blogs about puppet building. I have been using the same pattern for human heads since my first human head puppet - the JoshPrime puppet. The chin always felt really pronounced to me, and I wanted to make some mild adjustments to the Arin puppet. I also wanted to vary the head design of the two enough that they looked like they were unique builds. I have seen some head making tutorials, but I didn't have the base required in them, instead I tried free handing some adjustments to the head pattern I already have. Mistake 1: There is a reason that the patterns are made the way they are, mess with the secret formula and you wind up with New Coke. Anyway, I didn't know about New Coke at the time, so I tweaked the design. It looks great in theory, but the final product has a much smaller chin than I was imagining. It is really pronounced in this stage, but it will be less glaring as the puppet's body, clothes and hair come in.
I am getting better with the mouthplates and the sewn in style. However, I have almost used the entire lid of my plastic tub, so I need to figure out if it is worth buying more tubs or coming up with a different solution. I can't really stack anything on that tub anymore. Mistake 2: I also realized that I had left my hot glue gun plugged in and hot for much longer than I intended. See how the glue is a slightly browned color? That is because the glue inside was cooked. At least I caught it before things got worse! 
As you can see in this picture, Arin really has no neck. I still think it is going to work out fine, but I must admit I am a little nervous I might be remaking a head later. I found the whole mouth and foam head attaching process to be much easier this time. I also am really getting better at hand stitching so the long seam down his back was quick work. That would have been daunting even two months ago, so I am really happy with my progress.I have a lot of thoughts about Arin's hair. I have a few techniques I want to try, but I know I have my standby to fall back on if it doesn't work out. Arin has a unique blonde streak in his hair that should be easy to replicate in puppet form. I am confident he is going to be as recognizable as Danny is, just by the hair alone.
I really wanted to avoid them not making sense alone. Like, I don't want Arin to look like Arin only because Danny brings it together. We will see if I can pull that off.
Keep making fun stuff!
Until next time,
JoshPrime
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