Wooden Marionettes: Making Puppets from Scratch
A course by Luděk BurianWood Carver and Marionette Maker
A course by Luděk Burian, Wood Carver and Marionette Maker
Learn sculpting and woodcarving techniques to design, build, and paint characterful marionettes
“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.
In this online course, Luděk teaches you carpentry and carving techniques to build a puppet from scratch. Learn how to transform a block of wood into a human character full of life. Discover the wonderful world of marionettes and create puppets that inspire stories for generations to come.
What will you learn in this online course?
19 lessons & 14 downloads
Tools and Materials
7 minutes, 11 seconds
From Sketch to Wood
13 minutes, 38 seconds
Rough Shapes
9 minutes, 38 seconds
How to Carve, Safety Tips, and Carving the Head 1
18 minutes, 56 seconds
How to Carve, Safety Tips, and Carving the Head 2
17 minutes, 25 seconds
Painting 1
13 minutes, 10 seconds
What's included in this course?
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.
What is this course's project?
Design, carve, and paint your own wooden marionette from scratch.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone interested in making marionettes filled with personality.
Requirements and materials
No previous experience is required.
In terms of materials, you will need a block of linden wood, a basic set of gouges, a knife, and other materials specified by the teacher in the course.
Reviews
- 7 months ago
Excellent teacher, very informative. Loved it. Magical watching a piece of wood come to life. Amazing watching a skilled master at work. Thoroughly recommend.
- 7 months ago
Great information, great teacher, wonderful puppets and very easy to follow!
- 8 months ago
Ein sehr ausführlicher und inspirierender Kurs. Die Erklärungen haben mir sehr gut gefallen, alles ist verständlich. Ich bin ein absoluter Anfänger, der erst vor 1 Monat einen Schnitzmesser gekauft hat, aber später werde ich bestimmt zu diesem Kurs zurückkehren. Absolute Kaufempfehlung!
- 9 months ago
Wonderful course and a great teacher and artist. Thank you!
- 1 year ago
Le cour de Ludek Burian est intéressant, sa technique de dessin à main levée, avec mesures approximatives, mais justes, des pièces à sculpter donne une marionnette avec une vie enfantine et avec une belle naïveté contrôlée.
Since then, he has showcased his work in a solo exhibition at a puppet gallery in Prague alongside crafting custom pieces for private clients. Luděk also shares his woodenworks of art and creative process with over 30K followers on Instagram.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
The Basics of Puppetry
- Understanding the Marionette
- Tools and Materials
- From Sketch to Wood
- U3
Making the Puppet
- Rough Shapes
- How to Carve, Safety Tips, and Carving the Head 1
- How to Carve, Safety Tips, and Carving the Head 2
- How to Carve, Safety Tips, and Carving the Head 3
- How to Carve, Safety Tips, and Carving the Head 4
- Carving the Arms and Hands 1
- Carving the Arms and Hands 2
- Carving the Rest of the Puppet 1
- Carving the Rest of the Puppet 2
- Carving the Rest of the Puppet 3
- Painting 1
- Painting 2
- U4
The Last Steps and Beyond
- Assembling
- How to Use a Puppet
- FP
Final project
- Wooden Marionettes: Making Puppets from Scratch
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for beginners with no prior experience in woodcarving or marionette making. You'll be guided step-by-step through all the basic techniques needed to create your first wooden puppet.
You’ll need basic carving tools like gouges, a carving knife, sandpaper, a bandsaw or handsaw, basswood, watercolors, and safety gear. The course provides a full list and alternatives for each item.
You'll learn to design, carve, assemble, and paint wooden marionettes from scratch, including creating patterns, carving techniques, joint assembly, stringing, and painting for a finished, movable puppet.
No previous woodworking or art skills are required. The course covers foundational techniques and safety practices, making it accessible for absolute beginners.
The course demonstrates how to draw puppet patterns on paper and accurately transfer them to wood blocks, ensuring correct proportions and alignment before you start carving.
You'll follow a step-by-step process: design and sketch the puppet, transfer patterns, cut and rough shape parts, carve details, sand, assemble joints, string the puppet, and finish with painting.
Basswood is recommended for its softness and fine grain, making it ideal for carving detailed puppet parts. The course explains how to select and prepare wood for best results.