Satyr WIP 5/27/12

Been keeping busy with this guy. Here he is so far! Still have to add clothes, a tail and fur up his legs.
I am also re-doing all this paint work to a lighter skin tone. I tend to get over excited painting at first. I got over excited doing his polyester batting and stretchy skin fabric. I spent half the day yesterday re-doing those. I most likely will make the wood base I bought into his stand with a wire spine to hug his waist.

So tired so that's all I am typing for now.

Thanks for stopping by!

Come back soon. :)

Time Off & Satyr WIP Updates

So today I decided to take a personal day off from work. Probably not the best decision but I DID get a good bit accomplished in terms of sculpting. Although I could have probably gone to work and did some sculpting all things considering. Not sure how my energy level would match but I did spend more time napping than I would have liked. Either way, my body feels great and I am not playing hookie again from work tonight!

The thunderstorm came and went and today the sun shines brightly again. Good thing! I fancy the sun. I recently switched to the graveyard vampire shift at work. I save a lot of money this way but my body clock is awkward.

Moving on to doll talk, I baked the body today after finalizing it's general form. Started and finished hands and slipped them in for visuals. Started sketching out the goat feet with Super Sculpey Firm. At first, I was a little disappointed with Sculpey Firm since, well... it is not that firm! FIMO Classic is WAY more firm and is the flesh I used on this piece. So far, FIMO Classic is my absolute favorite brand. However, Super Sculpey Firm is great for clay sketching. I saw a clip from Gnomon Workshop of an artist clay sketching with Super Sculpey Firm fast yesterday and I automatically started mimicking the technique today with my Satyr legs. I am quite pleased so far with the shape but I don't want to get ahead of myself. There's a lot of figuring out left to do.

As I was working on my Satyr yesterday evening, I realized I was missing polyester batting and stretchy fabric following Wendy Froud doll tutorial. I am so lucky there is a neighborhood craft store called SAVE-A-THON literally a two minute walk or less away from my house. As soon as they opened, I scooped up my needed materials but went overboard with the stretchy fabric. The cashier, who looked Latina, recognized me as Filipino and said she was also. She also happened to live in my building complex which was nice. She was very friendly. Most all Filipinos are.

I get a little antsy if I don't have all the materials I need always at hand. I don't quite need the polyester batting and stretchy fabric today but I should tomorrow (maybe)

Well! It's been quite a day!

Tomorrow my doll agenda is:

- finishing my Satyr legs and figuring out how to attach it to the body and have the doll stand on it's own but also have bendable legs.
- finalizing detail on the body, head and hands by adding clay and re-baking a final time.
- painting on details on the head, body and arms.

Warm Greetings! And a Satyr WIP!

Greetings everyone! Thanks for visiting.

My name is Michael, Mike, Mikey... I'll turn my head for any. My middle name is Angelo and thus why I associate myself as Myke Angelo. I am currently twenty seven years old, a Virgo and employed at an arts and crafts store here in New York City.

I find myself here creating my second blogspot after following some of my favorite doll artists on etsy, ooakguild and the World of Froud. I am mostly new as a doll artist having recently discovered my deep passion for polymer clay. As much as I have loved illustrating and drawing growing up the feeling of being able to create life-like figures from my imagination  and sketches is an unmatched feeling. My desire to create and sculpt dolls started with a brief fascination with Asian BJD's (ball jointed dolls) rooted from my time in Second Life, where I focused on creating 3D virtual jewelry sold through the platform.

I plan on posting as often as possible! Using this blog as a journal on my real world art progression. By that I mean, non virtual Second Life. You can view my Second Life work at earthtonesboutique.blogspot.com and some old illustrations at mykeangelo.deviantart.com.

I also plan to use this blog as a personal journal on my life journey. My art here is very personal and is influenced by my every day. I find it is so easy to get bogged down by surrounding energies. I am like an empathy sponge. I am a dreamer and I tend to live in my own bubble. It was easy for me to lose sight of my life meaning, like a roller coaster, through out the months of the year. It is quite easy for me to be engulfed into massive fantasy online games or role-playing communities. However, some of my greatest inspiration has come from video games, it is all just finding a recipe for balance. A simple recipe that often seems complicated.

Anyway, I am working on a new Satyr sculpture! My third true doll project. Currently brainstorming on his limbs, literally. I have my heart set on a soft body doll instead of a stiff standing sculpture and I think I just found the solution with a scrap of leather that has been in front of my monitor for the longest time.

I am going to try and use the leather as his base leg skin. I ordered a hunk of Tibetan lamb wool from ooakartistemporium.com among other things. Excited for the arrival! I love ordering from them. I also ordered fabric dye since the wool is in white and also a unique plaque as a sculpture base. They also give you free product samples and always some complimentary tea! I never drink the tea but the gesture is so nice!

Here is my Satyr WIP (Work In Progress) so far:

I am taking my time with him. My most notorious enemy in my prior clay projects was a lack of patience and rushing for results.

Well, that's all for now. It is very rainy here in the city at the moment. Rumors of a thunderstorm. Work at the craft store has been a bit stressful. After online shopping this morning and this blog, I will use the rest of my time tidying up my room, the house and figuring out how I will execute a pose-able Satyr doll.

Ciao, lovelies!

~ Myke Angelo