Seavanna's Silicone Octopus Tail

[Seatan]

EDIT: I am ditching the neoprene fabric in favor of individually cast silicone scales.

Okay, so I finally decided what tail I want to make next! I tried to order purple neoprene from Foam Order, but they only had it in 3mm, so I got hot pink instead. (My sewing machine couldn't handle 6mm of neorene!) I have decided that I am going to make an octopus/mermaid hybrid... mermaid tail with tentacles as pectoral fins. I am making the pectoral tentacles out of Dragonskin. I am also going to make a suckerfish out of Dragonskin and permanently attach him to my tail. I plan to handpaint large scales with shadowing and add a little vinyl fringe at the bottom. I will then add a few gems and pearls scattered around.

I am on the lookout to buy a Competitor if anyone has one for sale!

Here is a picture of my design:

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And here is the sculpt of the first tentacle.

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My neoprene should be here Thursday, then I'm going to start practicing my scale painting!

Interesting Note: Apparently making a fabric tail saves you, like, no money when you keep adding stuff you want to put on it, LOL! Oh well, at least it will be light enough to fit in my suitcase if I go to MerFest!

[Grey Gambit]

This design looks so awesome! I can't wait to see more progress on it!

[Mermaid Galene]

This will be really cool!

[Aquarianne]

Woahhh that tentacle looks SO cool! Can't wait!

[Mermaid Tula]

Suckerfish makes me happy! Super cute!

[Lily]

Looks cute!

If you can't find a Competitor for sale here, they're doing a coupon code via their website right now for about 30% off: RHINOS. Saved me almost $100 on mine :)

[Winged Mermaid]

super cool design!

[Mermaid Adriel]

*.* Love that design!

[Trident True]

creepy, i love it, and that tentacle:)

[Mermaid Kassandra]

Cute and original design!!! I'm sure it'll turn out simply amazing!
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[Seatan]

So I ditched my first attempt at the tentacle and redid it with wire inside. I want to make a brush on mold to save silicone, so it needed to be able to be fastened in an upright position and that was just not going to happen with the first try. I think it turned out better the second time since I had a better idea of what I wanted. I am going to let it harden overnight and will probably try making a mold on Monday. This will be my first mold of clay. All I have ever done before is take a small seashell and put it in a molding box. Lucky for me there is a Reynold's AM in Dallas and they specifically said to call them and send pictures if I have ANY confusion or problems, and they will walk me through it. So hopefully this will turn out okay. Lucky for me octopi aren't exactly smooth and silky, so little airbubbles and mistakes shouldn't be a problem. *crosses fins*

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[Seatan]

And now my design has gone from pretty to creepy. Yes, that is an octopus eyeball on my fluke. :mermaid kiss:

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[Lostariel Telrunya]

That looks so cool! You should add some holographic paint into the colour so it looks like the tail changes colour when you move, just to add to the whole octopus look :)

[Mermaid Caspiana]

I love it! I can't wait to see this! I love the creepy-ness! Keep going! Ooo, I'm excited! Hahaha

[Seatan]

I have decided to make individual scales in silicone rather than paint the scales. I am considering ditching the neoprene and just doing them over power mesh after being inspired by Pearlie Mae's success at making a silicone tail this way. I'm not sure yet. I just know I want to have total control over each and every scale. (Yes, I AM a control freak.) I am making the scales big (I like big scales) at almost 3.5 inches. The top row are "generic" scales which will go all over the tail while the bottom three are "character" scales, which will only appear once and will have a story to tell for their rips and tears!

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[Trident True]

looking great, love those scales. love your tail colour, love your triple Goddess, or triple moon tattoo :)

[Lostariel Telrunya]

I love it! Another thing you can do with the battered up scales is give them a bit of a paler, duller colour than the rest of them, like they were damaged a long time ago and sort of 'died'. Like what happens when a nail gets ripped off!

[Seatan]

Okay, today has been a crazy day of body doubles! I have run ALL OVER town looking for various supplies (I HATE that Hobby Lobby is not open on Sundays!)

I want to make a silicone tail using the "Pearlie Mae technique" as it so deserves to be called of putting a scale at a time directly onto a body double so that you have total control over color and positioning of each scale. Of course I've gone the easy route and made big ass scales, 'cause I don't have anywhere near Pearlie's awesome patience (and I like big scales). So today I decided I would I make a lovely dummy of my legs out of Duck brand colored tape. It went well. I used two and a half rolls of 20 yard Duck tape at $3 a piece and used 80% of a bag of 32 ounces of fiberfill that was on sale at Jo-Ann's for $5.99, along with a two dollar pool noodle from Walmart.

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All is going well so I take the powermesh I bought at Jo-Ann's (on a SECOND trip, mind you!) and sew it to fit the dummy.

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This is the point where my eyes go wide, my heart starts to POUND and I realize that Duck tape has rubber in it and I have NO IDEA if silicone will cure against it. I decide to take the safe route and put plaster bandages over the dummy. Halfway through I run out of bandages (I didn't have as many rolls lying around as I thought!) so I have to run to Michael's. Note that this is also my second trip to Michael's, because I first went there looking for Jaquard pigments. I finally had to go to Asel Arts, the fine arts store for those.

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When I get back, I decide to do my actual legs instead of the half finished dummy. I bought SIX rolls of plaster bandages, which was BARELY enough. And then I stood. And stood. And stood. In the blazing Texas summer heat. The plaster claimed to dry in 20 minutes, but it was NOT happening. I finally was overwhelmed by the weather and decided to try and cut the still moist plaster off. Unsurprisingly, it fell apart.

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I went on MerNetwork, desperate for help, and a couple of people suggested I use packing tape to make a dummy, which made me grin real big because 1) I wouldn't have to hit up Michael's for a THIRD time that day and 2) I know officially HATE plaster bandages! So I wrapped my legs in seran wrap and then packed myself up! I did it pretty tight and it got kind of claustraphobic there for awhile (I was really wishing I had one of those old lady buttons you push that calls someone as you scream "HELP! I'VE FALLEN AND I CAN'T GET UP!") but I managed to get myself taped up without injury and cut it off without slicing my legs open. That's what I call success!

The packing tape dummy was actually more detailed than the duct tape dummy--you could see where my calves widened slightly and where the hump of my knees was--but they were about the same size, which made me feel good. I stuffed it with the pool noodle and the same fiber fill. Here are the two dummies next to each other, though the duct tape dummy is not stuffed. (Yes, I managed to rescue my duct tape dummy from the plaster! Apparently that stuff don't stick to duct tape, a helpful fact that I will probably never use since I now hate plaster bandages, LOL.

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Then it was time for the REAL test! Would the powermesh sleeve I sewed for my duct tape dummy fit my packing tape dummy? .... SUCCESS! Hopefully that means my dummies are spot on! :D

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It was a long, tiring day mostly because I was running all over for supplies. I hit Jo-Ann's twice, Michael's twice, Asel's once, and WalMart once. Note that ALL of these stores are in different HIGH traffic shopping centers around town. Ready for a nap now!

Tomorrow I am going back out to my Smooth On rep to discuss options for casting the resin molds for the scales. I may also attempt to create a mold for my tentacle, though I am now questioning how I want to affix it. I need to do some research on extra fins and figure out what the best way to attach a round silicone piece to a tail would be. Any suggestions are very welcome!

[Ilyena]

Glad it finally got there in the end :D. Cant wait too see more once you have a nap ^_^

[Seatan]

Today I cast the trial scale resin molds only to end up practicing my "OOPS!" The first scale I didn't stick to the bottom well enough and it floated up (I pressed it back down but I dunno if I will get a mold from it!) and the second I forgot to apply the mold release before I covered it in resin! I guess this is good practice to find out how much leeway I have with this stuff.

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I also got all my supplies from Reynold's today. 1 gallon Dragonskin 10 Slow, a box of Rebound to make silicone molds for my 3D tentacles, and Smoothcast Colormatch resin for casting the scale molds. Plus plaster bandages to keep my tentacles upright.

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[Seatan]

Okay, apparently resin does NOT agree with Monstermakers clay! Mermaid Wesley and I seem to be having the same dilemna! It would be GREAT for making faux sea fans, though! (In fact, I may have to create a negative mold of a sea fan and use this technique. TOTALLY COOL.

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[PearlieMae]

That's all moisture damage. I'm so annoyed that you guys are having so much trouble with resin!

I guess Monster Clay only really works with (expensive) Shell-Shock!

[Seatan]

Yeah, I got the resin because they said pouring it would get the details better, but I may go back and get some Shell Shock! I can always use the resin to make LOTSA COOL STUFF! :D

[OceanRose]

What type of resin are you guys using? When I got mine for my scale mold (I used foam scales), the guy said epoxy is best so maybe the same for clay I dunno.

[Seatan]

I used Smooth On's Smoothcast Colormatch Slow. The monster maker clay apparently releases gases as it heats up and softens, causing bubbles in the resin. I will be using Shell Shock instead.

[Seatan]

Okay strangeness. I added a pinch of Pearl Ex pigment to the resin and the bubbles were MAJORLY reduced. You could still see them in the resin, but you couldn't feel them. Totally smooth! Weird huh? I will probably still be using Smooth On for my molds because I don't know what's up with this stuff, but I may try again! I find this intriguing. The Scientific Method is encouraging me to do further tests!

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[PearlieMae]

If you try another small test, try adding a pinch of talc if you have it. Not cornstarch, though. That may break up some of the bubbles, too.

[MermaidBrandie]

I love the pearliemae method!! I've been debating making my own tail and using this method. :)

[PearlieMae]

Ooh! I have a method named for me! :mermaid kiss:

[Seatan]

You do indeed! You are officially a TAILblazer! :thumbs-up: My mom got kind of tired of saying "and who's Pearlie Mae again?" while I tried to explain my project to her at lunch today, LOL.

On the tail update side, I got Plasticina and I am doing a resin test... *crosses fins* We'll see how that works out! I really would rather have clear molds than solid if only to give me a better idea of what the pigments look like!

I also have figured out for certain my color scheme. I was a little iffy on the hot pink and purple simply because while it's very Michelle (the legged version of moi), it's not very "Seavanna," who I think of as my playful, mischevious, puppy dog eyed side. I found this picture somewhere on Tumblr (I think it is a pool floor?) and I LOVE the pearly pastels just done in a random sort of quilt pattern! Definitely keep it very light colored, lots of pearl white and subtle pastels. I think I will be doing this with my scales with my tentacles colored purple.

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Today I have been busy sculpting another project (a secret project!), but if the resin test goes well I plan to make some scale molds tomorrow! Plus my Competitor arrived so I can take a dremel to it and start my fluke sculpt!

[PearlieMae]

Ooh! I love those colors! If you're doing the Pearlie Mae method, make some deep sapphire blue scales to scatter among the pastels! The beauty of my method is that you can change around the look until you love it and then put it all together!

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Considering I'm moving into an apartment next month and won't have as much space for tailmaking, I might take up your style of tailmaking! It's ingenious darling.

[Seatan]

Damn, damn, damn! My test with the Plastalina clay (I made a quick resin seashell) has air bubble texture! :cry:And it's on the inside, not the outside where the guys at Reynolds said it would be if it were an air moisture problem. This seriously sucks. Pearlie Mae, did you use the fast or slow cure? I am wondering if it has anything to do with the amount of TIME it takes to cure. EDIT: Though now that I think about it, since it has seashell texture I am not sure if the bubbles are like they were in my second mold (there but with no presence on the surface) or if the texture IS the airbubbles, like it my first two attempts. DAMMIT GOT DO TO THE TEST AGAIN :mad::thumbdown::no-no::sad eyes::headwall: WHY DONT I THINK OF THESE THINGS BEFORE I DO THEM?????

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I may try the talcum power thing. If THAT doesn't work then I will give up and go for Shell Shock.

[Mermaid Wesley]

The cure time can definitely be a factor. It allows for more stuff to go wrong as it cures. That's what my ram guys told me


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[PearlieMae]

I use the 325, only because the company I work for gets it from Smooth On and we private label it. My molds have air bubbles inside the body of the mold, and now and than I get a bubble where I don't want it (inside the surface of the mold) but until you do a dirty pull from the mold, you really can't tell what your final is going to look like. Mix up a spoonful or two of silicone and pour it in your mold. DON'T DEMOLD IT UNTIL TOMORROW! Let it fully cure. Examine your pull and see if you can live with it. I know you want it perfect, and you don't want to deal with bubbly casts, but then again, don't micro focus! You will be doing a slime coat later that will fill in small problems. Sometimes the shell texture is really exquisite, and if you are drybrushing Pearl Ex across your scales, it will highlight all the details and give the scales some real depth. That's part of the beauty of it, it sets it apart from painted tails whose colors, while blended beautifully in lovely combinations of colors and are quite beautiful in their own right, the individual scales are just that. Each scale is an individual work of art.

[PearlieMae]

Also, when using the resin for casts, I was getting bubbles I didn't want and found out it was the tiny bit of moisture in the popsicle craft sticks I was using to mix the resin!

I'm going to take some pix of my molds. Be right back...

[PearlieMae]

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View of the back of a scale mold. Look at all those bubbles!

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Inside of the mold...all scale texture.

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I tore this scale and cast it anyway, where the tear is is under the scales in the row above it, but if you look on my tail, you might be able to find that scale in more than a few places.

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Evidently, I left a scale in one of the molds, you can see the shell texture and no bubbles.

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They look okay to me!

[Odette]

I love the pearliemae method!! I've been debating making my own tail and using this method. :)

What's the pearliemae method?

[Seatan]

Thank you Pearlie Mae, that was a HUGE help!!! These new ones have air bubbles but my second test tonight shows that they are just on the inside--my first test the roughness was the actual texture of the shell I made (I just made a negative mold of a shell for a test piece). My first two tries (with Monstermakers clay) felt like the roughest form of sandpaper and had actual big bubbles in it, but these feel okay. I really appreciate the look at your molds--it definitely helps me see what will work. The downside of having never used any of these chemicals is having NO idea what "normal" is or what exactly they should look like. I think the guys at my store are getting a little tired of me calling and going "is this supposed to look like this?" LOL. I think I will go ahead and cast some with the resin.

Odette, the "Pearlie Mae Method" is what a couple of us have deemed making a tail scale by scale since Pearlie Mae did such an in depth and informative overview of her adventures in making such a tail.

[Seatan]

Okay, so I cast a scale in both clear Smooth-Cast ColorMatch 327 (Slow) and Shell Shock (Fast). The picture below is a comparison of the two molds. The Shell Shock mold is smoother, but it did not catch all of the detailing. I am making my scales by taking a large shell, pressing clay against it, flattening it down, then cutting it into the shape I want and adding manmade lines on top of the natural grooves. The Colormatch resin picked up both the natural lines and the man made lines while the Shell Shock only picked up the manmade lines. There was a slight texture to the Colormatch resin while the Shell Shock was totally smooth. The Colormatch resin seemed more sturdy, but I also cast a thicker shell for it. The Shell Shock was a pain in the ass to mix, which is its biggest downside.

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Overall, I like the resin. I want my scales to be as detailed as possible and figure they will lose enough detailing when I cast the silicone. I don't need to lose that detailing in the mold! This is not to say, of course, that Shell Shock can't pick up tiny details--its just did not in the particular case study. So I will be making lots of scales tonight and pouring the resin tomorrow! I really need to find a better release agent, because the one I have (which is made for silicone on silicone casting) is doing NOTHING to get the soft Plastalina clay out. I have to scrape it out bit by bit.

Anyhoo, I am psyched that I have this worked out! My goals for the rest of this week:

Thursday: Make the first scale sheet (several individual scales in one large mold), run silicone test in both resin and Shell Shock molds
Friday: Make a second scale sheet and cast my first sheet of silicone scales
Saturday: Toy around with colors and cast two sheets of scales, work on my "secret project"

[PearlieMae]

Wow! You are kicking ass! I can't wait to see your secret project!I didn't use any mold release, I found the clay will peel out it you chill it! If any clay sticks in the mold, I clean it out with an old toothbrush.

[Mermaid Wesley]

I'm so jealous! I want to start making scales but my dumb work schedule doesn't cooperate with resin curing lol. I'm glad you're moving along so nicely!


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[Trident True]

Im currently experimenting with the urethane liquid plastic colour match 327 and im getting bubbles in my scales. its really annoying. this is what I've tired to resolve the issue. i've mixed part A and B in seperate containers then combined the two then mixed. I've also done the mix par B first then add part A still getting bubbles. i have to use a Syringe as its too dainty to do with a spout. they are actaully in the mold and not on the surface.

how do you add your pearl ex pigments to the resin? at this stage im only playing around with the resin, no colour added, i haven't tired it with colour. may make a difference may not. hope your having better success with yours. coming along well.

[Seatan]

Mine still have them inside the mold, too, as did Pearlie Mae's. If they are not on the surface (you can't feel them) then they will work fine as molds! As for the Pearl Ex I just literally took a pinch, mixed it with the part the directions said to mix colors with then stirred. It was too light, so I added another pinch. I know it's not a very exact way of doing it, but my scales are not going to be a uniform color.

What are you doing that you need a spout? I am making flat molds, where you build a mold wall and just pour it over direct from the cup. If you are trying to make actual scales in resin and need it bubble free, I think you will have to do it away from clay. ( I'm guessing this isn't a tail for swimming if you are making resin scales?) I let some of the Colormatch resin dry in the cup (the same exact batch i used for the mold) and it was perfectly clear--it's definitely something about clay that makes it bubble inside. It is probably a moisture thing. But if the molds are smooth on the surface and the bubbles are just cosmetic then it doesn't matter--they are just molds so they don't have to look perfect. :)

[Trident True]

Im using the colour match to cast my individual scales, ive already made the mould out of silicone. as the scale moulds are quiet thin i use a syringe to (pour into the mold) as pouring by a spout or directly into the mould would be disastrous. ive add colour and it looks great but still having troubles with bubbles. I've sprayed a sealing cote onto my silicone mould to see if it helps with the bubbles. see if it keeps away moisture, it seems to of help with some but can't be 100% sure until cured. its winter here in aus so there isn't much humidity in the air, but it still does't rectify why its doing it. and if i have to cast them in silicone. oh-boy add another year to my tail :(

[MermaidBrandie]

What's the pearliemae method?
Pearlie made her tail one scale at a time to save space and so she could get a more organic look to her tail. She's the first to do it, and now that's what we call that. :)

[Seatan]

CoyoteWalker I think Odette did it too. Pearlie Mae did an amazing job documenting her awesome process to the great benefit of us mers, though!

[Seatan]

Im using the colour match to cast my individual scales, ive already made the mould out of silicone. as the scale moulds are quiet thin i use a syringe to (pour into the mold) as pouring by a spout or directly into the mould would be disastrous. ive add colour and it looks great but still having troubles with bubbles. I've sprayed a sealing cote onto my silicone mould to see if it helps with the bubbles. see if it keeps away moisture, it seems to of help with some but can't be 100% sure until cured. its winter here in aus so there isn't much humidity in the air, but it still does't rectify why its doing it. and if i have to cast them in silicone. oh-boy add another year to my tail :(

Trident True, you realize that resin is a hard plastic, right? VERY hard. You can knock on it like wood. I'm not sure how that's going to work for a tail unless you make them super small like sequins, and then they will likely snap. Most people use the silicone for the scales.

[Odette]

Pearlie made her tail one scale at a time to save space and so she could get a more organic look to her tail. She's the first to do it, and now that's what we call that. :)
She is definitely not the first to do scales like that. I have done individual scales with my realistic tails Since 2009. If anything that could be called the "Odette method", but I think it's better to just call it the "individaul scale method"
It looks like Pearliemae is the first to do this neat resin casting thing which is a beautiful idea. To see through the mold is really neat AND useful and her documentation of her process is a real benefit for the community.

[Chrissy]

Wow I love your detail and dedication to your tail. It is going to look amazing when you are done. I love love love the colors of the ones you have painted so far!!! Keep those pictures coming

[Seatan]

Okay it's not a competition LOL. Nobody get upset! Odette, it is wonderful that you have been making tails like this for so long! They are amazingly beautiful! The reason people are calling it the Pearlie Mae technique is because she posted step by step how to do it, basically showing us her technique so we didn't have to do all the experimenting ourselves. So it really is the technique that we are referring to, not just the idea of individual scales--we are using her personal method.

[Odette]

Okay it's not a competition LOL. Nobody get upset! Odette, it is wonderful that you have been making tails like this for so long! They are amazingly beautiful! The reason people are calling it the Pearlie Mae technique is because she posted step by step how to do it, basically showing us her technique so we didn't have to do all the experimenting ourselves. So it really is the technique that we are referring to, not just the idea of individual scales--we are using her personal method.
Do I sound upset? Sorry, I'm just clarifying the difference between technique definitions and you just clarified pearliemaes. It's not drama Hakuna matata! :p

[PearlieMae]

She is definitely not the first to do scales like that. I have done individual scales with my realistic tails Since 2009. If anything that could be called the "Odette method", but I think it's better to just call it the "individaul scale method"
It looks like Pearliemae is the first to do this neat resin casting thing which is a beautiful idea. To see through the mold is really neat AND useful and her documentation of her process is a real benefit for the community.

I was thinking about this before, and it would be called the Odette Method if you posted all the steps. Keeping it secret to see what others discover isn't letting anyone know you did it first.

I have a very good friend who has a method named for him - Ryan Brenizer and the Brenizer Method. A style and method of taking a very creative panorama shot and assembling the photos together into a huge, marvelous image. I had been doing this method for quite a while and actually shared it with Ryan, who was moving in the same direction. He then outlined in great detail how he did it, once he perfected it, and shared it with the professional community. It came to be known as The Brenizer Method. It still is. Am I hurt about it? No. Did I think of it first? Probably not, but I thought I was being clever and was going to take the world by storm with my secret method.

If you were to share your method, it would no doubt be called the Odette Method. But no one knew anything about it. I had no idea anyone else had done it like I did, and no one else ever mentioned anyone else having an individual scale method. Great minds think DO alike, but in my exploration of materials and techniques, I developed what has become part of the vernacular as The Pearlie Mae Method all on my own, drawing on the knowledge people have freely shared about silicone, and my own decades-long experience as a professional artist, sculptor and crafter.

Yes, we may share a lot of similar techniques, and we also differ in many techniques. I think it's fair to say that the Individual Scale technique I use can be called the Pearlie Mae Method. I would be more than happy to follow along while you share the Odette Method, pointing out where our two roads diverge.

A candle's light is not diminished by using its flame to light another candle. I'm not being dramatic, but I did develop and document what I believe can be called The Pearlie Mae Method.

I look forward to possibly seeing your method, and hope that we can be tailmaking colleagues. :mermaid kiss:

[PearlieMae]

Im using the colour match to cast my individual scales, ive already made the mould out of silicone. as the scale moulds are quiet thin i use a syringe to (pour into the mold) as pouring by a spout or directly into the mould would be disastrous. ive add colour and it looks great but still having troubles with bubbles. I've sprayed a sealing cote onto my silicone mould to see if it helps with the bubbles. see if it keeps away moisture, it seems to of help with some but can't be 100% sure until cured. its winter here in aus so there isn't much humidity in the air, but it still does't rectify why its doing it. and if i have to cast them in silicone. oh-boy add another year to my tail :(

You'll never be able to move fast enough to put resin into a rubber mold with a syringe. Then the resin would harden inside your syringe and then it's garbage. I've used plastic condiment squeeze bottles to inject resin into molds, but it's a pain in the butt. I spent more time cleaning than casting! You would be more dragon than mer, with hard scales that would snap. You would have to put holes in them and attach them like sequins! Might as well buy sequins.

[Seatan]

Okay, goals accomplished today! I have a Dragon Skin trial curing in my craft room and I made a full sheet of ten scales out of resin. I cannot get the clay out of the tiny grooves, so I may try to do a slush cast in plaster tomorrow to get it out.

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[PearlieMae]

Nice! I took an old toothbrush and clipped the bristles short to scrub out leftover clay. Try a blow dryer to heat it some and you may be able to wipe a lot of it out with a rag.

I love your Lego walls!

[Aziara]

Legos for the win!

[Seatan]

Aw, it's baby's first scale! *goes all teary eyed* What a pretty little thing!

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It won't actually go on the tail, being unpigmented and all, but I still lurve it! Off to make a full batch of ten today!

[PearlieMae]

If you have a desk lamp that can lean over of your mold, with a warm bulb (I think mine was only 60 watt), you can speed the curing process and pull from the mold pretty quickly...sometimes within an hour. YAY!

PS: I LOVE the shape! Mazel tov!

[Odette]

EDIT: I am ditching the neoprene fabric in favor of individually cast silicone scales.

Okay, so I finally decided what tail I want to make next! I tried to order purple neoprene from Foam Order, but they only had it in 3mm, so I got hot pink instead. (My sewing machine couldn't handle 6mm of neorene!) I have decided that I am going to make an octopus/mermaid hybrid... mermaid tail with tentacles as pectoral fins. I am making the pectoral tentacles out of Dragonskin. I am also going to make a suckerfish out of Dragonskin and permanently attach him to my tail. I plan to handpaint large scales with shadowing and add a little vinyl fringe at the bottom. I will then add a few gems and pearls scattered around.

I am on the lookout to buy a Competitor if anyone has one for sale!

Here is a picture of my design:

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I love the sucker fish idea! That is going to be cute. A permanent little friend on tour tail! :swoon:

[Odette]

I was thinking about this before, and it would be called the Odette Method if you posted all the steps. Keeping it secret to see what others discover isn't letting anyone know you did it first.

I have a very good friend who has a method named for him - Ryan Brenizer and the Brenizer Method. A style and method of taking a very creative panorama shot and assembling the photos together into a huge, marvelous image. I had been doing this method for quite a while and actually shared it with Ryan, who was moving in the same direction. He then outlined in great detail how he did it, once he perfected it, and shared it with the professional community. It came to be known as The Brenizer Method. It still is. Am I hurt about it? No. Did I think of it first? Probably not, but I thought I was being clever and was going to take the world by storm with my secret method.

If you were to share your method, it would no doubt be called the Odette Method. But no one knew anything about it. I had no idea anyone else had done it like I did, and no one else ever mentioned anyone else having an individual scale method. Great minds think DO alike, but in my exploration of materials and techniques, I developed what has become part of the vernacular as The Pearlie Mae Method all on my own, drawing on the knowledge people have freely shared about silicone, and my own decades-long experience as a professional artist, sculptor and crafter.

Yes, we may share a lot of similar techniques, and we also differ in many techniques. I think it's fair to say that the Individual Scale technique I use can be called the Pearlie Mae Method. I would be more than happy to follow along while you share the Odette Method, pointing out where our two roads diverge.

A candle's light is not diminished by using its flame to light another candle. I'm not being dramatic, but I did develop and document what I believe can be called The Pearlie Mae Method.

I look forward to possibly seeing your method, and hope that we can be tailmaking colleagues. :mermaid kiss:
Right =). I'll keep my method secret just a little longer. Individual scales is its own type of tail while methods are specific. I truly look forward to the awesome of the pearliemae method. :pearl:
I would love to be colleagues. I personally always wanted to build or sew something with a partner or group. That would be epic!

[Mermaid Wesley]

I would love to be colleagues. I personally always wanted to build or sew something with a partner or group. That would be epic!

I've always wanted to do that too! collaboration is awesome.


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[Seatan]

Okay, I spent QUITE a few hours today casting a scale in each color of Pearl Ex that I bought, and three also with glitter! Each scale took about two tablespoons of Dragonskin (one tablespoon of each part) to make, and I added about a quarter of a teaspoon to each scale to make sure I got the actual full color. They're SUCH gorgeous colors--photos do NOT do these pigments justice, guys! I am just DYING to pull them from the molds! (note that the purple one looks funny because it is reflecting the desk lamp above it).

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I also got another scale sheet cast in resin! That means that I can now cast 21 big scales at once! I think I will start working on a sheet of medium sized scales for lower down on the body tonight. I sprayed clear acrylic on the clay of this sheet before casting and it helped a little with the sticking clay, but not a lot. I think there are just too many deep, narrow grooves. Toothpick, here I come!

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[Seatan]

I've always wanted to do that too! collaboration is awesome.


The first thing we learn as teachers is to SHARE, SHARE, SHARE! Any questions anyone has on what I am doing, I am 100% happy to answer! Helping other people learn and create is one of the best parts of being an artist! No secrets here, just fun and messes!

[Mermaid Wesley]

Yay! Looks awesome!


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[PearlieMae]

That's great! It seems like you are using way too much pearl ex, though! When you get to the point where you're going to make a bunch of scales the same color, mix into part B a little bit of pearl ex at a time, and I mean pinches, and stir it around until you get the color you like. then add in the corresponding amount of Part A, and you'll have your color! A little goes a long way!

[Seatan]

Pic of my beautiful, demolded scales!!!! :yay:

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I tested a theory on one and painted a very thin coat of resin on top my mold and let it dry before casting the silicone, and it paid off: That scale turned out glossy wet shiny looking! I also decided I am DEFINITELY going to have the extra fine glitter in all of them. Man, I am SO excited to get started making lots of scales!

@PearlieMae: Yeah, I figured out I was using too much pretty much after the first scale, but wanted to go ahead and use the same amount of powder for each one so they could be a "control group". I will definitely be more frugal with the powder next time around! :D

[PearlieMae]

I did that with one of my scales, but it smoothed it too much, I lost too much detail. A lot of my scales are dry brushed across the texture, then coated with a top coat. I can't wait to see your scales! Have you decided on a colorway and design?

[Seatan]

My details are really deep ridges so the details don't lose much.

And yes, I am going to go with a glittery pastel patchwork! Lots of pearl, seafoam, light blue, violet, and pink scattered in a patchwork scale kind of way--there won't be any pattern to it, just a sort of pastel stained glass kind of look!

my fluke is going to be purple and I am still doing the octopus tentacles at my hips and on the edges of the fluke!

[Mermaid Julz]

Just started reading this thread. i love this idea and the tentacles are awesome. I do like the second one better. now to read the other 3 pages and catch up completely!

[PearlieMae]

I remember now! The pool tiles! Cooooooooool!

[Odette]

Pic of my beautiful, demolded scales!!!! :yay:

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I tested a theory on one and painted a very thin coat of resin on top my mold and let it dry before casting the silicone, and it paid off: That scale turned out glossy wet shiny looking! I also decided I am DEFINITELY going to have the extra fine glitter in all of them. Man, I am SO excited to get started making lots of scales!

@PearlieMae: Yeah, I figured out I was using too much pretty much after the first scale, but wanted to go ahead and use the same amount of powder for each one so they could be a "control group". I will definitely be more frugal with the powder next time around! :D
Yay! They came out perfect! That's smart to have a control group! You are definitely a teacher. ^-^

[maressa]

this looks awesome! Go girl! :D

[PearlieMae]

They look fabulous!

[Mermaid Galene]

What lovely scale colors!

[Grey Gambit]

Those scales are looking awesome!

[maressa]

This looks GREAT!!! So excited to see as it progresses!

[Seatan]

Okay, I finished "painting" and glossing my first batch of scales!

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They look a little darker in the pic than they actually are. The colors are BEAUTIFUL, but not what I wanted. When I got my FinFolk tail my only disappointment was with the color--I had wanted a bright, almost neon pink and neon purple as highlights and they told me that they hadn't quite worked out how to do neon colors yet. I think they may have been using Pearl Ex to pigment the paint, because I was unable to get bright colors on a neutral base either. They are gorgeous colors that shimmer and shine and change colors in the light, but they just aren't bright enough for me! I finally realized (by using my darkly colored "control" group) that the the BASE pigment of the actual silicone must be very BRIGHT to make the colors of pigment dry brushed on top bright. You can't take a pastel base (I was using pastel purple scales) and make them any brighter with Pearl Ex--you must start bright and then you can tone down with these metallic colors, but you have a really hard time brightening up! I may make a top with these scales since I don't think they will end up on my tail. I've got a sense for the process now, though, and am looking forward to banging out a bunch of awesome scales! Each scale is literally unique as I am cutting the bottom edges with scissors so they have a different jagged look, then each one is hand painted (actually I dry brush Pearl Ex on then cover it with a slush coat).

[PearlieMae]

You can also mix a tiny bit of Micro Pearl to your color to brighten it up. It's a very shiny white, but a little with a color really makes it pop. Make sure it's Micro Pearl, because Pearl White will make a color pearly pastel, micro makes it shiny bright.

They look fabulous!

(I tried to send you a pm, but your mailbox was full.)

[Seatan]

That is really weird. How many messages can you have before it is full? I don't have that many PMs. Hm. I moved all the ones I did have to another folder, so maybe I am PMable again!

I will try the thing with the Micro Pearl--I have that one and love it!

[Fifi Tigg]

I had the same problem with my message box and it was due to my sent box being full :)

[Mermaid Leira]

Powdered or Cake eye shadows crushed work awesome in dragon skin too :) the pearl color comes out great

[Kacina Odonley]

Love it !!! Super nice work on your sculpt :cool:

[Mermaid Melanie]

love your scales chick they look amazing ! Im trying to get a vibrant pink/red colour for the bottom of my fluke, i wonder if crushed body paint would work, cuz I know theres some pretty fab neon colours that come in dry cakes , ill find out the brand when I chat to my mum later!

[Seatan]

I would like to share a note of advice from a first time silicone tailmaker to others (especially those who have never seen a "professional" silicone tail in person) that may SEEM obvious but has really comforted me throughout this process, perfectionist that I am, and this is it: Despite what the pictures and reviews may make it seem like, NO silicone tail is perfect.

I know they look flawlessly realistic and shockingly beautiful in the pictures posted to the tailmakers' sites, but in reality even the very best tails have some flaws. I was privileged enough to have a FinFolk tail for a few months, and I am SO glad I did, otherwise I would have REALLY unrealistic expectations for myself. It was an AMAZING tail, but it wasn't perfect. There were plenty of teeny tiny things that said "Hi, I'm made of rubber!" up close, which you would never see from far away.

The fact is, silicone is a messy substance that does not lend itself to absolute perfection. There will be tiny bubbles, there will be some rough edges, there will be a few seams... It's not organic flesh; it's liquid rubber, and it can't heal itself. Also, those breathtaking paint jobs, while absolutely the work of awesome talent, will NOT always look as wonderful as they do in the photos in the florescent light of an indoor pool or in a poorly lit area of your living room. Fins that look super real from a few feet away look less so when they are held inches from your face, and the same sort of stuff that increases realism from a distance (example: scale tipping), can make it look less realistic when you are super close up, close enough to tell that it is paint.

Now, obviously, a person would have to make many a tail before they were on the same level of craftsmanship as Raven or Abby and Bryn (if that person is even artistic enough to ever get on that level). However, even Merbella and FinFolk tails have their flaws. Sometimes it seems like the community sort of encourages a "get a tail from one of THEM and you will pretty much BE a mermaid" idea, which can make you feel really bad when you start making your own tail and realize that it doesn't look like God dropped it from the sky into your lap. What has made me feel better along this road, however, is that the pro's tails don't look like that, either, because they AREN'T dropped from the sky and there is a limit to what a certain material can do to promote realism. So please, if you are making a silicone tail for the first time but have never actually SEEN a silicone tail, don't be discouraged when it is not absolute perfection. Strive to better what you are able to, but recognize that it will NEVER be perfect--no one else's tails are perfect either!

Hope this helps anyone who might be feeling a little down about their project.

[Lily]

Thanks for this post, Seavanna! I'm going to be starting my first silicone tail in a couple months (once I make a serious dent in the current workload for my small business) and I'm half terrified because I've never seen on in person. Seeing others' tail making posts makes me feel a little better about the whole thing. And hey, at least I won't have too many biases then, right? Right??

[Mermaid Wesley]

That's very important stuff!


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[Mermaid Galene]

Thanks for the perspective, Seavanna!

[Merman Arion]

I agree with you. While my tail seems perfect, it actually has his flaws but I'm learning to love them instead of hating them. My tail was the first tail to get the dragon scales so I already wasn't expecting the perfect seamless tails everybody is getting with the diamond scales. My tail looks good from a distance but with a close up look, you can manage to see some flaws but they aren't big, nor obvious, or else that's being nit-picky in a crazier level. At this moment, the biggest flaw is that the top of my tail is too long, I only found out two days ago while doing my first photoshoot so when I will get back to Paris after this vacation in the south of France, a friend who know his ways around silicone is gonna help me making an Ariel V-shape for the waist line.
Point is, perfection does not exist, even with Raven and Finfolk. Nevertheless, the tails can still be incredible. So learn to love the way they are and don't get discouraged :)


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[Lostariel Telrunya]

I like to think of all of the nicks in the silicone as... battle scars. Just like every human has little scratches, cuts, and marks, so should mermaid tails! I mean, swimming around in the ocean, you're bound to scrape against some sharp coral or graze a sharp broken shell sooner or later!

[Seatan]

I am having a crisis of ego here. A friend of mine from the cosplay community made some alterations to my fluke design that I think are really cool and would like to implement. The only thing is, I am not sure I want to "lose" my baby. See, right after my friend made the changes he jokingly put a little (TM) trademark sign next to it and started joking that if it got really popular I better split the rights with him, blah blah blah. All jokes, of course, but I get the feeling that if I design my fluke in that way it will always be a matter of "Oh yeah, and I redesigned the fluke like that!" every time someone we know sees it. I really like the design, but I don't want all the hard work and craftsmanship I am putting into it to be downplayed because he changed the position of the octopus tentacles, ya know? I don't WANT anyone else to be able to claim my hard work--especially since saying that he "designed" the fluke makes it seem like he did a hell of a lot more than what he did (aka do a quick sketch) while *I* am the one putting hundreds of hours of work into this thing! I really like the design, but I don't know what to do. Also, it's not all that very different from mine, so I feel like if I do anything even close to similar, he is going to act like I am copying him, when in reality there are only so many ways to position a damn octopus on your fluke! *sigh* I'm just not sure now what I want to do.

[Kishiko]

Can you put a photo of the redesigned fluke for comparison?

[Lostariel Telrunya]

Yeah. I would say, if you want full credit, take the full credit. If he wants to help you, just tell him how much this project really means to you. This is a really unique thing you've got going, and to have someone take your creative work and put their name on it is not fair at all. It kind of reminds me of people who get a patent for something, and then someone else comes along, change something really miniscule, sells it at a lower price, and runs the other person out of business. Although creative input should almost always be welcome, it should come out of generosity, not as a trade. That is just my opinion though.

[MermaidBrandie]

Did you end up selling your FinFolk tail, Seavanna? Is that why you're making your own?

[Seatan]

Okay, I am about to start sculpting this final fluke design and need opinions!!! Should I make the dark areas next to the tentacles on this fluke part of the fluke or should I try and make it look like the octopus is inking?

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I am sculpting the fluke of this baby this week and next week (Thanksgiving) my mom is gonna help me finish making the scales, along with my loverly suckerfish. This baby gonna be ready for MerFest!!!!

[Seatan]

Yes, I sold it back to Finfolk. I believe they resold it or plan to resell it.

[PearlieMae]

Part of the fluke...the skin on an octopus where the mantle joins the tentacles has that lovely webbing. IMO.

[Fifi Tigg]

I think it would look great to have it inking ��

[Seatan]

I think the webbing would look good, too, if people get that it's webbing.. I am thinking of something like this pic. I plan to make the suckers for the tentacles separate and attach them so that they can go around the tentacles in a natural looking way....

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[Mermaid Wesley]

I like the webbing idea. i think ink wouldnt look quite right or would be quite difficult to pull off.

[Koral]

Another fun process to watch, and informative, encouraging.

[Seatan]

So I am laying out scales and am not happy with the look. What do you guys think? Should I drop the very few pink ones? Add more blues? Add more whites? This was the coloring I was originally going with:

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And this is how it is turning out (I decided to add a few pink in here and there)

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I can't put my FINGER on why I don't like it, I just don't SO FRUSTRATING!!!!!!

NOTE: They are very sloppily stuck on there, I know. I was in a hurry.

[Mermaid Jessica Pearl]

I love it but I get what you are saying. I think that taking away the pink ones would simplify it and make it all come together a bit better. Or maybe try ordering them a bit more randomly. It looks like you have specifically placed them so that there are very few same colours touching. I think that it would actually look awesome and a bit less busy if there were some patches of same colour touching.

[MerEmma]

I think the pinks need to be a lot more pastel-y, or maybe it's just the lighting but I think they need to be closer to cotton candy colored. And maybe the whites need to be more...pearlescent? Those are the differences I see. I love the shape though. :)

[Sherielle]

More lavender, less pink to match what you were intending. It's a cool color scheme and the pinks add a bit too much warmth to it

[Seatan]

Here is a colored version of what I am going for, along with the headpiece I am making based off the Asari in Mass Effect.

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I think I need less pastel blues and more turqouise.

[Meronica]

I think you need mostly light blues, greens, and lavendars, and then sprinkle in the whites/pinks. (:

[PearlieMae]

I agree with MerEmma, the pinks need to be more pastel. Overall, there's too much contrast, in my opinion...I think you need to narrow your tonal range so everything isn't so stark.

[MerEmma]

Yeah, I think maybe more groupings of the scales together maybe? I agree with more blues and less turquoise...I mainly think though the pink looks too read. What a beautiful design you have though. <3

[Seatan]

Finally started my sculpt... 2.5 hours in, another 20 or so to go, LOL.

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[PearlieMae]

This is going to be EPIC!

:clap:

[Miyu]

Woot! so excited! :dance:

[Mermaid Leira]

It's going to be amazing! I LOVE the idea of the webbing, Occy's just rock!

[Seatan]

Okay so I rearranged the scales and ditched the pink. Still too wacky?

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I like it better... I'm just not sure. Argh!

Edit: The ones that look like pink are actually that micro pearly white, it's the whole micro pearl pigment reflecting weird.

[Mermaid Leira]

I love it, it's like the rainbow fish, keep going if you stare to long at anything it starts to look weird :)

[Mermaid Leira]

25507 does anyone remember this book?

[Seatan]

Oh my gosh, YES, I loved that book! It does look like the rainbow fish! *feels happy*

[Mermaid Leira]

He had green on him too in some of the books, It is going to be beautiful Seavanna :)

[Raayvhen]

That's exactly what I was thinking!

I still have my copy on my shelf.

[MerEmma]

MUCH better! I see COMPLETE resemblance to the image you referenced!! Beautiful colors <3

[Vrindavana Starfish]

I love the tattered scales. Really great idea!

[PearlieMae]

I love the look and I dislike the book. The pink fabric underneath it is really throwing me. Do you have white or beige?

[Seatan]

Pink was the only color of powermesh they had at the time at Joann's. I might swing by and try to see if they have beige. Or call a couple and ask.

Glad you guys think it's looking better! I still have a lot of scales to make so I may switch to Dragonskin Medium and pour in smaller batches. Anybody used medium? Or I might even dare to try fast. My mom is gonna help me and while I can only make 22 at a time if we each pour and they can demold in 2 hours I could hurry the process along.

[Seatan]

I love the tattered scales. Really great idea!

Thank you! I sculpted 22 scales then I cut the edges of each scale when demolished so that they are all unique in shape.

[Seatan]

Okay, here is the sculpt of my swimcap/head piece! Like it?

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[PearlieMae]

That is SO COOOOOOOOOOL!

What are you sculpting with?

[Meronica]

That is WICKED AWESOME. :D

[Mermaid Freyja]

What a fantastic idea for a swim cap sculpt!! This whole project is amazing :)
You should audition for Face Off someday.
xox

[Mermaid Galene]

Very cool headwear!

[Joy&RaptorsUnrestrained!]

I admit, this whole project from start to finish has seemed really cool, and I am envious of the cap.

[Seatan]

That is SO COOOOOOOOOOL!

What are you sculpting with?

Plastacina actually. I thought about using something harder but finally decided that it should be able to hold its shape when I make the mold if I am careful with my brush strokes. I will probably make a silicone mold then apply a buttload of release agent before doing the slush cast. I also considered making it out of latex but I am not sure how well it would come out. My friend makes latex masks and they just look messier than silicone somehow, as if flaws are more noticeable.

honestly I am still contemplating what to make the mold with and am open to suggestions!

edit: on second thought I will probably make it with shell Shock so there will be no chance of stickage. I have to hit up Reynolds Monday for lots of stuff anyway.

[Seatan]

Question: has anyone ever tried to place a fiber inside a shell of silicone to make it lighter weight? I was thinking I could brush silicone into the tentacle "bun" and on its sides, allow it to cure, put a piece of styrofoam inside and fill the rest with silicone, to offset some of the weight. I've made silicone swimming weights by doing this with metal pellets in a silicone shell but I dunno how it would work with light filler.

[Miyu]

Oooh, that's pretty neato!!!

[Raayvhen]

The Styrofoam would definitely make it more buoyant.

[Seatan]

Just got my set of "Parietal eyes" to go down at the top of the fluke. Images do not do them justice! They are holographic, changing color as the light hits them! Now I just gotta figure out how to affix them to the silicone. I know Raven does it in her octopus tops, I am just not sure how.

[Mermaid Galene]

Very cool.

[Mermaid Aika]

This tail is going to be epic, Seavanna!

[Mer-gal]

i think i am obsessed with your tail.

[Vrindavana Starfish]

Just got my set of "Parietal eyes" to go down at the top of the fluke. Images do not do them justice! They are holographic, changing color as the light hits them! Now I just gotta figure out how to affix them to the silicone. I know Raven does it in her octopus tops, I am just not sure how.

It's like the Eye of Sauron if Sauron had an ocean eye and not molten flames. Those are wicked!

[Mermaid Wesley]

The only thing is that styrofoam would make it float in water.


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[Mermaid Leira]

Maybe try some to use sort of light pliable of mesh to act as reo and help keep the shape? To get the eyes to fix I'd cast them with the silicone and have the rims (lids) of the eyes come over the eyeball around the borders to hold them in, maybe sit the eyes in the mould , pour and if some silicone runs under the boarders too far just cut the silicone to expose the the right amount eye after :) practice with a mini sculpt and teddy bear eyes, it's going to look so cool!!

[Miyu]

Oooh, where'd you get those eyes from? They're gorgeous!!! Now I'm dreaming of some smaller ones for the dice bags I make...

[Mermaid Leira]

Maybe even cast the sockets hollow so the silicone lids could stretch to get the eyes in the dead space with the lids covering the perimeter of the eye holding them in

[PearlieMae]

I use tulle to hold in large rhinestones with a layer of silicone sealing them in, but it does deaden the shine. I like the idea of casting lids to hold them in.

[Trident True]

Just got my set of "Parietal eyes" to go down at the top of the fluke. Images do not do them justice! They are holographic, changing color as the light hits them! Now I just gotta figure out how to affix them to the silicone. I know Raven does it in her octopus tops, I am just not sure how.


can i suggest neoprene on the back of the eyes. I know for a fact that silicone sticks to Neoprene. love all your progress.

[Seatan]

The eyes are from ArtistJP on etsyhttps://www.etsy.com/shop/artistJP?ref=s2-header-shopname

I am planning on making a lid but wasn't sure how well that would hold up... I guess I can give it a try!

[Seatan]

can i suggest neoprene on the back of the eyes. I know for a fact that silicone sticks to Neoprene. love all your progress.

Silicone does not stick to plain neoprene. In fact, it hinders curing.

[Sherielle]

I make eyes like that (only not sparkly and holographic like those are). I'm curious as to how they will hold up on water.

[PaolaMF]

you tinted or painted the scales?

[Trident True]

Silicone does not stick to plain neoprene. In fact, it hinders curing.

really???? I find this hard to Believe, I've done tests on Neoprene and silicone cures just fine. are you sure its neoprene and not neoprin? its completely Porous it should stick and cure to Neoprene.

please explain plain Neoprene? mines just plain nothing fancy.

[Raayvhen]

Silicone sticks to nylon coated neoprene. The fibers have to get soaked through so that it holds. It does not stick to just the rubber.

[SeaGlass Siren]

i'm last to the prt - OH MY GOD AN OCTOMERMAID TAIL!!!

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT.....

[MermaidBrandie]

Silicone sticks to nylon coated neoprene. The fibers have to get soaked through so that it holds. It does not stick to just the rubber.

Yes what she said, rubber inhibits the curing process.


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[Dancing Fish]

Holy carp, that is a seriously amazing design! Incredible! Can't wait to see the final tail!

[LittleRiverOtter]

Was this tail ever finished? I'd love to see the end result!

[Mermaid Kassandra]

Oh my fins!
Your skills are Amazing! I really can't wait to see this finished, I'm sure it will be a masterpiece!

[Geordie Holly]

Was this tail ever finished? I'd love to see the end result!


I second this! I'm starting my first tail and this thread has been super helpful! :)