Rattle and Hiss

[merimask]

Well, here they are; my new Medusa masks.  

First, the Diamondback Rattlesnake version that was giving me such a headache.

I was saying to someone in my comments last time (PZB I think) that I am repeatedly seduced by complicated neutral patterns in nature & it's a source of frustration for me, always.  I keep attempting to capture something like the pattern of spangled frittilary butterflies or brown trout or, in this case, Eastern Diamondbacks...& I never quite get it perfect.  Only nature can do that, I suppose.  I came as close as I've ever come this time, anyway.

The browns of this mask are "cool", and I only had enough turquoise beads for one mask (I was ONE freaking bead short) so that's what I used for the snakes' eyes in this one.

I love the tiny patterned heads.  Diamondbacks have these awesome banded faces that make them look so wicked.  I even added rattles to the tips of the tails (they end in the outer corners of the eyes).  Details, people!  Details.

So after experiencing the self-inflicted torture of the Diamondback pattern, I wanted something that was still striking (no pun intended dammit) but less complicated.  The Northern Copperhead was my second choice (another really dangerous snake...utterly unintentional by the way, I was just looking for pretty brown patterns).

This snake is a much warmer brown tone.  Coppery, you might say.  I used carnelian beads for the eyes.  I have to say it looked AWESOME with the turquoise, but of the two I think the diamondback needed them more.  I'm definitely going to be trying this one with turquoise next time, though.

I hate to say it, but between the two I think I like this one better.  That could be due to the fact that it was half as time-consuming to paint as the Diamondback was.  I love the rich browns too...Greg says this mask looks chocolaty (he calls it "Chocolate Cleopatra", by the way.  Because he's funny like that.).

With my hair color this one looks great on me, too.  "Become stone!!"

So yeah, that was my project & I finished it in half a week.  Not too shabby!  They're definitely going to be in my Etsy shop (I'll pace myself & do one today & one tomorrow) & I probably won't be selling them right away (or at all) 'cause of the price.  Still, it'll be a fair price (it's my wholesale price, actually, for the Medusa masks I'm making for Rumors)...so I suppose if anyone really likes them they might think of them as a bargain.  *shrug*

Speaking of my Etsy shop...a note for all of you who are LJ friends.  If you order something from my Etsy shop, be sure to drop me a private e-mail (the link is on the Etsy site) and I'll add a really cool extra "gift" to your order...for free!  I don't mean to be a whore, but I DO want to boost my sales count & I know there are some of you who like my stuff.  :-)  Anyway, it's an added incentive & you'd be helping out a friend.  

*smooch*

Comments

[golden-meliades.livejournal.com]

PUT THEM ON ETSY FOR SURE! People LOVE to feature really exotic items in treasuries, no matter the price. For example, Dreamwoven's Calla hat, here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6479231

The note about it being priced more reasonably later on wasn't there a few months ago (she wants to keep it from being sold because it's going into a gallery show for a while) but people were STILL cramming this into treasuries left and right...and people were RUNNING to her shop to see what else she had in there like that, because it's so exotic. (I WANT THAT HAT!)

[shvetufae.livejournal.com]

Wow, they're both absolutely gorgeous! *in awe* I especially like the first one.

How are your hands? I know you said they always get cut up when making Medusa.

[charismitaine.livejournal.com]

They're beautiful! I really love them both--they're just remarkable and striking and awesome. I don't have the 'nyargh snakes ah!' reaction that some people do--I mean, I do if there's a real snake, but I think these have a lovely balance between incredible realism and being a little stylized and definitely elegant.

About your Etsy shop--do you have an idea of how long orders would take to process and such? Because there are a couple of people on my Christmas list who would really love the koi barrettes (and, gosh, I'll probably end up getting one for myself), and I'm wondering how urgent it is to order quickly (and when not to order, if you have shows or cons or suchlike to be getting ready for in between).

[herald-metatron.livejournal.com]

(It's Des.) Those are absolutely gorgeous! As a major snake-fan, I am always impressed with how you execute serpentine grace. Glee!

salted snuts...

[(Anonymous)]

i think they're both beautiful!!! absolutely my preferred pallatte, and something you should venture down into more, although i think you're being critical of yourself, it looks like you beat these earthtones up and took their lunch money!
and they couldn't even look back, for fear of being turned into who knows what kind of spice...

[ramblinsuze.livejournal.com]

*yoinks koi barrettes*

I think I've found my Christmas shopping spot. Holy crap, Etsy is awesome!

LOVE the Medusa masks! The Diamondback is really cool (love the eyes!), but you're right, it's a bit busy and very labor-intensive for you (I think your price for it is *more* than reasonable). I do prefer the Copperhead, though. The colors/patterns blend better so you can really see the mask much more clearly. And since it's easier to make - bonus!

[indigos-angel.livejournal.com]

K, that looks way cooler when I can actually make out the pictures :))))

*is back on home computer*

That WOULD be a lot of work I would imagine... but it sure is cool!!! XDDDDD

*love*

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

Oooooh. I love snakes, and reptiles in general, so these are all just GORGEOUS and not unsettling at all to me. So very, very pretty!

The cool silvery-beige with turquoise of the diamondbacks are particularly appealing; I can still remember one of the most striking examples I've seen of that combo, a pale brown praying mantis with brilliant turquoise eyes. I've never seen one with that coloring before or since, but that one encounter is just burned in my memory.

Course you knew this was coming...

[rumdiculous.livejournal.com]

OMG I'M IN LOVE.

The copperhead is my favorite. It looks so badass and just gorgeous! *grabby hands*

[swandog.livejournal.com]

I simply LOVE your masks, so I think I'll friend you now so I can keep seeing more of them! :D