Step by Step 2 Jaguars (installment 2)

This is a continuation of my prior post. To see the pieces earlier, please go to http://magicweaver.blogspot.com/2007/12/step-by-step-2-jaguars-in-needle-felt.html to see the first installment.

I didn't intend to work on this anymore today. If anything I was going to work on the dragon sculpture, but as typically happens to me, I got going and picked these up again. Therefore I apologize for the multiple posts in one day.


Here I am showing the two bodies at different stages. The one on the left has the lemon yellow top coat begun. I will put a second coat that will blend the colors back further, but that will be after I put on the first layer of spots.

Here both bodies have the first yellow coat, and the white on the chest which can be seen from the side.

Here are the bodies at the same stage, just showing the white on the chest from the front. Sorry the picture is a little blurry. The digital camera doesn't alow me to force a focus, and it doesn't seem to know what to focus on as these are so fuzzy with very fine hairs all over the place.

These colors are only lightly tacked down still with a course needle. I will now be putting these aside and creating the limbs and then attaching them. Then I will create the head, and attach it. Then I will put the spots and stripes on and refine the shape with a medium needle. Then a final top coat of yellow blended with brown over everything. Finally with the fine needle I will do the final refining, accentuate the spots bringing the darks to the top, and attach them to their own individual "branches".

I hope you like the progress I have been making. I welcome any comments or questions you may have. Just leave them here or email me.

Dragon Sculpture in Needle felt

Here are some step by step photos on how I create(d) my dragon sculpture in needle felt wool. I started taking pictures after I began putting the color on, so my apologies for the lack of photos at the beginning to be helpful.

For this sculpture I did tightly and firmly pack before putting on the color. This is because I will be sculpting scales and I need something firm to work with. However, the color is loosely applied except for the color on the eye, it is very firmly applied as I am not working on it after it is done.

The color is a self blend of two shades of natural brown (light and dark), 3 shades of green (emerald, lime, and chartruese), and a rare occasional hint of lemon yellow. The eye is white scelara, with an iris of ellow and brown veins and a ring of tangerine. There is a reptilian slit pupil that goes about 75-80% of the iris.

Here I have begun filling in the muzzle and the beak here.No detailing yet, just coloring it in. I am barely punctureing the colored wool, just enough to attach it to the form. When I begin sculpting the scales that will further attach,

Step by Step 2 Jaguars in Needle felt Sculpture

My foster son is a student at a school whose mascot is a Jaguar. Our family has had a rough go recently and his teacher and counselor have been wonderfully helpful to him and by extension myself. Therefore as a Christmas gift, I would like to give them something handmade (everything is handmade from us this year) and special. I have chosen to do a needle felted jaguar on a tree limb for each of them.

I thought this was a perfect opportunity to share the process of doing needle felt dolls and sculptures, and so I took some step by step photos to share this at this time. This isn't really a tutorial, as I am not telling you how to use the needles or anything. I am completely self taught so I don't know that I am doing it exactly right anyway, but it works for me. If you would like more detail information, let me know and I will see what I can do.

First I took a clump of 100% Polyester Fiber stuffing (I use Polyfil). One clump for each Jaguar.

Then I gave each piece a hint of the body shape that I wanted. This was really very gestural done with a course needle. No fine details put in, and it isn't very tightly packed, just hinted at so it would hold a shape when it wasn't in my hands.

I continued to shape the bodies, just getting some of the basic angles. Not yet putting in any details or musculature. The bodies are getting a little firmer packing as I go (thus why I didn't get it tightly packed from the beginning).

Now it is time for some color. I laid down a self blended undercoat of lemon yellow, tangerine orange, and natural brown wool roving. I very lightly attached it to the body here, and made sure the wool flowed in the direction of the hair on a live jaguar. I haven't begun any real structural work, and when I do, the punching will help attach the color further into the core. This is just the beginning stages, and there will be a less striated coat on top, and you can even see some of the stuffing through, but this will just add a life too the coat that wouldn't be there if I just did the top layer.

Here you see now the both sides of the two jaguar bodies when the sculpturing has begun. It isn't near finished, as I will continue polishing the bodies as I add the top coat and the details as well as the limbs. The musculature is developing, and you can see how the two jaguars are developing very distinct looks even though I am looking at one photograph to work from. This will change further still.

Don't Meddle in the Affairs of Dragons...

For they think you are crunchy and taste good with catsup.

Well, I haven't posted here in a while, not because I forgot. OH no, I didn't forget. It is because I have been beating my head against the table screaming out my creative woes. I have been struggling and drowning in a problem.

I want to create a dragon. A very unique dragon. I see it in my head, but can't seem to figure out how to make the parts come together. So, I decided to make one of my own, building it up piece by piece, and then designing a pattern from that. Then the question was how to begin. OI! So many ideas running through my head and no real means to get them into the proper medium.

So I decided to work on an animal I knew better. An equine. Well, that is easier and harder in some respects. My real problem is how to handle the armature. I want it to be an artist doll (not a toy).

I am going to be building an armature, bulking it some with tape (probably floral to be honest, but we will see when I get that far), then further bulking with yarn, and finally ending with fabric being pinned to get a pattern onto the "model". The actual piece will be possibly (depending on my moments inspiration) glued, sewn, stuffed, trapuntoed (sp?), needle sculpted, gessoed, painted, etc. I really want to give a shot to oil pastels on the fabric structure!

If I can get a horse figured out, then I can move on to the dragon I have in mind.

I hope everyone would be interested to see the outcome as I work it through.

The horse is to be named "Cainwyn Cyra" and will be nicknamed if someone so desires "Cierrah". She is a fantasy creature being, you will understand when you start seeing her creation.

Seems I owe the blog some inspirational entries as well. Those will be on the way shortly.

Website Released!

My website is now ready to be viewed! You can go see it at http://www.magicweaver.com.

It has all my artwork on it to date, and the pieces that are ready for prints and/or original sales are noted (there is not a lot yet, because I am printing tests to verify quality and that takes time).

Slideshow of all my art! (available to date)

New Art - Needlefelt Painting

Well, here we are again friends. I am preparing some items for samples to be provided to the organization running a show down in San Antonio I would like to get into. I am also finishing up the piece (needle felted) I have discussed in the prior posts. I am so close to being done I can taste it, but not quite there just yet. I have been polishing and blending, and then I will have to put in a few tiny details (facial features, etc.) that I am saving for the last. It is really looking wonderful though. I am so excited about it. And here it is (sorry about the quality, the camera didn't know what to focus on with all the fuzziness, and my scanner is temporarily on the fritz):



The model for the piece is the beautiful, wonderful, sweet Sarah. The photographer is Brian Cooke. I was given special permission to use this image, and further special permission to post it in the locations it is posted. The base image, the model, the photography are all copyright to those in and involved in the image, and it is not available for other’s use without specific permission. My art is of course copyrighted to me, so please don’t steal, claim, or post in any location.

I am trying to decide on a title but the current title in my mind is “A Door of Chance” which feels upbeat enough for what I am looking for. If anyone has a suggestion on a better title, I am all eyes and ears for it.

I have also begun making finger puppets of felt. These will be for sale for around $2.00 and be geared towards kids of course, but hopefully it will bring some adults (following their inner child) into my booth to see the bigger, better, and higher priced items as I need to eat, pay my expenses, and make a living too. HAHA! ;)

I have some interesting clay window clings coming soon too (as soon as I get the kitchen cleaned). As of writing this particular paragraph, I hope to have them posted today, but if it is not today, definitely tomorrow.

So what do you think? Is there anything you would like to see me making?

*drumroll please* Introducing Oighir...

Oighir is a button jointed dragon doll / sculpture with the following detailed features:
approx 10" tall and 2' long from tip of muzzle to tip of tail
Iridescent eyes and eyelids
double crest / mane
tufted feet
tufted tail
"ice" spikes on muzzle
top knot / hair
beard
tufted spines down tail
soft sculpted detailed face
jointed claws on wings
weighted tail
spurs
poseable wings

Yes, I can make customized ones for you, let me know you want one, we will work out the details and the payment and you too can have a dragon of your very own!

They come house trained, don't keep you up at night, and love to sit and watch you do whatever it is you do! Not picky eaters, and they don't scorch (or claw, or pee) on the sofa. The perfect pet.

$35.00 USD (depending on details requested may be a little higher or lower)(Only 5 remaining spots available this year for Dragon requests, get yours in early, first come is served)

Detail shots include: (these links will redirect you to my Deviant Art Gallery, where if you click on the photo it will blow it up for you to see the finer details :D )
Larger view of picture above http://vegalightsmyway.deviantart.com/art/Oighir-69792963
Back (with wings open) http://vegalightsmyway.deviantart.com/art/Oighir-from-Back-69876954
(with wings folded) http://vegalightsmyway.deviantart.com/art/Oighir-from-Back-2-69877457
Side http://vegalightsmyway.deviantart.com/art/Oighir-side-69878002
Face http://vegalightsmyway.deviantart.com/art/Oighir-face-69878296 & http://vegalightsmyway.deviantart.com/art/Oighir-face-2-69878560

What do you think of her? I am just tickled at how she turned out, and everyone who has seen her in person so far has said the same. Someone suggested I put some metallic thread (silver, etc.) into the hair to help it stand out because the color is very light, which I am considering doing, unfortunately this is the day after Thanksgiving and travelling to the stores is going to be near impossible (especially at 4 am LOL) so I am waiting until a more reasonable hour.

Is there anything you would like to see about her, or changes you would suggest? My goal is to have her (and others like her) to be part of my main catalog of items, so I would really value your input! Each one is going to be a unique creation, with a unique personality.

I am currently working on one that has actual and individually articulated scales. Hopefully that will get posted soon! There are a few kinks and quirks to work out first.