Propmaking: Summoning Token

Hey everyone! I thought I'd pop in and share what I was able to make tonight while chatting with friends on Google hangout (first time using it, it was pretty fun).

I decided to make a rather fast prop by sculpting a 'summoning token' from my latest Alencia story "Tomb of the Unspoken." Summoning tokens are coins that demons and various dimensional beings give to people as a quick way to contact or summon them. They can only be used once and must be given by the creature of their own free will. There are ways around that but I won't go into them here. Alencia herself will be able to explain all that in the journal/companion book I'm making to go along with her comics. Lots of information about her world, in her own words. A very exciting project indeed!

Now on to the token itself:

When I am able to start mold making I plan on making another of these, creating a mold of it, and then casting it in resin. I've been told it should be fairly easy.

Well goodnight all! I have lots of work to do tomorrow to prepare for moving. I'll post more art as soon as I can!

My creation! IT LIVES!

As an artist I love to create things. Most of the things I create, like my characters, are stuck in the 2-D plane of view. But lately my desire to learn to sculpt has overwhelmed me so much that after gathering more supplies I have started trying to bring my characters to life; on a 3-D plane. I love action figures and statues (especially anime ones) so while using some that I own as inspiration (and some great reference) I've started sculpting a stand alone Alencia mini statue. Here are some photos from the last few days of working on it.


The wire armature covered in tin foil. This actually started as another character but I then decided to make it Alencia instead, so as I went on the pose was adjusted. You can also see my sketchbook (one of many) with notes and diagrams of how I originally wanted it to look. Now I'm more loosely basing it on my notes.


With sculpey on her. I put on a basic layer of clay to cover the whole form up (save for the hands, I plan on doing those near the end) and then added more volume where she needed it based on her body and her clothes. I then added details of the shapes of her clothes, trying to make it look somewhat separate from her body but as a part of the overall statue.


Detail close up. Here you can also see the bit of balsa wood I have lodged in her hand. That will be making room for the sword she will be holding. I'm very excited to make a miniature of her blessed sword. I hope once my prop making gets on to bigger projects that I'll be able to create a full sized replica of it. *Dreamy sigh* Her other hand will be holding a lantern. I'm not look forward to making that as much as the sword. When she's fully done and painted I plan on having her sit on my convention tables. I'd also love to make more of my characters and have already been drawing up possible design ideas for future figures.

I've also been having some computer trouble lately so while my iMac (and all its programs) are at the apple doctor I'm on my laptop, with almost no programs on it so even photo editing is a no-go right now. Also still trying to get the laptop to talk to the scanner, so until those two kiss and make-up there's not going to be much for me to share :/ But hopefully the iMac will be sorted out soon and then I'll have loads of art to share!

Sculpting up a Storm

Hello everyone! April is going by so fast! Its' already almost May! My iMac screen is still broken so I've not been doing much digital work, as well as stalling on working on comics since I won't be able to properly digitally tone them as I'd like to. However I'm hoping to get it all fixed soon.
In the mean time, here's what I've been cooking up so far:

+Crafting/Prop Making

I've been continuing work on my 'Amulets of the Devines' series. The latest one being the Amulet of Mara; goddess of love, compassion, and marriage. This design has complicated knot-work involved and I drew myself out a map of what I had planned to do, but still ended up leaving out details on the largest piece. However I did go back and tweak it several times so it came out a lot better than it did in early photos I took. I'm pleased that I'm learning to go back and fix things rather than just accepting them. I know I'll end up with better results this way.

My 'map' of the details of the amulet.


Early shot of the main part of the amulet.


Before cooking.


After cooking. Make sure you don't leave sculpey in the oven too long... like me...


Luckily some gesso and paint cleared up the burnt parts.


At first I was going to join everything with wax thread but then changed my discision to using chains and links instead. I think it will look better, and be easier to wear for it. I still might shorten the chain depending on how my 'Agent of Mara' cosplay goes but for now, it is done. 5 Amulets down, 4 more to go! Then I will be working my way up to some other prop making projects.

I've also started making some little dolls based on Homestuck sprites. I'm currently making a Roxy Lalonde doll for a friend of mine, and one for myself of my fan troll. Here's some shots of Roxy:


Back to working on comics; stay tuned!