A Gift for My Principal

I made this figure for the principal of my school. My school district is going through consolidation and they are closing the school I'm at. "Dr. W" I'll call her, came out of retirement to be the principal at our school (since the previous principal got transferred to a different school which left a vacancy).

This is a gift that I decided to make for her because I feel she did a great job at helping us get through this tough time. I have not given this gift to her and I sure hope she doesn't google something and this site pops up!! I am working out how to present this to her. I'll have to attach pictures when she does receive the gift.

Here is a picture of her:

I talked to many staff about what outfit Dr. W often wears. No one could seem to think of one. I did notice that she often wears this black sport-type jacket. She is also famous for her heels. That was a must for my figure. I decided to go with her school picture as the rest of my reference for what outfit to sculpt on her. Dr. W also wears a lot of skirts, but I opted to go for a pants look.

I used a Joyce head, torso, and arms/hands. I used a Vampire Darla legs (since this figure had heels on). I removed Joyce's hair, sculpted on ears (which eventually got covered when I sculpted on the hair), I also sculpted on the T-shirt, shirt, and jacket. I also had to cut off the butt off the previous figure because it was rather large and Dr. W is a smaller woman. I then resculpted the bottom. I should have shaved more off the knee area but it doesn't look so bad the way I left it.

Here is the figure with the sculpt process:

It took me a few tries to get the eyes just right. I am so pleased with how it turned out. This is my first figure I painted that actually looks like the person, only action-figure-ized.

I initially was going to go with black pants. After the figure was nearing completion, it looked like she was wearing pajamas or sweats. I wanted a more business woman look. So I painted the pants a dark grey. This is not a typical outfit she'd wear, but it's close.

For the background and stand I used a plastic stand that comes with DST figures. I sculpted the bricks on the back wall to look like a school wall (although our walls are more tiled--the style 50 years ago--since the building is turning 50 this year--our closing year, go figure). I painted the floor to look like a section of our floor. I etched in some tile lines to make the base look like tiles. After I painted it, I coated it with some scenic water to give it a shine. I also used 3 banner flags and painted them purple (with white lettering)--our school colors. On the banners I painted, "Star Polishers, Power Tools, and We Nurture They Grow." Dr. W. has these themes she talks about so I had to get that into the piece. That is why you'll see stars around the top of the wall, flowers at the front of the base, and a tool box full of tools.

Here is the finished, painted Dr. W. figure.

Like I said, this is a piece that I hope she will treasure. I know I am proud of how all this came together.

Becoming Part 2-Willow, Oz, and Cordelia

Season 2, Episode 22: Becoming: Part 2
Original Air Date: 19 May 1998. Buffy arrives too late to save the gang from Drusilla's surprise attack, and ends up being arrested for the murder of one of her friends after Principal Synder (acting under orders from a mysterious, unseen third party), has her framed for the killing. Escaping from the police, she discovers that Willow is comatose, Giles has been kidnapped, and she is almost totally alone going into the final battle with Angelus. She heads out to rescue Giles and stop Angelus once and for all... with the help of a most unlikely ally: Spike who wants a temporary alliance so Buffy and kill Angelus and he can have Drusilla back.

The idea for this piece came from a fellow customizer who lives in France. I was going through some rough spots with customizing figures and she really helped me out. I've always wanted to collaborate with someone on a figure and she suggested that I make this scene. She made the part where Buffy is about to face Angelus. I created the scene where Willow is trying to make a curse to put on Angel to get him back to his nice self--not evil vampire. In doing the curse spell she is taken over by a power. This is the motivation for this piece.

Here is the link to our thread: http://btvsfigs.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Customize&action=display&thread=15820

Show picture:

I started out making Willow's hospital bed. I used the bottom part of a stretcher from an X-files hospital gurney bed. The bottom part looked like the bottom of a hospital bed. I then used a plastic stand that comes with DST figures. I started filling in the bed with cheap sculpy clay. I also used two of the pillows that came with the Charmed warrior figures. Here you can see the top part and bottom part almost totally filled in.

The dumb mistake I made that I should have learned from the last time I did this was I baked this--when this clay is baked (not boiled like I usually do) it gets really hard. I baked it for too long and the plastic part melted, shrunk and warped. Luckily the clay didn't break with it. The bed has a slight upward bend to it and I had to go back and fill in awkward gaps. Luckily, it didn't turn out all that bad!

Here you can see the curve in the bed.

I used super sculpy clay to cover over the pillows to make one pillow, and I covered over the bed for the bottom bed sheet. I made some wrinkles and folds in it. Then I made the top blanket part. My first version was much neater with folds. But, I had to redo Willow (you'll see why in a bit) and that meant breaking my neat blanket. So if you notice differences in the pictures that is why.

For Willow I used the remaining bottom of the Peter Parker figure (butt and thighs), and a Doppelgangland Willow torso and head. I also used the series 1 Cordelia arms/hands.

I had a heck of a time getting Willow's head to lean way back. In the show she was looking straight up and I had to cut away at the back of her head to get to to lean back. I then sculpted on her hospital gown and her hair (and ears).

As I was starting to assemble all the pieces I noticed Willow had this horrible lean --as my French friend that was making the other half to this set said,"It looks like she is leaning back to watch the tv."

This is why I had to redo this part. This time I sat her more up-right and I also filled in the arch of her back with clay to give the illusion of a more erect position.

I then attached the arms and sculpted on the sleeves.

For the base of the bed and headboard I used foam board and added some items to make it look like the bed in the show. I made the bed-side table/drawer and you can see the starting of a machine with a IV drip next to her bed. You can also see how I mapped out the back wall. Then with the pieces added.

Here is the show picture of Willow, and the before and after pictures

There was a table that Willow had on the bed. Here is the show picture, and then my before and after pictures. The only bummer is that I could not obtain square candle holders. I had to settle for making circular ones.

Here is the finished Willow in her bed:

Here is Willow with the set all done. I bought a dollhouse lamp and phone and painted the pieces to match with the show.

For Cordelia I used a Cordelia figure. I removed the hair and part of her lower torso. The normal figure stands crooked. I had to add clay to the lower part to make her look accurate. I also used a Paige hand (from Charmed figure). The arm/hand was originally resting on her leg but it shifted while being boiled so I decided to leave it. I also sculpted the shirt and lower pants.

Here is a show reference photo:

I after painting Cordelia I didn't like how her face turned out. It really didn't look all that much like her. I decided to try to paint it again. Of course after the second version, though more accurate, I liked the first version better--but I decided to just leave it alone.

My downfall here (and the camera takes such detailed pictures that it magnifies the mistakes) is that painting the lines on her shirt was such a battle. I should have used some tape and maybe I'll go back and redo this but for now I just left it. I don't have steady hands when it comes to painting so eyes, lines, and small details is very hard for me.

First version:

Second version:

For Oz, I used a regular Oz character. I cut off the wrist bracelets and some of his shirt. Then I sculpted his under shirt and outer shirt and cleaned up his wrists.

Here is the show reference photo:

Before and after pictures:

Finally, here is the whole set together.