#inkbedou

Just like with writing, on my main blog, I've finally gotten my emotional/creative energy for sculpting back! And that means I already have way too many WIPs piling up on my plate, but I promise I'll try to be more consistent with my plans than I was last year.

Technically, this year's sculpting escapades got started with my IHNMAIMS sculpture, but now I'm briefly returning to an old series that started up back when I still believed in Instagram. (Might try it again sometime, who knows?)

While I plan to make random Spookie Jars in the future, the series really got started with me just making presents for irl friends, planning out the surprise by simply asking for their favorite animals and favorite colors.

And, ever since the success of a special Iron Lung project between myself and a few of my friends here on this site, I'm dedicating these newest pieces to each of them!

(Apologies for A. if the camera quality is awful, and B. the fact that SYMMETRICAL TRAITS CONTINUE TO BE THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE.)

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First off, a big ol' grizzly bear for @insane4fandoms ! (I'm sure this being their favorite animal has absolutely nothing to do with a certain chainsaw maniac who wouldn't be caught dead without a certain mascot suit...)

It took longer than expected for me to nail the shape of the muzzle/snout and the nose. I know an easy way to go about it is to look at those features in dogs, but hey, this was my first time sculpting a bear in any case. (Plus, that struggle was a damn cakewalk compared to all the paint mixing I did to get a shade I was satisfied with, both for the fur and the eyes. Although I'm happy that the latter turned out with a color kinda like honey.)

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Second off: a cheetah for @inkbedou !

In our conversation about their favorite animal, they mentioned a few different big cats, but ultimately told me that cheetahs were their top choice. And I'm sure they meant a typical cheetah (no offense to them, they're awesome), somewhere along the way, I decided to give them an upgrade and make this into a King cheetah!

King cheetahs are the product of a genetic mutation that gives them three distinct stripes running down their backs and a pattern of large, irregular splotches instead of small, uniform spots. (Oh, and by the way, this particular mutation is considered one of the rarest of any species on Earth. To the point that there are less than ten King cheetahs estimated to be in the wild, with only a few more occasionally popping up in sanctuaries/conservation projects!)

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Third off: a rabbit for @the-matpat-ever !

This is easily the smallest jar/head-lid I've made so far, surpassing the Honduran white bat I made a couple years ago. (As I've mentioned before, I always try to be somewhat realistic to the sizes of the animals I reference. GOD HELP ME IF I EVER MAKE AN ELEPHANT JAR.) My initial assessment of the head was that it looked like a pug with stretched-out ears, but then again, I've never understood how anyone can see pugs as ugly.

The look really came together once I finally settled on a color-scheme. There's a ton of different coloration in both domestic and wild rabbits, so I had a hard time making a final decision, but I eventually went with sable rabbits, since I love how they kinda look like Siamese cats that were squished into bunny-shape.

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And just because I'm letting myself be cheesy(?) for once, I brought in my hyena jar and the tiger jar I made for @sammys-magical-au :