Paddy the Leprechaun

Paddy the Leprechaun

During the first semester of 3rd year, I went on an Erasmus exchange to the University of Osijek, Croatia. as part of my studies on the Design for Film and Theatre course, I took a puppet-making class. The task for the end of the semester was to think of a creature to base the puppet on, and proceed with learning and going through the process of creating the puppet. As one of only two Irish students in the class, I felt it was best to draw from Irish mythology as an inspiration, as no one else would think to do. I decided to make an evil leprechaun puppet, as I felt it would push me creatively to figure out how to work out the different aspects that I wanted. 

The Process

The process started with me drawing an initial sketch of the design for the puppet. From that drawing, I took measurements of each body part, as well as the overall height. The professor then showed me a method of using the initial measurements of the drawing to get the full size measurements for the technical drawing. All I needed were the numbers X, the height I wanted it, Y, the height it is (in the initial drawing), and Z, the number I multiply with. To get Z, I needed to divide 60 cm, X, with 27 cm, Y. Now that I had the number 2.22, Z, I could use that to multiply with each measurement from the drawing to get the life-size measurement. For example, the original drawing of the hat measured at a height of 2 cm. So, to get the full-size hat height, I multiplied 2 with 2.22, which got me a measurement of 4.4 cm, or 44 mm, after rounding off. 

While doing my technical drawing, the professor also informed me that I needed to take into account of the joints of the puppet, and how they needed to have angles carved into them in order to bend easily. The technical drawing also only focused on the body of the puppet, with not outer clothing drawn apart from the hat, as it was included in the overall height. 

After completing my technical drawing, the next steps were to carve the head and body out of styrofoam, using the technical drawing measurements, and paper macheing the both of them. I had to use multiple layers of paper macheing in order to ensure security. I carved out and paper mached the ears separately and then glued them onto the head, as it proved easier then carving them out with the rest of the head. After consideration, I also repeated the process with the hands, making them from styrofoam and paper mache instead of wood. This was due to the level of detail in the hands that would have been difficult to carve from wood. 

Once I had the paper macheing done, the next step was cutting up wood for the four limbs. I cut eight pieces of wood using a hand saw to the measurements I had worked out, for the upper and lower parts of the arms and legs. I then cut down the centre of each piece where they would join together, for example on each piece of wood where the lower and upper arm would join. This was to make space for pieces of leather to stick to the inside of the wood. Once the wood and leather was all cut and stuck together, I had to drill holes in both the wood and the main body where they would join. I also glued small pieces of wood to the areas of contact on the main body for security. I then tied rope around each limb through the drilled hole, and then tied it into a big knot and stuffed it into the hole on the main body, covered in glue so that it would stick. Now that I had the body fully constructed, it was time to begin the making of the costume. 

For the costume, green was the obvious colour scheme I wanted, so I went through the cabinet in the college and found the appropriate materials. As not the most confident sewer and costume maker, I will admit it was a challenge working out the measuring every single area where the clothes would go, and cutting the material accurately. However, I would like to think I did an adequate job. I tried to figure out the sewing patterns on my own clothes in order to work out how to put together the fabric. I had separate pieces of fabric for each arm and then the front and back of the coat, as well as the front and back pieces of the trousers. I then tacked the pieces down and did a blanket stitch on all of it on the body of the puppet. I also cut out some fabric for the collar, and cut out the inner part of cardboard to give that curved shape for the inside of the fabric. I attached the collar to the rest of the coat by tacking and blanket stitching as well. 

To finish off the costume, I made a hat out of paper and painted it green, and then wrapped the base in black shoe lace, and added a gold circular piece of metal found in the cabinet. I added three gold strips of fabric to the front of the coat, with the same gold circular metal pieces on either end of each gold fabric piece. I painted the head of the puppet using all white for the face first before going in with the skin colour paint. I then contoured the nose, cheekbones and dimples to make the features look sharper, and creepier. I left the eyes pure white for the creepy effect as well. I also painted the lower legs white for stockings and sawed out two triangular shaped pieces of wood to stick to the end of each leg for feet. I painted these black and added another gold circular piece of metal on each to look like shoes. For attachinf the head to the main body, I got two small pieces of wood, and drilled a hole through each. I then glued one each on behind the beard of the head and at the centre of the top of the main body. I then got a string, looped it through each hole, and tied it together, gluing for security.

The final step to this process was the making of the wooden handle to control the puppets movements, and attaching strings to each body part. Under the guidance of the professor, I got a round piece of wood and sawed down the centre of one end, like I did with the arms and legs. I then got a slimmer piece of wood to fit through that gap, and drilled two holes in the original wood, one also going through the second. Then I got some wire, and, using pliers, I bent the wire into shape, and put it through each hole, hammering the remaining wire at the bottom into the back of the wood. I then used the pliers again to bend the top of the wire into a curved shape suitable for handholding and hanging from a hook. I then got another, shorter piece of wood, and, lining it up with the rounded wood at the bottom, drilled a hole through both, and glued a nail into the both. Obtaining a second piece of wire, I bent it into shape and shoved it through each hole I had drilled on either side of the central  wood. I bent the ends into a curved shape to catch the string balanced on it. I then added a final piece of bent wire o the very bottom of the central wood, as a hook. I then assembled my strings, tied them around each attachment point on the puppet (ears, hands, knees and back), and then attached them to the handle. 

Process Gallery

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