Puppet Mastery Courses

Learn how to create wooden puppets in our online courses!

Learn more

Puppet Mastery Courses

Learn how to create wooden puppets in our online courses!

Learn more

What Others Say About Us

puppetry-journal

“A maneouver of sheer magic”
The Puppetry Journal

habitat-centre-india

“Creative genius, master craftsman, jewel from Iceland, puppeteer, marionettist – B.O. is a class apart and an Institution in himself.”
Habitat Centre, India

kultur-sommer

“Mr Ogrodnik is without any doubt among the best puppeteers in the World.”
5th Intern. Figurentheater Festival Haydau, Germany

morgunbladid

“True Theater magic that leaves no one untouched”
Morgunbladid, Iceland

philadelphia-inquirer

“One of Puppetry’s most impressive talents”
Philadelphia Inquirer, USA

museu-da-marioneta

“B. O. holds the audience in the palms of his hand, thanks to the freshness and truth that his work transmits, clean and concise.”
Museu da Marioneta, Lisbon, Portugal

You don’t need to have woodworking experience to start creating wooden puppets

If you’re craving deeper inspiration, advancements, and mastery as an artist, performer, teacher, or student – you’re in the right place.

You see, Puppetry is an umbrella that holds every type of artistic expression. From illustration to sculpting to carving to textile to painting to performing to storytelling to creative writing, and we could go on and on…

This is your opportunity to spend some quality time with one of Puppetry’s most prolific designers and performers in the intimate setting of his workshop sanctuary.

Bernd Ogrodnik will share his personal approach to puppetry and why he promotes the art of the wooden puppet.

You’ll receive concrete instructions on how to get started and keep honing your craft.

Your Plan for Learning the Art of Puppetry

1. Sign up

Get access to the course

2. Watch the course

Bernd and the community guide you step by step

3. Achieve mastery

Create your own wooden puppets

One of the world’s most prolific puppet builders and performers shows you how to start making wooden puppets just like he does

Hi, I’m Bernd!

After almost 40 years of working as a highly successful Puppeteer, I know that puppets are a powerful tool to entertain, educate, inspire, and heal.

You might know me from the famed Marionette movie epic “Strings” or have seen my performances on our stage at the National Theater of Iceland or somewhere around the far corners of the world.

However, I’m also a father and grandfather, an active black belt in Karate, a passionate musician, a scuba diver, a horse aficionado, and a gardener. All this strongly impacts my art and feeds my passion for life

I’ve discovered the way of the puppet as my way of serving this world and making it a better place.

There are no shortcuts to mastery.

I’ve taught in universities, theaters, and festivals all around the world, and discovered that all too often, students lack the basic building blocks needed to continuously and successfully grow on their journey.

Even professional puppeteers need to constantly deepen their knowledge and understanding of the construction and functionality of their puppets.

Over the years, I’ve developed many highly functional techniques. In this free online Masterclass, I’ll teach you in a fun and efficient way the basic skills and a deeper understanding necessary for your ongoing successful journey into puppetry.

I would be honored to accompany and guide you on this rewarding journey.

Over 60,000 people from all corners of the world have signed up for our courses

We love seeing our clients succeed:

“This course is a wonderful introduction not only to carving but to the idea of true mastery. Clear, concise instruction by the knowledgeable, patient, and kind Bernd Ogrodnik.”

Ursula Marcum, Co-Artistic Director

“I really enjoyed the course. The learning experience is flawless. Bernd is a wonderful teacher with great knowledge and wisdom, who knows exactly how to bring the subject across. I will definitely be part of the next course. An experience that I don’t want to miss.”

Daniel Ruf, Graphic Designer and Puppeteer

“Wonderful experience. Learn something new and valuable in easy steps and stages and have fun doing it.”

Carol Douglas, Teacher

Puppet Mastery Courses

Here’s How You Can Work With Me

How to Create a Character

Free Class

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A Week in a Puppet Builder's Workshop

Free Webinar

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Foundation Course to Puppet Mastery

Foundation Course

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Academy of the Wooden Puppet

Advanced Course

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About Bernd Ogrodnik


Bernd Ogrodnik has been a prominent figure in the world of puppetry since 1986. He is the artistic director and co-founder of “Worlds of Puppets” and serves as the Master Puppeteer for the National Theater of Iceland.

He has a track record of over 7000 live performances and has toured all over Europe, Canada, the USA, Africa, and Asia as a performer and lecturer at international (puppet-) theater festivals, universities, and conferences.

He has been performing, directing, and creating marionettes, puppets, and masks for various theaters and operas around the world, for collectors and museums, commercials, TV, and film.

He has been creating marionettes, puppets, and masks for stages around the world, and his work is frequently featured on TV and film.

The global pandemic took his teaching online. Now he shares his highly-functional techniques developed over the years, in the online classes available to watch from the comfort of your home.

This course will not only leave you full of knowledge and enthusiasm for the art of puppetry but also enrich your life way beyond the realms of the puppet.

Our Productions

Theater

Theater can offer us sobriety, a moment to breathe and contemplate, a chance to suspend our own distracted reality in order to look at life from a new perspective.

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Movies

Focusing on Theater, Bernd returned to the movies in 2003, as the Puppet designer and lead Puppeteer for the epic Marionette-movie Strings. The techniques developed for, and the experience gained from these and other TV related projects have led to another ground braking adventure.

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Television

Television can bring the wonderful world of puppets to a larger audience, which might otherwise never have a chance to be exposed to the art of Puppetry and Theater. Bernd Ogrodnik has created and operated Puppets for a variety of commercials, TV spots, and episodes.

Learn more

Further Information

Online Courses
Workshops
Portfolio
About Us
Contact Us

Mission Statement

  • To preserve the lore and art of carved wooden puppets (marionettes & masks) by passing on traditional as well as modern advanced techniques of woodworking.
  • To convey a complex understanding of the correlation between choosing the most efficient and suitable styles and techniques, proper manipulation and successful character-building.
  • To strengthen the artistic authenticity of the students and instill them with knowledge and confidence to become innovative creators on their own.
  • To serve as an inspiration for a new generation of puppet makers and puppeteers.

Mastery is a journey, not a destination and I am dedicated to making this journey challenging and yet joyful. Our explorations shall not only leave participants full of knowledge and enthusiasm for the art of puppetry but enrich their lives way beyond the realms of the puppet.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Will Durant, inspired by Aristotele

Mission Statement

  • To preserve the lore and art of carved wooden puppets (marionettes & masks) by passing on traditional as well as modern advanced techniques of woodworking.
  • To convey a complex understanding of the correlation between choosing the most efficient and suitable styles and techniques, proper manipulation and successful character-building.
  • To strengthen the artistic authenticity of the students and instill them with knowledge and confidence to become innovative creators on their own.
  • To serve as an inspiration for a new generation of puppet makers and puppeteers.

Mastery is a journey, not a destination and I am dedicated to making this journey challenging and yet joyful. Our explorations shall not only leave participants full of knowledge and enthusiasm for the art of puppetry but enrich their lives way beyond the realms of the puppet.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Will Durant, inspired by Aristotele

Advanced Course

“Academy of the Wooden Figure”

 

After signing up, we send you a confirmation email to complete the registration. When registering, you will be added to the Worlds of Puppets mailing list and receive occasional emails with the latest news of the art of the wooden puppet. You can unsubscribe from the mailing list at any time. Learn more about our privacy policy here.

Introduction to Puppet Mastery with Bernd Ogrodnik

Free Webinar on November 14, 2020 at 9 am EST/EDT (New York time, convert to your timezone here >)

 

After signing up, we send you a confirmation email to complete the registration. When registering, you will be added to the Worlds of Puppets mailing list and receive occasional emails with the latest news of the art of the wooden puppet. You can unsubscribe from the mailing list at any time. Learn more about our privacy policy here.

Foundation Course

“The Art of the Wooden Puppet”

 

After signing up, we send you a confirmation email to complete the registration. When registering, you will be added to the Worlds of Puppets mailing list and receive occasional emails with the latest news of the art of the wooden puppet. You can unsubscribe from the mailing list at any time. Learn more about our privacy policy here.

Introduction to Puppet Mastery with Bernd Ogrodnik

 

After signing up, we send you a confirmation email to complete the registration. When registering, you will be added to the Worlds of Puppets mailing list and receive occasional emails with the latest news of the art of the wooden puppet. You can unsubscribe from the mailing list at any time. Learn more about our privacy policy here.

Introduction to Puppet Mastery with Bernd Ogrodnik

Free Mini-Course on June 24, 2021, at 12 PM EST/EDT
(5 PM London, 6 PM Central Europe, 12 PM Boston)

 

After signing up, we send you a confirmation email to complete the registration. When registering, you will be added to the Worlds of Puppets mailing list and receive occasional emails with the latest news of the art of the wooden puppet. You can unsubscribe from the mailing list at any time. Learn more about our privacy policy here.

After signing up, we send you a confirmation email to complete the registration. When registering, you will be added to the Worlds of Puppets mailing list and receive occasional emails with the latest news of the art of the wooden puppet. You can unsubscribe from the mailing list at any time. Learn more about our privacy policy here.