For those of you unfamiliar, Angel of Dream's Qing sculpt looks like this, straight from the factory:
Image © Dream of Doll
This is what the little one came to me as:
(These were the preview pictures the old owner sent me when I asked)
Someone had used it as a practice head to try modding. They had sanded the upper lip, unevenly, opened one eye, and gouged the eyelid in the process, and sanded down the lower lip as well. I got it in trade for a hand-made dress, to see if I could restore it. Well, firstly, the little one had a short while as my boy, Aki, but I knew it wouldn't be his permanent shell. Aki got reshelled as a DZ Mo, and now I had a blank head on my hands that needed help. I had carved the scar into his lip to conceal the damage done by the original owner, and it needed to stay. But that face was just too round for what I had in mind.
(holding the fur that will eventually become his wig)So here we go. Got out the dremel, and sanding barrel, as well as a few grinding stones and burrs, because I had no idea what I was doing this time. Did I mention this is my first time attempting such an extensive mod? I must have taken away a good quarter of an inch off those baby pudge cheeks.
It was also around this point that I realized just how BADLY yellowed he was. You can see stark outlines of the parts I modded and the parts I didn't. I also gave him more pronounced temples to go along with his sunken cheeks. Vincente is a bit of a hapless werewolf. If it weren't for his sister, Vega, he'd have starved to death ages ago. Or got himself hit by a truck, trying to chase it, or something....
He still was a long way from done though. I had taken as much off of him as I was planning, and now it was time to add back in. I had no Apoxie Sculpt, so I scrambled to get something to use. Lo and Behold, did you know Martha Stewart has a line of epoxy clays? They come in a variety of colors, and they're intended to make jewelry with, but they served my purpose. Moreover, they had a pure white, which is something Apoxie does not. Even the stuff marked "white" is not true white, but more of a slight grey. And besides, it was 70% off. (K2! has deigned this is apparently an acceptable enough reason to be given a pardon from Death Row for using Martha Stewart products, so therefore I shall carry on stalwartly with my endeavor) I tinted it with pastels, because at this point I was still hoping to just airbrush him to match whatever body I got for him. I filled in those giant eyes, taking him down from needing a 16mm eye to needing 12mm or even 10, but we'll see when his 12s get here from Junkyspot. I also re-sculpted his nose, widening it significantly, because the narrow little AoD noses have always driven me CRAZY. I like roundish noses on my dolls.
But wait, what's that you see? YES THOSE ARE LITTLE TEEFS! OMG I love his little teefs. My beloved Myrretah sculpted them in for me, because I wanted little fangs, but I wasn't ready to do it myself. She's given me SO much confidence with my sculpting and doll work. I never would have attempted any this by myself. I never would have attempted sculpting an actual doll, or really any of the other huge projects I've been taking on lately.
Next up, she also helped me get the upper lip sculpted in, and I smoothed it out. I also started working on his ears. I've been sanding other parts throughout the process, so when it comes time to prime him, he will be nice and smooth.
Both ears sculpted though they need to be refined a bit. And I need to do something about his chin and lower lip. He looks like he has an overbite like nobody's business.
Remember how I said I need to do something about his chin and lip? I did!
So, all that is done. I'm grinding down the bubblegum sized wads of quick set epoxy in his head that I used to hold the magnets in his head, so they're smoother and more finished, not to mention will not cause difficulties with casting. After that, I'm going to start priming him.
I really am proud of what I've managed to accomplish with this guy. I waffled for a while about home-casting him, but ultimately, I want him in white skin, and I doubt I'd be able to recreate the mods on a new head. I need to learn to make molds, from priming to setting up the mold board, making a mother shell, and pouring silicone. I will be using him as my first attempt to do so, and if I get any defective items, I'll find homes for them with friends that I know will not resell him. I hope everyone here loves him. He's not for sale, so don't ask. The original modified sculpt will be packed away lovingly in a box for safe-keeping.
The beginnings of my next project will be put in my next post.
