Spotticus!

[furtech]

I got permission to brag about the latest costume: Spotticus, the Serval-Cheetah mix!


Here's the full Flickr set


I only take commissions where I know I can give the person their money's worth and the project would be fun or challenging. This is still a beloved hobby: I've made a concerted effort to keep costume building from becoming a job or a chore.

Once in a blue moon I get a commission where the person has both an interesting & challenging idea and wants ALL the bells and whistles (the last one for me was the Manticore for aeto). CheetahSpot wanted an idealised-realistic Cheetah-Serval mix and we did our best to give him the bells and whistles...

Head Details:


Steve G. did a fantastic job with the painting. One big problem we encountered was that the California AQMD has declared alcohol a VOP, so no more alcohol-based leather dyes! The water-based stuff is crap and my stock of dyes is older than I like to work with. My big job now is to find other sources of a good alcohol-based dye.



A lot of the R&D/new/schmancy stuff went into the structure, so it's not readily obvious in the still shots, but this was an opportunity to put a number of features into a single costume that I normally wouldn't have the time or justification for (when I do my own masquerade projects). There are also certain materials that are just so unpleasant that I don't use them much any more (requires almost a full iso-suit to use-- respirator, goggles, ear protection and a hyper-ventilated room, not just outside+fan). But...I can be bribed. Plus, a good challenge paired with the resources to accomplish it is just too hard to resist.



You can't see it in these pics, but the claws are somewhat translucent. Plus, if sharpened, they're strong enough to claw through a sheet of drywall...

Comments

[lironess.livejournal.com]

OMG I am so glad to know who made this suit. It is the best that I have ever seen. It felt like it was made of wool or was that just the paint. Every part of it was awesome!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It's always neat to finally see the costume come alive. And you are close: it's goat! (Mohair)

[laragoth.livejournal.com]

DOOD. It's almost the Cat from Looking Glass Wars!! XD

Spotticus looks awesome, as always. I think D may have run into some issues of a similar nature when he was looking for dyes to use on our belts for Harlock and Emeraldas. The stuff he got worked was, I think, water based. I have to look at the bottles again.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Some of the ideas I used for this had their start when I wsa trying to figure out how to do The Cat...

Oh, the water-based "leather dyes" are awful. They don't soak in (despite claims) and they don't dry. The "Eco-colors" are the worst, though the Fiebing "Leather Colors" are a close second. Fiebings still makes the alcohol-dyes, but you have to get them from someone outside of California (who will ship). I'm testing out other things-- I'll keep you posted!

[ladyaxum.livejournal.com]

That is super awesome!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Maybe someday we can do a giant robot-rubber monster skit together!

[skiefire.livejournal.com]

Totally awesome. With bells and whistles on top.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Thanks-- it was definitely total bells and whistles!

[mauricia.livejournal.com]

That looks fabulous! :)

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[spunkywulf.livejournal.com]

That came out FANTASTIC!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[nesting.livejournal.com]

He is utterly fantastic! The markings on the back of his neck/shoulders are just killer. Wonderful job and I love your attention to detail. Can't wait to see him in person!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Thanks! The markings are courtesy of Steve G. (kvogel), my airbrush sensei. You should be able to catch him (the cat) at AC or FC...

[dustmeat.livejournal.com]

Nicely done!

[thornwolf.livejournal.com]

Oh that one! I believe Vantid did the ref for that. jeeze, given the time she completed that ref and when this suit was done, that's an incredibly fast turnaround!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Poor Vantid...if you talk to her, you'll hear how it was all, "okay, I'm starting paws tomorrow...need final paw ref by AM..." But she was a trooper and I got everything I needed when I needed it. Many kudos to her for tightening up the spots!

[haamel.livejournal.com]

Holy crap. That's just WAY superior. The whole effect, and especially the facial structure, is a triumph. Oh so pattable and/or fleeable-from depending on if it looks hungry. ^_^;;

[furtech.livejournal.com]

That's something I'm getting better at: the expression can change depending on the angle of the head. Thanks for the props!

[diadexxus.livejournal.com]

Beautiful work as always.
-J

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Sank you!

[kvogel.livejournal.com]

Wow. That photos a lot better than I feared. Glad the contrast between the base color and the spots comes out so well. I was worried about the effect, as I wasn't at all happy with the results.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

You are the Master of the airbrush! I can't thank you enough for coming down and lending a hand with this! I've missed working on projects together.

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

Those ears work amazingly well with a costume! Nice Work!!

[http://users.livejournal.com/quietfire_/]

After getting to see this first hand I must say it's a beautiful suit. In fact I was there when the hall pictures were being taken (haha I was in room 340)

[hoshikaji.livejournal.com]

THIS IS GORGEOUS, LANCE.

[phar.livejournal.com]

Saw this at Califur, and was positively floored. Amazing work! Despite clumsy paws on camera buttons and fursuit vision, I HAD to chase that cat down for a pic. Easily one of the most lovely costumes I've seen!