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Post by VampSpike on Jun 4, 2009 6:30:41 GMT -5
I haven't posted too many of my customs on this forum, but thought now might be a good time to start I've not made a custom since last September, and finally have some time off uni, and before starting work this summer! I've always wanted to make a mini, admiring the amazing work Shivi produces. This seemed like a fun way to ease myself back into the customising game. I chose on of my favourite episodes Prophecy Girl. "You are not the hunter, you are the lamb"She has a collar and little pockets but they've not came across in the pics (or any that i seemed to take) but they are there, I promise! She comes with a muddy base, candles and crossbow. A big thanks to shivi for the awesome tutorial- and inspiration First-Encounters Buffy 'BVD'This was actually supposed to be Buffy from 'The Yoko Factor', based on the scene where she argues with Angel in the corridor. However, I sculpted her hair too wavy, and it seemed a shame to through away. It looks quite close to the outfit she wears upon meeting Drac, so I based it around that... Okay. That's cheating..."Inprog: Complete: Comments and Critiques are welcome
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stakey
Descendant of a Toaster Oven
2nd in command to Mr pointy
"Don't be a hero Scherbatsky." [Mo0:31]
Posts: 676
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Post by stakey on Jun 4, 2009 20:09:11 GMT -5
love bvsd!
Works really nicely as a general Essence of Bufft figure, the slight head tilt and stake holing hand look really nice and statue-y. Hair sculpt is wonderful too.
Well done!
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Secret Scoobie
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Posts: 2,702
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Post by Secret Scoobie on Jun 8, 2009 6:37:16 GMT -5
I love mini's and your Prophecy Girl buffy is soo beautiful! You did such a great job! How big does it measure? and how long did it take you? THE HAIR on your custom is fantastic (so is the whole thing, just really noticed the quality of the hair
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Post by VampSpike on Jun 8, 2009 9:53:50 GMT -5
Thanks for the kind words, guys! I wanted BVD to work as a generic piece, so i'm glad that was spotted! The PG Buff Mini is just over 2 inches tall. A little bigger than Shivi usually does them, but I wasnt really working on any sort of scale. I'm always amazed at how detailed shivi's are at such a small scale- she does unbelievable work!! I didnt take me too long. It was my second attempt at a mini (the first being a non-jossverse, gift for a friend) it took me just over two days ;D
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Secret Scoobie
Wise-cracking Sidekick
Puts words in word places
Shiny![Mo0:32]
Posts: 2,702
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Post by Secret Scoobie on Jun 8, 2009 10:50:40 GMT -5
oh wow 2" is still tiny! How did you do the painting so well? I KNOW Shivi's are insane with tiny tiny detail I'm currently trying to make some, I'm done with the sculping and molding...not as good as urs mind u , and the painting is difficult. I'm finding I need lots of layers to make it look good and the surface of the mini isn't very smooth like urs and shivi's and I don't know why.... hmmm. Any tips for painting?
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Post by VampSpike on Jun 8, 2009 11:26:21 GMT -5
Thank you The painting took me along time. I get shaky hands when i know i've got to make precise paintbrush strokes. lol Pretty much, just take your time with the painting. And picture in your head what your wanting to paint. Sounds abit obvious- but if you just paint black blobs for pupils...it'll look shapeless. I water my paints down, but not extensively. I did about 3 or 4 skin tone washes on that mini before it was looking smooth and even. What kind of paints are you using? That may be a cause for it to not come out smooth? Hope this makes some sort of sense, and helps ;D
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Secret Scoobie
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Shiny![Mo0:32]
Posts: 2,702
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Post by Secret Scoobie on Jun 9, 2009 1:20:25 GMT -5
Well I use acrylic paints and water to water them down... is this normal? I think I needed to get better quality brushes so I just went out and bought some better ones, and SMALLER too, with my other brushes the smallest I had was size 2 and it made detail really difficult. I'm going to paint over it a bit and do the small bits again... Good idea or not? What did you use when you were sculpting to smooth the clay? I found my fingers left fingerprints so I had to work the clay alot to get it the right shape and smoothness...
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Post by VampSpike on Jun 11, 2009 5:26:20 GMT -5
Sorry for the late reply! Erm, well acrylics are what I use, and if your watering them down, that should be fine. I don't water them to the extent that its just coloured water tho. hahaha. It could be down to the brushes, if they aren't very good quality, its more likely you wont get a smooth paintjob. One of the first problems i came across when getting into customising, was underestimating the size of the brushes for detail. I think I was using a seize 2 brush to paint eyes. It didn't happen I use my fingers when sculpting the clay. Especially on the mini. You do have to work the clay alot. But if your roll it in your hands for a while before using it, it'll warm up, get softer and be easier to manage
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Secret Scoobie
Wise-cracking Sidekick
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Shiny![Mo0:32]
Posts: 2,702
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Post by Secret Scoobie on Jun 11, 2009 6:08:43 GMT -5
Thanks so much and yeah you're right. It was the brushes. I spent some money on just a couple of TINY ended good qual. brushes and the painting went so much smoother and easier.. BUT at the same time, I still have really shaky hands and re-did the eyes 3 times and they were no better . I just have to practice practice practice but I'm just not good with tiny strokes. I think I may have re-painted a few too many times now, so I have stopped and left it to be done with! Sucks that the first ones I made were for gifts because I made another one in less than 3 hours yesterday for another gift and it turned out much better and quicker. Overall I can see I will progress with time,thanks heaps for your tips!
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Post by VampSpike on Jun 11, 2009 10:14:00 GMT -5
Your welcome! ;D It does take lots of practice. I'm terrible with eyes- dont be fooled. Lol. I think my biggest pet hate, is waiting for the paint to dry. It takes sooooo long sometimes
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Secret Scoobie
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Puts words in word places
Shiny![Mo0:32]
Posts: 2,702
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Post by Secret Scoobie on Jun 11, 2009 10:44:40 GMT -5
I know right! Haha, I love the moulding part, it's so much fun Do you find mini's or customs easier?
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shivi
Potential Slayer
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Post by shivi on Jun 12, 2009 5:28:22 GMT -5
I water my paints down, but not extensively. I did about 3 or 4 skin tone washes on that mini before it was looking smooth and even. thats exactly what I do too it takes a long time but you get a smooth result. which is pretty important when you work on tiny figures. when you take pictures of the finished preoduct you may use the macro function to show all the detail, and all the paintjob flaws will turn out so badly lol Vampsike - good work, very and detailed and clean. mini B looks extremely cute BVD Buffy's sculpt is spot on, great hair. the colour of her lips and hair looks a bit off though ?
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Post by VampSpike on Jun 12, 2009 5:55:51 GMT -5
Erm....Mini and figures are so different, so they aren't easy to compare. I take more enjoyment making the mini's cause its all hand made, its just trying to get the proportions and scale even. I get frustrated with figures, because there's more minute detail, in the clothes, hair etc.. and painting them can be a nightmare at times. Lol. So i'd tend to say mini's are easier Thanks Shivi! I liked her hair too ;D Yeah, her lips are abit off...i put a sheen over the soft pink...seems to have photographed a bit poor.
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Reluctant Hero
Potential Slayer
To read makes our speaking English good. [Mo0:15]
Posts: 104
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Post by Reluctant Hero on Jun 15, 2009 16:51:39 GMT -5
Wow, your work is beautiful. I wish I had the delicacy needed to work with clay like that.
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