~Michelle/Axel's Art Blog~

exactly what is says on the tin lmao, this is my art blog!

i really don’t draw as much as i used to, and i certainly don’t post as much as I used to, but i still do every once in a while

i will also sometimes post some of my art on my bluesky, though i’m only maybe 1% more active there than i am here lol 👻

Veiled Lady BG Image here

Inky Cap BG Image here

Enoki BG Image here

Wrinkled Peach BG Image here

Destroying Angel BG Image here

Birds Nest BG Image here

Mycena Chlorophos BG Image here / Naomi ref here

Turkey Tail BG Image here

Fairy Ring BG Image here

I didn’t think to take progress pictures until after I got the base finished, and only just decided to make a post documenting the process tonight lol 😓 But I’m literally winging it- I’ve never made anything like this, and aside from the things I was taking inspiration from and a few quick videos I’ve watched for tips on stringing the puppet and help with the hair, I haven’t been following any specific patterns or anything for it, lol, so I don’t think it would have been helpful/interesting to anyone anyway…

Update 1, 08/18: She’s coming along pretty well- I started working on her in the last week of July, and it really didn’t take me very long to make the base puppet, though now that I’m doing more of the detailed work, progress has slowed…I’m gonna have to set aside some extra time to sneak working on her at home to make sure I get her done in time, I think; I’ve strictly been working on her on breaks work until tonight; I snuck her home in my lunchbox on Friday, and sat up for an extra 3 or so hours after bunny went to bed tonight working on rooting in some of her hair.

I’m about 1/3ish done with the hair, I’d say; it’s been time consuming, but rewarding, too, seeing the hair slowly get built up and looking more and more finished. I am nervous about it holding up…once I’ve finished, I’m gonna put glue inside the head to hopefully keep it held in. It is pretty sturdy already- combing through the hair with my fingers doesn’t pull the pieces out, but I’m worried about when I have to comb and style the hair eventually…which brings up another question I have to work out: my original design idea was to have her with straight hair, but the hair I got was curly. I figured I would just find a way to straighten it, but now that I’m putting it in, the curly hair is growing on me…I’m gonna have to decide how would be best to style it and everything, either way.

I’ve also run into an issue with the paint on her face chipping off, so I’m going to be thrust into touching up her face…I always kinda wanted to learn how to do faceups on dolls to make ooaks, but never had the confidence to…guess I’m gonna have to now, lol! Thankfully it’s only her nose and lips that have gotten their paint messed up…I think I’m gonna re-do both in black to match her ~goth aesthetic~ more lol, and I want to figure out a way to seal it and avoid further paint chipping, if possible…

After I’m done with her hair, the next step is going to be attaching her ears and hat, then I’ll probably figure out the stringing/sticks situation…the baubles I’ve gotten to add to her shawl will probably go on last, because that’s probably the part I’m most excited for! 😸 I also got a cute little box for her, and I might make up some cushioning and spruce up the inside a bit if I have time to, but I guess we’ll have to see.

Hopefully my next update won’t be quite so long-winded lol!

Update 2, 08/21: hair’s all rooted! Gonna put some glue inside next to hopefully make it hold stronger…Once the glue dries, I’m gonna wash out the hair and try to style it so she looks less like a mix of Sadako and a mop dog and more of the character I had in mind lol.

Unfortunately, I jinxed myself and a bunch more of her face paint chipped off, so now I’m officially in doll repainting territory; I’m gonna draw up some designs for her new face and see how I wanna do it…hopefully it won’t look awful lmao!! 🤞🏻

I’ll be bringing her home to work on her while bunny’s away, and I have an extended weekend off from work coming up, so I’ll try and sneak in some work on those days, too >__>

Update 3, 08/22: Okay, so that didn’t turn out as bad as I thought it would…

I DID cheat a little and used markers and not paints, because I didn’t trust myself, but I think she looks pretty nice!!

I decided to go with a clown theme, to match bunny when she does her clowning 🩷 I didn’t end up keeping her super cool, dramatic pink eyeshadow across her face, on account of the clown makeup, which made me kinda sad- it’s one of the things I liked most about this doll face to begin with! Maybe next time I’m messing around with doll repainting or anything I’ll try to recreate the look…

I’m letting it dry for now, then I’ll be adding some modpodge to keep it all sealed up!

Update 4, 08/23: Technically the 22nd into the 23rd lol. She’s nearly done!!

I had to touch up her white paint because the modpodge made the black outlines I drew bleed a bit 😭 but I guess that makes it look a little more like real makeup lol…? and now I know not to use that kind of marker with modpodge next time!

I’m still not really happy with the way her hair is turning out, so I’m gonna try and keep playing with it- for now, I have it pulled back to try and help it lay a little flatter!

I also added in her hat and her ears; I went the super simple route and just pinned them in, which seems to be holding up well enough for now, but I might go back in and attach them more permanently later, if I have time. I added some extra hair in the spots that didn’t quite end up getting covered by the hat, and might add some more- I have to mull it over for a while, not look at her and then go back and assess lol.

I also added her strings, and now have to figure out how to attach her to the control sticks…handles? What do you call a marionette’s controller…? (i looked it up- apparently they’re called control bars lol) I have some ideas, but I’m not sure how well it’ll work out…I’ll figure it out ✌🏻 Then, aside from that and the hair, all I have left to do is add her little charms and things, if I’m remembering correctly…I might not be because I pulled an all-nighter working on her after getting home from the drive-in lolol- definitely worth it, though. 😺 I’m so excited to see her finally, fully coming together!!

Anyway, it’s almost 6am…gotta feed the cat soon, then I’m going to bed 🥱

Update 5, 08/25: Aahh I forgot to take pix for this one, oops 😖 But she’s already hidden away, I’m not gonna pull her back out right now…Anyway, I got her sticks attached! She doesn’t have really good range of motion like I was hoping, but I guess she’s supposed to be kinda simple anyway…

I’m really excited at how she’s turning out so far, and I’m so excited to give her to bunny!! I don’t have too much work left to do…my next update might be the last before her ~grand reveal!~ 🤩

Update 6, 08/31: She’s done!!!! 😸

bonus Bills zubaz version lol: