Pioneer of Puppet Carving - Build a hand-carved marionette in just a week

Discover the magic of puppetry and woodcarving

From the actual design through the drawing and realization, we get to the final puppet. During these seven days, a lot of great experiences and new people await you, and at the end of the course, you will take home your own wooden hand-carved puppet.

During the week you will learn the basics of woodcarving, painting, assembling, and controlling a puppet according to your design. The workshop is under the leadership of the artist Martin Růžička, who's been carving marionettes for over 25 years. The workshop takes place in Martin's studio near Prague Castle.

You don't need any tools, everything will be provided for you. Just wear comfortable clothing and bring some good mood along the way:-) The cost is for one person, however the capacity of the workshop is up to 3 people, so it is possible there will be a carving buddy with you.

What is waiting for you?

We start every morning at 9:00 and finish at 18:00. We have a lunch break during the day. 

For the first three days, you will carve the individual parts of which the puppet is composed. The fourth day is intended for finishing the surface and preparing for painting, or the first layer of painting. On the fifth day, you finish the painting and possibly paint the puppet. For the next two days, you will learn how to assemble the puppet and connect it correctly. If you have time, you will also learn tips and tricks on how to play your puppet to the maximum.

If accommodation in Prague is a problem for you, you can be a guest at home with one of the members of our team.

Course program

• Days 1–3: Carving and shaping the individual parts of the marionette (head, torso, arms, legs).
• Day 4: Surface finishing and preparation for painting or the first coat of paint.
• Day 5: Completing the painting and details of the figure.
• Days 6–7: Assembling the marionette and connecting the parts correctly. You will also learn the basics of marionette manipulation for performance.

Short videos from workshops

Sound of Wood

Marionette done by Alexis

Super Reader Marionette done by Kate

Detailed Schedule:

For the first three days, you will carve the individual parts of which the puppet is composed. The fourth day is intended for finishing the surface and preparing for painting, or the first layer of paint. On the fifth day, you finish the painting and possibly paint the puppet. For the next two days, you will learn how to assemble the puppet and connect it correctly. If there is time left, you will also learn tips and tricks on how to play your puppet to the maximum.

Daily scheduling:

We will start every morning at 9 am and finish at 6 pm. During the day we have a lunch break.

Where is this course?

This workshop takes place in Prague at Martin’s workroom close to Prague Castle.

How long will it take?

It takes 6 days plus 1 day of a half working programm in the middle of the course to relax a bit and to explore the city...

..........................................................................................

Short interview with Martin about hand carving...

Petr: So what is so amazing about carving a figurine?

Martin: Hard to describe... I think it is first about feeling the wood itself. Wood has its own aroma, weight, and grain. And then about the response, you get from the wood.

Petr: Response?

Martin: Yes. Once you learn how to hand carve you feel that wood gives you possibilities of where and how deep you can go with a chisel. That’s why no figurine is the same.

Petr: You are talking about that old truth that all sculptors have repeated through the ages,  that there is a shape already hidden inside and the sculptor is just taking it out of the mass. Right?

Martin: I mean it is not magic or something like that. Wood has simply some structure inside which gives you ways of how you can work with it. It's nice to let yourself improvise and change your ideas as they develop in your creation during the process of carving.

Petr: Ok. And what else is so nice about carving for you?

Martin: Besides the smell which I like a lot is the fact that something is forming in your hands. You think about it and it gives you new and fresh impulses to look at it again and again.

Petr: I know what you are talking about. I personally love the sound of wood while carving. Anyway, thank you for the quick interview.