A bit of discussion has happened regarding the fact that we often paint scenery for our own benefit ( as we like to show off our painting skills if we have them )
But that from an audiences point of view , the puppets show up better against a plain black back drop - especially at a distance . Overly bright backgrounds just get 'confused' with the tones of the puppets and it all looks a bit 'samey'.
But the only 'downside' of switching from painted scenery to a black backcloth is that some of your existing figures might contain a lot of black costuming , and therefore 'disappear' into the background themselves.
This is particularly true of Policeman puppets dressed in a very dark navy blue uniforms, Miraiker has redressed quite a few folks Policeman puppets in light blue fabric for exactly this reason .
The same problem can be true of Devils with black cloaks , or hangmen with black masks etc etc.
Or as I discovered looking at some footage someone had taken of my show - my Monkey was doing a bit of a vanishing act .
The very dark brown fur I had made him from in 2006 had looked striking against my then painted scenery.
But my switching to plain black had made him an endangered species .
I will post a pic of him side by side with my new lighter coloured chimp.
I had begun carving the head a few years back in between other projects while waiting for some glue to dry.
However I had not intended to finish him for a few years yet , as my old monkey is is good nick and has a few years use left in him. But the black backcloth changed all that .
Still I am rather glad , as new monkey is a splendid little puppet with a fair bit of charm.
