Indianapolis Sketchers: Moe & Johnny's

We met at Moe & Johnny's on January 22nd and got acquainted. It was a very nice time, just enjoying the restaurant and sketching. Here are my results! All of these were on the same page, sketch paper with a regular wooden #2 pencil.

Thumbnail Portrait

Railing Detail Behind Booths

New Meetup Group: The Indianapolis Sketchers!

Starting a new Meetup Group!
http://www.meetup.com/Indianapolis-Urban-Sketchers/

Let's start sketching! We'll have our first 'sketchy' outing near the end of this month. Join in and get creative! 

Please leave comments below for some location ideas!  I'd love to be outside, but it is still pretty cold yet.  Maybe a restaurant with awesome decor, or a museum with sculptures to sketch? All ideas and inspirations are welcome!

Model: Mini Golf

So, this is Christmas

and what do you miss?

The dimpled white play-things

and clubs to swing with.

Though the season is cold

and the snow so white,

the green still awaits.

Merry Christmas Mike!

This is the gift that I made for my sdad Mike :)  

It's mostly found materials like the cardboard. 

I made the trees with dried sedum flower heads

and painted them with acrylic paint.

The golf ball is a little opalescent bead.

The final model measures 4" x 12"

Bustle Dress: Buttons

Irene Adler's bodice has so many buttons down the front that I decided it would be ridiculous to have to do them all for Halloween. It is so much more pleasant and time-saving to just have a zipper down the back when it comes time to wear the bodice. I still added the buttons for effect, however.

The process begins with marking the center of the bodice. I used a length of drafting tape and marked the button spacing with a pen. This ensures that the buttons will be correctly aligned and properly spaced for a nice finish.

Tape down the bodice center.

The buttons are shank buttons, and the fabric is not reinforced. I used a flat button behind the shank ones for added support. The sturdiness of the flat button keeps the shank button from drooping or falling at strange angles. It also helps to prevent the fabric from ripping due to any unwanted stress on the shank buttons while wearing the bodice.  For example, if somebody comes in for a hug and something on his or her costume gets stuck on the button, the bodice fabric is less likely to rip.

Once all the buttons are attached, it is time for the sleeves!

Pumpkin Carving

Some of the most spectacular pumpkin carvings are the ones that use a variety of cutting depths.  Instead of cutting entirely through the pumpkin and exposing the candle in the center, try varying the access to light.

This is a pumpkin that Daniel and I carved together a few years ago... shortly after Spiderman with Tobey Maguire was released.  Notice that only the brightest parts are carved all the way through.  Those parts are also carved very thin so that the light has plenty of pumpkin to illuminate and highlight before escaping.

Happy Carving Everyone!

Egg Shell Bobble Heads

Bobble Head Video

Click the Youtube link above if the video isn't working.

Materials for One Bobble:

hollowed egg

yarn

acrylic paint

small googly eyes

small puff ball (nose)

craft glue and/or hot glue gun

scissors

scrap fabric

thread

needle

card stock

1" square of wood or small flat rock (base)

Directions:

1. Hollow the egg if you haven't already. Here is a fun video to try: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFI_rkVbqdQ   My method is similar. Poke holes in each end of the egg with a needle. Swish the needle around to mush up the insides, then clean off the top end.  Blow the insides of the egg out. Rinse by trapping water inside and shaking, then let drain and air-dry.

2. Prepare the scraps of fabric to make them look like doll clothes. For the skirts, Make a rectangle that is longer than the circumference of the egg. Using the needle and thread, gather one side to fit the egg. Connect the ends of the rectangle and glue it to the bottom of the egg shell.  Be creative with the clothes! It is important to leave the bottom of the egg free from clothing, because the spring needs to attach there.

3. Glue on the googly eyes and the nose, making sure to leave enough room for the mouth.

4. Paint the face to add character... eyelashes and lids, lips, etc.

5. Make the hair. The first minute of this video is a great technique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrAiem37eHs&feature=fvwrel  Once you've made the yarn bundle around your hand and tied a knot at the top, stop the video. You're not making a tassle, so you don't need the second tie around the bundle. It will look like a collection of loops when you remove it from your hand. Cut through the yarn loops, trying to make them all a similar lengths by cutting the center of each loop.

6. Glue the knot of the hair to the egg and arrange the rest how you want it. A small amount of glue near the knot can help hold the styling in place.

7.  Either get a loose spring from a hardware store or make a cardstock spring. I recommend the cardstock version because it is much less complicated.  This video will suffice:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voHi98IcTyQ   However, use a small dab of tacky glue or a permanent gluestick instead of a generic gluestick. Also use cardstock. It will last longer and hold the weight of the shell better.  At the end of the spring, I cut the two strips long to look like feet.

8. Using the hot glue gun, glue one end of the spring to the bottom of the egg and the other end to the 1" base.  Make sure all the steps are dry and pieces are set before bobbling the egg shell.

9.  Enjoy!