Seil's Cougar Girl 75mm WIP - Image heavy

[WolfDreamerNZ]

I have a few things I am finishing up right now (like a FFII entry) and am ready for a new project. Looking through my overstuffed cupboard I thought I would try out one of the Seil girls I have. I wanted to do her for FFII but the level of detail I want to put into this coupled with my slow painting rate means she wouldn't be finished in time - so you can all see early...

Seil woman are 75mm white metal figures - which they class as erotics. Some are more tame than others to say the least. (They have a thing about sculpting full view female genitalia) I picked up Lion Baby (this one) and Pirate Girl years ago and never painted them. I was concerned about getting smooth blends on such a large area as I don't have an airbrush. Now I'm ready to give her a try.

Concept wise - here is the original box art "Lion Baby"- and only version of her I can find:

http://homepages.slingshot.co.nz/%7Ebeowulf/515.jpg

I have a different idea in mind. Not to be a prude but I just didn't see the point in having exposed "bits" in this figure. So I am trying my first minor conversion (bar a few weapon swaps).

Here's what I am working with:
http://homepages.slingshot.co.nz/%7Ebeowulf/cougargirl01.jpg

http://homepages.slingshot.co.nz/%7Ebeowulf/cougargirl02.jpg


I thought her features were fine enough I could pull her off as a Native American woman. I didn't like the strappy high heels - I'm thinking moccasins with leather strapping. So I cut off the heels and filed the toes to a not so pointy look. Then I created a fringe at the top of the boot with Tamiya putty (very sticky stuff). I had trouble joining her left arm so I added a decorative wrap and took the tie ends from her blouse and put it on the arm wrap. Now pants - I couldn't sculpt entire pants - but I started thinking about doe skin breeches. So I will leave her legs as is - but I added a waistband/belt and a bit of fringe to the top of her exposed leg. We'll see if it's enough when painted to pull it off. I have also puttied over the rude bits :ahhhhh:


Cub - I liked the idea but thought a lion cub was a bit plain and didn't suit my idea of her. So looking around I came across a few really nice cougar cub pictures. I hope this gives the cub a bit more personality.

http://homepages.slingshot.co.nz/%7Ebeowulf/l46.jpg http://homepages.slingshot.co.nz/%7Ebeowulf/1141.jpg

Rug:
Going in that same theme - I found some Navajo rug and blanket patterns I liked and a Kokopelli dancer I may use.
http://homepages.slingshot.co.nz/%7Ebeowulf/blanket1.jpg http://homepages.slingshot.co.nz/%7Ebeowulf/rug1.jpg

I haven't really decided on colours yet but as she and the cougar will both be lots of neutral colours, maybe I should make the rug stand out - just not as much as in the box pic. Then there is the hardwood floor and I am unsure about the roses in the corner of the rug - they look really out of place - have to decide what to do with them.

Okay - letting her putty dry and then on with the primer....this should be fun. While thats' happening - I'm going to work my rug design out on paper...more soon!

This will be a few firsts for me - major freehand (rug), larger scale, and attempting to replicate nature with the cub...I'm sure it'll be alright but doesn't mean I'm not nervous...:tongue2:

[Frustrated Father]

Very interested in seeing this through and the progress on it. Like the idea on the cat.

[Brimshack]

For the rug, you might try a Ganado Red

http://www.gonavajo.com/navajoart/product.asp?s_id=0&dept_id=3044&pf_id=PAAAAAAAAGGFMMDC&

Tree of Life

http://www.nizhoni-moses.com/navajo_rugs/navajo_rug02.html

I always liked the Wide Ruins patterns myself, but the colors are usually a little more bland. Some contemporary weavers are making them brighter though, you could find some interesting options on a google:

http://www.bairsindiantradingco.com/rug_items/G-172.htm

Whirling Logs could be interesting, as would an old chief blanket. There are lots of good patterns on this guy's site: http://www.navajotextiles.com/history.htm

Of course none of these would normally have the fringe on them that this rug does, but what the hell. (If you of with one of these, be sure to paint in a flaw. Spider Woman would not approve a perfect blanket, and we wouldn't want to get the lass in trouble.)

[WolfDreamerNZ]

Thanks for the links - great sites to view in their entirety. Any idea what to do with the roses?

[Brimshack]

No poblem. Your project is interesting. We were going to do a weaver mini for our own line, but it's on hold at the moment, so this struck a cord with me.

Sage would have been more likely, or sweet grass. But then again, roses always sell quite nicely on the reservation around Valentine's Day.

[WolfDreamerNZ]

To be honest, I had hesitations about making her Native American - the mini itself is not ....hmmmm.......respectful enough maybe? I can't quite explain it. But after a bit of thought - I think I can pull off a respectful and hopefully beautiful mini.

I would love to have some truly Native minis around. If I thought I could make a sweetgrass braid I would - maybe using embroidery floss? But most poeple wouldn't just have it lying on the ground - so maybe a smudge bowl? Hmm - have to think on that?

[Brimshack]

Actually, I'm inclined to think of sweet grass is a little less sacred than a smudge bowl, but all of them are at least mildly ceremonial. So, a rose might be more appropriate for the pose in question. I do see what you mean about the mini being questionable, and I was wondering how you were going to handle her cheek bones. Interesting to see how this comes out.

[thewartoad]

I'm with Frustrated Father...I'm interested in seeing through too. Plus all the progress in between. Also WolfDreamerNZ thanks for the information on Hell Dorado...can't wait to get my hands on those miniatures.

[WolfDreamerNZ]

Actually, I'm inclined to think of sweet grass is a little less sacred than a smudge bowl, but all of them are at least mildly ceremonial. So, a rose might be more appropriate for the pose in question. I do see what you mean about the mini being questionable, and I was wondering how you were going to handle her cheek bones. Interesting to see how this comes out.

Gee, no pressure now is there? :tongue2: I just don't like the roses - I may in the end just file them off and go with nothing there...why would they attach roses to a rug?




I'm with Frustrated Father...I'm interested in seeing through too. Plus all the progress in between. Also WolfDreamerNZ thanks for the information on Hell Dorado...can't wait to get my hands on those miniatures.

Glad you're interested in the project - always nice to know you're posting to a receptive audience....

Hell Dorado though wasn't me though....:)

[Wren]

Wonderful idea, and it looks like you're off to a great start. That cub sculpt is adorable, I think he'll be even cuter painted up as a cougar. Looking forward to seeing how you progress with this!

[Jabberwocky]

Great idea, Lisa! I'll be watching this one with interest.