1. Shadow Puppets
Professor Kim V Morin
2010
1Copyright© Kim Morin 2010

2. What is a Shadow Puppet?
• One of the oldest forms of puppetry
• Scholars guess that cavemen used shadows around
the fire to tell stories of the hunt and make them
more exciting!
• Hand Shadows
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOZyMGPMPVU&feature=related
2Copyright© Kim Morin 2010

3. What is a Shadow Puppet?
• Here’s another example!
• What a Wonderful World performed by
Raymond Crowe
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW-3KwXpkkM&feature=related
3Copyright© Kim Morin 2010

4. Traditional Shadow Puppets
• Shadow Puppets have evolved from shadows on
the wall
• Flat figures held up and controlled by thin rods or
sticks.
• Tiny cut-out shapes let bits of light through.
• Richard Bradshaw: Shadow Puppeteer
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNsJ6kDVbfk&feature=related
4Copyright© Kim Morin 2010

5. Why Use Shadow Puppets with
Kids?
• Great Range of Visual Effects
• Lower Cost / Simple Materials
• Easier manipulation
o No arms held high for long periods of time!
• Less construction time
 Just draw and cut out!
• Where The Wild Things Are
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF-G0zvYOLU
5Copyright© Kim Morin 2010

6. You can Even Use Your Whole
Body!
• Pilobulus (from the Oscars)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiX-DW8Qk4w&feature=related
6Copyright© Kim Morin 2010

7. Making Shadow Puppets
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPRjIIQsS
• From “Weekend Projects”
7Copyright© Kim Morin 2010

8. Making Shadow
Puppets from
Gesture Drawings
• The implication of
motion in a shape
• Quick sketch
used to capture
the movement or
position of a
figure.
This quick drawing
captures the energy
and movement of the
subject. It does not
necessarily have to be
realistic. 8Copyright© Kim Morin 2010

9. Keith Haring - Artist
Ohne Titel 9Copyright© Kim Morin 2010

10. Keith Haring - Artist
Untitled
http://www.haringkids.com/master_art_flip.htm 10Copyright© Kim Morin 2010

11. Your Turn! “Action Drawing”
1.Practice drawing lines.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQlIk2kxDb8&NR=1
– Draw “quick sketches” on paper
– Fold paper into 6 rectangles
– Draw 6 figures in “action”
– Look at the following images for ideas
11Copyright© Kim Morin 2010

12. Look at the Basic Lines
12Copyright© Kim Morin 2010

13. More ideas!
13Copyright© Kim Morin 2010

14. Draw your “Gesture” Puppet
• You will need:
o 1 sheet white paper or tagboard
o Pencil, crayon, or marker for drawing
o 1 sheet colored paper (black or dark)
o Scissors, glue
o Stick (pencil, chopstick, etc)
o Tape
14Copyright© Kim Morin 2010

15. Draw your “Gesture” Puppet
• Draw “stick” action figure on white paper.
o Figure must touch three sides of the paper!
• Use pencil or marker to “fill out” stick figure by
drawing circles or swirls.
• Cut out figure.
• Glue figure to black or dark paper and cut out
again
• Attach stick with tape
15Copyright© Kim Morin 2010

16. A Shadow Puppet with
Proportions
• Art Is.. Videos
• Episode 4 Part 1- Proportions of the Body
• Episode 4 Part 2
• Episode 4 Part 3
• More Advanced Techniques at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsKGCuwJDUI&feature=
16Copyright© Kim Morin 2010