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Reticulated foam opposed to other foams for your Puppet Building.
Article written by - Puppets by Cher
The conflict that many are having is about the quality of the foam.
Reticulated/Scott foam opposed to other manufactured foam.
When working with a medium it's helpful to know what your working with.
Lets break this down..
As many of the puppet builders I speak with who have been doing this for 20 years plus always say...it doesn't matter what type of foam you use as long as you cover it, so the air doesn't deteriorate it in time. ALL foam oxidizes! Turns yellow!
Like a penny gets darker in time
The question that so many have is Scott foam to other foams.
Don't just buy any upholstery foam.
Some are more dense then others.
I'm the type of person who needs to feel first hand my materials before I know how they will be used.
So this is why I go through foam distributors and ask for small samples so I can feel what foam works best for what project.
I've even purchased foam from a variety of manufacturers, stores and catalogs and I must ensure you all are different. It depends on the manufacturer.
I DON'T like Scott because it doesn't serve my needs.
I create the puppets in a different method then many, where the Muppet type puppets may be good for this foam because they take a pattern. Cut sections, glue/sew together and then cover it with fleece or furs.
I build my puppets from the inside out.
So I need to feel how one type of foam feels when pushed into a certain way to another.
You can see why it's important to have a nice variety of a selection of foams in your supplies.
I always cover all my foam with a variety of mediums.
Don't leave it raw or it will deteriorate from the air, heat, cold and usage.
Even Reticulated/ Scott foam will as well!
Plus never put your foam puppets in plastic bags... grrr....
Those nice crates with holes are good and place your stand in them.. you can fit a few puppets in at a time and they look nice on display.
What doesn't make sense to me since it was posted on another web site that some puppet builder ONLY use Scott and this is the BEST for puppets.
The manufactures pride themselves on the ILD.
Which stands for Indention Load Deflection, and by knowing the ILD you can tell how firm the foam is. The ILD is the force (in pounds) required to compress a 50–inch indenter foot into a 4-inch thick sample 25% of its overall height.
So unless your throwing bowling balls at your puppet like the Televison shows show how supportive the foam is.
Your not looking for how much weight the foam is able to hold but how long it will last and this is by what you choose to cover your puppet in.
I have puppets that I've created back in 1979 and they all look and feel the same as when I first built them.
So in my opinion and this is only my opinion, I wouldn't break the bank in buying the most expensive foam because some say it's the best and only use this.
To me it's a waste of money and Its not cooperative for my sculpting needs.
You know......... I guarantee all my work for life time.. or my life time.. hee hee...
I have never had anyone return a puppet and say it fell apart.
I have had some say their dogs attacked it and wanted me to repair it..hee hee...
Well, I decided to add my 2 cents for what it's worth on this subject since my name was mentioned by a dear friend.
I'm constantly throwing it out there that if ANYONE needs any pointers or info on buying supplies to please let me know.
I started off in the Art field about *cough.. *cough years ago.. through this I attended an array of schools, worked with some of the best and most creative artists.
I've worked with such a variety of mediums that this is what I apply to my puppet building.
I never went for all these years of schooling thinking I was going to be a puppet builder!
Imagine my parents faces when I told them all these years of art school and I'm playing with puppets all day! hee hee...
Years ago my focus was set more on sculpting, art deco, commercials, Interior decorators, Private collectors.. so forth.
I enjoy the puppet world because of what puppets stand for.
They are a communication & entertaining tool that can be used in many fields.
To the children's and adult world.
Just don't get so worried about who says what foam is the best or not.
You will know by feeling it.. if it's got a lot of holes and when you tug on it does it rip easy?
Then it's garbage and go to the next supplier.
But if it stands up to pulling and your able to bend it easily.. there's your foam.
I hope this article helps and remember Puppetry is imagination.. an expression of oneself, so let yourself go and don't hold back. Create what you like and don't worry so much about everyone else.
Take Care,
Cher
Puppets by Cher
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No duplicating or using the name Puppets by Cher without permission.
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Guide created: 05/28/07 (updated 09/23/08)
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