Post #603361 by tigertail777 on Mon, Aug 22, 2011 2:54 AM

Hey LLT, thanks for the comments. I am trying hard to get the lighting right so I appreciate the compliment. I think you've struck on a great idea there, I think a Moai would work a LOT better. Originally I was going for a Hawaiian tiki, but didn't want a typical Ku. I see though I need to get my hands on some more research before I attempt something like that again. I have my eye on a (currently in my budget) book of tiki on ebay, so am hoping it doesn't go too high. I also am looking for books on actual historical museum type tikis that are cheap for future projects. I think however I have decided what my next painting will be since this one is getting so close; I'd like to do a painting of a real tiki bar interior back in its prime. I think it would be a lot of fun to paint the Tonga Room & Hurricane bar in San Francisco as it looked back in its original hey day. I can imagine the soft glow of lighting on the pool as the fake rainstorm is going and all that wonderful ambiance. I will just need to find some good close up details, like high res pictures and all that so it will take a bit of research to get it right.

Meanwhile, I thought I would share my other project that happened while I was doing the mermaid painting. See, I like the "Lost in Paradise" show that Chris is doing but every time I saw him interview folks with that mic that has the weird fuzzy windsock on top I kept thinking what a shame it was that the thing wasn't themed to his show. So I contacted Chris and told him I had a surprise for him. He should have it by now so it should be safe to share. When I saw that black fuzzy windsock I kept thinking it looked like hair and then BAM the idea struck me and wouldn't let go. What if the mic looked like a shrunken head, and the windsock was the hair? Without further ado here is the progress shots on "poor Mike"...
Raw Sculpey stage

Baked just a little too much (one of his thread holes around eye cracked from the heat)

Using unraveled twine pieces for the stitches took some patience.

Stitching underway.

Operation finished.


Adding a bit of feather ju ju.

Bad lighting, but his nose bone says: "Speak clearly into Mike".


The ears have holes in them for strings or elastic to be threaded into so it can be tied to the base of the microphone. I can't wait to see people's reactions the next time Chris interviews someone. :o His forehead looks like a rubber stamped image that says "Lost in Paradise". Two unfortunate things happened with him though: I didn't have any matte sealer so I used glossy... big mistake too shiny for my taste. Secondly I was not able to get him to Chris in time for the Oasis as I had planned due to more gout problems (Sorry about that Chris). I felt pretty bad since he paid for the shipping and even paid extra. Well, I hope Mike works well on the Mic. :wink: Not too shabby for my first shrunken head. :)