Alex Kaplan | Scenic Painting and Props

SCENIC PAINTING AND PROPS CONSTRUCTION/ARTISANRY

BACKPACK PUPPET

Collaborating with the Costume Designer, Director, and actors, I researched, designed, and built a backpack-style puppet for the production Stumpy Legs Too Short at Carnegie Mellon.

Using a PVC backpack frame from a previous show, I added arms with different types of joints at the elbow and shoulder to provide human-like movement. I worked with the puppeteer throughout the rehearsal process to make sure the puppet was both comfortable and easy to use while simultaneously fulfilling the costume designer’s vision.

Original Costume Design Rendering

Original backpack frame

Original backpack frame.

Added arms and hands

Building the head

The completed base shape

The completed base shape.

Testing in the rehearsal room

Testing in rehearsal.

Added texture and detail

Added texture facial detail.

Painted base coat

Painted outline and details

Painted detail.

PLASTER URNS

For a production of The Rose Tattoo at Williamstown Theatre Festival, an urn was broken each night. Consequently, I cast and painted 30 urns throughout the run.

CLOCK TREE

For the class Scenic Painting 2, I was tasked with designing, budgeting, and creating my own project. I designed a clock tree from the book series The Magicians by Lev Grossman. After creating a rendering and to-scale model, I made a schedule and budget for labor and materials. I then used foam and different types of fabric to achieve the shape and bark-like texture.