The planning of a Halloween costume – help?

[artjunkie]

Whoa, Linda... this sounds soooo cool! Maybe I'll do up some quick concept sketches for ya... some kinda dark, imposing figure? But I'm sure whatever you envision for this will be far better than anything I could come up with. Still, it'll be fun to brainstorm about this...

Anyhoo... looking forward to seeing this costume develop. Make sure to post some pics when you finally get it done. This'll rock!!!

Cheers!

[jmBoekestein]

That's cool! I didn't know Halloween was celebrated in Europe. I knew it was a pagean festival, so I might have known better lol.

:) I can't help you on the designs, but a quick and easy way would be to take plaster casts of parts of your face that you need for the modelling process.
I'd be somewhat worried about facial hair getting stuck to it, But apparently it doesn't matter (I never broke anything onmyself, only tore a few bits, heheh).
I'd guess if you go sticking things on your forehead you won't be able to express yourself freely or it will fall off or something so maybe using clay and plastre casting that and then back to silicates would be a better plan. Just like in the movies, kewl, lol.

You swedes have it all over there (goes green with envy). :p

There must be some reference as to the process used in film productions, I was lead to believe it's fairly simple to do and 'cost efficient'. So it coudl be cheap too, to do it in casts.

:thumbsup: Great idea, can almost see a nice movie scene. Good luck! :scream:

funky site... probably has some answers: http://www.themonsterlab.com/index.html

looks like it might take a while to sift through. And apparently it's not even necessary to takea a cast with latex. :D Well it's not like I'd know, so you better check.

[Sylanya]

Wow, sounds wonderfully terrifying. Actually, the demon costume you described sounds a lot like Queen Savilla in the Obsidian Trilogy (The Outstretched Shadow, To Light a Candle, and The Fall of Darkness) by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory, which I must say is a great trilogy so far even though the last book isn't out yet. Anyways, Queen Savilla is a demon, with blood-red skin, wings, clawed feet, and gold horns arching over her head. I wonder if you could do the clawed feet too, that would be really awesome!

I don't know anything about making masks, so I don't know how to help you there, but I can tell you I am very excited to see the end result of this costume. Good Luck with it!!

[artjunkie]

Here's a quick sketch for you, Linda... the horns aren't too original, but I thought the overall design reads as being dark, with elegant lines? Anyhoo... it was fun drawing it, think I'll do some more but won't post 'em unless you want.

[Enayla]

You guys are awesome!

This is exactly the kind of help that I need.

And Grant - that's pretty much how I envisioned her/me :D awesome! That swirly, elegant but scary look is just what I'm aiming for. I don't want to look pretty, I never want to look pretty on Halloween, but I'm thinking it'll be nifty to look classily scary, if that makes any sense.

I'm thinking that the horns will start as a sort of swirly design just below the eyes, on the cheeks, and then stretch backwards in a fine sweep towards way behind the head - but not becoming thick and 'horny' until they go past the ears, meaning, the design itself will start on the face but not flare outwards until it's away from the face.

My biggest problems are these -
:: that it's going to be heavy as hell. I really, really need to figure out some way to make the 'helmet' of it not so heavy. I'm thinking that if I do make it in papier maché, that I'll have to make the horns hollow somehow, and how the hell do I do that, and still keep them pretty? I use this papier maché sort of, er, powder that you mix with water - turns into an awesome clay that is really easy to work with (I do all my masks in this). The reason to why I want to work in papiér mache is mainly that I know how it works, I know how to paint it and glue things to it and I know that it's durable. I've got an idea of making the red horn gleam with tiny little stones that I'll sort of work into the clay before it's dried and before I paint it.
:: that the 'helmet' as such will be difficult to put on/take off. I would have loved to have modelled it all the way down the neck and over my hair, but that just won't work, will it? How on earth would I take it on and off? So it has to stop somewhere early on the back of the head, then I'll have to really plaster my hair down and paint it red for the night.
:: that it won't be cost-effective. If I go with something other than papiér mache, I don't think I can afford it.

Also... the dress. I don't know how to sew. Well, I sort of do, but not 'that' well. I suppose I'll have to learn, eh?

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH :D

[Enayla]

Jan-Mark - that link is awesome but it seems to start off pretty high-end already, chatting about things I have no clue what they are :( I'm thinking I'm just not knowledgeable enough for that kind of stuff, you know? Gah!

I'm going to read through all of it and see if I can get a clue, and also if there's a way for me to order these things without getting instantly broke.

[Airflow]

well, I looked at the concept, and its a great concept btw, I think you should focus on the horns and dress..., the horns can be done with 4 strips of wire and p'mache... or you could wrap cloth around them... for the ridges on the horns, just glue some strips of string down and a couple of layers of wet paper over them, keeps it light, as opposed to trying to make it all out of papier maché. I think the helmet/dress bridge can be done, but it would involve gluing a latex cape to the back of the helmet... you can superglue "hooks" to the bottom of the latex, it would have to be a thick sheet, and have some "eyes" sewn into the back of the high collar on your dress... youd need someone to fasten it for you, but it would mean you can have the helmet joined to the dress... Id suggest looking for a second hand chinese type dress and modifying it and dying it red instead of trying to make one.... the other idea is to make it out of latex, but this means you have to have somwhere where you can dry it... also you would need to get an airbrush to do certain parts of it... but using liquid latex and strips of thin and thick latex, wire glue, rope and paint you could make a neat mask... I made a predator head out of liquid latex and playdoh, if you can belive it... it was heavy, but when people touched it it felt real, like flesh... used the latex to seal the playdoh, so it never hardened, it stayed soft... ne ya, the easiest way to do it would be cheap fabric... the coolest way latex... though you know Pm better Id say go with that...

[jmBoekestein]

Linda, I'll have a look too ;) . I remember some of the terms from back in school, one of the kids had a father in that business, I have a weird memory for details. :)

I think these silicate goops can be home brewed quite cheaply. :)

The site linked from called indi fx >>link (http://www.indifx.com/) << has cheap supplies, I figure if you know what you need you can have it shipped the cheapest way by airmail. Takes like a week or two I bet. Tight schedule. :hmm:

Another link here: >> :) (http://www.fxwarehouseinc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=SDSC&Category_Code=WORKSHOP) <<

:rolleyes: nevermind, seems pretty complicated once over. lol. Does have a lot of material on it though. I should pick up the speed reading again.

[Sylanya]

Actually, my mom made a dragon costume for me on time because I was cast as one in a school play. She had to make this whole huge head, but I had to be able to take the costume off in a matter of seconds because there was a dance I was in directly afterwards. The head/neck of the dragon was fabric and wire, but I think it would work with papier mache too. What you do is buy some of that mesh wire that criss-cross (the really thin stuff), because you can sculpt and bend however you see fit, and I think that could really help with making the horns hollow and light. Then you can cover it was papier mache and whatever other watnot you need. As for getting in and out of the helmet, well, I don't have any amazing ideas for that, but hopefully, the meshwire will help make it easier. You could maybe make a base "helmet" and cover the bottom with some thickish fabric so it doesn't snag your hair.

Hope that helps a bit!

[SpeccySteve]

What you do is buy some of that mesh wire that criss-cross (the really thin stuff), because you can sculpt and bend however you see fit, and I think that could really help with making the horns hollow and light.

That's what I was thinking, this stuff, yeah?
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/7739/toolchickenwirez3wz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

You could easily build a hollow framework from that to save weight ( modelled either around your own head or a wigmakers dummy? ), should work if you cover the gaps with thin strips of "glued" paper, just enough to build up a surface and keep the actual papier mache light enough, might even be wearable.

Downsides = pointy metal + there's likely a much better solution- last time I tried anything like this it ended in ...less than success so somebody will almost certainly have a better idea..

Edit: Better idea, there is this sorta fabric mesh stuff that hatmakers/milliners use, it's kinda like fabric impregnated with glue, it sets hard once you've positioned it and it weighs almost nothing, anyone remember what it's called? could be just right for something like this..

[Ordibble-Plop]

I have a little booklet from Alec Tiranti (http://www.tiranti.co.uk/data/ASP/showitem.asp?ItemID=52) in London that deals with life casting (everything from plasters to alginate). It's pretty involved though and you'd need someone you trust to help you if you were intending to make a cast of your face (as you'd be sitting back with straws up your nostrils - not necessary if just doing the top half). And a word of warning: do not just go out and buy any old plaster; some shrink on drying and can be a nightmare to remove from body parts.

-It would be difficult to take a cast of the part of your head covered with hair unless you wanted to shave it off. So for the part of the helmet that covers this, I wonder if it might be best to make a close shape and then pad the inside with foam rubber so it is tight. One problem with this though would be heat.

-If you have big horns, a real issue will be balance. If they aren't balanced so that the weight bears straight down from the main load-bearing point (I assume the top of your head), then they will constantly be sliding backwards.

-You'll need to decide how thick your horns will be. It may well be that your design is dictated by the materials you can use, rather than vice versa. Some options would be:

-Papier mache
--Solid pulp (really heavy)
--Strips and pulp over chicken wire or some other base (quite heavy and relatively brittle).
--Pulp formed over a mould (lighter but more brittle)

-Foam rubber and cloth (light; less likely to poke an eye out)
--You could form the foam rubber with light wire and then sew cloth over that.
--Using a hand needle you can actually sew grooves/shapes into the foam rubber
--Then use a stiffening agent to harden up the cloth, which can then be painted.

-Rubber/flexible plastic
--I've seen here round rubber strips sold by the meter (solid or hollow) - maybe you'd be able to locate some.
--All you'd need to do is put a length of wire up the centre that is sufficiently strong to hold its own and the rubber's shape once you bend it.
--Then just go to work with a sharp/hot knife.

-With any of these, the point of attachment is going to need to be fairly rigid and static so that the horns don't sway around too much.


Good luck - it's going to be quite a challenge. I love crafty things though, so am sure it will be worth it.

[Airflow]

Hey, I did a little diagram of how you could go about it....
http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/1603/construction0pe.jpg

[Diegoth]

You are so creative even in outfits, that's amazing, that outfit is so cool. Well my best of wishes to you, very happy birthday, and I hope to see more pieces of you. My greetings. (By the way, my birthday was two days ago, September 3rd).

[UrbanKunoichi]

I highly suggest sculpy for your medium! It is a plastic molding clay that is very easy to work with. Some of the art students here (that graduated last year) used sculpty to do just about everything. It does not dry out, is medium in weight, is easily molded, simple to bake, etc. You can bake it easily in just about any oven. To make it lighter you can use aluminum foil or wire as a base and then mold the sculpy over it (since aluminum and wire can withstand the baking process). Even after baking you can still carve it or sandpaper it. The material comes in MANY different colors and you can still paint it afterwards. It is non sticky (except for the self adhesive kinds.) It is inexpensive and comes in different types depending on your needs. It is also very sturdy (may sustain scratches, but will usually not break). I love your enthusiasm for Halloween costumes, the gargoyle was just fantastic! Good luck with this year's costume!

P.S. I think you should find a very large pendant to adorn on your forehead or somewhere in the costume. A majestic and graceful evil would be spectacular!

[Lunatique]

I've always felt that good looking people should dress up as unbelievably gorgeous/beautiful things on Halloween, and leave the hideous/scary creatures to the people who are not so good looking. I think this makes sense because attractive people already have the natural advantage without even trying, and with just a bit of work, they would become amazingly beautiful, but if unattractive people tried to dress up as beautiful creatures (angels, faries, goddesses, sexy vampires..etc), they'd fall short because they don't have the right bone structure, skin, features..etc to begin with, and no amount of makeup can compensate for that lack of natural beauty.

So, that means, I think you shouldn't dress up as a hideous/scary creature.

[Airflow]

personally, I think you should go as a cat myself :D, or maybey a cuddly elephant...
Seriously tho, I think the costume is a pretty good concept, tho Id prolly never wear it myself...

[Enayla]

All right guys.

I'm still thinking papier mache... mainly because of its lightness, because I can work nicely with the clay (I've done enough work in it to know I can) and because it doesn't need to go into any oven. I think that the mask will be too big for my oven anyway.

On the brightest side, I think I might get to talk to someone who's worked on making masks for movies, so if I'm lucky, I might get to find out the really, really best way to go about this, but I'm not sure yet.

Until then, your advice is very, very helpful. I like the idea of keeping the thing in place with straps somehow, and I'm considering silk straps that I can wrap around my neck and actually paint on top on, and/or hide underneath a collar made to match the 'helmet'.

Anyway, I made a first sketch of what I was thinking about, regarding the outfit. It's a little messy but I think it shows the general idea. I'm going to get gorgeous ribbons and little gleaming stones to dangle from the horns. If I was a demon and I had horns, I'm pretty sure I'd decorate them like that.

I'm also looking into corset making - if I make an entire 'chest-piece' to match the mask, I could attach it to a corset.

http://www.furiae.com/images/halloweendesign.jpg

Design elements I refuse to let go of -

Little bright gleaming red stones buried in the really red skin.
Fine ribbons dangling from the horns.
Several small horns, some of which seem to be only just growing out, across the dome of the head.

Anyway... :scratches head: I have a bit more of an idea of how to make this, now. I still think I need either a plastic head from a mannequin or a cast from my own head, or I won't be able to make it at all :frets.

I am endlessly grateful for all the help I can get, so I'm truly appreciating this! Tons of <3 for you all!

:sticks tongue out at Robert: You're too cute!

[Squibbit]

I like the cheecks :)

the gem inlays sound cool too

do not get rid of the spinal ..er..whuzzat werd again..
de protruding spine bonezzz

perdy stuff, could be more monstrous maybe , but
as said the cheeks are cool and might be enough



.

[UrbanKunoichi]

I absolutely love the idea of embedded gems and hanging ribbions (though I suggest maybe fine sparkly chains to add to the demonic effect). I think the horns should extend upwards from the ears rather from the cheeks backwards for a more elegant effect (that may be easier to balance with the front section of the mask). I also think the horns on the lower portion of the head should point lower so the mask will be more even (it seems that everything is just pulling the face back and upwards. The corset idea is absolutely wonderful (although quality custom corsets can be up to 500 USD and very low quality ones are at least 50 USD). The horns protruding from the spine is an awesome idea. The neck seems a bit empty/off balance, perhaps a jewel embedded collar or choker of some sort? I LOVE what you have done with the center of the forehead and the nose. Anyways, I wish you all the luck in the world with that project, I am sure it will turn out to be wonderful!

[navate]

Love the concept! I can't help you with how to go about it, which is why I haven't said anything yet, but upon reading what UrbanKunoichi said about the nbeck area...you definitely need something, and I think a neck corset/collar with all sorts of elegant madness coming off it would rock. Something creepy-elegant to accentuate the horns a bit. I'm not sure if I'm wording it well, but something like this. (http://empty-tears.net/publiceyes/data/media/28/AUGCURE_PHANTAS2.jpg) Maybe subsituting the feathers for more papier mache horn-like things to mkae it seem more part of the demon rather than a peice of clothing...with ribbons and more gems all over it...I dunno. :D Just an idea you might be able to tie into the chest peice.

Can't wait to see what you do with it, in any case. Your Halloween costumes have always impressed me... I wish I had your dedication and skill with makeup and costuming. Have fun!

[paperclip]

I have a feeling some sort of peacock style extrusions would look good. I love the sketch though, it's....spectacular! :D

Seriously though, I think using a rubber swimming cap will give you a good base. You could use thin twigs to form the basis for the papier mache, it works.

I love the hangy-down jewels, with muskrat silver (cures lycanthropy) in them, no doubt...

[Enayla]

Yeah, I definitely need a collar or something. I'm just undecided on what kind of design I want on it.

I sort of like the idea of the horns starting near the cheeks rather than the more common area around the temples - mostly because I'm not really looking to look 'pretty'.... but I'll see. Funny thing about making masks, for me, is that I usually start out with one idea and end up with something else entirely.

Right now, I'm thinking gloves. I want neat gloves on her, or claws, or whatever, and I can't figure out how on earth I can do something like that. I mean, fingers are so flexible. I can't just glue stuff to them the way I can do my cheeks and brow.

[D-NA]

Right now, I'm thinking gloves. I want neat gloves on her, or claws, or whatever, and I can't figure out how on earth I can do something like that. I mean, fingers are so flexible. I can't just glue stuff to them the way I can do my cheeks and brow.

Maybe you should get/make those "claw rings" - I don't know what they're called... it goes over your finger and looks like a claw... umm, similar to the one in your painting of Hehsebamon. It makes me think of crab shells... you should definitely try something like that.

Or get a pair of neat gloves and glue fake nails to them =P (joking... that would look terrible if done improperly)

I'm clueless about the mask itself, though. Maybe you could make sort of a hat (similar to one the swimmers wear) and attach horns and other devil stuff to it?

[Airflow]

I think the idea of the horns coming from the cheekbones is a cool idea, duno how your going to keep it attached to your cheeks withouht some strap, maybey incorporate some kind of mask into it so you can use the straps, somthing smaller than this

http://rds.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=mask/v=2/SID=e/l=IVI/SIG=123jpgicd/EXP=1126187235/*-http%3A//www.c-boom.com/images/mask_orange_fs.jpg or http://www.avalongallery.com/media/scans/sanderson/masked_mask_750.jpg

id myself would go for http://www.dreampowercostumes.com/images/pix/cat-mask-leopard.jpg but in black. :P

anyway you would need somthing to connect it to your face which is why I suggested latex.
For the gloves... get some sholder length gloves.... and glue on realistic nails.... I once made a cg image for a fashion magazine of a woman with gloves that became part of her body, dont have it anymore, but it looked really cool...

[UrbanKunoichi]

The cheekbone horns are very original, it is just that it would be more difficult to balance them. Perhaps the base of the horns could be larger so the horns have more support. As far as the gloves, I think you should get shoulder length film noir style gloves or biker gloves (with the holes where fingers protrude) and glue gems to them. Perhaps you could henna tattoo paterns to your fingers, it would look absolutely gorgeous. Instead of making fake nails perhaps your could just paint yours and still have the leathery jewel studded biker style gloves on your arms. All of this has really inspired me to do some artwork. I really want to work hard on my Spectacular entry but I want to work on a fabulous halloween costume instead (although I have more than 70 hours worth of homework every week). Well, good luck with your costume! I am sure it will turn out great. And a swimming cap would be a pretty decent base.

[jmBoekestein]

Hmm... that's cool, I had the same idea about the horns, since there's a good natural slope there allready. Unifies the features pretty well. You'll have trouble with those weird tears(:curious: how's my spelling?) on your cheeks. But you can paint with silicone stuff I've read, then it will fold along with your expressions. Otherwise it might tear. Otherwise looks like you could pull it off. Very good concept. :D

[umbrellasky]

Really nice design Linda! I love the gems and the idea of having things dangling from the horns. Really creative idea. I'm looking forward to seeing you make this!

I like the corset idea, I'm looking forward to seeing some sketches of that.

Good luck with this! :)

[artjunkie]

Ooooooh... I love the decorative approach to your demon horns!!! Awesome how they kinda emerge from the cheekbone area (and that exposed jaw muscle... brilliantly grotesque!). Can't wait to see more! Sorry I can't be of any help with the actual construction. All I can do is cheer you on.

GO LINDA, GO!

[animalunae]

You guys are awesome!

This is exactly the kind of help that I need.

And Grant - that's pretty much how I envisioned her/me :D awesome! That swirly, elegant but scary look is just what I'm aiming for. I don't want to look pretty, I never want to look pretty on Halloween, but I'm thinking it'll be nifty to look classily scary, if that makes any sense.

I'm thinking that the horns will start as a sort of swirly design just below the eyes, on the cheeks, and then stretch backwards in a fine sweep towards way behind the head - but not becoming thick and 'horny' until they go past the ears, meaning, the design itself will start on the face but not flare outwards until it's away from the face.

My biggest problems are these -
:: that it's going to be heavy as hell. I really, really need to figure out some way to make the 'helmet' of it not so heavy. I'm thinking that if I do make it in papier maché, that I'll have to make the horns hollow somehow, and how the hell do I do that, and still keep them pretty? I use this papier maché sort of, er, powder that you mix with water - turns into an awesome clay that is really easy to work with (I do all my masks in this). The reason to why I want to work in papiér mache is mainly that I know how it works, I know how to paint it and glue things to it and I know that it's durable. I've got an idea of making the red horn gleam with tiny little stones that I'll sort of work into the clay before it's dried and before I paint it.
:: that the 'helmet' as such will be difficult to put on/take off. I would have loved to have modelled it all the way down the neck and over my hair, but that just won't work, will it? How on earth would I take it on and off? So it has to stop somewhere early on the back of the head, then I'll have to really plaster my hair down and paint it red for the night.
:: that it won't be cost-effective. If I go with something other than papiér mache, I don't think I can afford it.

Also... the dress. I don't know how to sew. Well, I sort of do, but not 'that' well. I suppose I'll have to learn, eh?

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH :D

I dunno if anyone posted it yet, cause I hardly have time to read the entire thread... but you should build your horns on top of a frame of netting, and I would first make a plaster copy of you head to build on, might be a bit expensive to make it, but you can use that every year... I used to do musicals and I've always been kinda involved with the costumes and for head pieces they usually make a rubber or cloth hat on which the metal frame is put, I would take cloth, though you might have trouble taking out all the edgy parts of the metal (no problem there with rubber bands), though it's better for your skin, isn't as heavy and it's very thin... Problem with horns that run over the back of your head is that it will easily fall back if you don't strap it over your head... so I would make a cloth band that can be tightened...

Btw sewing is dead easy, the only thing you have to watch out for is that the seams are the same everywhere and that you don't pull the cloth in funy ways...

My uncle is a (great) fashion designer, if you have any questions about the design or creation of the dress, I can always ask him to take a look, he'll be thrilled to help, he's one of those guys that does it for the art instead of the money and truely loves is job... Don't take too much of his attention though, he has to make my ichabod crane jacket :P

Btw your idea is very good, it's what I had in mind when I said succubus, I didnt realise it's a complete prostitute demon. But I definitelly can't wait to see it finished! This is gonna be good... It's gonna be a laugh next year when you realise, that you'll have to top it again...

Btw, just got 3 of your paintings from DeviantArt... they're simply superb! I love them, going to buy frames tonight!

[animalunae]

Oh yeah for the fingers, I liked that idea of D-NA, I've got one of those finger harnasses

Apart from the fact that it's very heavy, and I'm afraid it would slide down my finger, though it's a perfect fit, it's very easy to move your finger in it... and... it would do serious damage if I threw it at someone...

http://forums.cgsociety.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=71002 (http://forums.cgsociety.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=71002)

[Squibbit]

I didnt realise it's a complete prostitute demon

yea the others are all nice and chaste

haha

.

[donseeg]

http://www.furiae.com/images/costume/closeup6.jpg

That was the end result.


I have never seen the real you. You're gorgeous!

Don

[pearson]

I haven't seen anyone mention this, and I haven't tried it personally, but it seems like it might be a technique you could use.

Instead of puting your papier mache over wire, sculpt ordinary styrofoam into the shape you want and put the mache over that. Then, when the papier mache is completely hardened, use gasoline to disolve the styrofoam out, leaving just the light papier mache exterior (and without any sharp metal underwire to deal with!).

Good luck!

[jmBoekestein]

Any concepts on the dress yet? :)

It might turn out to be more laboreous than the headpiece. How about a ihigh collar in back and up front a daft V shape down to half your sternum, another converging band downwards on your torso mayb in back it could be wider and below a lot of drapery. I think that's quite controllable too.

I wish I could paint in colour! I'd show the idea.

When is Helloween actually? lol :rolleyes:

[berilac]

Just like to say what a class idea!

Looking great so far. Love last years costume too!
Inspired me to do more elaborate things for Haloween, though not greatly celebrated here, at least where I am, this would make it much more interesting.

Keep it coming cant wait to see the outcome. Shall look stunning, I'm sure.

[paperclip]

This may help....

clickety (http://www.animationartconservation.com/corpse_bride.html)

Pay particular attention to the part where they talk about silicon...

[peaches]

That's cool! I didn't know Halloween was celebrated in Europe. I knew it was a pagean festival, so I might have known better lol.

i'm pretty sure that it was the irish immigrants that brought the festival here. [i live in canada]


enayla, i hope you come up with an awesome costume. good ideas so far.

[Rhid1en]

creating them out of a wire frame and then covering in basic papier mache (flower and water paste works fine) then building up and adding detail with the compost out of a package mache, works great. Check out the attached pict. I simply then had a piece of yarn that when across the top of my head and a piece that fit snuggly around the sides to connect it. I added a small pad, to make it more comfortable and to keep the yarn from shifting. Making a whole helmet will be even easier. I also used basic sculpting clay that doesn't need to be fired/cooked to harden and put a clear coat over it when I was done. Of course, I wish I had time to make them more intricate, but there's always this year! I too need to decide upon my costume and get going....oh one more thing that can work well for adding light texture.. great stuff, foam in a can. You can find it at hardware stores, it's for filling in between the gaps when setting a door frame... works great!
-bryan

[jmBoekestein]

i'm pretty sure that it was the irish immigrants that brought the festival here. [i live in canada]




I've been looking around, and it seems to be true. They were the ones to introduce the JAck O'Lanterns, originally made from turnips. Fun story in there.

Apparently it's the feast of Samhain, lord of Darkness/the dead/ underworld. Celtic druids worshipped this deity, and celebrated he transience of their ancestors on this day and warded opf evil spirits to ensure a good new year. All Hallows eve was shifted to the same date and hence it's called Halloween. But it's actually 'the Feast of Samhain', the day of the dead.

Interesting stuff, apparently there are still druids at work btw. Pretty weird.


So what's cooking? :scream:

[paperclip]

I've been looking around, and it seems to be true. They were the ones to introduce the JAck O'Lanterns, originally made from turnips. Fun story in there.

Apparently it's the feast of Samhain, lord of Darkness/the dead/ underworld. Celtic druids worshipped this deity, and celebrated he transience of their ancestors on this day and warded opf evil spirits to ensure a good new year. All Hallows eve was shifted to the same date and hence it's called Halloween. But it's actually 'the Feast of Samhain', the day of the dead.

Interesting stuff, apparently there are still druids at work btw. Pretty weird.


So what's cooking? :scream:

Funny to see what my ancesters got up to. We had to learn this stuff as part of our history lessons in school..... it actually gets kind of boring after a few years.
'Time to learn about samhain, kids.'
'Aaawwww....'

How's your costume coming along linda?

[Elaeria]

Linda,

Try Crayola Model Magic. A friend of mine uses it to make masks of Greek gods and other fantasy creatures. They are absolutely brilliant and all you have to do afterwards is paint them dry brush style in the colours you want.

The clay that Crayola makes is SUPER light weight! I'll post a picture of the mask she made for me so you can see it. Definitely worth a try and you can mold the mask exactly to your liking! Should make your project VERY easy to do.

I'll post the picture when I get home tonight.
p.s. Don't see you around much anymore...you over on the other side of the fence in CGSociety world now?

Meredith

[FantaBurky]

http://www.unc.edu/~pelliot/George%20W%20Bush.JPG
-----------------------------

[jmBoekestein]

lol, now there's a horrid contrast...

[Enayla]

Hi guys :]



Thank you so much for the help. I've not been around lately because I'm suffering from pretty bad insomnia, and I've not got energy to do a whole lot except try to stay awake/fall asleep when I should.



I've not started on the costume yet, but I've been suggested by someone who is pretty much an expert in these areas to use something called varaform for the horned mask. Since I'm a little hesitant about the price (it costs quite a lot… and I'll never use the suit more than once) as well as about the texture of the stuff, I'm going to try to make it in papier mache first, and see how it works - then go for the varaform. I have to order it from England, so it's such a fuss. I can't find any company in Sweden that sells it.



I've changed my mind about the horns. They'll start at the temples, instead. Not the cheeks. I think putting them on my cheeks will just make the mask more difficult to wear.



Anyway, again, thank you. I'll post updates as soon as I can. Right now, I'm looking into getting hold of the kind of airbrush one can use for bodypaint.

[jmBoekestein]

Aw gees, well, have heart. And good luck. :)

[NOOB!]

i'd give enalya all ma candeh on halloween *drools*


*drowns in drool*

[Siriana]

Just a thought, reading all this and being a bit of a dab hand with papier mache, why don't you try the hardware or auto stores for that filling foam that billows up when you spray it, and make a rough approximation with that of the mask, then carve what you want out of it. If you carve too much, you can always add more and I don't believe it is terribly expensive. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it can be carved with a sharp knife and refined with sandpaper. Just a suggestion :) Awesome idea by the way :D

[Enayla]

All right. I did a makeup test tonight. I tried out several colours and painted on top of them - trying to find something I liked.

For a while, I was thinking of abandoning red and going grey-white-blue instead. A little like this face that I painted some time back:

http://www.furiae.com/images/makeuptestref.jpg

But as it turns out, it looked much too dull. Too little contrast. I want a makeup with a little 'oomph'.

So I tried bright red, crimsony, but ended up feeling it was cliché. Not until I painted on top of all of this with a colder, pinker red did I feel that I found the right effect. My face looks pinker in the photo than it was - it was darker and deeper, a very cool colour, but it was difficult to take a proper picture of.

http://www.furiae.com/images/makeuptest.jpg

Anyway, I feel I'm pretty sure of what direction I want to take the actual makeup in. Not exactly like the sketch, I know, but I think I like this better. Sorry you can only see half the face, but the other one I didn't bother with the details on. Also sorry for skin-coloured neck and such, haha, I just didn't feel like doing a makeup test on that as well.

I'm going to go take a bath now and try to scrub this off my skin. I feel happy I did it, I know more about the kind of effect I'm looking for, now. (Mind you, this is just paint: I'm going to combine with different things, make sure some of the fake bumps are REAL bumps, get some texture in there. Not decided on how yet, but I feel I'll have to.

Also, still going to have the horned mask over to top part of the face. Whee!)

[Squibbit]

awesome :thumbsup:


the prettiest face and that skill just stun


those bumps in the nose look so real, makes
me wanna feel them, hehe, reminds me of a
trip to Thailand where I lost a thumbnail size
piece of skin from my nose to a sunburn.

I'd been in the sun for like two days and
the skin on my nose felt oddly hard and dry.
We were at the hotel roof pool and i jumped
in the pool and came out and felt my nose
tingle, so i touch it to scratch it a bit and
the skin comes off and the flesh shows..
spooked me a bit ... had to walk a week in the
shades under a broad rimme had after that
to wait for the skin tio grow back



.

[Diegoth]

I would like to have at least the half of imagination you got into your head, hahahahaha. I think your custome is turning out cool, I'm sorry but that's just everything I can say. By the way, when Halloween is already over, I would like to see a painting about your entire custome, of course, if you don't mind. Also I remember some months ago, there was this school project, which I next to my friends had to make a video about anything, so I perfomed a dead body covered in blood. Well, this artificially blood was some kind of powder to make some strawberrry drink and when we were done, I just could not take that blood out of my face, and i was inside the bus with all my face red coloured, was so embarasing, besides, it kind of hurts. Well, my greetings linda, keep working on that custome. Bye.

[Kaiserchan]

Whoa, I think that makeup is even more stellar than your gargoyle's makeup. Amasing, you make it look like fun to make yourself into an art!

[tatiana]

...Right now, I'm looking into getting hold of the kind of airbrush one can use for bodypaint.



Hi Enayla,

What kind of body paint did you end up getting to help you get the effect in the photo you posted? Did you end up airbrushing the base red and then painting the detail by brush with the same type of paint or something completely different?

thanks,

t

[jmBoekestein]

Hey didn't see any updates before... : .

I'm going to be wee lihl party pooper, but I was looking over the pictures, I think some of the appeal in the above picture is that the scars follow the shapes of the face. That really spices the picture up a lot. :)

And on your test the round scales sort of seem out of place, but the scales on the nose are really cool. IMHO it would suit your complexity better to go with straighter scales or even scars(allthough in this context, scars : scabs, yugh)... Hmm, haven't done much of sketching, I should need the practice anyway. :) Maybe I can illustrate it.

You could use your natural bone structure to add to the effect of direction and visual rythm of the scales, perhaps an extra layer of more reflective paint would add more to the illusion of height difference.

I do think the round scales are somewhat out of place like this, Maybe they'd do better in less visible area's. I'm probably pushing your timetable over the limits with these suggestions though heheh... :blush:

PS:by less visible I mean area's alike the hairline, where contrast recedes and you could use them to even out features. (since they're mathematically easy to use as filler, :))

[Airflow]

Id have to say, I also prefer the scars, I like the elegant sweep they had, and if your losing the cheekbone horns then atleast keep the scars...

[Enayla]

It's all painted with classic theatre makeup (some of it water based, some oil based). I don't have an airbrush at the moment (nor have I ever) so it's painted in using a brush.

The problem with the scars in the makeup I had designed - I can't do that. I'll have to, on top of making the actual mask, somehow manage to make the designs in latex, and miraculously learn how to apply such to my skin without it looking cheap and stupid. I've tried it out before and I can't get the effect that I want, so I've skipped the design below the cheekbones. Trying to do THAT in just paint ended up looking dumb, not at all like scars or anything like them (nor was it intended to 'be' scars to begin with). It looked like stupid marble-like patterns.

The problem with concept sketches is that they might not be doable. They're initial concepts that might look cool and all, but might also be practically impossible. This one, I can't do. I can't do the 'scars' like that. I'll have to decide between making the mask (covering all the way down to the nose) or trying to learn how to make latex bits and pieces for my makeup, and I think I prefer the former alternative.

The end result of the makeup, I won't know how that looks until I've done the mask. It'll be designed to fit with whatever designs I go with for the mask - if the mask has little bumps like the makeup did now, I'll do that for the face as well. If not? well, the face will match it, but I'm going to have to skip the sort of makeup that I had in the concept sketch because I simply can't do it. I have to think reasonably here. The costume is expensive enough as it is without me having to take classes in making latex masks and details. So, I'm sorry.

The makeup test was for me to figure out how I can work the colours. Since I'm still undecided on the mask-concept, I can't settle on the makeup quite yet. Please don't condemn the entire makeup/mask judged on a half-hour makeup-test that I did way after midnight when I was bored ;] You'll see. Even if I go with the bumps, it'll surprise you. It'll be neat.

[jmBoekestein]

I'm quite sure you'll be able to come up with something neat. :) That's why I'd even bother to suggest anything.

Have fun, curious to see what you come up with.

[Enayla]

http://www.furiae.com/images/halloweenprogress.jpg

http://www.furiae.com/images/halloweenprogress2.jpg

All right, covering your face with plaster isn't pleasant. Once I'd covered the eyes, I sat down on the floor and waited for the plaster to harden – and it was scary. I kept expecting something to creepily brush by me, because if it did, it would take forever to me to get the plaster off to see what it was. Nothing did, of course. Thank gosh.

Anyway, I've made a cast of my face, my neck and the upper part of my chest, now, and as you can see – the upper part of my head (only part I need, ha ha) is sitting on top of my stove, together with the horns that I'm working on.

I think I'll start on the mask tomorrow D: if the horns have dried, that is. I ended up making them with thin metal threads and regular papier mache. They're light and I think the mask will be able to hold them up without tipping over.

Also, I found the corset I'm going to wear. It was filthy cheap so I was really lucky :D – but it's not red... it's violet. So instead of going for only red, I'm going to go for red-purple makeup... with the tips of the horns being fiery red, but the red sort of merging with lilac on the face. I think it'll be neat.

That's the progress for now, either way. I'm thrilled about the horns. They're unpainted so far, of course, but I used red paper to make them to simplify the painting process.

I've also picked up all matters of little sparkly stones and crap that I'm going to use on the mask when I model it – it'll be very pretty. I'm very excited about the whole thing right now.

Man, my flat is SO messy right now. Plaster and paper and fate knows what ALL OVER THE PLACE.

[urgaffel]

You're an artist, your apartment should be messy ;) Sounds like it's going to be an awesome costume, wish I could be there to see it in person... As for the scars, a friend of mine has worked with make up some and he did a pretty convincing bullethole on my forehead a few halloweens ago. All he used was make up and a sort of blood-gel to simulate the crusted blood. Do you think that would be enough for you or do you need more pronounced scar-tissue?

[Cyborgguineapig]

Rad! Its inspiring me as I've been wanting to do something like this for some time. Maybe I can still pull something off. Linda this is a site that makes some contacts for eyes. Kinda pricey though cause they are hand painted I think. http://www.9mmsfx.com/
Also here http://www.sfxeyes.com/ they have cheeper ones aswell
If you don't go that route or you just go for regular contacts, I think green would look best againt the red because it will stand out.

[Enayla]

Oh man, I wish I could afford coloured contacts to go with the costume... it's just a bit too pricey, though. I'm already putting out a lot of money for the outfit :/

[Enayla]

http://9mmsfx.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=9SE&Product_Code=BS&Category_Code=SL1

Those would have rocked :|

Some of them are almost affordable. I'm just rather sure they wouldn't arrive on time, either, since I'm in Sweden.

Oh well.

The horns have dried now anyway. I'm a little nervous, but I'm considering starting with the mask after dinner.

[jmBoekestein]

Wow, those lenses rock. : .
Acuvue sells coloured lenses too but only to change/add colour I think. Green should be available I think, usually they have charts of what turns into what too. :)

Here you go >>:surprised << (http://www.acuvue.se/)

Hey you have really bright blue eyes, you could use an orange rim on the edges of the horns for contrast. Don't know how you planned it though, but I've seen good colourschemes like that before work well. (or a colour reminiscent of translucency, waxy)Ahem... :rolleyes:

Good luck :scream:

still profoundly jealous...
:)

[navate]

Hahah, Azzy didn't attack you when your face was plastered? XD I'm disappointed at him! I know my cats would have antagnozed the hell out of me if I were stuck with plaster over my eyes for that long.

I love the shape of the horns. =D ooh, I can see them glittering with the gems and ribbons already. This is going to be so wonderful. I'm kinda glad the corset is violet... red and purple look so good together; the makeup also will probably look more interesting with two prominent colors rather than just one.

Have fun making the mask (although you've probably already worked on it now, seeing at it's 4 pm in my part of the world.) Your masks are always incredible and you're used to working with them; I have no doubt it'll turn out fantastic. =D As for the contacts... they would look cool, but it would be cutting it close time-wise. =\ Maybe you can integrate your eyecolor into the makeup somehow, touches of bluegrays on your face or costume to make them look more "natural" in relation to the strong reds and purples. I'm actually thinking of detail of the painting you posted as your inital makeup test, how his eyes are the same as the color around his eyes on on his lips. Having the contrast of bluegrays might also make the reds and purples pop more. Something to play with, maybe? :]

[Enayla]

I think I'll just have to live with my dull blue eyes for the costume. With postage, the cost will be much too great plus they seem to demand that you actually go to an eye doctor beforehand, and I don't have the time to.

Aaaaanyway, I've been working on the mask today. It's in the dryer now, and all that remains is wait and see how it comes out. If it's ew, I'll just have to make another one, though I would be loathe to. It hasn't been painted, and it hasn't been polished yet. When it's dried, I'm going to carve little cracks and inconsistencies into it after the surfaces have been smoothened.

http://www.furiae.com/images/halloweenprogress3.jpg

As for colours, I don't want to bring in blue on top of the other colours. With red and purple and violet already planned, blue will be a bit of a stretch - going that far across the spectrum, when there are actually no contrasting colours, will just look weird... I think.

I'm pretty excited about red and violet, anyway. I can't wait for the mask to dry. I'll go downtown to buy some more paint tomorrow, I don't think I have any violets.

[animalunae]

300 dollars for a pair of black contacts? I know a place where you can get them for like ten times less expensive, no kiddin. Are these with prescription or something? They will probably be state of the art, but lemme go check this week in that store and I'll get back to you about the price, I guess you can have them within 5 days I suppose... plenty of time before halloween.

If I might comment something on the paint test; you look way too friendly, so unless it was deliberate, you're going to have to put some more darkness inthere... I'd put black around the eyes and get white lenses instead, but I guess its just for testing the paint and the colors right... Though I think black lenses can make you look less scary most of the time... because it looks more like large pupils, which make a person look friendly, small pupils tend to give someone a frightening look... In my humble opinion ofcourse, not trying to defy a real artist here...

I'd make two large black feathered wings and attach them underneath my coat and go as a fallen angel... but around here no one dresses up anymore... sad... oh well...

Sorry for the crappy painting, my wacom is being annoying and pressure didnt work...

[navate]

Hush, you; your eyes are not dull. :p I can't quite figure out the design of the mnask... it is actually going to go around your eyes and over your cheeks or is it more of a headdress, just over your nose and forehead?

Anyway, I don't think blue is too drastic a jump. It is right next to purple, after all--just the next step in an analogous color scheme. And you don't need to use a ton of it; just little accents here and there, some flickering cold tones against the warmth of the rest of the colors to both create some interesting contrast as well as unity with your natural eye color. Or maybe you could just go with more lavender accents if you don't want to go all the way into blue--I think I see a lavander-looking gem on the mask. That works just as well as far as matching your eyes.

Or maybe my color theory class is having adverse effects on my brain. XD

[Cyborgguineapig]

Hope it doesn't sound like I'm hijacking the thread or anything but like I said I've been inspired to create my own halloween costume and I went to the local fabric store and scored me some really nice black and green silk-like material I plan to build a costume out of. That alone took $20 out of my pocket and my budget is $50. Was thinking something between batman's mask and malificent from cinderella. So I guess its demon like as well.

Kinda funny but I was wondering, is it possible to create a mold of my face from paper mache'? I'd think its possible since balloons don't stick to the inside... How difficult was it with the plaster? And I dunno if its just me but something with the horns bother me. too close together at the back or something. Too wide loops maybe? should be more like these? I dunno just my taste maybe.

http://www.ics.uci.edu/%7Eeppstein/pix/sdwap/CurlyHorns-m.jpg

[jmBoekestein]

It's probably not what you had in mind... So Ikept it real scruffy like. I found the horns popped out some with a more pinkish colour, maybe dulling the closer parts of the horns with a bit of sawdust in the paint could go far. reflectivity of the paint should bring back in some blues or colder tones at least.
Well no more time left. Mask's looking great, In the depressions of the horns I'd add somemore darker tones and maybe violet, and right next onn the creases of the paper I'd put the oranges(if it's even possible to do this). yaddah yaddah...

http://img445.imageshack.us/img445/4784/lindamaskcoloursch3xh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I'm going to stay away from colours a tad bit longer heheh...immensely distracting from shapes

[Squibbit]

real good job there, Derby, simple, yet efficient :thumbsup:


ps. You might've gotten easier there Linda, if you'd
just bought a goat. You get the horns all done and
attached to a skull cap, all u got to do is paint it red
and find some way to tie it up.
Plus you get handbags or maybe boots from the skin
and I'd definitely drop by for some goat burgers and
a toast with goat's blood :beer:


.

[pushav]

Um wow. Lol.
I had the best costum when I went out. It was my plain street clothes lol.
I dress up as myself. I killed 2 birds with one stone. Trick or treating was a blast. Homeowners were shocked because the idea was so original.

[cipherL]

its looking good girl, fine effort..... remeber to take lots of pictures of befor and after so we can compare...:D

[Squibbit]

. remeber to take lots of pictures of befor and after so we can compare...:D

yea like you'd notice any difference..


.

[roguenroll]

cool, Id like to follow this.

those contacts are expensive, but I've seen some color enchancing ones for 35$, you should try to get something, hopefully cheap. try a novelty store.


http://www.fxeyes.com/color_enhancers.htm

granted you'd have to get some locally, as halloween is coming soon.

[Enayla]

It's turning out so much better than I had thought – and hoped for! I am so happy!

It's on my now VERY messy living room table, and I'm dabbling with the paint while watching Two Towers (soon Return of the King, mwahahaha).

The colours turned out red and purple, with highlights of white and gold. I just need to get some kind of gloss on it now, I'll go downtown on Monday and look around. Am leaving the mask for now though to work on the rest of the costume (the thing around the neck, the shoulder parts, etc).

Thank you guys so much!

And yeah, I completely redid the horns. I like them lots better now.

http://www.furiae.com/images/halloweenprogress4.jpg


I'm skipping the contacts :/ I just can't afford them. Not any of the ones that are really nice anyway - just general ones in green or brown or whatever, I can do without. That'll just be waste of money I can make better use of when buying more jewellery to dangle from the horns.

[paperclip]

Hey, I like that! It's not as saturated as your other masks though, is that the flash or..? It looks great though, I especially like the horns and I say they'll be great once you have everything dangling from it. Don't forget to take some photos of you dressed up.


Remember, if it wasn't for my ancestors, you wouldn't get to dress up like that and go out in public without feeling silly :scream: :thumbsup:

[jmBoekestein]

Wow, that looks great Linda. I thunk you;re done out-doin' , texture is great. Ouch, gotta wipe the green skin off now.

[navate]

LotR marathon :buttrock:No better way to work in the wee hours of the night. (Do remember to sleep eventually.) I love your priorities: skip the contacts to buy more shiney things. XD

It's looking awesome. I love the detailing on it... as much as I liked the old horns I think the new ones work better. Really excited to see how the rest of the costume will unfold.

[Enayla]

Whee! Thank you!

The colours aren't very desaturated, but they're not quite as perky as on some of my other masks. This photo shows them off much, much better (but in return, doesn't really show the details quite as well... ah well).

Also, I've started to test-hang some of the jewellery on the horns, just to see what the effect is.

The horns will be quite glossy in the end, as will the part that goes down over the nose. Some of it won't be quite as shiny. I've found that the best way is the use a nice polish on all the mask, and then buy nail polish (I kid you not) and paint over the REALLY glossy bits. I'll buy the stuff on Monday. Now I'm working on the pieces that will go on the cheeks, and over the chest.

Halfway through Return of the King :D

http://www.furiae.com/images/halloweenprogress5.jpg

[Cyborgguineapig]

Coming along great

[Brumfield]

Hey this is pretty awesome. I can't wait to see what the finished product looks like. :D

[Elsie]

Gosh Linda, thats really starting to look great now! The jewellery dangling from the horns is a really nice touch - you're going to be one scary demon-lady! As someone who has a sort of vendetta against purple, I have to say it really adds a nice flare to everything. It'll be great to see it finished!

That seems awfully steep for contact lenses O_o, I don't know about black ones but I've seen pure white ones for sale near me for under £50...not from an opticians or anything, just one of those weird shops that sells just about everything...

[urgaffel]

Linda, I have a friend that is an optician, want me to contact him?

[paperclip]

Hej, colors look much better on that 2nd picture! It will look fantastic once it has the varnish on it, I think that's all that's missing. Did you ever consider using gold foil??

[umbrellasky]

WOW! Linda this is coming along great! I can't wait to see the finished result :)

[pearson]

Looking great! The only thing I don't like very much is that the horns don't look very horn -like, since they have no corkscrew shape. Instead they look like ribbons with their wavey shape. :shrug:

I love the dangley bits! :thumbsup:

[Cyborgguineapig]

Dang October 17th already, I'll probably not have the time for this year. I doubt anyone is interested or cares but here are some sketches of costume designs for myself.
http://www.filepost.us/userfiles/cyborgguineapig/costumedesignideas.jpg

[jmBoekestein]

This 'll look great on you. :D The gold really works well, especially midway the horns, that's just superb.

Weird hangers, don't recognise them, nice style. The nose part seems a little weird, all golden, maybe you should dirty it up a bit. Put something over it to dull it towards the base/bridge part. I think it would become very present as it is now.

:thumbsup: I love it, surprised no one's said so yet, but the colours remind me of some of Dark Crystals designs, been watching that several times past weeks, it stays good even now. Urh... heh, I mean good luck. :)

[Heraclys]

This is working out great!

I like it, I realy find your style in it :thumbsup:

Oh yes, something else now, I've seen your guestbook with the "poker-spam" in it.
Can't we do something to it? I mean common let's take action! Does anyone know how to stop it? Let's help Enayla!:buttrock:

This is a community!! :scream:

[rblitz7]

Any ideas on where to find clothes like this
http://www.miserablelie.com/turturro/pictures/lebowski/Image27.jpg

[Cyborgguineapig]

Any ideas on where to find clothes like this
http://www.miserablelie.com/turturro/pictures/lebowski/Image27.jpg

Amvets, thrift stores ? Bowling shop within a local bowl? Online maybe...

[Cyborgguineapig]

So uh...yeah, anything new?

[roguenroll]

tonights the night, huh???

cant wait to see the final, you put some hard work into it.

:)

[artjunkie]

Linda, great work on the horns and I really like how you've integrated the jewelry. I can't wait to see some pics of you in the finished costume. It'll be awesome, I'm sure!

So, c'mon... POST DA PICS!

Cheers

[Enayla]

Actually, the Halloween party isn't until on Saturday, so be patient, my precious.

I'll make the collar tonight. The dress is already finished. I skipped the corset I had intended and went with another one that matched the style better - also, it has covered arms so I don't need to paint my ENTIRE arms, heheh.

I'm very stressed out. Aside from my own outfit, I'm also making masks for two friends, and on Saturday - I'll have to start makeup at about 9AM or something, if I'm going to be able to help all the people I've promised to help AND finish my own >__<

[Elsie]

I'm very stressed out. Aside from my own outfit, I'm also making masks for two friends, and on Saturday - I'll have to start makeup at about 9AM or something, if I'm going to be able to help all the people I've promised to help AND finish my own >__<

As long as you have fun doing it Linda :) I'm sure everything will turn out great. Can we see the new corset? I love corsets heh.

[iman121]

Hi *!!

http://pcdevils.com/flashme.php?swf=/media/flash/HappyTreeFriends/htf_halloween.swf
:banghead:
Bye

[Sylanya]

Oh, cool the parties on my birthday!! I can't wait to see pictures of your costume!

My costume was so boring and last minute. I had planned on having one of my outfits I designed made into a costume, but I was having a huge problem selecting one, and then it was too late to make it in time. So I pulled on a "old-fashioned" white dress, accentuated my dark circles and added a little blood. Five minutes later, I was a pretty zombie. Haha!

Anyways, don't stress out Linda, I'm sure you will get everything done in time and look beautifully evil when you're all done. You'll have the best costume at the party!

[Yrindale]

That's going to look absolutely wonderful Linda, I look forward to seeing or at least hearing how that finished product turns out!

[Kyena]

stumbled over an interesting site while looking for references today.
I thought you might enjoy looking at some of those creations :)

http://www.goblinart.com/

[Enayla]

Whee! I just finished the collar, literally minutes ago. Decided to snap a few pictures to show it off. I'm ridiculously happy with it.

The black stuff hanging from it won't be visible when I go to the party – I'll tie them away so they won't show. They're what keeping the collar up. I was just too lazy to fix it properly now. I've got paint all over my hands, I'm tired and hungry, hehe.

So my costume is finished. Afraid I have no pictures of the corset nor of the skirt I'll wear with it – that's all over at my mom's place, where I've put it all together. I'll get it home tonight or tomorrow but I'm thinking I won't have the time to take lots of pictures.

The collar consists of two parts, by the way. One in the back and one in the front. I tie it in place with cut-up stockings that I've glued to the inside. I'm afraid that most of the 'danglies' show as blurs in the photos because they're swinging back and forth, but I think you'll get the picture.

Then there'll be the mask on top, and my hair will be covered up by, er, a 'bald cap', meaning you won't see any of it.

http://www.furiae.com/images/halloweenprogress6.jpg

and a closeup:

http://www.furiae.com/images/halloweenprogress7.jpg

And thanks for all the support guys :D I'm feeling really excited about this costume.

[erilaz]

I'd say you've missed your calling Linda: You should be designing fashion for a living.

But I guess you'll just have to stick to your award-winning paintings instead. What a pity. :D

[Enayla]

Heheh, thanks <3

I sincerely doubt anyone but myself would ever wear the stuff I come up with, though o.o

[erilaz]

Heheh, thanks <3

I sincerely doubt anyone but myself would ever wear the stuff I come up with, though o.o

Do you think most of the high fashion shows that are run have any practical wearablity either? :D

[UrbanKunoichi]

Absolutely gorgeous work Enayla! I love your designs and the mask seemed to be coming along very nicely. I love your color selection as well. I have found, more often than not, that violets make red, RED. I personally think that some of the chains seem... not sparkly enough but overall everything is absolutely gorgeous! I cannot wait to see the finished results!

[pearson]

I personally think that some of the chains seem... not sparkly enough
Hmm. Perhaps a couple of gloss coats? You'd have to be careful not to glue the links together. Perhaps a light dusting of silver glitter? Perhaps just a few hand-placed pieces of glitter here and there? Just something to catch the light from time to time.

From following this thread, I found www.goblinart.com (http://www.goblinart.com/), which has a nice gallery of masks, plus instructions on how to make your own masks here (http://www.goblinart.com/about/faq.html#F).

[D-NA]

I sincerely doubt anyone but myself would ever wear the stuff I come up with, though o.o

I would wear your stuff! :D

I really, really like how the collar came out :) It's pretty flashy, but subtle at the same time... I'm loving it! Now I can't wait to see the whole thing!

Oh, on a really random note - you remind me of that nVidia fae... you know, the one that they used all over the place when poor FX cards came out.

...Yay for green/blue hair XD Is that hair spray or something else? Either way, it's wickedly cool.

[Enayla]

Hmm... I don't think I want the chains sparklier than they already are. What isn't showing on the photos is that the mask and the collar themselves are very glittery. There are tons of little gems and sparklies all over them... while the chains are very nice little chains I've found at thrift stores and antique shops all over. They're discreet but elegant, dark golden, I don't want to risk ruin them :] But I'll see what I can do.

And yes, the hair is green :blushes: At least in the back. Not hair spray. It's dyed. ( http://www.furiae.com/images/greeeeen.jpg )

Thank you :D

I'm almost ready to paint my friend's mask now. It turned out quite lovely, I'll post a picture later.

[urgaffel]

Looking great! It will be a spectacular outfit :) Can't wait to see it all together. Speaking of which, I'd love it if you could give me some pointers for my make up but I guess you're too busy... I'll stop stressing you out :)

[navate]

Linda, the collar is absolutely gorgeous. o_o <3 <3 <3 Seriously. Wow. I'm really stunned.

What material did you make it out of? Is it paper mache like the masks with wires in it for structure? I think I understand how you secured it with the pantyhose, but I can't tell what the material of the collar itself is. Could you please indulge me? :} I'm a choker/collar maniac but it's so very hard to find people selling designs I like, since I'm a fan of the simple yet ornate. And I've had making my own jewelry in the back of my mind for a while now but I never knew how to go about it. You're inspiring me to try my hand at it.=D

[Enayla]

Thanks, Lauren :]

I made the base of the collar in papier mache clay – modelling it around a plaster throat (I made the 'throat' some time ago, making a cast from my own neck and then filling it with plaster. It's awesome to model on). The 'spikes' were created by making thin wire structures that I then used regular papier mache on, using extremely thin and fine paper. While the clay was still soft, I inserted the spikes and sort of built over the places where they connected, so the result was very smooth. It worked out much better than I thought.

Then when everything had dried, I painted it and then glued fabric on the inside – for increased stability and comfort.

[navate]

Thanks for going into so much detail! <3 I have to go to the art store this weekend anyway for school so I'll pick up some stuff and give it a try. Oh, I'm excited! I've never made myself something fuctional before.

So tomorrow's the big day. :] Am super excited to see how the rest of the costume turns out. Of all the costumes and dress-up sessions I've seen you do this is definitely the coolest most extragavent. You're really outdoing yourself. <3 Have fun at the party!

[Enayla]

Yay! I look forward to seeing what you can come up with!

Haha, I just finished a touch to the costume I hadn't been planning on! In retrospect, I'm insanely happy I just went with this idea. It occured to me late last night and I did the claws then.

Now, these are the gloves I'll wear (hanging from a closed drawer to dry):

http://www.furiae.com/images/halloweenprogress8.jpg

[Lilie]

Have been following the progression of your costume for the past weeks and i wished i could have had responded before but eh, better late than sorry. http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/610/1smile0ex.gif

So far, it is looking fantastic. I really like the concept and i think that it'll look really good with the make up picture you posted some time ago.

The claws are looking really good and i know that this is a last minute suggestion.. http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/4590/16eek2uo.gif But maybe they could use a little more detailing.. Maybe making the tip of the claws a little more shiny/glittery, polished like i guess, like if they were often used (now i am lacking the correct english expression to explain my thoguhts, hope it is not too confused anyway..) Or with little gems, liek the demon would use them to make harden it,s claw (as we know diamonds cuts through anything and everything). Thoguh i must admit it still looks very good and that you probably prefer to have all the detailnig and focus around the torso/head area. http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/610/1smile0ex.gif

[D-NA]

Wow, those are extreme :D (and I never use the word 'extreme'..)

I really like that 'old gold/metal/something' look they have. I don't think I would've ever guessed they're just papier mache... o_O;;

[jmBoekestein]

Hey if they're still wet, try bending them a little, you could always paint over the cracks too. Might provide some nice texture too.

[Enayla]

Thanks guys :]

The claws are already fairly bent - they're flexible, since there's wire inside of them and the papier mache is pretty thin... but I can't bend them more if I want any kind of mobility in the fingers underneath. (I want to be able to straighten the fingers).

I added some glitter and sparklies as suggested... but this, my friends, is pretty much it. I'm off to bed now, and in eight hours I get up... take a long, long warm bath, eat breakfast, and then get working on the preparations. No more time for any last minute changes. I'm nervous and happy and excited - this is going to be SO much fun! :D

[paperclip]

Fantastic, Linda!

Here's a cookie for a reward:

http://www.furiae.com/images/toolate.jpg
and yes, I did have to spend a ridiculously long time looking for that photo! :D

[jmBoekestein]

Have a great time... *green with envy* still wish we had these parties over here.

btw I meant laterally, over the side bending, no matter, they catch light pretty well :).

Good luck on(in) the long run tomorrow (morning). :wavey:

[sebrushworth]

I like the claws :) they feel kind of "nightmare before christmas" inspired. That costume is gonna rock, I only wish I still lived in Umeå so I could see it all in real life.

[Enayla]

http://www.furiae.com/images/halloweenprogress11.jpg

The game is on! :D

:goes back to painting:

[umbrellasky]

wow so cool! Really nice work Linda, I can't wait to see what the final result will look like.

:bounce:

[jmBoekestein]

On indeed, I love the scales around your nose and lips, freaky wisps from there are a bit like smoke, maybe get an extra mirror to view your side?

Looking great!!!

:scream:

[Enayla]

http://www.furiae.com/images/halloweenprogress12.jpg

Getting there :D

[jmBoekestein]

*Drops jaw and lulls eyes about*

I'm going to shut up and watch from here. That's freaky cool!!! :scream:


:love: It looks completely bumpy, wow! :eek:

[tatiana]

Awesome!!:bounce:

[Elsie]

Oh my god Linda...I am seriously impressed. That looks freaking incredible.


Might be a stupid question...but...what exactly are you painting your face with? (in someone says "face paints" I'll strangle you :P)

[umbrellasky]

Ooooooooooooooooo wow so cool!!

[Dutchman]

Holy wow! :scream: Your face looks sooo cooool (well... more like 'hot' with that extreme red color ;) )! :twisted:

When will the party begin? :rolleyes: :buttrock: You'll be 'the man', but then female! ;) :scream:

Good luck with it! It looks sooo cool!
-Gijs

[Kyena]

haha - Linda I hope you don't mind but damn you are crazy :D
All this work for one evening? It looks awesome though and I am also looking forward to see the pictures of the whole outfit :thumbsup:

[erilaz]

When Linda partys, she partys harcore! :D

You're a work of art. Take craploads of photos when you're done!:twisted:

[Enayla]

I AM SO KNACKERED!

SO worn out D:

But I had an insane amount of fun!

My camera ran out of batteries shortly after I got back home and I'm so tired, I want to wash the makeup up... but I managed to snap some photos of the costume, I thought I'd share. Thank you so much for all the support, everyone! It was great fun sharing this with you!

(I use makeup by Kryolan Brändel or Grimas. Simple-style theatre makeup).

http://www.furiae.com/images/halloweenish1.jpg

http://www.furiae.com/images/halloweenish2.jpg

http://www.furiae.com/images/halloweenish3.jpg

http://www.furiae.com/images/halloweenish4.jpg

http://www.furiae.com/images/halloweenish5.jpg

:D so much fun!!!

it'll be hell getting it off though :(

[erilaz]

I dread to see your bath after you get all that off! :D

Now do Christmas! :applause:

[urgaffel]

Haha you are awesome :D I wish I looked half as good in my make up hehe. It didn't turn out the way we hoped so next year I'll try it again with some expert help ;) I wish I had been there... Party on my end was so-so :)

Now go take a bath and a long rest and then start sketcing on next years costume :D

[navate]

Whoa! Kick ass. :buttrock: Was not expecting it to look like that, but I love it! :D I'm so glad you had a good time. You certainly earned it. <3 I can't decide how you look... evil and sinister yet refined and elegant, but the helmet still reminds me of something warlike. It's a lovely effect... very ambiguous. You looks frightening and alluring at the same time.

Your face looks so neat. Amazing makeup job; I'm so impressed with the level of detailing. Especially that little trail of glitter over your cheek. Why I find it so cool, I'm not sure. o.o

Wonderful job. <3 Thanks so much for sharing your progress with us. :]

[Lunatique]

That's seriously intense, Linda. I'd have preferred you as a beautiful wood nymph or a forest fairy, but this is damn awesome.

[jmBoekestein]

Gees you turned out great!

Such a tasteful whole! I love it. :love: Love how you 've followed the contours of your face, like the scales going up to your ears. *_* And the horns going up backwards.

Truelly great stuff. All the bumps and nooks and folds h-whohw, and the jewellry alltogether. I'm almost inclined to agree with Kyena, it's insane, lol. But so beautiful. Stunning! You always make the place that much more interesting! :scream:

I'm gonna be making sulk paintings for weeks. "We don't have anything here, nah-hah-haa!"

[umbrellasky]

wow Linda! Magnificant! What did your friends at the party think of your design? I bet they loved it!

Great work! :)

[Enayla]

Thank you so much :D I'm preeningly happy that you like the costume!

It was insane yesterday. I actually had people bowing to me as I passed them by - I was treated like royalty, ha ha. I think I had about a hundred times as much fun as I've had any other halloween... and this even when I could hardly dance in the costume. The collar and the horns forced me to keep my neck pretty rigid and my head high at all times - I suppose in a rather regal pose (what people kept telling me anyway).

Weirdest thing? Guys were hitting on me! What the hell?! The way I looked, I wouldn't have touched me with a stick o.O

I'm so tired. Sooo worn out. I'll go take another bath, see if I can get the last of the glue out of my hair.

[berilac]

I've been following this thread all the way through, and would just like to say what an awesome job you did on your costume.

I eagerly awaited and was thoroughly impressed.

Looking forward to next haloween :)

Hope all is well and good luck getting the glue out!

[Kirt]

http://www.furiae.com/images/halloweenish1.jpg

Sounds like you had a great time at the party and all of your hard work paid off handsomely. :D

I love the costume and makeup design. It has an eerie elegance that reminds me of creature designs from Ridley Scott's film Legend (a film that I recommend you see if you haven't already). Or even reminiscent of the ballroom sequence in Labyrinth.

As for the guys hitting on you ... I can only suggest that it had something to do with those intense eyes of yours. If you had some cosmetic contact lenses to wear you may have scared a few away. :D

What are you going to do next year to top this one? I can't wait to see what you come up with. :love:

[Squibbit]

http://www.furiae.com/images/halloweenish3.jpg

:drool:

rock'n'roll


.

[Alexandrite]

wow.. just wow! i was quietly lurking about this thread before halloween. but, that is one of the most incredibly designed and created costumes i have ever seen. you put so much work and imagination into this costume, very few people these days do that I think, and put it together from scratch. Absolutely incredible, just thought I'd come out of lurking to comment. :)
You definitely look like a very regal demon queen, elegant but not fragile, both graceful and deadly. And most of all, you take pride in your work, and so you should. Thank you for sharing the design and process with us, and the final images of course! I can't see anyone else wearing this costume but you.

once again, amazing.

[Cyborgguineapig]

Not how I expected it either but the result is still really wicked cool.

[pearson]

Well, I'm definately impressed! :thumbsup: Glad you had a great time and were treated like royalty!

I know it's all over with, but I hope you won't mind a couple of comments. I loved the collar when you wore it alone. I thought its graceful curves and dangles framed your head perfectly. Unfortunately, with all the other stuff on your head it gets lost. Since you head got bigger from the appliances, perhaps the collar should have been made bigger (I mean the cured parts should be longer) so that it had the same dramatic effect.

My expectation was that you were going to seamlessly integrate the skull cap into the rest of your face. Instead, it looks more like a helmet. I like the seam at the back, since it looks vaguely like the natural cracks in a person's skull, and the overhang over the eyes and nose seems fine. So I guess my only problem is the temple/over the ear part, which seems quite thick. Perhaps if the helmet part had molded scales into the edges so you could overlap scales stuck to your face, it would allow for better integration.

Well, excellent result! Amazing makeup job! :applause:

[SpeccySteve]

It has an eerie elegance that reminds me of creature designs from Ridley Scott's film Legend


Yeah, it reminds me of that too..

Cool costume anyway, glad you had fun with it.

-Steve

[fuss]

Hmm, I wish I could comment on the costume, was waiting to see the final piece for weeks now. Unfortunately your site, Enayla, is as I just discovered blocked by our proxy at work so I'll have to wait 'till the evening... Just thought you might find it exhilaratory to hear the reason: furiae.com is classified as "nudity" by our internet security dumb... err... administrators :banghead: . I guess it's about damn time to remove all the porn content from your website then, huh??

P.S. - By the way, www.cgtalk.com (http://www.cgtalk.com/) is also blocked by our proxy, I wonder how long it will take for the guys here to realize the board has moved to forums.cgsociety.org before they cut me off :D.

[Elsie]

Unfortunately your site, Enayla, is as I just discovered blocked by our proxy at work so I'll have to wait 'till the evening... Just thought you might find it exhilaratory to hear the reason: furiae.com is classified as "nudity" by our internet security dumb... err... administrators :banghead: . I guess it's about damn time to remove all the porn content from your website then, huh??


Heh, Furiae is blocked at college aswell, I wanted to show my professor some of Linda's stuff, and it flashed up "Blocked - nudity"...so embarrassing haha because everyone seemed to think it meant porn or something...

[Maidith]

Your costume is so awesome, Linda! :surprised: It simply rocks. I guess I'd have touched you too, but just to see if you were real.

[Pentagramma]

Linda,

Congrats on an awesome costume! You look in the pictures like you stepped out of a masterpiece...
It's a little like you're one of those costumed ball dancers from Labyrinth, except of course your end result is much better. :applause:

[fuss]

Finally home!

@Elsie:
Seems I'm not the only one with this problem, weird! And yes, it was embarassing for me, too, haha.

Weirdest thing? Guys were hitting on me! What the hell?! The way I looked, I wouldn't have touched me with a stick o.O

Well, *I* am not surprised, not at all. You look damn sexy and if I were there I would definitely take a chance and hit on you, too, haha. In fact, if all demons in Hell look like this then I don't mind going straight to Hell when it's my turn to cross the Styx, haha (well, who wants to go to Heaven anyway :p ). Well, hot, very hot... Makes me wanna wear a costume at Halloween myself, but as I know me I would get it wrecked and torn apart before the end of the night, so the work would be wasted on me :D.

[Enayla]

Yeah, I know there's some stuff I could have done better - in retrospect... I'm still very happy with how it turned out, though. The fact that the 'helmet' part of the costume ended up looking like a helmet wasn't intentional, and I wish it hadn't, but I don't think the front part of it would have held up the weight if it wasn't as thick as it was.

I'll learn new techniques for next year :D I'm already trying to think of a new theme, haha! Feel free to help me out. And no, I won't go as a cutsey fairy, a mermaid or anything that's darling and doll. I'd go as a devil, but this year's costume is a bit too close to that. Ah well, I've got an entire year to plan...

Thank you so much everyone - the costume was hard work and fun, and I'm thrilled to hear that you all seem to have liked the outcome.

As for my page being blocked from some places - what the hell? o.O I wonder how that can be. There's pretty much no nudity on my webpage. Weird.

[paperclip]

Not even an evil mermaid? I could see you being a fantastically evil mermaid with cool scales and you could make a tail!

Still no?

[Elsie]

As for my page being blocked from some places - what the hell? o.O I wonder how that can be. There's pretty much no nudity on my webpage. Weird.

Yeah, that was what I thought, weirdly you can get onto tons of art reference sites with full nudes. Stupid admins...spent a full thirty minutes whining at my professor hah. I could get onto it a few weeks ago, so I thought maybe they'd blocked it cos I'd been on it too much, but then CGtalk would definitely be blocked. Um, hope I haven't just jinxed myself.

I agree with Theresa about the mermaid, I think you could pull that off so well. Or, cliche, but some sort of vampire or dark goddess....i'd love to see you do that kind of makeup.

[jmBoekestein]

I had to use my moms computer for a lnog time, the thing had just about anything blocked lol. I couldn't even take a look at my horoscope or send an email via msn mail. :rolleyes: Cathegories:
-interactivity
-occult

probably in whichever order

[pearson]

I'm certainly partial to an underwater demoness costume for next year, perhaps with some crustacean mixed in!

I know that when you hear "mermaid" you think of "The Little Mermaid", but this concept has potential, I think. Blue/green makeup, gills, spines, fins, scales, wicked cool fishhook inspired jewelery... Just to give you a hint of what I'm thinking, this was originally posted at conceptart.org by electroganic:

[UrbanKunoichi]

Linda, you have just given me a million more reasons to idolize (worship) you, so now my list has nearly a trillion or so things. I aspire to paint with your skill one day (though most likely a different style, especially since I recently am so much into clothing design rather than fantasy. Oh I want to be a clothing/video game concept artist). The costume is absolutely gorgeous! The painting is amazing and well done, especially the sides of your face. How did you manage to do your back? The horns and collar are just specatcular, so crimson and yet so sparkly (two of my favorite things). I loooove the costume. As to your earlier comment, I can't see why they wouldn't hit on you. Of course, I may be a bit biased, but I would just cling and never let go, ever. Now that this project is finished, I can't wait to see another of your pieces. I already have D'artiste: Digital Painting, and I am waiting for the special edition of Exotique. Your Master and Servant 2D Winning piece is gorgeous beyond all words and thought. I am so fully of anticipation for your next piece. Thank you for reading all of this babble and nearly creepy amounts of adoration, but once again, your works are delectably exquisite. I could just look at Songs Under the Apple Tree for hours, drooling at the realistic enticement of that red apple.

<Edit>I think you should go as a glamorous spider queen next year, with webs of sparkly chains, ribbons, lace, georgette, and dewy crystals. You could use wool or tweed for the body with satin accents, and shining metallic beads and jet glass. You have really inspired me (with my newly developed obsession with clothing design) to create my own costume next year. I loooooove painting my face, and I have a million things in mind, although it will be a while before I can afford all the MAC make up I will probably use for it. MAC makes wonderful waterproof and high pigment make up, wonderful to use for the professional. </edit>

Yours Truly,
Eleine

[artjunkie]

Linda, just reviewed your pics of the costume. AMAZING! SPECTACULAR, even! What an imposing visage... excellent work, my dear.

Start brainstorming for next year.

Cheers

[HellBoy]

thats really amazing Enayla, you'd qualify for a top costome designer

Can I ask you what type of camera you are using

[Lilie]

How about some sort of gorgon/medusa type of character? You could make yourself a ''snakey-wig'' and such.. Could be interesting, and you can get those nice lens you wanted early too, to get a ''gaze made of stone''. Evil yet you can use another color scheme.. This year was red/purple, year before was all about greys if i remember correctly the gargoyle? Next year could be with blues and greens and some greys too. I'm sure you'd pull that off wonderfully, but eh, only a suggestion. http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/8080/20boogie5vy.gif

As for the ''blocked page'' issues.. I've been having similar weird glitches with IE lately with various sites, not sure why. http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/1456/19confused1lt.gif

[fuss]

You could also go as Elisabeth Bathory, if it's not too cliché/cheesy for you... Well, maybe it is... It would give you a good excuse for wearing a fancy baroque gown, though :D (and maybe some nice lenses). However, probably no horns then (but who knows, you could be creative about that).

Otherwise I can second the others who suggested an "evil" mermaid or something like that... Or a phantom/zombie mermaid, think about how the Little Mermaid would look like after couple of days lying dead in the sun in her best evening dress... :D

Whatever you decide, I think taking something we all know for being sweet, good and fancy and turning it into something wicked, evil and ugly (but not too ugly, please :D) would turn out best... Be shocking, be surprising *g*. Check your local fairytales, maybe an evil Red Riding Hood? Or Blood Stained Snowwhite? :twisted: Something like that :D.

[CGTalk Moderation]

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.