Wooden Marionettes: Making Puppets from Scratch

“A marionette can accompany you for a lifetime. And one day, a child may inherit it, knowing their grandparents made it. Only a few toys can compete with that.”

Luděk Burian is a wood carver specializing in marionettes. For him, a wooden puppet can be a toy, a piece of decorative art, or even a storytelling tool. He showcases his work in exhibitions and via social media as well as creating custom pieces for private clients.

Begin the course by getting to know Luděk Burian. Discover the creative career that led him to become a marionette maker along with the influences that inspire him.

Dive into the tools and materials needed for the course, from the best wood for your project to carving gouges and nails. Learn how to use them, then sketch your protagonist and transfer the pattern onto wood before cutting the rough shapes.

Carve the head, taking into account some basic techniques and safety. Move on to the arms and hands before completing the rest of the body. Then add personality to your marionette by painting it with watercolors and colored pencils.

To wrap up the course, Luděk takes you through the process of assembling your pieces and shares his advice on how to use a variety of puppet-controlling skills to bring them to life.