THE OLD TIME PUNCH & JUDY MAN

[lesclarke]

Due to the way my show developed in the early years, I rarely, formally that is, appear outside the booth to the audience, and for a while I have fancied making a life-sized head of An Old Time Punch & Judy Man, that I could have pop its head above the playboard at the end of shows.

I pictured him as a larger-than-life character from an earlier age, and based it on the features of a latex mask I have had for some years, but made him rougher and slobbier!



He is life-size-plus to give him a real presence





He is now finished and suitably slobby

[scumonkey]

Very Impressive!

[Chris]

So that's the inner-you is it Les?
Inside every thin man is a fat man trying to get out.

[lesclarke]

Exactly Chris!

[Chris]

What is it cast in Les? I assume it must be hollow for weight consideration, since you say it is life-sized.

P.S. It actually does remind me of a well known Punch man - but I am not going to say who. I'd prefer to keep some friends.

[lesclarke]

Yes, probably best Chris.

It is (paper layered) papier mache, with a small amount of pulp papier mache with added whiting, as extra modelling, and then DAS modelling stuff for final detail, the nose bump, nostrils, wrinkles on head and filling any hollows etc.

First I made two different sized papier mache shapes using balloons, then joined these together to make the base shape. I covered this pear shape with a plastic bag and lots of masking tape and applied a layer of plasticene and then started the modelling. As you know papier mache shapes shrink whilst drying, so the outer modelled head eventually fitted snugly on the inner pear shape, which gives it plenty of support, whilst still keeping the weight reasonable.

There is a dowel rod fixed across inside so the head can be manipulated, with the free hand able to play a part, putting a finger to the lips, scratching or even picking the nose. My own hands are rather small, so don't look too convincing, so that is the next thing to sort.