New project..

[noludoru]

I'm turning a shoebox into a "collar box" for Middie's poor, neglected collars that are sitting precariously high up on a shelf when he's not wearing them. The bottom half of the box is going to be done in wrapping paper, and I'll have some sort of lining on the inside. The top will have a portrait of him along with "Middie's Collars" on two of the sides.

Here's how far I am...

Top of box:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/KitKitty7/Pics/box002.jpg

Side:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/KitKitty7/Pics/box0082.jpg

Ignore the price tag on that... LOL! The "low" price of $50, right. And that was 3ish years ago.

[noludoru]

Woo! five hours later (I know, I know.. but it's keeping me awake!) here's what I have.

Fleshing out his chest ("furring" out?)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/KitKitty7/Pics/box003.jpg

Basics of face
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/KitKitty7/Pics/box012-1.jpg

Done, except collar, unless anyone has constructive criticism
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/KitKitty7/Pics/box014-1.jpg

Close up of face
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/KitKitty7/Pics/box013-1.jpg

His nose is pretty much a solid color and there IS definition in his nostril... but the camera didn't pick up on that. At all.

[Buddy'sParents]

very nice! :)

[noludoru]

Annnnd DONE! Well, done a couple hours ago, but Middie and I took a walk.

Box..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/KitKitty7/Pics/box019.jpg

Middie and Middie again. Sorry about the unfocusey-ness, but my camera ran out of battery power.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/KitKitty7/Pics/box058.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/KitKitty7/Pics/box057.jpg

[smkie]

That way beyond rocks!!!!! i can see the definition just fine. I wish this was on a canvas, wahooo you did a good job!

[RedHotDobe]

That's a really cute idea! And you paint way faster than I do. :(

[noludoru]

Errrr taking almost 7 hours to finish a piece is fast to you? :p

Thank you, Smkie!! :) Your praise means a LOT to me. My mom is POed that I did it on a shoebox and she's not allowed to frame it. I'm trying to make her happy by getting a really good picture of it and making a print for her. *sigh* She is NEVER happy with my work unless it's on something that can be framed and is not ever, ever leaving the house. She acts mortally wounded when I draw gifts for people! YEESH!

I just need to find a good wrapping paper for my box and some decorative ribbon. It's going to be really snazzy when I'm done with it.

[RD]

That is LOVELY, Nolu! Wow. Acrylic?

I need you to help me with painting. I suck. Horribly. :(

[noludoru]

Acrylic! And I don't really know where it came from. I used the style I usually use in acrylics on 3d things on a 2d subject I have never drawn before and that's how it came out. I'm very happy with it.. I don't think I've ever painted anything in acrylics on paper that has turned out so nicely.

I'd happily help if I knew what I did.. but it just came out. Obsessively. It kept me up the whole night. The only parts I really focused on what I was doing got screwed up and I had to repaint, so I just let my hand do what it wanted to after that. It felt really, really good. A part of me has been missing and I didn't fully realize it until I was halfway through this. I haven't painted anything in a long, long time. :(

[bubbatd]

I'm disgusted at all your talents here !!! HMPH!!!

[Baxter'smybaby]

Nice job Nolu--did you sketch it out first or trace from a photo? You should cover it with something to protect it--maybe an acrylic varnish?

[RedHotDobe]

Errrr taking almost 7 hours to finish a piece is fast to you? :p
Unfortunately. :(

[noludoru]

Good god, girl. How do you ever get anything done? :eek:

Bax, I had a VERY loose sketch down in the first place. In the earlier pictures you can sorta see it. It was surprisingly accurate, so I didn't have to do much erasing and re-drawing.

I'm not sure what I'll use to protect it yet.. next time I pop into an art store I'm going to browse and see what should be best. In the meantime, it's safe and the lid won't be messed with for quite a while. Now I'm on to obsessively decorating the bottom half.

[Brandyb]

Wow Noludoru!!!! Great work - you've really done a fantastic job with this!!!!!!!!!!

[noludoru]

Thanks, Brandy. :)

Annd here we go
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/KitKitty7/Pics/DSCF7831.jpg

Showing the color off a bit better
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/KitKitty7/Pics/DSCF7830.jpg

[RedHotDobe]

Good god, girl. How do you ever get anything done? :eek:
I don't think I do really. :p

I like the new photos! It's so pretty.

[noludoru]

Next time you come over I'll beat you out of that, don't worry. ;)

Thank you! I think so too! I keep looking at it and going "Did I make that? Wait, yes I did, it's in the style I use for my models..."

[smkie]

that did i make this is the best feeling in the world Congrats

[RedHotDobe]

Did you already say if it's acrylic? (It's 3am, give me a break here.) I hate acrylic. As in - I HATE acrylic. But I LOVE gouache. So so much.

Going to bed. Leave me alone.

[Momof2Pups]

That's absolutely gorgeous, nolu. I love it. :D

[noludoru]

Thanks, guys... :) :D :D

[sisco16]

That is stunning, I love acrylics to have you ever tried oil paints there alot harder to work with but i think you could do something amazing with them.

[noludoru]

Thank you. :) Yes, I have... I currently have a friend teaching me oils.. I'm still learning w/ them.

[noludoru]

Forgot to post finished box pictures.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/KitKitty7/Pics/ellaslead033.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/KitKitty7/Pics/ellaslead044.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/KitKitty7/Pics/ellaslead042.jpg

[MericoX]

^^NOOO!! Dont put my collars away!!! I cant stand to watch!!

Love the box.. its gorgeous!!

[LilyoftheValley]

Im speechless... That rocks!

[noludoru]

LMAO Merico. That is hilarious.

Thanks, Lily! The more I look at it, the less I like it, honestly. I'm going to harass my art teacher into showing me how to line things neatly with fabric and how to measure/fold/cut it right. The bottom has gotten all wrinkly. :rolleyes:

[~Jessie~]

It looks great, Nolu! :D

[MericoX]

Well you wont really see the bottom when you have all the collars in there, right? I wish I had your talent, that box really came out nice.

[noludoru]

Thanks, Jessie! :D :)

Well.. no. But it's still bugging me. This is the kind of thing you fail in art class for. (Actually I had a much neater project that I did get a failing grade for last year.. it was lovely wand well-thought out and my teacher FAILED me because I didn't ask for her help on it, she didn't like how I'd lined the inside, and there were a few pieces of rubber cement showing I had missed. I hate that evil woman.)

Talent? NONSENSE! An iron and hot glue, my friend.. an iron and some hot glue.. it works wonders, lol! I am a big fan of hot glue guns and irons. Very useful.

And for the top, if you can't draw of paint, you can do a mosaic.. like with tiles or something... and paint in the grout to make it look even cooler. Or so ribbons and fabric.. or take pictures.. there are just SO many possibilities to pretty up a shoebox!