Too Many Ideas!

[kriadydragon]

So, a problem with wanting to make things to sell is needing to get ideas of what to make, and needing ideas on what to make means looking around at things other people have made for inspiration. And since I've been browsing DeviantArt for ideas, and DeviantArt likes to suggest similar things I would be interested in looking at based on what I'm currently looking at, I have been plagued with the need to make all the things! Figurines and dolls and puppets and just... gah! No, brain, no. What I'm doing is fine.

Here's just a few things I've been coming across that have sent my muses into a mouth-foaming frenzy of ideas.

http://maga-01.deviantart.com/art/Veritas-western-dragon-earth-element-600403915

http://maga-01.deviantart.com/art/The-Guardian-of-the-Life-Gems-painted-586623170

http://maga-01.deviantart.com/art/Mezula-the-Room-Guardian-Spirit-603113190

https://youtu.be/qGffT6NHdbo

*Sobs!* Dang it, muses, I can't do all the things most especially on this level just stick with what I know gaaaaah! And forget making dolls because I hate sewing and I'm terrible at it! This is what I really don't like about being artistic - the desire to do it all because it all looks so awesome.

Really, though, what would make me happy at least is being able to do more details on my sculptures. I see these dragon sculptures with scales and fine designs, but whenever I try to do it I end up with a mess. The problem is the warmer Polymer clay gets the stickier it gets until it's practically goo. But firm Sculpey is a little too firm and hard to work with. However, I was reading a sculpting tutorial and one thing the author did was mix regular Scupley with firm Sculpey, making it easy to work with but able to do fine details on, so I may try that.

But other than that, I'm going to stick with sculpting things to go on the front of altered books, books people can use as photo albums or diaries. I'm actually happy with what I sculpt, I'd just like to be able to do more and make my scuptures a bit more unique. I may also branch out into figurines once I get a better handle

Comments

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I'm actually teaching myself to stitch better just so I can make my own dragon doll (I found a tutorial and they're actually not that difficult to make. Of course I say that now but we'll see how "not tricky" it is when I actually make one).

Lately I've been coming across some really great sculpting tutorials, and I can send you the links if you want. The biggest mistakes I've been making is using clay that's too soft. Turns out you can actually blend firm and soft clay for something that you can actually work with and add fine details to. Why I wasn't able to find these tutorials sooner, I have no idea.

[imbecamiel.livejournal.com]

Oooo! I'd love to see pics of how the dragon turns out when you're done! And yes, if you'd pass along the tutorials, I'd appreciate that very much. I've always loved the idea of working with clay, but never really progressed to doing much beyond flowers. (Though I tell you, I can seriously wow the kids I babysit with my PlayDoh roses. XD)

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Here's a few that I've found helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtwhNWfMT4s - this one also includes how to make eyes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c2Dnh7z7pQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGrAUJKMTec

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheBroodingTom - I highly recommend this guy as he teaches the basic stuff including how to make armatures, how to blend clay and so on. He's the one I first watched when starting out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqlqGe9WHtg - this one's about making armatures. It's mostly armatures for making people but the concept is one that can be used for any kind of armature.

Really, though, if you just type in Polymer Clay Tutorial on Youtube you will find a ton of stuff.

One thing I've come to learn that I wished I learned sooner is that if you're making something with wings, get the body done first, bake it for a little while, then tackle the wings. Otherwise the weight of the wings causes everything to fall apart.

[imbecamiel.livejournal.com]

Oh awesome! Thanks so much! Those'll be great. :D (And thanks for the tips on the wings, too! They're tricky enough without added complications.)

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Okay, another tip that I just tried today because it is awesome. Mix half Sculpey with half Firm Sculpey to make something easy to work with but doesn't get all gooey and sticky after a while. I was actually able to sculpt something with fine details. I've never been able to sculpt something with fine details!

[imbecamiel.livejournal.com]

That's awesome! That is the issue I've run into most - everything getting so soft and sticky after a while that it's hard to manage any kind of detail without ruining as much as you add. :P

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Apparently there's, I guess, different levels of Sculpey? At least in one of the vids someone mentions something about a Sculpey 3 which is firmer but still malleable. Mixing firm and soft seems a lot easier than trying to figure out which Sculpey level to go with, though.