Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
SUBSCRIBE on YouTube: bit.ly/Zp70T4 and RING THE BELL!
In this lesson, BJ Guyer shares 2 easy methods to build hand armatures for a puppet. FULL LESSON EXCERPT: bit.ly/PuppetHandArmatureYT
Materials you need:
- 20-gauge wire
- A hand pattern
- A plier, a nail, or a safety pin
For the second method:
- 20-gauge wire
- A jig
- A plier, a nail, or a safety pin
Making a hand armature not only makes it possible to move the fingers and ultimately operate a puppet’s arms, but it helps breathe life into your character through natural posing and movement, like gesturing or holding objects. The methods you learn here will help your puppet projects get off on the right foot — or in this case, hand!
Highlights:
- Setting up the wire and making initial bends to create a puppet hand armature
- How to follow the puppet hand pattern template
- Various techniques to twist the wire fingers for puppets
- The fastest method to make a hand armature for puppets
- Tips for adding claws and nails to puppet hand armatures
Learn more about BJ Guyer: bit.ly/BJGuyerBioYT
Free #Lesson excerpt: bit.ly/PuppetHandArmatureYT
This lesson is excerpted from Part 1 of BJ Guyer's How to Build a Hand & Rod Puppet 3-part course series. To learn how to create your own moving puppet, check out the following tutorials with BJ Guyer:
- How to Build a Hand & Rod #Puppet Part 1 - Understructure: bit.ly/HandRodPupPt1YT
- How to Build a Hand & Rod Puppet Part 2 - Fabrication: bit.ly/HandRodPupPt2YT
- How to Build a Hand & Rod Puppet Part 3 - Final Assembly & Building Character: bit.ly/HandRodPupPt3YT
Watch the courses FREE for 7-Days: bit.ly/SubPageYT
More puppet making lessons with BJ Guyer:
How To Make a Foam Puppet:
- Part 1: bit.ly/MakeFoamPupPt1YT
- Part 2 - Foam Carving & Creating Mechanisms: bit.ly/MakeFoamPupPt2YT
- Part 3 - Paint, Dye, Texture & Facial Features: bit.ly/MakeFoamPupPt3YT
Puppet Mechanism Basics: Eyes, Eyebrows, Ears
- Part 1: bit.ly/PupMechBasicsPt1YT
- Part 2:bit.ly/PupMechBasicsPt2YT
About Stan Winston School:
Stan Winston School is the streaming platform where anyone can learn from the world's best FX artists & creators. Subscribers get unlimited access to instruction from Hollywood's leading pros and classes across a vast range of specialties. Stream hundreds of courses anywhere, anytime, on mobile, desktop, and tablet.
Start Your 7-Day Free Trial HERE: bit.ly/SubPageYT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JOIN the Stan Winston School Community!
stanwinstonschool.com
tiktok.com/@stan_winston_school
facebook.com/StanWinstonSchool
instagram.com/stanwinstonschool
pinterest.com/stanwinston
Visit our WEBSITE: stanwinstonschool.com
SUBSCRIBE to #SWSCA on YouTube: bit.ly/Zp70T4
SUBSCRIBE on YouTube: bit.ly/Zp70T4 and RING THE BELL!
In this lesson, BJ Guyer shares 2 easy methods to build hand armatures for a puppet. FULL LESSON EXCERPT: bit.ly/PuppetHandArmatureYT
Materials you need:
- 20-gauge wire
- A hand pattern
- A plier, a nail, or a safety pin
For the second method:
- 20-gauge wire
- A jig
- A plier, a nail, or a safety pin
Making a hand armature not only makes it possible to move the fingers and ultimately operate a puppet’s arms, but it helps breathe life into your character through natural posing and movement, like gesturing or holding objects. The methods you learn here will help your puppet projects get off on the right foot — or in this case, hand!
Highlights:
- Setting up the wire and making initial bends to create a puppet hand armature
- How to follow the puppet hand pattern template
- Various techniques to twist the wire fingers for puppets
- The fastest method to make a hand armature for puppets
- Tips for adding claws and nails to puppet hand armatures
Learn more about BJ Guyer: bit.ly/BJGuyerBioYT
Free #Lesson excerpt: bit.ly/PuppetHandArmatureYT
This lesson is excerpted from Part 1 of BJ Guyer's How to Build a Hand & Rod Puppet 3-part course series. To learn how to create your own moving puppet, check out the following tutorials with BJ Guyer:
- How to Build a Hand & Rod #Puppet Part 1 - Understructure: bit.ly/HandRodPupPt1YT
- How to Build a Hand & Rod Puppet Part 2 - Fabrication: bit.ly/HandRodPupPt2YT
- How to Build a Hand & Rod Puppet Part 3 - Final Assembly & Building Character: bit.ly/HandRodPupPt3YT
Watch the courses FREE for 7-Days: bit.ly/SubPageYT
More puppet making lessons with BJ Guyer:
How To Make a Foam Puppet:
- Part 1: bit.ly/MakeFoamPupPt1YT
- Part 2 - Foam Carving & Creating Mechanisms: bit.ly/MakeFoamPupPt2YT
- Part 3 - Paint, Dye, Texture & Facial Features: bit.ly/MakeFoamPupPt3YT
Puppet Mechanism Basics: Eyes, Eyebrows, Ears
- Part 1: bit.ly/PupMechBasicsPt1YT
- Part 2:bit.ly/PupMechBasicsPt2YT
About Stan Winston School:
Stan Winston School is the streaming platform where anyone can learn from the world's best FX artists & creators. Subscribers get unlimited access to instruction from Hollywood's leading pros and classes across a vast range of specialties. Stream hundreds of courses anywhere, anytime, on mobile, desktop, and tablet.
Start Your 7-Day Free Trial HERE: bit.ly/SubPageYT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JOIN the Stan Winston School Community!
stanwinstonschool.com
tiktok.com/@stan_winston_school
facebook.com/StanWinstonSchool
instagram.com/stanwinstonschool
pinterest.com/stanwinston
Visit our WEBSITE: stanwinstonschool.com
SUBSCRIBE to #SWSCA on YouTube: bit.ly/Zp70T4
