Wednesday 20 January 2010

Bentley - All Done!



Here he is - Now doesn't he look better?
Much for fitting for a bear of his style.

This was my first attempt at Airbrushing, using the COPIC system - I didn't have too much choice of colours, as I only have a brown and a black, so brown 'Walnut' it was.

I may have slightly overdone it on  his face, but all in all, for my first try I think he turned out quite nicely. I don't think I have the heart to sandpaper him.

It's been fun! TTFN,
Julia xxx

Tuesday 19 January 2010

Aging Bentley - Stage 1

Here is Bentley in his 'completed' form -



Please excuse the poor light, I finished him late yesterday afternoon and all the light had gone.
As you can see, we have a very new looking old bear.

Here are the results of the first stage of his distressing -




He's starting to look better!

To achieve this, I used some tweezers to pluck out bald patches along the seams. I also thought carefully about what might have happened to Bentley; in what ways he may have been cuddled and kissed.

He has bald patches on the end of his nose, and the middle of his forehead from being kissed.

I like to cuddle bears over my shoulder, so he has been aged to reflect this, bald under his arms, tops of his legs, middle of tummy and the tips of his toes. The fur has been thinned out across his back to reflect how he may have been held.

I'm happy with how it's gone so far. He needs to be dirtied up now as he's far too clean.

Monday 18 January 2010

Aging a Bear

Hi all,

For Chiristmas my Mum bought me a bear kit from Dempsey Designs "Bentley Bear". He's an old time Barbara Ann bear.

It's been really interesting making a more traditional style bear - although I have decided that 'humps' are definitley not for me, even if it does make him more 'old man' like and is typical of the style. I found the plastic joints easy to use - But I like my joints as tight as I can get them (to this end I am considering moving on to nut and bolt joints rather than cotter pins.

All in all, he has been a great experiment for me to try a VERY traditional bear - and I know that designing such things is not what I like.

Any how, I have decided that Bentley Bear looks far too clean and far too new for such an old style bear; to this end I am going to distress the poor guy. I like traditional bears that look a bit battered so I think that is what poor Bentley is going to experience.

I've read up on techniques a little; so all that remains is to sew on his ears and start aging him! I have aged up prop weapons before quite succesfully but those techniques will not work here. I will try and take some photos as I go - Maybe you can all see Bentley Bear changed into an 'Old' bear.

All excited.......!!!

Monday 11 January 2010

First bear of 2010!

Hi everyone, I hope 2010 is treating you well.

The weather in the Uk is appaling just now, I have never know either so much snow, or it to last so long! The temperature here hasn't gone much above freezing in a week; the roads are almost solid ice. They were better but it snowed again last night; coating everything in the white fluffy stuff.

It's nice to walk in, play in and feel a bit different.

It's bad to drive in and try to get to work. ick. At least the staff car parks are sheltered at work so no scraping before I can go home!


My first bear of 2010 is now ready for her new home.She likes looking at all the pretty snow....


"Is it Snowing yet?"


"It's so Pretty!"


"Hello! Are you cold?"


"I'm just relaxing - How about you?"


This pretty bear is a rather Girly commission with a sweet face and a double jointed neck. I'm sure her new mum will give her a lovely home.

Now I have a compulsion to maybe design a little anime bear. Hmmmmm......


Friday 1 January 2010

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you all; wishing you a prosperous 2010! xxx