Creepachu I choose you!

Creepachu PokeDoll

Jumping on the PokemonGo hype train -
9 year old me is exploding with excitement - as is 24 year old me, who’s not walked this much in years and suffering a wee bit for it, so is spending the day typing up blogs, downing endless cups of coffee with a hot water bottle chucked my jumper to help sooth my achy back - I'm getting old man.

I’ve only completed the Pikachu inspired doll so far, but the rest are in progress
(I ran out of clay and material funds unfortunately - but fret not i'll post them when they're completed!)

Each of their creepy little faces were hand sculpted using Polymer Clay (Super Sculpey by Polyform) using a pathetic array of tools - One dotting tool that's bent at one end because i rolled over it with my wheely chair, and my fingers.
(Fun fact: If i work with PC for too long my hands begin to burn - So this project ended in pain)

The little body was chopped out of faux fur using no templates, partially because i hate working patterns, i feel it takes away from the uniqueness of each piece. Each little face is handsculpted and uses no moulds (Currently) and due to this they range in size so templates are kind of pointless.
ANYWAY.

Enjoy this fluffy little bundle of nightmares.
I love him and he now watches over guests in the livingroom.


Check out more of my work if you fancy, Tah pal!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NocturnalCreationsx/
Etsy: NocturnalCreationsx
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenijguthrie
@JeniJGuthrie (Nocturnal Creations)
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Patreon: NocturnalCreations
https://www.patreon.com/NocturnalCreations?ty=h
Youtube: Nocturnal Creations https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHz9oCY2lH2PC4GKTFBkd_w/videos

Supplies I use & Wish list
https://www.amazon.co.uk/registry/wishlist/1Z1MWWFMFLYFR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ip_wl_o_0f0oxb50GWM4R

(These arent exact sources just similar products to what I use, Please support your local independent arts and craft shops where you can!)

Art Trade

Art Trade Form
I know this looks boring, but i've had a much higher response than i expected and this is a way to make sure no-one gets lost or missed out!

NOTE: I hope to manage to trade with everyone, but this may not be possible (I'm only one person!), please don't be offended if i don't get back to you immediately, i'm going to try my hardest to complete them all :)

Name: (Your name) Obviously haha
Page name: (If you have a page or business)
Link to shop/page: (If you have one, So i can leave a link as credit)
Location: (Country of where i'll be shipping your piece to, we'll sort addresses later!)
Date: When you'd be available to trade (i.e. "October - November")
Preferred trade: Custom, Themed or Surprise me.
Medium(s) (You'd like to trade): What sort of art/craft piece you create i.e. Jewellery, painting, drawing, plush toy
Medium(s) (You'd like to recieve): What sort of art/craft piece you'd like me to create for you i.e. Jewellery, painting, drawing, plush toy
Subject preference: What sort of things do you like animals, horror, nature
Favourite colours/Combinations: Green, black & Purple etc

Either PM me on Facebook or E-mail me:
https://www.facebook.com/NocturnalCreationsx
nocturnalcreation@hotmail.co.uk

Why're you trading? 

It's a way of exploring some creative freedom and have a bit of fun creating something outside commissions, while receiving something nice at the end, meeting new people and doing some light networking in the process.
What the trade is not: A way to gain free stuff or for others to get "Free" products from myself, by sending something of minimal effort in return. We both should be putting as much love and care into the work as we would usually whether it be for family, friend or customer. 
How many will you take on?: I'm still working on that, i'm going to have to think about realistic numbers to fit in with general life, commission work and not making myself broke with postage costs

What type of art trade?

1. A custom piece: We both tell each other a few Likes/Dislikes/Passions, Favourite colours and a preferred medium or two (I.e. Sculpture, Painting etc), and the other party can create something with their own creative freedom.
But if you do have something particular in mind that's already been made, feel free to ask!

2. A themed piece:  Where we both work from the same theme, but take the art/craftwork in our own direction and have complete creative freedom to do our thing.

3. Surprise me!: Represent ourselves, Have complete freedom! Create whatever you want and show a little bit of yourself/interests

What's involved?

What will we trade: Something hand-created whether it be a small sculpture, plushie, needle felting, painting, drawing etc. If you have a art/craft page or business remember to send each other a link so that we can "advertise" it for each other once we receive our trades.

Limited critique: We're trading for a bit of fun NOT as paying customers so it need not match your exact vision or be strongly critiqued. we want to let the other persons creative juices flow.

Cost: Obviously nothing to take part!. But each individual has to fund their own materials and P&P so it is entirely up to yourself how much you spend/use on the project. (Same applies to time and labour) Please check out the Fair Trade section. 

Fair trade: This is difficult to judge as we all value work differently, we have to take into account time, value, materials and skill level. We can discuss this between us to suit both sides before starting the trade.

Postage: It's up to both parties to finance the P&P of the item they are sending
You may want to take into consideration size and weight so that it doesn't end up too expensive.
(Remember to get a proof of postage receipt in case they get lost)
Deadline, 1 - 2 weeks, but we can discuss altering this if required. 
This gives each party enough time to squeeze in the artwork to their busy schedules. But it also gives a completion date to brush up on working within a time-frame.

I started a trade, but i can't meet the deadline!: That's okay! Just remember to keep in contact so that we both know what is going on. 

Rules
Basics

. All participants are at least 16 years old (or have parental permission)
. No illegal items (This should be pretty obvious) including firearms, blades, explosives, copyrighted items etc (Fan items are acceptable though)
. Proof of postage and keep postage reciept in case anything goes missing/gets damaged on it's journey.
(Feel free to send via a tracking service if you want extra peace of mind, this is at your own expense though)
. Stick to the deadline, if you do run out of time don't worry! Just remember and let each other know and keep them up to date (Don't take part if you think you may have to withdraw)
. Once you receive your package, remember to show them off!, Post them on your page etc to brag about your new pretty things.
. Remember to say thank you to your partner!

Wanna' swapsies?

    So I've been considering for a while different ways of having a bit of creative freedom and fun away from "work" and commissions, all while boosting recognition, learning new things and meeting new people/connections.
    

The latest thought has been, how about doing an art trade?

    I've been wanting to do a few of these for years, but for various reasons I've not managed. Age was a issue, as most of the art forums i've followed for years required you to be either 18 y/o or over be a high level/point scoring member. Another reason has been the strictness of the rules, i know they're there for a reason and help secure the trades dos and don'ts, but some of them really pushed me out. 

As i'm used to creating pieces for others i thought it'd be nice for a wee change to also get something pretty in return (That didnt go towards bills, taxes and pet food)

What type of art trade?

I was thinking along the lines of creating either

1. A custom piece based on the other persons likes/specifications
(A mini-brief perhaps)

2. A themed piece - Where we both work from the same theme, but take the art/craftwork in our own direction and have complete creative freedom to do our thing.

3. Represent ourselves - Have complete freedom! Create whatever you want! Showing a little bit of yourself/interests

A group art exchange
Slightly more complicated to manage.
Focuses less on the page itself, but brings together the community
Everyone works on the same theme, and we have a new theme every month.
Once all pieces have been made photos are e-mailed to me and i'll upload them into a album where people can choose to trade with one another or just admitre the gallery and awe at everyones creativity and different directions

What's involved?

Deadline, say one month from the start of the trade
This gives each party enough time to squeeze in the artwork to their busy schedules. But it also gives a completion date to brush up on working within a timeframe.

Limited critique (We're trading for a bit of fun NOT as paying customers (However feel free to discuss this outside of the trade) so it need not match your exact vision or be strongly critiqued) so we give a basic description and let the other persons creative juices flow from there.

Cost: Obviously nothing to take part!. But each individual has to fund their own materials and P&P so it is entirely up to yourself how much you spend/use on the project. (Same applies to time and labour)

Postage: It's up to both parties to finance the P&P of the item they are sending
(Both parties do not have to post the items if they wish not to, but most must agree prior to starting the project, or discuss later on and both come to a arrangement.
(It wouldn't be fair if one person kept theirs and received the trade, and the other got nothing in return)

Rules
Basics

. All participants are at least 18 years old (or have parental permission?)
(Or should it be 16? Or should there be any age limit?)
. No illegal items (Should eb pretty obvious) including firearms, blades, explosives, copyrighted items etc
. Proof of postage and keep postage reciept
(Feel free to send via a tracking service if you want extra peace of mind)
. Stick to the deadline (Don't take part if you think you may have to withdraw)
. Once you receive your package, send photos to the Swap Organiser so that they can display them in the Swap Gallery (Remember to say thank you to your partner!)

What's that coming over the hill?..

 It's a monster, IT'S A MONSTER! (8)

     These are the first few wee monsters i made many moons ago in roughly 2009/10 when i was just leaving/left high school and seem to think i'd fund my life creating creepy and cute art&craft creations and live happily ever after. Oh to be that young and naive. 

    I took a rather long break from monster making to focus on College&Uni (Of course a Art&Design course) but recently attempted to recreate my wee monsters in a newer more refined design.
The result...These wee cuties!

  

    Being Scottish it was only natural that the ball of orange fluffiness developed into little Heilan' Moos!

  The latest monster has developed somewhat from the simplistic purely sewn puff balls they once were into this chap.
    He's fairly poseable including all limbs and his tail, however i'm still working on my armature skills and hoping to improve them ASAP!.
Each of his little hands/feet and face/head are all hand sculpted by myself using no moulds! Then baked and painstakingly hand painted piece by piece, even down to his little fingernails.  

Want to know more about me and my work?

LinkedIn CV: Click Here

Art/Craft Facebook: Click Here
Kickstarter projects: Click Here

Where can i buy your work?
Etsy Shop: Click Here
Ebay Shop: Click Here

Bad hair day

Why are you posting about your hair? 

    Good question. I've noticed through out my years on art/craft sites that the focusing on art/craft has been diminishing. For example, DeviantArt, in my angsty younger self teen years i wouldn't of had a bad thing to say about DA because i spent a majority of my life drooling over all the pretty things. But now that i'm trying to further myself and my career i'm noticing that there's less focus on the artwork and more on selfies and sexually explicit art work. Which i don't have a problem with, they're their own form of art, however i've discovered through a wee experiment of my own that a majority of users are no longer interested in the art side of things (from us little lesser known art/crafts people anyway) unless it's a photograph of a female (Most likely baring all or in a pose only fit for a contortionist) or fan related art...which has also taken a weird turn.
So to sum things up there, my rainbow hair throughout the years has somehow drawn attention to my artwork. 

What was your experiment?

But first...let me take a selfie (8)  

     I decided to upload several art and craft pieces, as well as several "Selfies"at the same time on consecutive days and see if my feedback/notifications differed. Well, they did, horrendously, my art/craft work received dribs and drabs of attention, the odd fav here and there and about 10 notifications overall in 24 hours. Selfies on the other hand opened some form of attention floodgate with constant favs, watchers, llama badges and few unsettling private messages over the 24 hour period. 

Haw, where's the hair then?
Here's a collage of the many colours i've worn over the years thanks to Schwarzkopf

 XXL range, Loreal Majirouge, Stargazer, Fudge and Crazy Color

To sum things up. Everything relies on aesthetics and as always sex sells. Even if it is just pictures of a face.
So ken what? Sod it, give the people what they want.
If pictures of my face draw folk into my artwork, it may be selling out a bit, but it works.
Over and out.

Want to know more about me and my work?

LinkedIn CV: Click Here

Art/Craft Facebook: Click Here
Kickstarter projects: Click Here

Where can i buy your work?
Etsy Shop: Click Here
Ebay Shop: Click Here