Theobromine's sea serpent silicone tail!

[Theobromine]

OH MY GOD YOU GUYS I GOT SILICONE FOR CHRISTMAS!!!! I have been wanting to make my own tail for over two years and now I finally can!!!! *hyperventilates forever*

Ok, so. I absolutely love my Finfolk tail, it is my dream tail and I'm glad I went with a professionally-made tail for my first (and possibly only) silicone tail. But I have always wanted to make my own silicone tail even before I ordered my Finfolk one, and have had another design in mind for almost as long. I've been biding my time for so long now, watching all you guys make your own amazing tails and wishing I could bring my own design to life.

I am really excited about my sea serpent design. I drew my first concept design for it probably almost two years ago....but I'm really kind of nervous and paranoid about posting any of my designs online yet :-/ After how my friend Lorelei got her original fluke design plagiarized by a certain famous tailmaker, I've been really nervous about it. So I don't think I will post anything until after I have my own logo made so I can watermark everything. Better safe than sorry.

For now I'll just say that it's inspired by a sea serpent illustration from one of my absolute favorite children's books. The design of it is completely different than anything else I've seen so far. I've been seeing more and more people doing dragon-inspired tails, which is really cool (I love dragons as much as I love mermaids), so I hope no one will think I've copied that idea. But mine's definitely going to look different from everybody else's. Even if it looks totally bizarre, at least I can say it will be unique :)

Sorry I've got no pictures to share quite yet, but I just had to share my excitement :D

Also, MASSIVE THANKS to my amazing mother and husband for providing me with the materials to finally do this project!!

[Echidna]

Sounds rad!
Can't wait to see it.

[Theobromine]

Thanks, you guys! I can't wait to start working on it! I've done a few small tests with platinum silicone, using urethane for the molds, which worked really well. I'll post some pictures of those test projects soon so you can at least see those. They turned out pretty well, though I've discovered that silicone isn't the easiest thing to paint with. I'll also be making a top as well, which I'll finish before the tail. Tomorrow I'm going to the hardware store to get a board to start my tail sculpt on! Just have to clear off some floor space first...

[Miyu]

Congrats! Can't wait to see!

[JamesGunnels]

CONGRATS!!!! I won't be able to buy any silicone for another 3 weeks or so =( I bought all of my clay for sculpting and I did the mold for my side fins...not sure if I got the right resin or not though. I am very jealous :D I am really looking forward to seeing your tail!

[Theobromine]

Thanks all :) Currently sketching up ideas for my side fins! I can't wait to share my designs! Hopefully it won't be too long!

[Mermaid Lorelei]

<3 So happy for you girl!

[Theobromine]

<3 So happy for you girl!

<3 :)

Ok, so to give you guys something to look at (and to show I'm not completely full of hot air), here's a picture of the things I've worked on so far: my very first silicone test (a quick blobby "scale" patch), a nudibranch and a baby stingray, and the Macrocystis pyrifera sculpt I just finished, which is going to end up as a top.

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[Miyu]

Wow!!! Those are all so awesome! Will you ever sell your creations???

[Mermaid Lorelei]

I DEMAND A NUDIBRANCH TO GO WITH MY STINGRAY! Just so you know. :P

[Theobromine]

I've definitely been thinking about making an Etsy account and selling Mermaid Pets! I've made several stingrays and a couple nudibranchs by now, testing different painting and coloring methods, and not quite 100% happy with them yet (especially the nudibranchs, as none of the Pearl Ex colors I have are right for them). But I work full time and I'm always tired and stressed out and I'd worry that if they were popular I wouldn't be able to make enough and I'd disappoint people, or something :-/ My job has really been bumming me out lately. Maybe I will just quit and sell Mermaid Pets full time :P Or maybe I'll try just offering a few for sale here on Mernetwork and see if people like them. I don't know how much to charge for them though.

[Theobromine]

Incidentally, does anyone know of a place to get good black and white pigments that won't cause cure issues with silicone? I've been using Pearl Ex for the pearly colors, but I wanted black and white so I could replicate the Glaucus atlanticus colors more accurately. I got some pigments from the local place where I bought my first bit of silicone (TAP Plastics, their own brand) but it caused the silicone not to cure, so my really awesome paint job failed utterly :mad: I do know about Smooth-On's Silc Pig, but it seems really really expensive for just tiny amounts.

[Miyu]

I would totally go for some stingrays and some nudibranches and especially some of that seaweed, and also I ADORE that scale patch!!!! That's the only scale design I've ever just fallen in love with!!!

[Theobromine]

Aww, thanks, I'm really glad you love my scale patch! It's basically a quick test of what my scales are going to look like for my tail (though I'll do a cleaner, neater sculpting job on those). They're not fish-inspired at all, they're actually inspired by chameleon scales!

[PearlieMae]

Incidentally, does anyone know of a place to get good black and white pigments that won't cause cure issues with silicone? I've been using Pearl Ex for the pearly colors, but I wanted black and white so I could replicate the Glaucus atlanticus colors more accurately. I got some pigments from the local place where I bought my first bit of silicone (TAP Plastics, their own brand) but it caused the silicone not to cure, so my really awesome paint job failed utterly :mad: I do know about Smooth-On's Silc Pig, but it seems really really expensive for just tiny amounts.

Pearl Ex has a Lamp Black that isn't pearly (and thus, grey-ish), but you might have to order it. I go to DickBlick.com

For bright white, I would use their Micro Pearl. It's very bright, but it's not flat white, it's pearly.

[Theobromine]

Awesome, thanks Pearlie Mae :)

[Miyu]

Neat!!! Chameleons are so cool :) Would it be okay if I tried a similar scale pattern? Not the same, obviously, but I'm thinking of either pebbly scales or small dragon scales for my first silicone tail.

[Aziara]

If you're looking for a matte white, you could find a place online that sells mineral makeup supplies and get some titanium dioxide. As for black though, no idea.

[PearlieMae]

Test titanium dioxide with silicone first, not sure about curing issues. Sennelier Dry Pigment, Lamp Black works beautifully.

[Theobromine]

Lamp Black and Micro Pearl sound like exactly what I need. Miyu, sounds like you were already thinking of a similar thing, and I don't own the chameleon idea, so as long as yours doesn't look too much like mine, that's fine. I'm just trying to be really careful to make my design unique!

Also, I've decided that I probably just won't post the design until the tail is mostly done. I've worked really hard on this design and I'm really proud of it. I'll post progress shots of what I'm working on, but not the whole tail until it's complete or near complete. This is similar to what Finfolk does with their stuff, and my husband suggested I do it this way. I hope you guys don't think I'm being overly cautious....I've just been dreaming about this tail for so long and I don't want to mess anything up.

In other progress news, tonight I built the mold wall around my kelp sculpt and poured the urethane. I'll let it cure for at least 24 hours before pulling it. I've been using TAP Plastics brand urethane and it works really well. I really like having flexible molds, it makes it very easy to demold things and you don't have to worry about undercuts. I know I'm not the first person to use urethane and I'm kind of surprised I haven't seen more people doing it.

[Mermaid Jessica Pearl]

That nudibranch is the cutest thing! Can't wait to see more of your creations!

[Theobromine]

Thank you! I made a few other nudibranch molds or different species, but the clay was almost impossible to get out of some of the narrower parts of the molds (antennae, gills), so I still have to work on cleaning them out. Plus I still don't have the vibrant colors I need to make realistic nudibranchs, so I just have to revisit them later. I really love making creatures though! I have my master's in zoology so it really appeals to my science nerd side (side? More like self). Anyway, I think it would be really cool to make a whole series of scientifically accurate little sea creatures, cuz not only are they adorable, they'd be really useful for education.

[Aziara]

Having a flexible mold sounds like it would be quite useful. What do you use for a release agent when you pour your silicone?

[Miyu]

Oooh sweet thanks! I'll see what Morticia thinks (she's making my tail). I had wanted smooth skin, but I know that's a huge pain in the fluke, so maybe she'd be up for the idea! I'm think something more along the line of "cobblestone" looking for mine, yours are quite small and do look like a chameleon! :D

Can't wait to see more of your sea creatures! I adore the realistic, accurate ones to the "toy" ones any day!!!

[Theobromine]

Aziara, I actually haven't been using release agent for most of my test pours. The silicone doesn't bond to the urethane so it pulls away pretty well. I did try using Vaseline on that nudibranch casting, and it pulled out of the mold even better. I think I will do this from now on because it will prolong the mold life. I might try using a spray release at one point, but the Vaseline was cheap :P

Miyu, I actually did seriously consider doing smooth skin like an amphibian for my tail too, it would work really well with my design. But I really just want to something more...detailed. I don't think it would be hard to do a smooth skin mold though. All you'd have to do is get a big roll of that cheap craft foam and cut out the shape of the mold you want. It might be trickier to seam, but then again you could just spread smooth silicone over the seams to hide the join line, and it wouldn't screw up any scale shapes. I really want to see someone try this actually!

Also: just pulled my kelp mold and it came out amazing! Hooray! I have Friday off so I'll probably try to cast it then. I need to get a pour spout for my Dragonskin buckets, though. I bought pour spouts from Lowe's yesterday but they didn't fit the buckets :mad: And I'm really afraid of spilling my precious silicone and wasting it. The test silicone I've been using just came in small bottles which I put squeezy tops on like a condiment bottle, so it's really easy to pour. I just wish the Dragonskin came in something easier to pour from.

[PearlieMae]

I love your kelp fronds! I've been working on some but they look like crap. Be careful with putting Dragon Skin into condiment bottles, you have to use plastic that's markedPE (polyethylene). Regular plastic squeeze bottles get eaten by the unmixed silicone, and the whole top will come of while you're squeezing the bottle! I found sports water bottles at Five Below that work great!

[Theobromine]

Thanks for the tip, Pearlie! I might use that for the Dragonskin. I didn't actually put my other silicone into condiment bottles though, it just comes in bottles and I added the caps for easier dispensing. I got the caps at the same place I got the silicone so I knew they were okay. (Also: complimented on my sculpting work by Pearlie Mae, eee!)

Here's a picture of the kelp mold, it came out beautifully and I'm really excited to cast it!
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[*Celine*]

wow, this is looking incredible!! keep up the good work!

[Theobromine]

Thanks guys :)

[deepblue]

*subscribes*

Another great thread to watch. Your stuff all looks so great!

[Theobromine]

Thanks so much for the support, everyone! :) :) It really means a lot! And I'll try not to disappoint you guys by posting as many pics as I can!

So for my tail, I still need to get a board on which to do the sculpt. I'm going to try being really ambitious and do the whole thing, fluke and scales, in one piece. This is due to the way my design works....I really want the fluke and scales to blend together in a certain way. But it means I'll need to do a huuuuuuuge sculpt! You guys can help cheer me on (I almost typed kelp cheer me on :P )

I also picked up a respirator today at Home Depot for about 32 bucks. Can't be too careful, silicone and urethane do put out fumes. So far I've done fine with smaller amounts and just having the screen door open and a fan going, but for a huge casting I don't want to risk my health.

[Mermaid Wesley]

Wow!


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[Mermaid Lorelei]

-cheers-

[Mermaid Lyra]

Ahhhh!!! I love what you are doing already!! Keep it up!!

[Theobromine]

Thanks everyone!

Ok, well! I finally poured silicone into my kelp mold tonight and I'm waiting for it to finish curing! I wanted to pour it earlier but I was feeling rotten with job stress so I went out to lunch with my parents and talked to them for a long time.

Anyway! Trouble with Dragonskin #1: Those goddamn buckets! First I had to figure out how to even get the lid off, turns out you have to score the lip of the lid with a knife in several places. Ok, not a huge deal, but not something I've read about before.

Trouble with Dragonskin #2: Pouring it out of those goddamn buckets! I got two different types of paint pourers from the hardware store (to make it easier to pour without spilling because there is no pour spout) and neither of them fit. Bugger. I had learned the hard way with my TAP silicone that you have to be really careful pouring goo even out of smaller bottles because it is very easy to make a mess, and I do NOT want to be spilling and wasting my precious silicone. I ended up sacrificing two of my measuring cups so I could just scoop the silicone out of the buckets and pour it into my measuring cups that way. This worked pretty well, I just had to scrape the excess silicone out of the measuring cups and back into their respective buckets, then clean them off. By the way, for cleaning up sticky uncured silicone messes, I use isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle and lots of paper towels.

And my third issue was just that the Dragonskin is a lot more viscous than the TAP silicone I was practicing with. Not a huge deal, I assume it's just because Dragonskin has a higher shore hardness than the TAP stuff (Shore 10A as opposed to 8A, I believe). So while the TAP silicone was like pouring and stirring syrup, the Dragonskin felt almost more like peanut butter. Again, not a huge deal, but will just take a little getting used to working with it. The main problem from this that I wasn't anticipating was that it didn't flow through the mold anywhere near as quickly and easily as the thinner stuff, so I ended up making quite a mess when pouring it as I also had to spread it out, and as the kelp mold is composed mainly of narrow areas, it didn't end up looking pretty. Oh well, I can trim it up later.

I don't know if I will demold it tonight or tomorrow (I have to get up early for work, blahhhh....may start a separate thread for griping about work stress). But for now, here's a picture of the kelp curing while a school of stingrays watch over it.

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[Theobromine]

WOOOOOOOO, I pulled it and it came out great! I had extra silicone that I poured into a couple other molds, so I checked them and they were cured. Success!

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[Theobromine]

This weekend I will trim the excess silicone from around the edges, maybe paint it a bit to give it some shading, and see about attaching it to a bra. I still have to decide if I want to use silicone for the straps or just use fishing net. Anyway, so for the color of the kelp, I went for a greenish-gold shade, since if you google pictures of Macrocystis pyrifera it seems to be anywhere from green to yellow to brown, and it often seems to depend on the lighting anyway. I didn't want to make it brown. What do you guys think?

[Yulia]

The kelp look so realistic! O:
You did a great job with the color of it.

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Those kelp strands look gorgeous! Amazing job!
Yeah, I had no idea how to get the buckets open either, ended up having to watch a YouTube video :p
I found the best way to get the silicone out for relatively small pieces was to use tongue depressors; swirl them around in the bucket and lift out while turning (like you would with honey), then scrape the silicone off on the side of whatever container you're mixing it in. Or, for super small amounts, use a syringe (not with a needle of course), that way you can accurately measure part a and b by volume while getting it out of the container. They're also great for the seaming process. Hope this helps!

[Theobromine]

Syringes!!!! Brilliant, why didn't I think of that?! I did have some tongue depressors for stirring but I ran out. Have to get some more. I definitely like the syringe idea though, thanks for the tip! And the compliments too :)

[Miyu]

Eek! It's looking amazing! And that school of rays... I MUST HAVE ONE OR FIVE :swoon:

[Mermaid Galene]

Looks awesome!

[Theobromine]

I'm thinking about posting a couple of my stingrays for sale in the classifieds section. I don't want to start an Etsy shop yet, because I still feel like I haven't perfected them enough yet, and also I don't know if I could make a lot of them fast enough if a lot of people actually did want to buy them, but if I sell a couple here first and people like them, I'll definitely probably make a shop and start selling more of them. Eventually I want to make a whole lot of different sea creatures and make them as realistic as possible, but I need to refine my painting skills a LOT first. But I'm really excited about this idea. Not only are they cure and fun, but they'd be great for the mermaids who work with children and educate them about sea life! (I'm a huge fan of science education, just not a huge fan of working with children, personally).

Thanks again, so much, for all the encouragement everyone! I may be making rather slow progress on my actual tail, but this and my other silicone projects are my one exciting thing right now. My job sucks; it's really stressful and demoralizing and my boss is passive-aggressive and rude to everyone and everyone wants to quit and just grrrrr. So doing these projects is my outlet, and my reminder that I don't actually suck at everything.

[Theobromine]

I shaded the bulbs and edges of the kelp blades with gold so the color doesn't look so flat. What do you think? I can't decide if I should add a little more leaf-green shading down the centers of the blades or not.

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[Mermaid Jaffa]

Ooo! Neato!

[Ilyena]

Commenting so I can keep tabs on this awesomeness. But I agree a little pale green would go well down the centre. Those rays are soo cute ^_^.

You can open an etsy for them but only like list a one/ a couple at a time when you are ready to take orders for them.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

I love the kelp! A little green down the middle would be good, if you want my opinion.

[Theobromine]

Thanks for the input! <3 I will add the green, and try to finish this top today! It's my day off but I have a doctor's appointment in just a bit here. Currently trying to sew the last bits of netting straps on the bra base (I hate sewing), then will finish the silicone parts when I get back from my appointment. Fingers crossed it works out!

[Theobromine]

Aaaaannnnnnnd my top is done! It's not 100% perfect but it looks pretty freaking great if I do say so myself! I'm really proud of this and I've gained a lot of confidence in my abilities! Please don't share these pictures anywhere, I haven't had a chance to make a watermark yet (still waiting on a logo from Octavia, probably going to trade her for a top since this worked). I'm just excited and wanted to show you guys!

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[Echidna]

great stuff!
Looks very realistic.

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Looks great! Amazing work!

[Theobromine]

Thank you both! I'm really proud of it! I've always loved the look of Macrocystis pyrifera and I love how it looks as a mermaid top! There are a few things I'd improve on for the next one....casting the kelp blades thinner, for example, because this came out pretty heavy. It feels like it weighs about as much as a shell top with real lion's paw shells, so making it thinner and/or doing the straps a different way so it's not a halter top. I only did the halter top because I seem to have misplaced most of my spare netting somehow >:( I also realized that the kelp blades didn't cover the bra cups perfectly, so I had to paint the cups with green silicone. You can see that a bit but I think it came out ok and it's not too jarring. It just looks like some other seaweed behind the kelp.

[Nixe the Tropical Mermaid]

Shotgun having a tail made my you!! =D
All sounds great, Cant wait to hear all about how it goes !!!

[Mermaid Alea]

Oh wow I seriously love the top! You are amazing at sculpting! I love how on each leaf there is texture.

[Theobromine]

Thanks so much for all the lovely compliments everyone! I loved working on this, it makes me so happy it came out well!

Nixe, I <3 you! If I end up selling any tails after I make my own tail, you're first on my list of clients for sure! I miss you!

[Ilyena]

OMG That top....<3<3<3<3 I want a top like that now, it's soo amazing

[Yulia]

Yay more seaweed tops! \o/
It looks great, would look natural in the ocean.

[Sherielle]

How about a sting ray top? ;)
But seriously, I adore the little stingrays!
And that top is awesome!

[Theobromine]

I really love this top! I'm glad everyone approves! I really can't wait to go swimming (boooo winter and pools being closed for repairs). I really want to do a photoshoot in it. I'm pretty sure that with a few tweaks I could actually sell tops, but for right now I still want to get going on my tail and I want to make sure I have enough silicone for it and for all the crazy side fins I plan on doing :) But watch this space!

I'm not sure about doing a stingray top, since I know both Merbellas and Mermaid Hyli have made them. They're awesome, but I'm trying to make new and different things (yes seaweed tops have been made before, but not kelp ones!) I'm pretty happy with making my little stingrays and hopefully soon some other creatures. Just a little different than what other mers have been making :) (I like to swim against the tide)

[PearlieMae]

I LOVE it!!! I do want to buy some loose kelp strands when you get to the selling point.

I took this in San Diego a couple years ago...I love the color!

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[Vrindavana Starfish]

Wow that top is seriously cool. :)

[JamesGunnels]

you are very talented :D

[Mermaid Leira]

Love it, stunning! Very artistic!

[Mermaid Aprilia]

Wow, that top came out brilliantly!

[Mermaid Galene]

FABULOUS top !

[Theobromine]

I'm thinking of changing my scale design a little. I'm not going to scrap the chameleon scale idea, but I'm going to modify it a little by mixing in some other types of scales, I think. Stay tuned. I'm hoping to be able to actually get started on sculpting it this week.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Are you maybe going to do a blend of larger scales and smaller chameleon scales?

[Theobromine]

Yep, that was sort of my original plan actually (since if you look at chameleon skin up close, the scale sizes vary), but I think I'm also going to blend in some other scale shapes as well. I still have to do an actual concept design, though.

[Mermaid Nerida]

Your top is soooooo gorgeous. Like. I....... Ugh! I. CAN'T. EVEN.

Sent from my shell phone under the sea!

[Theobromine]

Thanks so much, Nerida! Tomorrow I'm actually going to have the chance to finally swim-test it! I've been so busy lately and I also hurt my back last week so I've been recovering from that...I haven't really been able to work on my project lately. But hopefully soon I can get back into it.

[Trident True]

WOW.... you deff have the gift of Artistic talent. I love your sting rays, they look so real. the top your created is very unique i think and when its inspired by the sea they look even better. the love the colour of it too it doesnt look fake looking or washed out. Very Impressed.

[Theobromine]

Thank you! I really appreciate your comments! I wore the top swimming today and it worked great, held up well and was really comfy! It may be heavy out of the water but like the tail, it was neutrally buoyant so it didn't feel heavy or pull on my neck while swimming like shell tops do. Success!

In tail news, I haven't gotten much done lately since I wrenched my back last week (it's better now). But I did get a board on which to make my actual sculpture. The problem I ran into...it's not long enough! The biggest boards you can find at the hardware stores are 4'x8', and my design is a bit longer than 8 feet! So I have to figure out a way to extend the board just so I can sculpt the tip of the tail :P

[Theobromine]

It took me a while to beat the ennui that's been plaguing me, but I finally finished making the pattern for my fluke shape and I really like how it looks! It may not seem like much but I kept psyching myself out because I wasn't confident about translating my ideas and small sketches to a full-size pattern. I still have to extend my work surface a bit but pretty soon I can start actually sculpting!

[Theobromine]

Ok, I haven't updates this in a while so I don't know if anyone's paying attention. I haven't been getting very far lately but I HAVE been working on the tail. I decided to start off making one of the side fins before starting on the main part of the tail, just to see how certain things work and how my design will look in silicone. It's coming along slowly but surely and I only have a little more detailing to do on the fin (second side, as it's going to stand up so has to be 3D), then I can mold it!

BLARRGRHGALKLHDJFKJGRLLH symmetrical sculpting though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Driving me nuts! I've been trying to be super perfect about making sure the two sides look as perfectly mirror-image as possible and I'm never QUITE satisfied. I know it will never be 100% perfect but I am a perfectionist and get super frustrated with myself when things don't turn out how I want them :violin:

I think, once I actually have the thing cast in silicone, I will post a picture of it. I've just been super paranoid about posting any of my designs anywhere online, especially after what just happened with Mermaid Syphira and Jazz. So please forgive my lack of pictures so far *beats dead horse*

Also.....I'm quitting my crummy job. There were just too many Last Straws, culminating in me getting bitched out about my attendance after calling out sick when I was...get this...sick :P (This is a thing that happens a lot, and not just to me). So even though I didn't find a new job first, I'm peacing out. I'm going to pursue doing this Mermaid Thing, and I'm also planning to get a scuba instructor certification, which I have been wanting to do for a couple years now. So yay! I've been second-guessing myself a bit lately, but this morning I saw a thing Pearlie Mae posted on Fb that made me feel a hell of a lot better....

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Thanks, Pearlie Mae :)

[Trident True]

BLARRGRHGALKLHDJFKJGRLLH symmetrical sculpting though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Driving me nuts! I've been trying to be super perfect about making sure the two sides look as perfectly mirror-image as possible and I'm never QUITE satisfied. I know it will never be 100% perfect but I am a perfectionist and get super frustrated with myself when things don't turn out how I want them :violin:

im the same, get an A0 sheet of paper or A1 X2 sheets placed together fold in half drawn fluke shape, cut out, symmetrical fluke. for finer details. fold fluke shape over in half, draw design on then simply cut along the lines. Don't cut over the paper edge though. this gives you the butterfly effect. everything will be 100% symmetrical.

[Theobromine]

That's basically what I'm doing. The problem isn't getting the outlines drawn right, it's making sure everything translates perfectly into clay. I'm not doing a fish-like fin, it's got a lot of tendril-like things that make the design more complicated than it looks, and I have to get the two halves to match up perfectly when they're cast in silicone, because the membrane between them should be thin enough to be translucent. So it's not just the outlines that have to match up, it's all the inner details as well. That's the idea, anyway.

Just out of curiosity, Trident True, where in QLD do you live? I lived in Townsville for three years.

[Trident True]

I Live down near Rainbow Beach. just off Fraser island 15 mins both ways to either ocean or bay :)

[MermaidBrandie]

I love the little stingray. Hair clip?

[Theobromine]

Nice, Trident! I never made it to that area but it sounds lovely!

Thanks, CoyoteWalker! I suppose they could be made into hair clips! I just really enjoy having them as cute little animals, though. Mermaid Pets. I might start offering them for sale pretty soon, so stay tuned.

Also! My fin mold came out perfectly! I haven't had the chance to actually cast the fin in silicone yet, but I'm excited to see how that turns out. I'll have to be really careful as it's verrrry thin in parts (intentionally). I just have two more days of crappy job and then I can work on this tail full time and I'll finally really be able to get somewhere with it!

[Theobromine]

Sorry it's been so quiet around here. I've been sculpting away and am nearing completion on my fluke! I'm so excited for it to be done! I'll post a picture of that once it's finished, but for now....here's my fin that I made! It's only a small part of the tail, but I'm really excited that it turned out. I cast it a little too thick so the edges didn't blend together perfectly but that's easy to fix for next time. This picture has both sides put together so it's symmetrical, but I got lazy and didn't trim off all the tiny overflow bits on the edges because this isn't the final version. Final version will be a lot neater. Hope you guys like it though! I've worked so hard to make this tail concept unique!

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I've also decided to try making some mer-armor! I love armor and I made some last year for my cosplay at PAX, and I've noticed that some people might be interested in mer-armor as well. I'm working on a breastplate and if my first set turns out well I might consider taking commissions on them!

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Girl!!!

[Theobromine]

Oh yeah, and I have to get my shit together and open an Etsy shop so I can sell critters and stuff!

[MermaidBrandie]

Loving that fin :)


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[Ashton]

I now need a sea weed top of yours!

[MermaidAine]

Oh my goodness your stuff is great! Can't wait to see the full tail!

[Theobromine]

Thanks everyone, I'm so glad you like my stuff! And I will definitely open an Etsy and I will sell the kelp tops! I'm debating doing that after I finish the tail, because I don't want to run out of silicone before then (although if I sold enough tops and stingrays, I might be able to just buy some more silicone with the money from that?) How long does it usually take Dragonskin to ship? Mine was a Christmas present so I didn't order it myself.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

It depends on where you're ordering from. My orders were shipped from Texas and took about a week and a half.

PLEASE sell your kelp tops. Just saying.

[Theobromine]

I will I will!! :cool:

[PearlieMae]

<---first in line for kelp fronds, please! :D

[Theobromine]

Pearlie Mae, I haven't forgotten! I have to order some more pigments anyway since I ran out of my little sample ones (used up aaaalllll the yellow and green). I guess I might as well start selling things now because I'm not going to finish all my tail sculpts this week anyway, I shouldn't think (almost done with the fluke though, wooooooo!) I will look into setting up an Etsy shop today! I guess it's one of my little stupid anxiety things I have to get over...knowing I can make stuff people like versus actually selling stuff (anxiety ftw). I'm excited to make things but I'm terrified of somehow letting people down. :rolleyes:

[PearlieMae]

Ah, don't sweat it! I opened an Etsy shop when they first launched nearly ten years ago and have only had just over 200 sales - most of them in the last year! Ha! Then again, I don't push my shop much and I'm always surprised when I get an order...and remember, artists and crafters are generally their own harshest critics! You'll do great!

[Elodea the Mermaid]

Would you consider making a top out of your stingrays? I would love to commission something like that or purchase some rays from your store when it opens and make my own. I love your sculpts.

(Also, PAX Prime is the highlight of my year, and my boyfriend's been Enforcing since 2006! I'll be cosplaying Domino, Marceline, and Opal from Steven Universe this year, and swimming in the Sheraton's indoor pool :-D)

[Theobromine]

My current stingrays are palm-sized, so I don't think they'd work well as a top. I supposed I could always sculpt larger ones specifically for a top, but I know both Hyli and Raven have made stingray tops and I wouldn't want anyone to think I'd copied them. I'd consider it at some point though, if I could think of a way to really put my own distinctive spin on it. For now though, I will be offering the baby stingrays very soon! I just made a huge order of Pearl Ex and it should be here mid-next week!

And Pearlie, too right on being our own harshest critics :P

[Elodea the Mermaid]

My thought was one ray for each breast with the tails wrapping around the back, rather than one across both. Still, palm sized is definitely too small for that... the perfect size for a little shoulder-riding friend though! I'll keep an eye out for your shop :-)

[Mermaid Coralia]

I have been dying fora stingray top forever. They are my favorite animal, I even have a tattoo of one! lol. I've tried to get a hold of Raven a few times but she's always so busy, and I don't think she makes them for the general public since they're not on here facebook with her other tops. You could also put like, a small elastic strap on the under side of the sting ray so you can wear it on your arm or wrist or such when you swim. That would be too cute.

[Theobromine]

I actually did think of having one ray on each breast after you mentioned the top idea, Carabosse!

Well, since you guys seem to be so interested in the ray tops, I'll definitely consider it! Got some other projects I'm working on right now so it may have to wait a bit, but I will start making my current baby stingrays available really soon. I'll have the new pigments in about a week and a half, but I do have a few I've already made and saved up. Some of them aren't perfect, but I might start selling them off in a day or two once I have my Etsy shop set up! I also can't wait to show off the armor I've been working on, though! I've made the breastplate and just finished the bracers, then I just have to make pauldrons and paint everything!

[Theobromine]

If I do a stingray top, what I might do is make the two stingrays separate, so the tails could point in either direction (either back around the sides or crossed in front), depending on people's preference. How does that sound?

[Rett]

Love the progress! Your top is amazing! I also LOVE the fins and the little stingrays. Cant wait to see your whole tail! :D

[Elodea the Mermaid]

I think that sounds wonderful. Configuration options are always a good thing.

Can't wait to see this armor! So exciting!

[Aziara]

Still, palm sized is definitely too small for that... the perfect size for a little shoulder-riding friend though! I'll keep an eye out for your shop :-)
Or attached to a fishing line tied to you, so it looks like the little guy is following you around. That would be adorable! :swoon:
Please post a link to your etsy when you make it, Theobromine! I want some little aquatic friends too.

[Theobromine]

That WOULD be adorable! Gosh, I should dig up this picture I have (I don't think I posted it already) of when I put one of the stingrays in the bath and my cat was entranced by it. It was sooo adorable!

Today: more sculpting, more armor-crafting (and priming then painting the pieces I already have). Also thinking of a name for my Etsy shop. Lorelei suggested Shipwrecked-something, like Shipwreck Studios (and then I thought of Shipwrecked by Cyanea). I like this but I'm not 100% sure yet. I was kind of thinking of making it sound a little more scientific, because that appeals to me a lot (I'm a zoologist and a huge science nerd, I love scientific names, hence my mermaid name :P ) I had a passing thought to have different shops for my sea creatures (make it the scientific one) and for my apparel stuff (and call that one shipwrecked) but I think having two different shops would be too much trouble.

If I'm feeling about my fluke sculpt, I might post a teaser picture of it!

Hey Pearlie, I got a question for you. Do you want the kelp strands for something specific, like attaching to a top or something? Or just for general crafts or a prop? I ask because I was a doof when I sculpted it and made some of the blades a wee bit short so not all of them will go all the way over a bra cup, which necessitated a little creative rearranging on my part. For the next top I make I'll just fix that problem by making a couple extra kelp blades to stick on the bra cup underneath the main one to cover any gaps, so if you want it for something like that I could make you a couple spare blades as well, for any extra coverage. Also, would you want me to just cast a single solid color and send that to you, or paint it myself? I know you're good with silicone and could paint it however you want, but it wouldn't take too much extra time or effort for me to add some shading. Will let you know as soon as my pigments arrive!

[Claudefish]

GaaaaaHhhhH! I love what you're doing, the kelp top is genius! I am slowly catching up to what has been happening while I've been away...but great work!!

[Theobromine]

Thank you!!

[Theobromine]

Btw I love that gif in your signature, that turn you do looks so graceful and natural!

[Theobromine]

Yaaaaaaaaaayyy, my Pearl Ex shipped!! Should be here on Monday!

[Mermaid Coralia]

I love that idea for having the two stingrays be separate. It'd be so cute to have them facing each other with the tails going around the back and like, a gem or something in between their mouths in the middle! I can't wait for your etsy shop.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Now I want a stingray top from you. With their little tails twined around each other looking all adorable... You're going to have all of my money eventually Cyanea. <3

[Theobromine]

Hee hee :) Stingray top could definitely be a thing! I need to get some boob mannequins to sculpt on...

[Mermaid Lorelei]

I found my bust mannequin on Ebay. They sell all different sizes of boobs, too. (Awkward sentence that I never thought I'd type...)

[Theobromine]

Bahahahaha, still better than that one time we were trying to figure out how to swim past the camera together and I was like "so, uhh...do you want to be on the top or the, uh, bottom?"
:P

[Rett]

They sell all different sizes of boobs, too. (Awkward sentence that I never thought I'd type...)
Lol! :lol:

[Vela]

ooh A string ray top sounds awesome!! And the kelp top is fantastic!!! Can't wait to see what else you come up with!!

[Theobromine]

Ok sooo, I've been working hard all week on stuff but everything is just taking longer than I want it to :P Also, I suddenly got into a very rare cleaning mood so I figured I should take advantage of it while I could and clean up my apartment and try to get more organized. It looks like a prop shop exploded in here.

Anyway, I think I will set up the Etsy shop next week instead of this week. It will give me time to make a few more things with the new pigments and get some better pictured of everything to post. I don't want to rush everything and make it look sloppy. I really appreciate all the encouragement everyone is giving me, though! So in the meantime, please enjoy this picture of my cat Mist trying to catch a stingray:

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[Elodea the Mermaid]

That looks like a real ray! A blue spotted ray, actually. And this is the cutest picture I have ever seen.

[PearlieMae]

...snip...
Hey Pearlie, I got a question for you. Do you want the kelp strands for something specific, like attaching to a top or something? Or just for general crafts or a prop? I ask because I was a doof when I sculpted it and made some of the blades a wee bit short so not all of them will go all the way over a bra cup, which necessitated a little creative rearranging on my part. For the next top I make I'll just fix that problem by making a couple extra kelp blades to stick on the bra cup underneath the main one to cover any gaps, so if you want it for something like that I could make you a couple spare blades as well, for any extra coverage. Also, would you want me to just cast a single solid color and send that to you, or paint it myself? I know you're good with silicone and could paint it however you want, but it wouldn't take too much extra time or effort for me to add some shading. Will let you know as soon as my pigments arrive!

How did I miss this?

I was just looking for the 'fresh from the mold' kelp strands that I could fashion into...whatever! I love that greenish gold of your original, so just let me know!

[Theobromine]

Ok, greenish gold kelp is easy enough to do! I'll start making some when my box of pigments arrives (totally out of green). I've been calculating the volume of each mold so I know how much silicone I'm using, so I should be able to figure out how to price everything soon.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

I'm so proud of you Cyanea! And Mist is freaking adorable.

[Theobromine]

Hehe thanks :) And Mist is a cheeky bugger. We bought him a little toy shark that swims and he chases it around the bath.

I am sooooooo bad at organization but I am trying really hard right now. I'm sick of never being able to find anything. I think it's important to get this done now, though, because I should be able to be a lot more productive when everything is more organized.

[Vrindavana Starfish]

Hehe thanks :) And Mist is a cheeky bugger. We bought him a little toy shark that swims and he chases it around the bath.

I am sooooooo bad at organization but I am trying really hard right now. I'm sick of never being able to find anything. I think it's important to get this done now, though, because I should be able to be a lot more productive when everything is more organized.

Organization can be learned! If I could do it, anyone can. It helps me to sit down and actually write out how I'm going to organize. If I have shelves, what items will be together on a shelf? All paints together, all tools? How much space do I need? Then I put the stuff away and decide after if I need any special organization boxes or anything, and what kind before I go get it. For time and jobs, I use a mixture of google spreadsheets, google calendar, and a planner that is constantly evolving.

Good luck! Can't wait to see more of your work!

[Theobromine]

Thank you, I will keep all of that in mind! I have a set of shelves I need to build (just cheap Target ones but it's a start), hopefully that will help me get started. I really need more vertical storage space.

[Theobromine]

YAY my Pearl Ex came!! I'm going to be playing around with a lot of the new colors today! I'm making tops at cost for a couple of my friends so that they can test them for me, let me know about anything I need to change or improve, and help me figure out an appropriate price before I start offering them for sale. Making things for friends first is less stressful than just selling them right away, and I know they'll still be honest about anything I need to fix :) And once I actually get my Etsy shop set up, I'll probably make a new thread for it so I don't keep clogging up my tailmaking thread with other stuff.

And in terms of tailmaking, I still have a lot to do there but I'm hoping to have time to keep working on the sculpture this afternoon. It would be amazing if I could finish it this week!!

[Mermaid Lorelei]

<3 I love all of these progress updates!

[Theobromine]

Ok, I finally set up my Etsy shop YAAAYYYY!! Here's the link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SeaSerpentStudios

I will probably start a separate thread for my Etsy and my little critter creations so I can keep this tailmaking thread focused more on tailmaking. But please go check out my shop! I have the stingrays and five types of nudibranchs listed so far, with the kelp tops to be listed as soon as I do a little more product testing!

[Vrindavana Starfish]

Nice start to your shop!

[Theobromine]

Thank you! I started a new thread for my Etsy shop (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?10820-Adorable-silicone-sea-creatures-on-Etsy!&p=188894#post188894). That's where I'll post updates and new products, including when my kelp tops are ready for sale and eventually my armor, if that works out after some more testing.

[Mermaid Rillia]

Very nice start to your etsy. Have you considered making scale pieces that could be adhered with spirit gum to the skin. I'd love to have arm scale patches. I'd also be super interested in bracers and armour when you have finished testing it all out.:)

[Theobromine]

Thanks! Absolutely, I could do scale patches! One of my first silicone tests was a super-basic (like threw together when I realized I'd mixed extra mold material and didn't want to waste it) scale patch that actually looked really cool just stuck to the back of my hand. I think I may have posted a picture of it in the beginning of this thread? Anyway, once I make my tail I'll definitely do some scale patches. After my sea serpent tail that I'm making, I'm also going to make a tail for a friend that's going to be of the more traditional ichthyian variety, and I've been planning to make the scales as realistic as possible. I think it would be cool to make scale patches of those too.

And I really need to just suck it up and finish the paint job on the bracers and breastplate :P It's not perfect but at least I can show you guys the sort of thing I can make. I think I really need to get some better paints, though.

[Theobromine]

O haaaay guise! Remember this thread anyone? You probably don't, but that doesn't mean I haven't been working on this project! I've just been a little preoccupied with my Etsy stuff lately, but I also went full paranoid and decided not to post a ton of status updates on my tail because yeah, paranoid :P But now I can report that I've actually made a LOT of progress: I finished my insanely detailed fluke sculpt and made the mold which came out GREAT, and I've made my scales and they also look great! I made my lexan monofin and swim-tested it a few times and it swam really well, but the last time I used it I wrenched my foot out of it a little too hard and one of the footpockets came up from the blade, so I still have to fix that. The last major thing I have to do for this tail is sculpt and mold a few more fins, then I'm ready to put the whole sucker together! I'm going to wait until I have all the molds ready to go, then just marathon casting all the pieces so I can put them together while everything's still fresh. I'm pretty confident about the paint job at this point, since I've had a lot of practice doing eensy weensy detail work on my little critters!

Anyway, here's a picture of a scale patch test I did, I'm super happy with how it's looking! and I might just make extra patches like this to spirit gum all over the place! :dance:

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Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooo

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Oooh I love your scales! I was wondering if anyone would make some like that, they look even better than I imagined! I look forward to seeing what you've come up with for the fluke and fins!

[Theobromine]

Thank you :D I posted my rough test of that scale type like, way back in the beginning of this thread, but it was something I just chucked together in five seconds to use up some extra urethane, so this time I took care to make them really round and smooth. I can't wait to cast the whole thing! I think this scale type is going to lend itself really well to some very cool effects!

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

May I ask what glue you used to stick the footpockets to the lexan? I'm looking to make my own lexan monofin, and I've heard polyzap is good, but alternatives are nice too!

[Theobromine]

I used this flexible marine epoxy that specifies that it's meant for use on difficult materials like lexan and rubber: http://www.marinetex.com/marinetexflexset.html

I haven't tried Poly Zap before but I might pick some up sometime to try making another fin with so I can do a comparison test.

[Merman Lir]

those scales are very cool!

[AnnaAbyss]

Ooooooh this uber detailed fluke sounds good :D

[Theobromine]

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE!

I'm so close to being done with all the molds for my tail, I've decided to finally show off some of the work I've been doing! I was going to wait until I had them ALL done, possibly even until I had most of it cast, but I can't wait any longer :P I only have two more small fins I need to finish sculpting anyway. I'm waiting until all the molds are done so I can cast all the pieces and start assembling the beast all at once. As you probably know if you've been following this thread, I'm a little paranoid about sharing my designs too soon, so I've not only collaged the pictures and watermarked it, I stuck my face in there a couple times too :P I haven't wanted to post too much too soon, but I also don't want to wait too long and have somebody else make something too similar to it. I've noticed some tails showing up with details or shapes that are similar to what I've been working on so I guess I should finally just put this out there to show what I've been working on so long. I started sculpting the fluke and the first accent fin at the beginning of the year, and I drew my original concept design two or three years ago, so....it's about damn time I get somewhere on this! :gah:

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[MermaidBrandie]

Love love love!!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

[Theobromine]

So basically this design has reptilian and amphibian characteristics, with the reptile scales, tendrils instead of fin rays, and thin membranes in the fluke and fins. The picture at the top right of the collage is me putting my foot about where they'll go once I put the monofin in. Then I've got some close-up details of the original sculpt, with the chameleon-inspired scales as well as keeled scutes that I based on spiny lizard scales, combined with the concept of snake ventral scutes.

[Elodea the Mermaid]

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE!

I'm so close to being done with all the molds for my tail, I've decided to finally show off some of the work I've been doing! I was going to wait until I had them ALL done, possibly even until I had most of it cast, but I can't wait any longer [emoji14] I only have two more small fins I need to finish sculpting anyway. I'm waiting until all the molds are done so I can cast all the pieces and start assembling the beast all at once. As you probably know if you've been following this thread, I'm a little paranoid about sharing my designs too soon, so I've not only collaged the pictures and watermarked it, I stuck my face in there a couple times too [emoji14] I haven't wanted to post too much too soon, but I also don't want to wait too long and have somebody else make something too similar to it. I've noticed some tails showing up with details or shapes that are similar to what I've been working on so I guess I should finally just put this out there to show what I've been working on so long. I started sculpting the fluke and the first accent fin at the beginning of the year, and I drew my original concept design two or three years ago, so....it's about damn time I get somewhere on this! :gah:

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You are a crazy-talented scuplture monster and I want to be you when I grow up.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

[Theobromine]

Thanks, CoyoteWalker!

This thing is gonna be a BEAST!

[Theobromine]

You are a crazy-talented scuplture monster and I want to be you when I grow up.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

Haha thanks :)

[PearlieMae]

HOLY SEA COW!!!! I am going to faint from the AWESOMENESS!!!!!!!!

:fallover::jawdrop::yay:
:hail::hail::hail::hail::hail::hail::hail::hail:

Oh, I can't WAIT to see you put this together!!!!

[Theobromine]

Pearlie, coming from you, that makes ME want to faint! :$

And....holy crap *I* can't wait to get this thing put together!!! I think I've been going myopic from squinting at tiny tiny scales for hours on end...

[Merenneito Nerissa]

Wow.. just, wow..

:clap:

[PearlieMae]

Those perfectly rounded textures...the row down the center...how??? I...uh...it's just so...:gah:

:cry:

[Theobromine]

It took me about 7 months to sculpt, if that's any consolation :P I thought I was gonna go insane for a while, I think it took me two weeks JUST to do the all the scales on the fluke... :fallover:

[Theobromine]

Come to think of it, seaming the whole thing and matching up all the edges will probably take me another 7 months :doh:

[PearlieMae]

Grrrr....now I have to step up my game!

http://replygif.net/i/1397.gif

[Theobromine]

PAHAHAHA!

[Marinus Mortimer]

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE!

I'm so close to being done with all the molds for my tail, I've decided to finally show off some of the work I've been doing! I was going to wait until I had them ALL done, possibly even until I had most of it cast, but I can't wait any longer :P I only have two more small fins I need to finish sculpting anyway. I'm waiting until all the molds are done so I can cast all the pieces and start assembling the beast all at once. As you probably know if you've been following this thread, I'm a little paranoid about sharing my designs too soon, so I've not only collaged the pictures and watermarked it, I stuck my face in there a couple times too :P I haven't wanted to post too much too soon, but I also don't want to wait too long and have somebody else make something too similar to it. I've noticed some tails showing up with details or shapes that are similar to what I've been working on so I guess I should finally just put this out there to show what I've been working on so long. I started sculpting the fluke and the first accent fin at the beginning of the year, and I drew my original concept design two or three years ago, so....it's about damn time I get somewhere on this! :gah:

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Wow this is a materpiece :swoon:

[Madison MerFaerie]

Sweet lord that's gorgeous! You're amazing! I cannot wait to see the completed project!!!

[Starfrit]

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE!

I'm so close to being done with all the molds for my tail, I've decided to finally show off some of the work I've been doing! I was going to wait until I had them ALL done, possibly even until I had most of it cast, but I can't wait any longer :P I only have two more small fins I need to finish sculpting anyway. I'm waiting until all the molds are done so I can cast all the pieces and start assembling the beast all at once. As you probably know if you've been following this thread, I'm a little paranoid about sharing my designs too soon, so I've not only collaged the pictures and watermarked it, I stuck my face in there a couple times too :P I haven't wanted to post too much too soon, but I also don't want to wait too long and have somebody else make something too similar to it. I've noticed some tails showing up with details or shapes that are similar to what I've been working on so I guess I should finally just put this out there to show what I've been working on so long. I started sculpting the fluke and the first accent fin at the beginning of the year, and I drew my original concept design two or three years ago, so....it's about damn time I get somewhere on this! :gah:

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http://data.whicdn.com/images/24457608/large.gif

The textures and detailing on your sculpts (and the smoothness!) are to die for. I wish I had your talent!

[Mermaid Wesley]

wwwwow

[Theobromine]

Awwwww shucks, thanks everyone :)

[Luna Dreamtide]

This is exquisite work. You certainly have a talent for this.

[Dancing Fish]

The biologist in me is totally grabbing my inner artist and shaking her with excitement! "Look!! Look!!" Wow!!!

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Oh my gosh, this is stunning! Such incredible work!! Can't wait to see it brought to life!

[Fifi Tigg]

:swoon: OMG soooooooooooo fricken awesome!!!!!

[Theobromine]

Thanks so much everyone :D I'm hoping I can finish up the last two fin sculpts and mold them tonight! Then in the next couple days I'll be making a top to match the tail, so I'll be able to test my ideas for fitting things together. Wish me luck!

[Saelyyia]

Oh my! Your work is the die for Theobromine! I can't wait to see what your finished product looks like. You have done jaw dropping work so far!

[Trident True]

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE!

I'm so close to being done with all the molds for my tail, I've decided to finally show off some of the work I've been doing! I was going to wait until I had them ALL done, possibly even until I had most of it cast, but I can't wait any longer :P I only have two more small fins I need to finish sculpting anyway. I'm waiting until all the molds are done so I can cast all the pieces and start assembling the beast all at once. As you probably know if you've been following this thread, I'm a little paranoid about sharing my designs too soon, so I've not only collaged the pictures and watermarked it, I stuck my face in there a couple times too :P I haven't wanted to post too much too soon, but I also don't want to wait too long and have somebody else make something too similar to it. I've noticed some tails showing up with details or shapes that are similar to what I've been working on so I guess I should finally just put this out there to show what I've been working on so long. I started sculpting the fluke and the first accent fin at the beginning of the year, and I drew my original concept design two or three years ago, so....it's about damn time I get somewhere on this! :gah:

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This is ABSOLUTELY STUNNING, it really shows how good your artist talents really are. it shows PATIENCE and def a lot of that. seriously you have done an extremely wonderful job on this. you make me look armature but i suppose the more detail you put into a design the better it will look in the long run. you have created such a fascinating design its simply breathtaking to look at. the scales are def something to look at, so fine detail would of taken ages. your really are a real credit to your profession. this is truly a work of art. Stunning. more on a personal note. you are like me when everything has to be even, balanced etc. I'm annual about everything being symmetrical. :cheerleader:

[Merman_Shawn]

WOW! It's amazing!

https://33.media.tumblr.com/02bee9d34df885593d6a6de2f0b9242a/tumblr_nrdospvILj1u19ayto1_400.gif

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh, such happy, so yay, much proud! (Gotta love mermaid Doge)

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/90/13/92/901392130a683f0787dc9b961ea9440d.jpg

But seriously guys, I saw this thing in person and HOLY FISH BALLS. It's amazing! Normally the closer you get to a sculpt, the plainer it gets, but this thing just keeps on going! Details for miles with these pieces. It made my fingers hurt just looking at it. :P

[Theobromine]

<3 <3 <3

[Keiris]

It just looks FANTASTIC Theobromine!!!! Your sculpting talents are beyond measure!!!! DEFINITELY worth the wait!! :D

[Theobromine]

Thanks Keiris, that is a huge compliment! I really admire your sculpting talent as well!

*blushing forever*

[MermaidBrandie]

*quietly waits for finished look*

I would color it like a raptor

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

[Azurin Luna]

Holy moly! That looks incredible! :D
I had a similar idea for my tail, mine would be more alien styled, but now it would look like nothing compared to your awesome tail.
Very nicely done! Can't wait to see it finished :D

[Theobromine]

Thank you guys! Sorry it's coming along slowly and I'm kinda bad about updating. Slowly but surely, I'm getting there and I should have a couple new fins to show you soon :) I didn't get anything done this weekend because I was actually out having fun in the sun for once with some friends and family. Today it looks like I have to do some Adulting because my car tabs are expired so I have to go renew them and get my emissions tested BLEARRRGH :P That and some other things, but hopefully I'll have time to work on fun stuff after doing boring stuff.

[Ashton]

*drops jaw*
that is just wonderful

[Mermaid Riia]

WAAAHH that detail on your sculpting is insane! This is going to be my main stalking thread from now on. Period!
You talented you! <3 and there's nothing wrong with slow! With sneek peaks like this we can and will wait :P

[Theobromine]

Thanks Ashton and Riia :3

I should be able to get the top put together tomorrow, I have all the pieces finally. It's going to have the chameleon scales, two little accent fins, and some larger scales I made sorta as a test to see how they look. I'm still debating on whether or not I'm going to use them on the tail itself...I'll have to see how they look on the top, which is why I'm making the top first. Gotta test everything! I'd take a picture of the fins to post here now but I already turned my phone off so you gotta wait until tomorrow :P

[Theobromine]

PS, I just want to say to EVERYONE, thank you all so much for your kind and encouraging words. I've been feeling like kind of a failure in most other areas of my life lately (how do I adult, why is adulting so hard) and the only things I'm good at are 1. Talking people's ears off about fish, and 2. Squishing clay into cool shapes and painting things a bit. And even that frustrates me a lot of the time because I just feel like I'm so slow at it. I know I can make pretty things but it just takes me so long to complete anything that I still get really mad at myself (I'm rather hard on myself, can you tell?). I guess it just really helps to know that this is worth it, and that people appreciate the things I create. I'm not fishing for compliments here or anything, it just makes me feel like I'm not wasting my time on this just for my own foolish amusement.

From now on I will TRY to update this thread more often. <3

[Dancing Fish]

*hugs* I've been there too. We had a really rough patch in the past few weeks where I could barely adult enough to get to work, let alone get the kid fed and bathed and out the door to school. Dishes? Laundry? NOT. And I get the perfectionism, too. I constantly fight it. I've embraced my inner C+ :) Hang in there!

[Vrindavana Starfish]

1) Adulting is hard, and nobody really has it totally figured out. We're all just big children trying to raise ourselves.
2) You are so incredibly talented at your art, do not feel like a failure. If you want to get work done faster, there are organization tricks and techniques that you can use to help you get there. Organization is not a natural ability for 99% of artists, but it can totally be learned, and might help you be more efficient. Key word is efficient, because the work that you do is so detailed and beautiful that it makes sense that it would take some time.

[Theobromine]

Dancing Fish and Vrindavana Starfish, thank you both, I really appreciate this. :group hug:

Man, I can't even imagine trying to raise other humans when it's a struggle just to look after myself and my cats (and my tortoise and my hamster and my snake) most days. And yes, as I've mentioned before, organization is unfortunately NOT my strong suit, which is super frustrating. (Any tips you wanna share or articles you wanna link to would be cool...) I find it especially frustrating because while the lack of organizational skills makes sense for the artist side of my brain, it REALLY pisses off the scientist part of my brain :P I try to incorporate my love of biology into my art but then the rational side of me wants to take a scientific approach to art as well, which just doesn't seem to end up working. :gah:

Anyway, as promised, here's a picture of my new fins in a comparison shot with the original fin I made. I'm glad I made the new ones smaller because they actually stand up on their own! I got them thinner and a lot more even than the first one, too. I still love the shape of the big fin and I'm still going to use it, just not on the heels as I'd originally planned. I've rearranged the fin placement a bit but the effect is still going to be the same.

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[Vrindavana Starfish]

As a scientist/artist myself, I totally understand all your frustrations! My solution: I have a couple of spreadsheets that I use to track things like monthly finances - bills and budget. Then I have a few where I've got my "future plans" that my husband and I sat down and mapped out. Once every few months, we pull these out and evaluate where we are in our process and see if we've gotten off track.

For day-to-day stuff, I have a planner. I used a bullet-journal for a while, and that wasn't bad, but then I found out about travel journals, and I liked that better. Why is a planner a good idea? Because you can make it an art project by itself, and that makes artists more likely to actually use it. I made this one (http://gopifit.tumblr.com/post/117901255342/so-i-recently-found-out-about-midori-travelers) that I wrote a blog post about. I will take 15-20 minutes every week to set up the next week, where I'll write in things that have to get done. I have a schedule on my Google calendar, so I know when my work times are, and I have time set aside for workouts and errands. I stay pretty disciplined, but there's still room to move things around if I have to reschedule. It took me a while to find a planner style I liked because there are literally hundreds out there. I went with one I can fully customize and change at will vs. a pre-made one, but having a planner where you get to cross off things you've done is really awesome. You feel so accomplished every time you mark something off as done, and it can be very motivating.

links:
http://www.bulletjournal.com
http://www.jetpens.com/blog/midori-travelers-notebook-a-comprehensive-guide/pt/726

Pintrest has lots of planning/journaling stuff.

But the best thing you can do is make some kind of schedule and map out when you do certain things. You can set aside free time for whatever you want, but things like errands, work, finances, try to make those happen at regular times and at the same time of day. A schedule is super important if you work from home. it makes the "adulting" stuff pretty much automatic so that it takes up the least amount of time possible. Make your schedule a game or an art project that you can see and refer to, and give yourself ways to mark progress to keep you motivated. I only get to play on MerNetwork after I've finished my work for the morning, or during my lunch break, which is over now. :P

Hope some of this is helpful!

[Theobromine]

That's very helpful, thank you :) I mean, I do know that sort of thing is helpful, but I've always had trouble with discipline in just getting started :P Having specific ideas for making it easier helps. I will try some of your ideas!

[Theobromine]

I actually REALLY love your idea of turning a planner into an art project to help motivate you to use it! I'll definitely have to try that. People always tell me "oh just use an app on your phone" but I HAAAAAAAATE relying on my phone for everything! Weird, because it seems like it would be the handiest way to do it, but I really really hate phones :P I'd LIKE to be able to rely on technology more for that sort of thing because there are all sorts of cool possibilities for linking things and syncing all your stuff together, but I just find it more distracting than anything. I've just yet to find a day planner I've actually been able to stick with. So I really like this idea.

[MerEmma]

WOW, I love the new fins. <3 Color, shape, the thick veins! So beautiful.

[darksiren]

Your sculpts are just incredible. I'm a very dragon kind of person too. I cannot wait to see how this turns out!!!

[Theobromine]

Thank you both! I'm very excited to be making progress on this! And I was just telling a friend a couple hours ago that if I was ever a furry I would definitely be a dragon, haha. But as I'm a mermaid and not a furry, my main wish is to just be mermaid-me with an awesome dragon bff ;) I actually have more dragon paraphernalia around my house than mermaid stuff (I guess because since I always think of myself as a mermaid, I tend to collect stuff I think a mermaid would LIKE, not just images of mermaids, if that makes sense. I'm so tired.)

I've got the top almost all constructed! I have the main parts all stuck down, I just have to finish scaling it tomorrow and then paint it. I gotta crash right now though, I've had a sleep-loss headache all day. Bleh.

[Azurin Luna]

Haha, we are almost the same, I also have a lot of dragons around my house.

Love the fin model! Keep up the fintastic work :D

[Theobromine]

While slurping my tea this morning I came across this video by Bill Doran from Punished Props breaking down why custom commissioned cosplay props are so expensive:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeNxKtX-I_U&amp;feature=youtu.be

It's very applicable to tailmaking and other mermaid stuff and it made me feel better about what I'm doing. I guess I'd consider myself to be still in the R&D phase, hence the amount of time everything is still taking me, but this highly detailed handmade stuff SHOULD take time, otherwise it would look like crap. At one point he also mentions having a highly specialized skill set, which is something I'm also working on for myself. I think I can eventually get to the point where I can say that about myself as well. I do know that I have a lot of original ideas, and I think that and my science background helps give my designs a unique flair. That's something I'm proud of.

I'd also like to point out that Bill Doran used to have a very high-paying job at Microsoft, which he quite to become a full-time propmaker (as well as doing the con circuit; I saw him at ECCC in March judging the cosplay contest).

Carry on :)

[Vrindavana Starfish]

While slurping my tea this morning I came across this video by Bill Doran from Punished Props breaking down why custom commissioned cosplay props are so expensive:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeNxKtX-I_U&amp;feature=youtu.be

It's very applicable to tailmaking and other mermaid stuff and it made me feel better about what I'm doing. I guess I'd consider myself to be still in the R&D phase, hence the amount of time everything is still taking me, but this highly detailed handmade stuff SHOULD take time, otherwise it would look like crap. At one point he also mentions having a highly specialized skill set, which is something I'm also working on for myself. I think I can eventually get to the point where I can say that about myself as well. I do know that I have a lot of original ideas, and I think that and my science background helps give my designs a unique flair. That's something I'm proud of.

I'd also like to point out that Bill Doran used to have a very high-paying job at Microsoft, which he quite to become a full-time propmaker (as well as doing the con circuit; I saw him at ECCC in March judging the cosplay contest).

Carry on :)
^^ Yes.

[PearlieMae]

Can I be a lazy mer and ask what resin/mold material you're using?

[Theobromine]

Of course you can, Pearlie :) It's urethane rubber from TAP Plastics. I buy it locally. It's what I first tried when I just got little sample sizes from TAP last year to try messing with and I really liked it so I stuck with it. Flexible mold materials FTW.

[Theobromine]

Woo hoo hoo hoo hoo! You guys, wait until you see my top! Even with just a tiny bit of paint so far, it looks soooo cool! I should be able to get a lot more painting done tomorrow and then I'll be able to show it off! I'm super happy with how it's turning out, and if this is any indication of how my tail will be, it's gonna be miiiiiindblowing ;D ;D So excited!!

[Theobromine]

I'm a dragon! I'll be the dragoniest sea dragon ever!

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Pleez excuse my messy hair and doofy expression. It is very late and I am going to bed right now this very second. I just had to show this off, cuz I'm pretty pleased with it.

[Theobromine]

Actually j/k I have to post a detail close-up too. I realized you couldn't see a lot of the scale detail in those stoopid pictures. I may do some touch-ups in the morning and I still have to clear-coat it, but it's basically done and looks pretty much how I wanted it to.
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Ok NOW I'm going to bed GOODNIGHT EVERYONE

[Mermaid Wesley]

Very pretty!


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[Ashe]

Amazing colors and those beautiful scales! Ugh, everything about it is gorgeous :swoon:

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Wow, this is gorgeous! Amazing job!

[Luna Dreamtide]

That is amazing! Fantastic job! This tail will be stunning!

[Seraphina Suds]

It screams sea dragon! Gorgeous!

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[saborigakusei]

That is STUNNING! :swoon:

[Theobromine]

Thank you all :) Now you have a very good idea of what my tail will look like! I'm really glad I did this top first. It definitely gave me a better idea of how to put these pieces together. I don't know if you can tell, but the scales on there are actually a whole bunch of different little pieces patched together. The scales on the side bands are from the one big main piece I made, but all the others are scraps from various test pulls I did that I mostly made using leftover globs of silicone from other things I didn't want to waste, so they varied somewhat in thickness and color intensity. It took a lot of work to stitch them together and make them look cohesive, and there are still a couple little areas where it doesn't look that great, but I think I managed to cover a lot of it up with the paint job as well. The tiny scales I used to transition out from the scutes and the bases of the fins are actually pulled from a couple areas of my fluke mold. I wanted to test out how it would look using the tiny scales to blend into the larger scales, and I really love the effect, so I think I might have to make another mold of a scale-transition patch so I don't have to keep using the fluke piece, which is an awkward shape to fit around certain things. That way it will be a lot easier and less fiddly.

Anyway, can you tell I'm a biologist? :P

[PearlieMae]

That is freaking AWESOME!

[Theobromine]

Thank you Pearlie :) :) :)

[AquaStella]

Unreal!!! Simply beautiful and exquisite... I am so very impressed by the amount of work, and love, and passion, and PATIENCE!!! Wow!

[PearlieMae]

Biologiartist?

[Theobromine]

Biologiartist?

I'll have to put that on my LinkedIn profile.

[Dancing Fish]

Wowowowowowow!!! I am so freakin' excited to see the rest of this tail!! Amazing!!

[Theobromine]

Thanks Dancing Fish!



Argh, cat hair is the bane of my existence, you guys. I love my cats more than anything, but man I wish they would stop shedding everywhere.

[Fifi Tigg]

Love, love, love! :swoon:

[Mermaid_Sarina]

Oh my goodness Theobromine! I'm obsessed with your top!!!! Its amazing!! <3

[Mermaid Alea]

I'm a dragon! I'll be the dragoniest sea dragon ever!

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Pleez excuse my messy hair and doofy expression. It is very late and I am going to bed right now this very second. I just had to show this off, cuz I'm pretty pleased with it.

I had to quote this to put the pictures on the next page because...WOW... I already loved your other silicone stuff but seriously you are doing a wonderful job! All of that patience has really paid off!

[Theobromine]

Awww, thank you, all of you! Your words are so encouraging! I hope to get a good start on the tail itself this week--my birfday is on Tuesday so that will be my present to myself :D

[Mermaid Mystery]

aaaa that's so cool, we're practically birthday twins! I'm on Thursday! also that top has me speechless, holy carp!

[Theobromine]

Thanks, and happy birthday in advance! I bet I'm like a million years older than you, though ;D

[Mermaid Mystery]

Happy early birthday to you too! I'm turning sixteen so I'm certain you're older than me lol

[OceanWhisper]

Wowow that top!!! Arghhh!!!! It's gorgeous! :swoon:

[MermaidBrandie]

HOW DID I MISS THAT TOP?!?

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[Vrindavana Starfish]

Happy birthday! That top is incredible. It looks totally cohesive, not at all like scraps put together.

[Theobromine]

Thank you thank you everyone! :rainbow:


Happy early birthday to you too! I'm turning sixteen so I'm certain you're older than me lol

I'm turning 31 so I am literally almost twice as old as you :pirate:

[Mermaid Muirin]

Eeeeee!!!!! Love the top!!! :cthulhu:

[Theobromine]

Thank you my dear :)

[Theobromine]

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to meeee! Probably won't get much done today cuz I got family and friends coming over (and my husband took the day off work, awww) but yesterday I got the last few supplies I need for a couple things and tomorrow I hope to get started on putting everything together!! Watch this space! :D :dance:

[Mermaid Wesley]

Happy birthday!!!
You have the same birthday as my mommy! Lol small world.

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[Theobromine]

Heehee, thanks :)

[Theobromine]

Ok so I don't have any new sea serpent pictures to show you guys YET so here is a picture of my regular serpent, Glaurung:

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I got him for my birthday last year when he was just a weensy little hatchling and he's grown so much in a year!

[saborigakusei]

D'awww, what a cutie!!! He's so gorgeous<333

[Mermaid Wesley]

What a handsome boy


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[darksiren]

Happy birthday! I Also have a scaly friend. He is very big now. The top looks very cohesive ^^. I am currently awaiting the funds to start my first tail project, but I'm planning on it soon. It will also have a very dragony vibe. But don't worry, I think we will look very different. ;-)

[CheshireKat]

Happy Birthday! Both your top and your sweet little friend are GORGEOUS and I am SO jelly!

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[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Happy belated birthday! Your little friend is gorgeous, such lovely patterns (I'd love to see a tail like that actually)!

[Theobromine]

Thank you so much everyone :3 Glaurung is a Vietnamese blue beauty snake (Orthriophis taeniurus callicyanous), a type of Asian rat snake. You're right, it would be a cool pattern to base a tail off of! Pretty much any of the Asian rat snakes would, actually! Especially the beauty snakes and the Thai bamboo snakes :)

Today: Reinforce my monofin foot pockets (one of the foot pockets peeled up but the other is still stuck down perfectly; I think I may just not have used enough epoxy). Also, lesson learned about making monofins: don't leave the heels hanging off the back of the lexan. I left mine protruding a little bit and it WORKS fine but causes my feet themselves to flex too much, eventually making them sore. Next one I make is going to have the foot pockets entirely adhered against the blade. I assume this will provide better energy transfer as well. I used a 0.118" thick piece of polyarbonate I got from a local plastics supply store, because the thickest you can get at Home Depot is 0.093" and I wanted something stiffer to provide better propulsion and resist breakage a little better. So far I am really happy with it as it's given me excellent propulsion with still a good amount of flex and snap-back, so it not only feels powerful and efficient, it LOOKS incredibly realistic in its movement. I actually can't wait to make a more traditional fish caudal fin-shaped monofin out of it (because don't even get me started on the "flowy flukes" thing--it's cool if it's your style and that's the aesthetic that appeals to you, but it is so very much NOT realistic. Caudal fins are meant to be energy efficient and propulsive, not flowy, graaaahhh! :soap box: )

*ahem* also on the agenda for today: Finish up smoothing out one last little fin sculpt and mold it, and make a small patch of transitional scales and mold that. Also need to attempt to tackle a sewing project....and if any of you want to see what happened to my sewing machine after my LAST attempt to sew a spandex tail...I can post a picture, but it wasn't pretty :P

[Theobromine]

So...I was gonna wait to post any pictures of this until after I'd finished them and painted them, but I'm pretty proud of these new webby gloves I just made, plus you guys are all so nice and awesome and supportive I figured I'd give you a teaser. I've been wanting to make these for a long time, and I'll probably make a better version at some point, but for a first try I'm pretty happy with them :)

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Edit: the open fingertip (you can see it best on my thumb) is intentional. I had the fingertips closed at first but they were too hard to shove my fingers into, even with lube (plus I couldn't get trapped air bubbles out), so I decided to experiment with open fingertips like on the simple silicone finger web swimming aids you can find on Amazon. This is all very experimental, and I still need to swim-test them.

[Mermaid Mystery]

Those are SO COOL!! that's the best looking webbed glove I've ever seen!

[CheshireKat]

I.Need.Them. 😍

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[Mermaid Riia]

This is all so cool and you just became my idol :D Those look killer! I know it's not finished product but did you ever think about adding nails/claws to it?

[Merenneito Nerissa]

Those are seriously cool... just wow

[Merley]

So...I was gonna wait to post any pictures of this until after I'd finished them and painted them, but I'm pretty proud of these new webby gloves I just made, plus you guys are all so nice and awesome and supportive I figured I'd give you a teaser. I've been wanting to make these for a long time, and I'll probably make a better version at some point, but for a first try I'm pretty happy with them :)

33647

Edit: the open fingertip (you can see it best on my thumb) is intentional. I had the fingertips closed at first but they were too hard to shove my fingers into, even with lube (plus I couldn't get trapped air bubbles out), so I decided to experiment with open fingertips like on the simple silicone finger web swimming aids you can find on Amazon. This is all very experimental, and I still need to swim-test them.

fucking epic. If you end up making some for sale, let me know. 12/10 would buy.

[Luna Dreamtide]

These are amazing! I'm just slightly sad you got to them first! I have a design very much like this sketched up already that I was planning to try! Oh well Awesome Job!

[OceanWhisper]

So...I was gonna wait to post any pictures of this until after I'd finished them and painted them, but I'm pretty proud of these new webby gloves I just made, plus you guys are all so nice and awesome and supportive I figured I'd give you a teaser. I've been wanting to make these for a long time, and I'll probably make a better version at some point, but for a first try I'm pretty happy with them :)

33647

Edit: the open fingertip (you can see it best on my thumb) is intentional. I had the fingertips closed at first but they were too hard to shove my fingers into, even with lube (plus I couldn't get trapped air bubbles out), so I decided to experiment with open fingertips like on the simple silicone finger web swimming aids you can find on Amazon. This is all very experimental, and I still need to swim-test them.
These are the COOLEST. I've seen webbed finger things on ebay, and I've seen stocking-gloves with webbed fingers, but these are fantastic! I would buy them straightaway!!!! :swoon: pleeeease start selling them!

[Fifi Tigg]

OMG! You are the queen of sculpting! :swoon:

[MermaidBrandie]

So...I was gonna wait to post any pictures of this until after I'd finished them and painted them, but I'm pretty proud of these new webby gloves I just made, plus you guys are all so nice and awesome and supportive I figured I'd give you a teaser. I've been wanting to make these for a long time, and I'll probably make a better version at some point, but for a first try I'm pretty happy with them :)

33647

Edit: the open fingertip (you can see it best on my thumb) is intentional. I had the fingertips closed at first but they were too hard to shove my fingers into, even with lube (plus I couldn't get trapped air bubbles out), so I decided to experiment with open fingertips like on the simple silicone finger web swimming aids you can find on Amazon. This is all very experimental, and I still need to swim-test them.
YOU FIGURED IT OUT!! I've been trying to figure that out for months! (I figured open fingertips would be best too, for fingernails and stuff.

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[Mermaid Saoirse]

So...I was gonna wait to post any pictures of this until after I'd finished them and painted them, but I'm pretty proud of these new webby gloves I just made, plus you guys are all so nice and awesome and supportive I figured I'd give you a teaser. I've been wanting to make these for a long time, and I'll probably make a better version at some point, but for a first try I'm pretty happy with them :)

33647

Edit: the open fingertip (you can see it best on my thumb) is intentional. I had the fingertips closed at first but they were too hard to shove my fingers into, even with lube (plus I couldn't get trapped air bubbles out), so I decided to experiment with open fingertips like on the simple silicone finger web swimming aids you can find on Amazon. This is all very experimental, and I still need to swim-test them.

Oh my gosh!!! <3 Amazing work! If you ever plan on selling more definitely count me in as someone who would buy. They're absolutely gorgeous!

[Ashton]

WOAH!!! those are super cool!
if you wear them for a long time does it get hot under there (because silicone doesn't breath)?
I am sure you wouldn't notice it while you were swimming.

[Saelyyia]

So...I was gonna wait to post any pictures of this until after I'd finished them and painted them, but I'm pretty proud of these new webby gloves I just made, plus you guys are all so nice and awesome and supportive I figured I'd give you a teaser. I've been wanting to make these for a long time, and I'll probably make a better version at some point, but for a first try I'm pretty happy with them :)

33647

Edit: the open fingertip (you can see it best on my thumb) is intentional. I had the fingertips closed at first but they were too hard to shove my fingers into, even with lube (plus I couldn't get trapped air bubbles out), so I decided to experiment with open fingertips like on the simple silicone finger web swimming aids you can find on Amazon. This is all very experimental, and I still need to swim-test them.

:jawdrop: Oh my Poseidon! You just keep amazing us. Those are stunning and so incredibly realistic. I can't wait to see everything together. What a show stopper Theobromine. You have some serious talent girl!

[Vrindavana Starfish]

Whoa. Those are super cool.

[Theobromine]

Aw, thank you so much everyone!! <3 <3 Well, I guess if you guys like them that much I will have to think about selling them! I definitely want to refine my method first, though. I made these custom-fitted to my own hands so I have to figure out the best way to be able to do that for others (or at least offer different sizes). I had first thought of using some existing nitrile gloves in different sizes to at least base the sizing off of, but I didn't like how they fit my hand (fingertips too pointy, annoying gaps in places). I may just have to make or buy a bunch of hand mannequins in different sizes. And of course I eventually want to make some with fish scales and fins too ;) Anyway, I'll figure it out eventually, I just want to make sure I do enough testing to also make sure they're sturdy enough. I made them out of a much softer silicone than Dragonskin (still Smooth-on brand, just one of their supersoft platinum silicones) and I haven't worked with this one as much. There were a couple areas I had to fix up because I accidentally left it too thin and it split open when I tried them on, but when I reinforced it that problem went away and it seems to be pretty strong if you just get it thick enough. It's very soft and VERY stretchy and hugs the skin a lot better than Dragonskin and the finger webbing looks and feels a lot more natural.

Mermaid Leina, well hey, I certainly didn't invent this idea and I'm not even the first to make them out of silicone, so you should still go ahead and make yours! I'd love to see what you come up with! I totally understand the feeling though, that's happened with a couple of my other ideas where I came up with a specific way to do something that I thought was unique, then before I had a chance to do it I saw two other people on the forum make it. I was like noooo now they'll think I copied them!

Ashton, I haven't worn them long enough yet, I've only put them on a couple times to test the fit and snap a couple quick pictures, but I imagine that they'll get quite sweaty inside if you wear them on land for long enough (swimming should be fine). That seems to be the consensus from the research I did on cosplay forums as well (in fact most people who asked about silicone gloves for cosplays seemed to get steered away from them by other people). I think they'll be great for swimming, though. The best I could do so far in terms of testing that was fill up the bathroom sink and paddle around in that, haha

[MermaidBrandie]

Aw, thank you so much everyone!! <3 <3 Well, I guess if you guys like them that much I will have to think about selling them! I definitely want to refine my method first, though. I made these custom-fitted to my own hands so I have to figure out the best way to be able to do that for others (or at least offer different sizes). I had first thought of using some existing nitrile gloves in different sizes to at least base the sizing off of, but I didn't like how they fit my hand (fingertips too pointy, annoying gaps in places). I may just have to make or buy a bunch of hand mannequins in different sizes. And of course I eventually want to make some with fish scales and fins too ;) Anyway, I'll figure it out eventually, I just want to make sure I do enough testing to also make sure they're sturdy enough. I made them out of a much softer silicone than Dragonskin (still Smooth-on brand, just one of their supersoft platinum silicones) and I haven't worked with this one as much. There were a couple areas I had to fix up because I accidentally left it too thin and it split open when I tried them on, but when I reinforced it that problem went away and it seems to be pretty strong if you just get it thick enough. It's very soft and VERY stretchy and hugs the skin a lot better than Dragonskin and the finger webbing looks and feels a lot more natural.

Mermaid Leina, well hey, I certainly didn't invent this idea and I'm not even the first to make them out of silicone, so you should still go ahead and make yours! I'd love to see what you come up with! I totally understand the feeling though, that's happened with a couple of my other ideas where I came up with a specific way to do something that I thought was unique, then before I had a chance to do it I saw two other people on the forum make it. I was like noooo now they'll think I copied them!

Ashton, I haven't worn them long enough yet, I've only put them on a couple times to test the fit and snap a couple quick pictures, but I imagine that they'll get quite sweaty inside if you wear them on land for long enough (swimming should be fine). That seems to be the consensus from the research I did on cosplay forums as well (in fact most people who asked about silicone gloves for cosplays seemed to get steered away from them by other people). I think they'll be great for swimming, though. The best I could do so far in terms of testing that was fill up the bathroom sink and paddle around in that, haha
Are them seemed on the sides? or is it one big piece? You're using eco flex right? (Thats what I was going to use)

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[Theobromine]

Yep, Eco-Flex. It works really well. I was worried the finger webbings would rip easily since it's so soft but they don't. I made myself a test strip beforehand that I played with and you can stretch it out really far. And yeah, I seamed them up the sides and it was a PITA but I ended up just covering the seams with more scales (I got around having to do that on the side with the little fins. I was originally going to use the same fins as the ones on my top but I decided to go for something more delicate).

[Theobromine]

Oh and Riiarin, I thought about adding claws but they'd probably have to be silicone as well. Might try that on another pair at some point, but I don't want long nails or claws on my gloves because long nails drive me nuts.

[MermaidBrandie]

Hmmmmmmmm I was worried seeming mine like that would be hard to cover up. Good to know!

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[Theobromine]

Scales are your friend!

[Theobromine]

So I had a flash of inspiration today regarding my color scheme for my tail. All this time I've been planning to use the same colors as the original sea serpent illustration my design is based on, which consists mainly of different shades of green with some yellow/gold accents, as you could probably tell from my top. But today I suddenly thought of a little Windstone dragon statue I've had since high school. It's still back in my old room at my parents' house and I haven't seen it in a while, but I suddenly remembered how much I always loved all the colors and patterns. In fact, I think I sort of internalized it so long ago that it sort of subconsciously expressed itself as I was sculpting my tail. The sea serpent in the illustration from my book has smooth skin, but somewhere along the way I decided to add scales for more depth of detail and to make it more interesting. I based the scales on real lizard scales, but looking at them again today I realized how much they resemble some of the scales on my dragon figurine, and how well that dragon's color scheme will suit not only my tail design but also my personality. I had been resistant to changing my long-held plan, but then I remembered that I did add all those scales to make the design more my own, so it's no big deal to alter the color scheme as well. I'll still be keeping the green and gold, but I'll be adding some blues and purples as well, and now I'm even more excited about this tail! I started painting my gloves today and I also added some extra shading to the top I made, and I already love the extra depth it has. Here's my new color inspiration:

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[Mermaid Wesley]

very cool gloves!!

[PaolaMF]

All is amazing

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Oh my gosh, those gloves are awesome! You've done an amazing job on them!
I think your new colour scheme will look beautiful! The darker blues and purples really make the green pop.