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Step
1
Well, by now you have probably drunk your caffeine supply dry,
so get a refill of your favorite caffeine laden soda *Grin*.
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Step
2
Make sure you plan out your for colors ahead of time, and have
them all on hand. So, you can ride your momentum, and not get
stuck by having to wait on your fur to arrive. In this case I
will be furring the Fox mentioned in the Toaster Head Technique.
His colors will be Red Fox (1 yard), Cubby Bear Black (1/2 yard),
and Cubby Bear White (1/2 yard). The measurements are what I have
on hand though I will only use half the amounts I started with.
Also draw out where you plan to lay the fur on the head with a
sharpie marker these lines will help guide you (Image B).
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Step
3
I start with the dominant color Red Fox, and measure the width
& length of the muzzle where I start. Using a cheep coloring pencil
I draw a rectangle of the widest measurement, and the longest
measurement. Using a box cutter (so as not to damage the fur)
I cut the rectangle out, align it in place, pin it down, and using
hot glue, glue it down in the line I drew on the head where that
color of fur was going to go. Taking that cheep coloring pencil
I turn up the edge and draw a line matching the line of where
the fur is supposed to go. With the box cutter, & a pair of snips
I carefully cut off the excess of the rectangle of fur. Then I
finish gluing the edges down with hot glue. Next, I do the cheeks
the same way, trying to meet the edges of each piece as close
as possible without over lapping.
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Step
4
I continue this process, with each piece turning the fur nap the
way it would appear on an animal. I keep measuring out squares
and rectangles of fur, applying them and then cutting the to match
the previous piece, and so they aren't too big. Try not to over
stretch the fur, or cover to much at once as this will cause puckers.
A little practice here and you'll get the hang of it. The following
steps are much the same, and take your time, be careful as it's
easy to get hot glue on the fur, and cut down to much. If you
make a really big mistake you can pull the fur section you messed
up on off. Again be careful as you will tear up the foam, and
often have to do patch work, and shaping on the foam.
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Step
5
Once all the Red Fox is on I move to the White. Again using the
same method, measure, cut, glue, and shape then glue down for
each piece.
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Step 6
I usually cover
the eyeholes completely, as I will be cutting them out, and even
making them bigger. So, don't worry to much about the eyes yet.
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Step
7
Ears, they can be tricky. They can be done in multiple piece (probably
safer, and easier), or you can be a moron like me a do them with
one whole piece. Which leads to puckers which have to be cut out
and glued down. I usually start with the inside first, and then
do the out.
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Step
8
I draw up a set of eyes on paper, to gage the size and shape.
I pin them on and see how it looks. I may make 3 or 4 pairs of
eyes before I'm satisfied.
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Step
9
I cut out the eyes at last, I start small, and constantly check
the paper eyes to make sure I don't exceed them, and still leave
room for glue mounts.
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Step
10
Keep on cutting till I feel I got enough for eye sight (check
it by butting it on). Then taking stretchy black t-shirt cotton,
I line the eyes by gluing thin strips in. Why? This improves sight
as it focuses light, and also if you picture was taken the flash
would not pounce back off the light colored foam underneath.
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Step
11
Making the Eyes *insert death march music here*, I have a saying
in both art and costuming, "Its all in the eyes", or "The eyes
are the gateway to the soul. If your eyes suck, then your soul
sucks". People instinctively look at the eyes first before their
brain tells them to look at anything else. This need goes back
to the days of cave men (maybe back even further), and is meant
to judge whether a stranger is a friend or foe. This still applies
to fursuits as well. "Is that 6' fox coming at me going to eat
me, or say hi?" That's what the unconscious brain is thinking,
so again if your eyes suck then your head has to work harder to
covey who you are, and if your head sucks the rest of you has
to really work hard (which at this point you've already caused
a large crowd to commit suicide due to fear or revulsion). But
remember you still got to see, so often we have to make a compromise.
So, for this step your going to need these tools (or something
close): Airbrush (or spray paint in the color of your choice),
Nylon mesh fabric, pliers/wire cutters, coat hangers, empty bottle
of bleach, sharpie, and hot glue (low temp is safest for this
part).
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Step
12
Now, take the pliers, and shape a frame for the left and the right
eye, use the paper eye as a comparison.
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Step
13
Taking copies of the paper eyes I cut out the white, and trace
them on to the bleach bottle. Then I cut them out (This is why
you want an empty bleach bottle, and not use a full one).
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Step
14
Now I make a tension bar and glue it on to the frames (this will
be to resist future tension).
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Step
15
Oh, and you'll need some foam board, and masking tape. Cut out
two squares of your nylon mesh, and tape them taunt to the raised
frames of foam core you will have to make (this will help prevent
paint mistake, and running). Make sure the mesh is taunt. Remember
taunt. Taunt… Got it?. Oh not to taunt.
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Step
16
Oh, and you'll need shelf paper (also called shelf tack), cut
out a masking for the pupil, and stick the adhesive side on to
the mesh. Now start applying the eye color slowly, so as not to
block over the fine holes in the mesh. Wait for the paint to dry
and then apply another very thin coat, just misting the mesh.
Layer the paint slowly, until you get the eye color you want.
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Step
17
Once that's done I compare size and shape with the frame (Image
A). Next I paint the wire frames black with a spry enamel (Image
B).
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Step
18
I center the mesh, placing the pupil where I want it, and start
hot gluing the mesh to the underside of the wire along on edge.
When that sets I pull the mesh down and taunt to the opposite side,
and hot glue it also to the underside. Finally, I do the third edge,
and the edge that falls under the plastic eye white I leave lose.
Now, using hot glue I set the eye whites, and with tweezers I pull
the mesh tight and glue it to the eye whites, and the tension bar.
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Step
19
Adding flourishes to the eyes, neoprene (called fun or craft foam),
or felt are what I suggest. Using the paper eyes and the pre-drawing
as an guide I cut very thin stripes in the shape I require. Again
I use a very small amount of hot glue, and attach it to the eyes. |
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Step
20
When the eyes are done, use pins to wedge the eyes into place.
This will allow you to align and set the eyes, symmetry is important
here. When you are satisfied, using more pins as markers, place
hot glue on the back of the eyes (In spot that it won't melt the
glue holding the eyes together), and place the eyes on. Make sure
you get a grip, and solid mounting, don't want your eyes to fall
out when say hi to that group of children…
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Step
21
Lips (A fox needs these!). There are a few things I have used as
lips; the first is pillow cording, craft cording, and electrical
wires. Once you decide on the type of material for the lips simply
cut to length, then hot glue in place. |
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Step
22
Adding the final touches. Now time to add the flavor, in this case
simple accents to the eyes (the felt line from the top of the inner
eye, to the brows), and hair, which is scraps of Fox Palomino airbrushed
with Med Brown leather Dye, sewn together, and fixed to the top
of the head. |
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Finished
And now we are done, I hope that these suggestions are helpful,
and educational. As a note, this is not the only way to do this;
there more ways then I can count on fingers and toes. Don't let
the above suggestions limit you, if you find a better way then use
it, if you find an obstacle figure it out, and defeat it with your
creativity, and not let it over come you because I didn't mention
here. "Art is a line of problems, and an Artist is a problem solver."
Enjoy |
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