Maine coon kitten XENA

I'm back from the Summer break with another cat. The inspiration to create this kitten came from my newly acquired Maine coon kitten Xena, therefore I chose to give the creation the same name.
I'm very proud of this one, I especially like the coloring which is a favourite of mine, I adore tortoiseshell cats in all their wonderful variety!
So, meet Xena!
XENA IS ADOPTED

Sitting on her felt mat

She has hairy Maine coon paws!

....and look at her gorgeous tail!

Long whiskers....and longer ear tufts!!!

Xena can stand on all fours

She can also lay down...

...and be arranged in so many cute positions...

....just do it delicately!

CIRCE, a young Maine coon

CIRCE is my latest creation made combining the more 'traditional' technique of designing and sewing the body, with the new found technique of sculpting the head out of polymer clay and then attaching fur onto it.
I'm very happy that I finally decided to experiment with this new way as I like it so much that I don't think I'm ever going back to needle felting. I feel like I'm turning a new leaf here.
Circe is the exact image of what was in my mind when I started on this project. I was able to translate my idea so precisely that in the end I found it quite difficult to part with her...but she is gone of course, I really can't start being soft and keeping the darlings to myself...
So, here she is, my dream cat: a Maine coon with a tortoiseshell and white fur, golden green eyes and a sweet bewitching expression, hence the name CIRCE!

SIEGFRIED the cat

This is SIEGFRIED, all finished and already adopted! Meowwww!!!!

A new way to do old things

Mixed media. I've come across this definition quite often in the past months. I'm fascinated by the concept of creating using materials and techniques that traditionally come from separate 'categories'. This way of doing things appeals to my restlessness and curiosity to try new things.
I've been using the needle felting technique to make my creations' faces for some time now. In that instance the needle felting technique is used on a head and body which had been previously designed and sewn from fur in the 'traditional' way. This is already putting together two techniques.
Then I've come across another way of doing things that really 'blew my mind'. You can also actually shape the head out of polymer clay (or other kinds of putty) and then attach fur on top of it. The possibilities are endless, and the control over the shape total.
I just had to try it, and this is my first go at it. I had to try with a cat of course, as I seem to be obsessed with them!

CAT HEAD - front

CAT HEAD - side

This cat head was done using an air drying polymer clay. I love clay sculpting. It is more immediate then having to do the shape with the needle felting, and I feel I have more control.

Another thing that I really appreciated was the fur attaching process. Again I felt like I was really in control of the step by step process, attaching little tufts exactly where they were needed and in the precise direction they should be.
This is the head after scissor sculpting and shading it.

I'm extremely pleased with the result, I think I have found a new way to do old things....a way that I really really have fun with!

SAHARA caracal cat

I've been very busy in the last month or so, developing new designs and trying new ideas. I have developed a no joints design for a caracal. Caracals are fascinating wild cats that have very distinctive face markings, and  black ears with tufts at the top. They are also called desert lynx, although they are no lynx at all.
Needless to say, as soon as I laid eyes on picture of a real caracal, I decided that I had to make one!

Caracals have short fur, so I decided it was the perfect challenge to make a no joints body design. I wanted the body to look as realistic as possible, and jointed limbs can be a problem with short fur as you really see the limb as a separate part of the body. With a one piece design, the look is elegant and natural.
The body is internally wired: from head to spine, all four limbs and the tail.
So, here is SAHARA.

CINDERS

With CINDERS I'm back to a 13 inches tabby cat. I gave him blue eyes and a fluffy white breast which stands out nicely given his tipped grey fur. He is my last domestic cat for 2014 as I mean to explore the wild side of the the feline world in the next months...
....and here is CINDERS!

CINDERS is ADOPTED, thank you!