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Okay. Rarely do I make something that I think is so pretty that I can't bear to part with it. These new dragon masks fall into that category though...the only reason I'm letting them go is that I know I can make them again.
Remember when I went to Narita Shrine with my friend Carol? I was blown away by the incredible, gigantic deity sculpture at the top of the temple...it was amazing and the flames were EVERYwhere...bright gold Asian flames. I sketched a number of them, because each one was different and so unique. Even though they are highly stylized, I don't think anything in art captures the true motion and beauty of fire quite as accurately as Asian flame motifs. From then on, I knew I'd be having a lot of fun, someday, with those flames. Look!
That's a very close pic of the detail in the Red Asian Flame dragon. Here's the whole thing...
Even I had to say "...wow" as I designed this. That doesn't happen much; I'm pretty well innoculated against my own stuff. I usually can't even tell if it's any good. These, I feel, are good.
I made two, of course, because one good mask is a fluke but if a new design produces two good masks on the very first try, you know it's going to fly. That's my theory anyway. Perhaps I just wanted to do something that I knew would make me happy (and these masks are making me really happy!). The second is an experiment I've been wanting to do since Japan as well. Everywhere in Japan you see stuff made of copper and brass. When it oxidizes it turns a lovely shade of pale pine green. Then, sometimes, the metal is lightly polished so the bright color beneath shines through. It's a stunning effect and I wanted to re-create it in leather. So...
I'm going to be exploring this color technique a lot more in the future, for sure.
I can't decide which one I like better. The red is so flashy on the black, but the aged bronze looks stunning too. They are both winners I think, and both up in Etsy.
And not just any dragon head, oh no! My super special dragon head, like the one I made for Nagano-san (I think of them as "Nagano Dragons"...isn't that cute?). A dragon head like this one, in any color you want. I'll never sell these, by the way; I'm only giving them as gifts. So! If you're reading this and you have a DA account, you can get one of these rare guys by basically pimping for me. Yes, this is bribery on a perhaps cheesy level, but hey, what are friends for? If you get something featured as a DD, just leave me a message here in LJ so I'll know who you are and where to send the dragon. This is only open to LJ people, by the way. Of course if you're reading this, you're an LJ people I guess...so, redundant.
I know it seems silly, but when I'm in the dumps (and this is being a rough season, to be honest) nothing picks me up like being busy. The better I do on Etsy, the happier I get. I think DA is the key to that. I don't know why I didn't try this sooner!
In other news, I got my Mom's driveway cleared so yay for that! It only took a thaw, a lot of rock salt, two teenagers, myself, and two broken shovels. Please, Universe, NO MORE epic snow. Pretty snow is okay. Recreational snow is fine. Snow that drifts five feet deep in the driveway, please no.
Okay...I'm going to show off these new guys in DA. Can't wait to see what everyone thinks of them!
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Ooh, I don't have a DA account but those keychains tempt me. I just don't know if I have time for yet another account etc. somewhere that I should somehow stay on top of.
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It turned out PERFECT. I have it dimmed by about half...it can go considerably dimmer than this, if you were to want it that way. But here, look:
That's the real, true-to-life colour. :D And the shadows are so tidy!
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I am SO SICK OF MAKING HAIRSTICKS! I have totally lost perspective on them...I'm almost at the point where I think everything I turn out is ugly, as it all bores me.
However! On January 1 I am going to order 6 new jewellery books, all on different techniques (felt jewellery, metal clay, wire knitting, paper jewellery, fibre jewellery...etc) and I plan to make at least one piece from/on each. So hopefully I'll get a lot of new ideas/pieces in the new year.
I REALLY want to develop a line for short to very short hair, as well.
So, 2009 might be interesting. I certainly have high(ish) hopes for it. *crosses fingers and cringes, waiting...*
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Would that color scheme work with some of your steampunk designs?
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You know, on my "Full Steam" steampunk mask, that technique might be really cool. I haven't thought about it 'cause all the steampunk I see is copper/brass in good shape...all bright and polished. It might not appeal in general to steampunk types, but I'd certainly do it as a special order if someone wanted it that way... ;-)
Anyway, it would look stunning.
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