merimask: (Default)
([personal profile] merimask Oct. 10th, 2007 02:22 pm)

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*

ext_12512: Hinoe from Natsume Yuujinchou, elegant and smirky (Default)

From: [identity profile] 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.

From: [identity profile] merimask.livejournal.com


I love snakes too! I think they're beautiful. When I was a kid I'd happily grab them right off the ground with no fear (I don't do that so much now).

Browns with turquoise are, you know, my weakness. :-) It's a wonder I didn't do this one sooner.
.

Most Popular Tags

Powered by Dreamwidth Studios

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags