New Kitsune!

[merimask]

I did it!  I totally redesigned the kitsune so that they'd be 20% larger, yet have the same proportions of the smaller original kitsune mask.  See?  New one on the left, old design on the right for comparison.
  
Shaping will always play a role with these because they have such a simple outline, but really I think I came pretty darn close.  Below are two more of the new larger kits (both available right now in my Etsy shop).




Really, to my eye, you can't tell these are significantly larger than the old design, which was my goal.  I'm just going to stop making the smaller mask entirely.   These are generic enough to fit just about anyone, so it's a safer bet that more people will be happier with these.

I know it seems like a silly thing to fret so much over one design, but I hate it when people have a problem with something I made.  It feels like failure to me.  Plus, the kitsune is so darn popular.  I just want it to be as perfect as I can make it. 
 
In other news; it is a gorgeous day out there.  I am going for two bike rides...not one but two!   *smooch*  Hope you are all having lovely, wonderful Fridays out there.  ^_^

Comments

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Everything has been re-done on those...even the eye hole size (larger, rounder, less slanted eyes).

The problem with the last up-sized kitsune mask was that I enlarged EVERYthing and it threw the mask off; the ears behaved differently & lost that close-together catlike appearance that is so key to the look of a traditional kitsune. The muzzle was too much like the wolf mask.

With this new pattern I left the ears alone (mostly...they are very slightly bigger) and the muzzle mostly alone too (I just made it a hair bigger) but the face/eye area is a full 20% bigger (same size as my wolf masks are). Then I re-did all the markings and carvings to fit the new proportions.

[kelkyag]

Yes, the earlier large kitsune had bent ears instead of ears in line with the rest of the mask. I think that one worked, too.

I guess I'm just surprised by how many little changes there are in the markings -- things I wouldn't have thought to change, or would have tried very hard to just scale up from the original design. This is where the 'artist' and 'designer' aspects of your work become oh so obvious. :)