So, because I like to have lots of projects on the go, I've started a weird OOAK art doll/jointed figurine thing inspired by reading too much HP Lovecraft. (I've read the rules and I can't find anything that says this is off topic, apologies if it is.) It's an odd scale, the head is smaller than MSD, I'd say about 6 inches around. It's made mostly from air dry clay, which makes it fairly fragile, but I'm not too bothered since I won't be casting it and it's just a personal project I'm doing for fun. The most use it'll get is standing in front of a camera. arkhamstart by nijikon, on Flickr The arms and neck are going to be jointed. I know a jointed neck doesnt drastically improve posing ability, but I like the way it looks. The tentacles are going to be fixed on with magnets, I hope. If they're too heavy for the magnets I'll just have to figure something else out.
Thanks, Rorschach and Higgy! I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes strangely cute tentacled monstrosities. ^^ She's coming along nicely. Some symmetry problems and a lot of trial and error jointing but we're getting there. Will be ready for stringing soon. As it happened the magnets just werent strong enough so I had to work out something else. arkhamjoints by nijikon, on Flickr Making joints. arkhambits by nijikon, on Flickr arkhamtorsojoint by nijikon, on Flickr Making a rounded upper torso to fit into the concave waist part. I'm not sure if this is too shallow at the moment or if I need to add some sort of notches, I'll see when I string her next. arkhamhead1 by nijikon, on Flickr Need to work on that uneven surface. I originally planned to have the tentacles attached to the torso in one big rigid piece and just joint the arms and neck. But the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea of being able to rearrange the position of the tentacles and I worried about having such a large, unweildly object. I tried magnets but that didnt work. Now I've decided to have a two part torso and attach the tentacles to her waist part, which will be able to swivel somewhat. Still unweildly but a bit less so. I'm hoping she'll stand on her own with the tentacles I've got but I might have to re-do some if I dont have enough of then all the same length forming a base.
I've 'strung' her with a couple of pipecleaners, since I'm out of elastic. I need to perfect her joints but Its hard to get a feel for how they're working with the pipecleaner. Meanwhile, I'm ready to start adding tentacles. I've made the 3 longest ones all the same length and in theory she'll stand on them like a tripod and balance ok. In theory. I was planning on attaching them with apoxie sculpt but I'm not sure how I'm going to hold them in place while they set. Hmmm. I'll figure something out. Anyway, C&C always appreciated. pipecleaner2 by nijikon, on Flickr pipecleaner3 by nijikon, on Flickr pipecleaner5 by nijikon, on Flickr pipecleaner7 by nijikon, on Flickr Oh, and here's another concept artwork. arkhamconcept by nijikon, on Flickr
Hosted on Fotki Just a quick update. I've decided to submit Arkham as an OOAK piece to a local provincial little art show this month. So I've got until the 17th to get her finished. I've ordered a big glass dome/bell jar thingy to display her under, with some rocks and fake foliage, moss etc in the style of a taxidermy display. Not sure if they'll let me submit a big 3D object like that but I'll take her along and see. (The first glass dome I ordered was smaller than they said on the website so I ended up sending it back. I'm still waiting for her wig to arrive, too. Hopefully they'll arrive in time!) I've been having some trouble with her arms being too floppy and I can't tell if that's due to her test stringing being too loose or if theres something I could do to improve the shape of her joints or drill her arms out more to make them less heavy. I also need to bevel her eyesockets out a bit more and refine some surface issues and work on her hands a bit. She's standing quite well on her tentacles, at least!
Thanks, Japanda! I think she's deviated a bit from the concept but nevermind. She's a bit more finished now, I had a go at some blushing. Her arms are posing well and she stands pretty solidly. However, I don't like her hands, might make some new ones if I have time. Her wig still hasn't arrived and I don''t have any that fit her. The bell jar did arrive, so I'll be making a display piece of her, wig or no wig. arkwhite3 by nijikon, on Flickr arkwhite4 by nijikon, on Flickr That boob always looks distorted in photos - it's not that shape in real life. Hmm. Natural Red Head by nijikon, on Flickr Playing with moss.
I really like her. the concept is great and the tentacles are just awesome. I work in Apoxie Sculpt too, I haven't finished to resin yet, but everyone keeps telling me that AS is heavier than resin. That may have been the issue with the arms not posing well as it's not likely to be shrinkage. I hope you post some pictures of her in the show.
