Project - (inspired by) 'The Female' from the movie Under The Skin (2013)

Stryker2011 wrote:I like the new face, and I wouldn’t go any whiter on it as it looks good enough already. Black hair like that would be really easy to get in mohair (seen it plenty of times on Etsy and eBay). As far as the eyeliner, one of the things that I’ve done with success is using a fine-tipped pen to add it, instead of trying to use a paint brush.

I will give the fine-tipped pen a try.

The matte paint application works much better. Don't go whiter! At least looking at the reference photo provided on my screen, the face is pale but not truly white -- it tends toward cream. At this point, it might be best to match with the body (if necessary) rather than the reference photo. But don't go whiter.

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My efforts using a fine-tipped pen. I guess it looks ok.
After i add applied the ink i had to go in with a tooth-pick to improve the situation, smudge where necessary etc.
I fear the ink rubbing off.

I placed an order for a can of Mr Topcoat Flat to spray over the portrait (masking out the eye's and mouth prior to spraying). It should fix the dried ink in place.

Mr Topcoat also means i just might go in and a slightly more thinned matte white paint, as it looks more patchy that i would like, and possible too pink (not that i want to go too white). She looks patchy in the movie also.

For those that are unaware, SJ plays the part of an alien attempting to act like an Earth female,
thus dressing and does her make-up the way she does, atleast that is my take on the character.
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The portrait looked white in this shot, due to lighting.

Don't forget to do the eyeliner on the bottom of the eye as well.

Stryker2011 wrote:Don't forget to do the eyeliner on the bottom of the eye as well.

I have. It came out thick.

Good luck with the top coat. In my experience, coating like that could react with the ink and run all over the place. I avoid it.

GubernatorFan wrote:Good luck with the top coat. In my experience, coating like that could react with the ink and run all over the place. I avoid it.

Really?
Even if when the ink is dry, which it appears to be.
I will perform a test first on another piece of plastic

ukshaun wrote:

GubernatorFan wrote:Good luck with the top coat. In my experience, coating like that could react with the ink and run all over the place. I avoid it.

Really?
Even if when the ink is dry, which it appears to be.
I will perform a test first on another piece of plastic

The key to using inks, in my experience, is to dip the brush in there, then using a dry piece of tissue remove the access, this way you only have very little on the brush to work with. Too much and as Ian says, it will run everywhere. Hope it helps?

BAMComix wrote:

ukshaun wrote:

GubernatorFan wrote:Good luck with the top coat. In my experience, coating like that could react with the ink and run all over the place. I avoid it.

Really?
Even if when the ink is dry, which it appears to be.
I will perform a test first on another piece of plastic

The key to using inks, in my experience, is to dip the brush in there, then using a dry piece of tissue remove the access, this way you only have very little on the brush to work with. Too much and as Ian says, it will run everywhere. Hope it helps?

I used a pen. The ink appears to have dried over the past 48hrs. I rubber my finger over it and all is well.
Now i am wondering in the matte fixing spray will bring the ink to life and make it run?

ukshaun wrote:

BAMComix wrote:

ukshaun wrote:

GubernatorFan wrote:Good luck with the top coat. In my experience, coating like that could react with the ink and run all over the place. I avoid it.

Really?
Even if when the ink is dry, which it appears to be.
I will perform a test first on another piece of plastic

The key to using inks, in my experience, is to dip the brush in there, then using a dry piece of tissue remove the access, this way you only have very little on the brush to work with. Too much and as Ian says, it will run everywhere. Hope it helps?

I used a pen. The ink appears to have dried over the past 48hrs. I rubber my finger over it and all is well.
No i am wondering in the matte fixing spray will bring the ink to life and make it run?

I would think if the ink is dry, then adding the matte spray shouldn't make any difference or course runs.

I didn’t put anything over the dried ink around the eyes — didn’t seem necessary, and probably isn’t here either.

Stryker2011 wrote:I didn’t put anything over the dried ink around the eyes — didn’t seem necessary, and probably isn’t here either.

I was thinking ahead when i re attach the hair, wet it, and cut it. The face will be soaked.

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Update..
Sprayed on 1x coat of TopCoat Flat - MAtt
(waited 12hrs)

Applied 1x coat of thinned white matte paint - taking the number of matte white paint coats to 2
..in 12hrs time (..or longer) i will spray a 2nd coat of TopCoat Flat - MAtt to add a layer of protection to the matte paint.

Still slightly patchy. I think i am where i want to be. Don't want to go too white.
The white does give the impression of someone wearing white make-up rather than having white skin, which is the desired effect.

looking good!

I agree, looks very good.

Awesome work on a criminally under appreciated movie and role.

GubernatorFan wrote:I agree, looks very good.

BAMComix wrote:looking good!

Thanks..

Is is a side by side, the original and the new..


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A quick phone shot under artificial light.
I like both portraits. Both sculpts are 100% identical.
The new paint app version looks whiter in person than the picture suggests.

I ended up using a black marker pen to make the hair darker. It is a mix of brown and black, which is how the hair looked in the movie. It means no water or hair spray, otherwise the color will run onto the portait.


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(left) original red / orange hair
(right) after 4 attempts at coloring the hair black / darker this is all i could manage.

A great deal of improvement!

GubernatorFan wrote:A great deal of improvement!

I think i agree..
Though, i still like the original, as it has a character of it's own

I might have to work on another character now. A Rock chick type - who fronts a band like Kiss or Murderdolls ;D
It would give me an excuse to search for a 1/6 electric guitar, of which i have seen on ebay many times.

ukshaun wrote:

GubernatorFan wrote:A great deal of improvement!

I think i agree..
Though, i still like the original, as it has a character of it's own

I might have to work on another character now. A Rock chick type - who fronts a band like Kiss or Murderdolls ;D
It would give me an excuse to search for a 1/6 electric guitar, of which i have seen on ebay many times.

good call! she can come and play at the ammo arms

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Changes / Updates include..

1. Replacement portrait with new paint app, new hair color
2. Head-sculpt sits higher up
3. Upper body chest has been taped in to make breasts flatter.
4. Jacket fur trimmed slightly and combed to give fur some direction
5. Hands have been replaced with less white hands.

Matching the body and head-sculpt color was never going to be possible.
The body is pink rubber covered in white pastel.
The head-sculpt is plastic cover in thinned white paint, coated in Flat-Matt-TopCoat spray

In person it works better than what the camera see's.

Attempts have been made to keep the hair on the messy side to reflect a windswept look, and make the portrait seem larger than it is.
In an ideal world, i would make the portrait 10% larger.

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Here is the original version for comparison.
I still like the look of this portrait, even if it looks very white.

Turned out pretty good, Shaun.

Stryker2011 wrote:Turned out pretty good, Shaun.

Thanks. I am sort of done with this Project. I might work on a base for it at some point.
Nothing too fancy like the recent snow base ;D ..more rectangle covered in image of pavement (sidewalk as the US say)

I agree, a nice completion of the project.

For me it is amusing returning to this thread. These figures i create i create for fun and a challenge.
It also makes me respect all the more what the professionals achieve in 1/6th scale. Some of the 1/6th work on Instagram is mind blowing. Also, what Hot Toys achieve given the level of high production is amazing!

She looks great! In direct comparison I would always choose the new one over the first, but when placed on the figure she is so striking! So good job on both!  

And the coat looks much better! Not so poofy!

Diana wrote:She looks great! In direct comparison I would always choose the new one over the first, but when placed on the figure she is so striking! So good job on both!  

And the coat looks much better! Not so poofy!

Thanks..
Who knows, maybe someday i will stumble across another coat