Art Project - Day 2

Forgot to mention that my Shocker Worldwide order arrived yesterday, and in record time! It took about 3 days to get to me from Japan. Got the 'Unholy X-Mas' Skullman and Skullbat figures and the Pushead 'Aloha' shirt. The love the Skullbat figures and they look great in a group :)

Also got the Clot version of the Skullpirate figure in the mail today! Of course, as soon as I get my hands on my Clot Pirate, Secret Base screws me up and releases a new Skullpirate variation (the 'Blood' version, released on Christmas Eve) that is limited to 55 signed/numbered figures with a t-shirt and screenprinted bag. Damn...

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Well, the project is underway! I started with the base color of black, using the spraypaint that I picked up yesterday. It turned out fairly well, but since I've never used spraypaint before, it was kinda' messy. I let the paint dry a few hours and then applied a second coat on the figure, so it looks a lot better now. I held the paintcan a little too close at one point, so there is a slight 'drippy effect on the back of it's head, but you won't notice it unless you look closely. Since it is the back of the figure, I guess I'm not too stressed about it. After applying the second coat, I had to meet my family for my sister's 40th birthday, so I have to continue the project tomorrow. So far, so good.

I know some of you are thinking "Damn, this guy is slow...I'd be done already". Please keep in mind that I have no artistic talent and no clue about the various paints, brushes, etc. that I just picked up, so all this is brand new to me. Besides, I'm in no hurry :)

Art Project - Day 1

I am planning a small art project, customizing my first vinyl figure. I've seen other people's work and I admit I am intrigued by some of the stuff they've done. Mine, admittedly, will not be anywhere near so elaborate.

Since this is new to me, I am planning on using a D.I.Y. Devil ToyerQ "Baby Qee" which I picked up at Rotofugi (http://www.rotofugi.com/) on my last visit there. It's relatively cheap and my design will fit perfectly on this figure. Once I get a good feel for this using Qee's and moving up to Dunnys, I try the ultimate goal...creating my very own Circus Punk!

I posted some questions on the message boards yesterday, about painting this figure and got some really helpful information. The best information for this project (which I should have checked first...) was taken from the Qee Forum. It gave me an idea of what supplies I needed to start this thing. I figured I needed the following: spraypaint (black), acrylic paint (white and black tubes), Sharpie poster-paint marker (white fine point), plastic primer and paint brushes.

I set out to pick up the supplies at Pearl Arts & Crafts, but ran into a brickwall early... Chicago has a ban on the sale of spraypaint! They informed me that I would have to go outside city limits to get it. They also didn't have plastic primer, which is step one, so I walked out empty handed. I ended up having to go to a hardware store in suburban Evanston and getting the spraypaint (Krylon Fusion for Plastic). They didn't have plastic primer, but the can of spraypaint states that primer isn't neccesary, so I will try to do without. I picked up the rest of the items at an art store in Evanston.

By the time I got home, I had to get ready for a night at the theater...Chris, Peggy, Lisa and I had tickets to see the stage version of Ray Bradbury's 'Dandelion Wine' at the Steppenwolf Theater.

I'll start the painting tomorrow and I hope I don't screw it up.

Update...

It's been a long time since I updated this blog, but only a handful of people read this anyways, it's safe to say that it hasn't been missed much :) Since the last posting, there has been a steady stream of books, records, and toys arriving via mailman.

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The biggest box was from the awesome people of Shocker Worldwide. Unfortunately, it's contents are a Christmas present from my girlfriend, Lisa. She, being the traditional woman that she is, informed me that I can't get the contents until Christmas. It's gonna be a long wait :( Well, here are pictures from the Shocker website of the stuff I'm getting for Christmas:

'Sorrow 9' t-shirt and limited CD and pin

Atom Age Skullbat figure with 'Deep Blue' CD and bonus t-shirt

'Deep Blue' tour version of the Skullman figure

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On a side-note... It kinda' pisses me off that my order from Shocker Europe (for the 'Bloody Halloween' Skullman and Balzac Skeleton polo shirt) was placed over a month ago (on Halloween to be exact) and it still isn't here yet, yet I ordered the stuff from Shocker Worldwide a little over a week ago and I got it already (from Japan). E-mails to SEU have only gotten the response of "It's on its way". I think I'll only order from Shocker Worldwide from now on..

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From Ebay, I finally got the Balzac 12" Paperbagman figure with the red leather suit that was released earlier this year. It is the rarer version limited to only 308 copies and comes with the 'Horrorock / Rain' CD single and a load of cool accessories. I love this figure!

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Got in the last couple of figures to complete the Secret Base X Super 7 'Ghoul's Night Out' Halloween set! As soon as I got in the last figure (Obake), I sent in the pins for the free bonus figure, which was the black/orange Frankenghost. This set is sweet, and I can't wait for next year's set!

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That's it for now, I'll post an update of other new stuff (like books, music, upcoming toys, etc.) later on.