The exhibition "From a Sketch to a Puppet" is the only annual Slovene exhibition that is intended for the youngest visitors. It has been held in Bežigrad Galleries since 1980. A children's art workshop is also organised alongside the exhibition; children draw puppets and exhibit them as well in Bežigrad Gallery 1 as part of the exhibition.

The essence of the exhibition is to present the entire creative process: from sketch, drawing and sculpture as a study for the puppet to the puppet as a complete creation.

With these exhibitions we try to focus on artists who have devoted their creative careers to puppetry and art for children. They rarely exhibit their work.

Visitors can become acquainted with various drawing and painting techniques. The sketches and studies are provided with photographs illustrating the process of creating the puppet. In this way, our visitors can gain a deep insight into how puppets are designed.

—Miloš Bašin

From a Sketch to a Puppet, 2017

The puppets used for the performance of The Rosamund of Turjak represent the various approaches taken to puppetry. The majority are rod puppets in the shape of stereotypical and anatomically misfigured Turkish riders. The puppets are made in the Sicilian style and they both feature funny Turks with prominent facial features and impressive handlebar moustaches. Lejla and her suitor as a marionette, however, bring some humour and polarity to the whole story.

The puppets used for the performance of What the Old Man Does Is Always Right focus on character and the depiction of various moods. The head-puppets and rod puppets have prominent facial features hinting at various moods from roguishness to crankiness. As for the animals, they have a more free and playful character with intensive colours, huge eyes and funny facial expressions.

The incredibly sweet puppets in the Little Witch’s Herbs were inspired by the illustrations created by Ančka Gošnik Godec which featured in her eponymous picture book. Their bodies are rather long and their cheeks chubby. Their large curious eyes are complemented by a pink muzzle and pointed ears, which allude to their mischievous nature. As for their wide smiling faces, it would not be a surprise if they actually came to life and started speaking.

The Rooster Assembles features rather complex puppets created by Damijan Stepančič, who drew his inspiration from several of his very detailed sketches that meld with realistic images to form geometric shapes in various hues.

—Saša Žafran