Week 34 Happy Anniversary to DOA

So wow Den of Angels is celebrating their 9th year! I've been a member of the forum since only 6/10/10 and have met so many wonderful people, brought home new dolls and gained a wealth of information on all things BJD related. This is however my first year that I decided to participate in their annual anniversary contests, well for one I had no clue about them..lol. Anyway so though my time was crunched with many other projects I was able to complete 3 of the contests. Unfortunetly 1 of them states that I can't post it anywhere else, I'm assuming this is until the judging is done. The other 2 didn't specify so I figured ad this as my weekly blog.

#1 Tailoring: A Multitude of Muslins...the challenge to create a formal outfit out of muslin fabric, there were restrictions on the amount used for each size of doll, also we were not allowed to use any notions unless they were made from the muslin itself. I'll post all my photos of this in a later blog after the contest is over.
#2 Photo Story Contest: 9 lives..the challenge to interpret the theme through the lens of the anniversary theme deconstruction/reconstruction. This I will also have in a separate blog as I'm not able to post the story until after the contest.
#3 Photography Contest: Tableau Vivant...this is the challenge for this blog. Create a living picture of a famous work of art.

I chose one of my favorite artists Gustav Klimt the artwork is "The Virgin". His artwork has always been so colorful and inspiring to me in my fashion designing the different mixtures of shapes, flowers and colors.

Now lets meet the models I chose to recreate this masterpiece. It was a hard choice but only 7 were able to participate. I chose my lightest skinned dolls, though I'm thinking of redoing this at some other point with all my kitty/anthro girls.

On to the fun stuff! Here is my recreation photo and entry into the contest:

Obviously not an exact duplication since I didn't have fabrics to match the original, but keeping with Klimt's work I mix/matched in different textures, colors, prints and added in a few flowers as well. The models from the far left clockwise: Hypoxia, Cricket, Audryme, Nabiya, Ylva, Raynebo and in the center is Syringa.

And more random fun that I had with editing programs and special effects, figured while I had the dolls all posed like this I should take tons of photos. 

Invert Colors

Pixilate

Comic Book

Pencil Sketch

Other view points, closeups and individuals:

Thanks for viewing and see you next week with another fun weekly doll project!

Week 32 Doll Weekend Fun

Yay for Weekend dollie fun! So this weeks blog is just a mix of doll project and just plan on doll fun. There was a local meetup that a friend of mine wanted to attend she had just purchased her first doll, a Withdoll Kyle girl, a few months ago. So this was to be her first meet up so I thought hey you should bring her over and we can do a faceup so she is nice an pretty for her first meet. So faceup time became sleep over!! She came over after work and we started getting busy on faceups.

My girl that I decided to work on for the night was Harmony, my Obitsu Yamato with a Gretel head. I am potential going to another meetup next week so had thought to take all my vinyl dolls with and Harmony was the only one without a current faceup.

Before photo of her blank

This is her sister Bliss I wanted to use some of the same colors to make them look similar in tones.

1st layer of pastels:

Last layer of pastels and acrylic paints: 

And wigged:

I'm pretty happy with the results, though she definitely could use some lower and upper lashes. My hands aren't too graceful to due tiny little lashes..lol..may need to hand it over to someone else to complete. I do think I could have added in some more rosy tones since her wig is this burgundy color and warm tones are a bit too orangy. But that is the great thing about this hobby, I can always clean it and redo it later.

Thanks for viewing, feel free to leave any comments and look forward to doing next weeks. 

Week 31 Project Runway Challenge 18 Welcome to Camelot!

Had to unfortunetly skip another week since I've been involved in some non BJD projects but I'm back with this weeks project. Another fun design challenge from doll forum Den of Angels thread Project Runway..not related at all to the actual Project Runway just a fun little game that is posted every other month.

Challenge 18 Welcome to Camelot!
Welcome to Camelot, the largest Renaissance Fair in North America! To attend the fair you must dress appropriately in mediaeval attire. We expect a wide variety of costumes, fancy or plain, colorful and accurate for the time period. We’d like to see a cross section of the populace.

Lets meet the model:

This is Sithryl, the lady's man of the group. I was having a hard time deciding on who to use for this challenge as I do have a few dolls that probably could have worked well for this challenge. The final decision was due to a friend on Facebook saying they could see him wearing a codpiece. And well she was right..lol.

So first off yes the title of the challenge is a little confusing as Camelot was not set in the Renaissance time, but the person who runs the challenges really meant for it to be Renaissance, but we were able to do medieval attire from any era. I chose the 16th century. Now on to the inspirations:

And the finished costume:

Front view: 8 piece outfit in red, blue, white, black and golds.

Back view

Detail 1: Closer look at some of the details on the costume.

Detail 2: More fun details

Glamour Shot

Details of the costume: The costume like I stated consists of 8 pieces of attire. First we have a blue doublet with black/gold trim and tiny gold beads for buttons. Matching blue velvet hat with red band, red feathers and a decorative brooch. Red silk sleeves attached to the doublet. Ruffled lace collar and cuffs. Paned Trunkhose using blue and red ribbon with decorative gold/black trim and matching codpiece. Red knit hose.

Blue velvet matching shoes. And the finishing touch a gold chain. 

I'm really very happy with the outcome, there are a few things that I could have added like a belt and dagger, maybe I'll have to add that later. But I think he totally looks perfect in this outfit, it really suits his personality as the playboy ladies man. I'll update this post after the results of the contest are availble...wish me luck!

UPDATE 08/18/13 Won 1st place in the competition also received my critique back from the judges: 

Kitty Blue: This is a truly lovely representation of the perfect renaissance dandy, the kind of character you would find wooing all the ladies and kissing hands at the festival. The fabrics are wonderful and their overall appearance really speaks to the period style. I also liked your use of trim ina size that was in scale for this costume. In total, it's an excellent concept,well executed. And the cod piece is a perfectly in scale touch! Big kudos for that!

Kitty Blue (lord outfit)

I absolutely adore this ensemble. It has everything going for it: exciting colors, amazing execution, super cute shoes and hat, and above all, it has pomp and sassbefitting a lord.
The only thing that I am confused about is the pouch in the front of his crotch. I still have no clue what that is and it is distracting me lol.

Kitty blue
This costume is stunning! It’s very authentic looking and the design is featured in many paintings. The colors look great together and the details are impressive. Thegold trim, ribbon and necklace are wonderful touches. I really love his hat!I’m really impressed with the outfit.It’s one of my favorites! Fantastic job!