Puppet Making Course access details

October 2021 - further edits 13 February 2023 - Edited March 2026 - new ISSUU link

Online Puppet making course with Artist and Puppet Designer Corina Duyn. After more than 50 years of learning and three decades of teaching, Corina is no longer able to create puppets, or teach. However she made the decision to share all the very detailed course instructions publicly via 2.5 hours of Youtube videos.  In march 2016 a newly compiled book with in total 85 pages with step-by-step written and photographic instructions books has been published on her ISSUU channel.

See https://issuu.com/littlewings/docs/puppet_making_with_corina_duyn

These are for both basic and more advanced puppets. Learn how to sculpt a clay head, hands and feet for a puppet with DAS self hardening clay. How to make a wooden or cloth puppet body, assembling instructions, and suggestions on painting, and dressing/hair.  As well as two cross samples, how to string up your puppet and animate it. Sculpting instruction also applicable to create a doll, or bust. 

Please note that all the material was created during a time Corina was still teaching, so any comments to ‘get in touch’ is no longer applicable. It course is for your personal use only. Having followed this course does not mean you can teach this course using my material. Thank you for your understanding.

 I hope you will enjoy embarking on this creative adventure. When your puppet is complete I love to see images of it. With every best creative wish.

Corina Duyn 2019/2023/2026 Corina Duyn © 2019 www.corinaduyn.com 

Course access made public October 2021 - further edits February 2023.

For links to more of my work in puppetry see: Puppetry webpage, or explore the many articles and images on this blog, including: 50 minute video lecture on the Power of the Puppet  is available on HERE And See summary of my work in “23 year long creative history of living with M.E.” 

Website www.corinaduyn.com

Blog www.corinaduyn.blogspot.ie

Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/flyingonlittlewings

Instagram www.instagram.com/corinaduyn

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/corina.duyn.7

‘The Girls’ © Corina Duyn 2017

COURSE DETAILS General Overview: ISUUU books   And YouTube videos 

In detail: 

Introduction and general information for your course:

• Please read: Introduction and general guidelines in the newly compiles course document on ISSUU: 

https://issuu.com/littlewings/docs/puppet_making_with_corina_duyn

• For a glimpse into my [previous] Little Wings Studio: https://youtu.be/s7Oa8-0lKgk (1.47)
• Important Sanding instructions: https://youtu.be/yke3zQgZ3d8 (2.04)

In my course I recommend the use of white DAS air drying clay as other brands have different drying properties and may shrink too much which causes problems. DAS is very strong and can be used to sculpt very fine details. 

https://www.corinaduyn.com/site/puppet-making-course/

March 2026 - all sections of the course are now in the one document: https://issuu.com/littlewings/docs/puppet_making_with_corina_duyn

Sculpting the Head

The videos and ISSUU documents are interchangeable between using glass eyes and creating sculpted eyes. I suggest you watch, and read both at each step of the sculpting process. The (2.04) indicate length of the videos Please make sure to watch the Youtube videos in HD

• Introduction; creating the base; sculpting the features; sculpted eyes; and alternative suggestion to add the head to a bust (in stead of making it into a puppet),

• Starting the base of Head https://youtu.be/YUlf1zsD6X0 (10.08)
• Building up the face- (glass eyes) https://youtu.be/EvZbDlTKzHA (8.04)
• Building up the face- (sculpted eyes) https://youtu.be/R6FltP40F8w (7.26)
• Nose, lips (and eyebrows for puppet with glass eyes) https://youtu.be/b782Lj-t9TI (13.57)
• Sculpted eyes, and adding cheeks: https://youtu.be/zJ8-EYmFJek (11.05)
• Adding features & ears: https://youtu.be/5WlXQAozgzE (15.57)
• Finishing the head and neck: https://youtu.be/CYGp2X4jdKU (3.10)

Hands and Feet: 

The videos and ISSUU books are interchangeable I suggest you watch, and read both at each step of the sculpting process. The (2.04) indicate length of the videos. Please make sure to watch the Youtube videos in HD. For a master class on these, please contact my mentor and teacher Marlaine Verhelst.

• Introduction and instructions on sculpting Hands and Feet
• Sculpting “Easy Hands”: https://youtu.be/ElKWN_IOCjs (4.42)
• Sculpting Detailed Hands (1) base/fingers: https://youtu.be/wq9dH_cYKYs (17.3)
• Sculpting Detailed Hands (2) detailing: https://youtu.be/ANHqP5-ncRM (9.22)
• Sculpting the base for Feet/shoes: https://youtu.be/kGmY-hwtw-8 3.41

Body and Cross

• Introduction and instruction on wooden puppet body and cross, and how to animate your puppet
• See design of body used in the course below
• Assembling the wooden body https://youtu.be/ALjK0WxLnIM (8.14)
• Assembling puppet and cross, adding strings, and stringing up https://youtu.be/vOV235Tu4q8  (15.31)
• Animating your puppet https://youtu.be/cby6fJ9N6es (5.50)
• Alternative cross https://youtu.be/fg5p77Aa_ZY  (1.08)

Painting and clothing/hair suggestions:

• Introduction to painting the clay parts, and some suggestions on clothing and hair styles; 
• Painting:  https://youtu.be/RE4VdXNVWXI  (21.08)
• Painting sculpted in eyes: https://youtu.be/qdHc-rZR7Ok  (10.24)

Early retirement?

 My dear friends

I am playing around with little ‘Paper-me’ used
in the shadow puppetry, but without the projector. Just ‘raw’, as it is.

Thank you for stopping by at my blog. A friend alerted me that I hadn’t entered any post since the 7th February. I do have thoughts about writing, but often they don’t get past my own brain or at most into my personal diary.

The past few weeks have been a rollercoaster of sorts again. With help from many hands and minds I made great progress to letting go of my books, art prints and postcards. As well as the work created for the exhibition, which never really was.

It is good to let go

Many books went to charities and organisation looking after the ill. Including ‘Jack and Gill’ foundation, local care home and the Irish ME Trust. 

I received some beautiful heartwarming emails and orders from all over the world.

It brings great joy to know what my words, images and thoughts have been set free from closed boxes and into the hearts and minds of many.

Thank you all

The online bookshop will close on the 10th March 2021. Of some books I only have few copies left, so if you like to avail of the almost no cost books, and Art Packs, please see my SHOP page 

The page to book the puppet making course will remain live after this date.

Thoughts

Last night in bed I thought about the reality of my current situation: being more depended on care, and finding it quite a challenge. Since my care was moved to a new agency, there are a lot of different carers coming in, sometimes three in the one day. 

I have to admit that the inconsistency of care led to a big struggle to ‘keep it all together’. Much more is asked of me than I am able to give. I have sought support on how to deal with this. Including from Greg and Linda Crowhurst, from Stonebird, who wrote this excellent document partly inspired by our communication. Their Carers book for people with severe and very severe ME is on the counter in my kitchen. 

Old sculptures and puppets

In dealing with the reality of a decline in health and the immense need to make life simpler, the clearing out continues. When I am able for it I ask my carers to bring in my sculptures and puppets in from the cold unused studio. It is actually quite an emotional journey to connect with my works, some created nearly 50 years ago. Some more recent, but with a much bigger story to tell me...

Reconnecting with ‘Johnny Dwyer’ from ‘Life Outside the Box’
He told me he had NO intention to go back into his box...
A great dilemma for me.

One day I will document their stories here, but for now I have written short thoughts on my Instagram page. Please head over there if you can? www.Instagram.com/corinaduyn 

Some of the older works are ‘up for adoption’. Please enquire if one gets your fancy (as shared on Instagram page). I am hoping to build up a fund for future care needs from these sales.

Creatively - I have taken early retirement. On health grounds. 

That thought made me giggle last night, as for the past 22 years my art was mostly about the state of living with illness... The challenges, the hopes, the fears and moments of gratitude.

During the sorting of materials from my studio, it is paper which gets my most attention. I will play with this notion for a while. Play. The all important word: Play. Having fun. Bringing ease.

Will try to check in here again.

Thank you for joining me.

Much love and stay well and stay in touch, please.

Corina (1st March 2021)