Puppets and Stop-Motion
With Crank Yankers, I began working professionally in the world of puppets. Most often, I make the puppet costumes, which can be a challenge. Puppets have odd body proportions.
I learned puppet building on the job at Crank Yankers and it was a natural fit with my background in pattern making.
My experience as a puppet builder led me into wrangling for the Muppets, which involves preparing puppets for on camera appearances. I will dress and prep characters as needed, rod their hands and rig props.
I can finally reveal that I built costumes for the Skeksi characters in the recent Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. It was a fun challenge to re-create the Ritual Master in particular.
Click on the Costume Design tab to see my work on Crank Yankers Season 5.
Stop-Motion
I also make tiny costumes for stop-motion animation. I apply the same patterning principles as human costumes, but the construction techniques are very different. Due to the tiny scale (I made a sleeve the size of my thumb nail), these costumes have to be engineered with a combination of sewing, glue, tape and other wizardry. Many of the costumes are also rigged with wires or black foil for animation purposes.