Xaphriel

Well, 6 months of no journal. And yet, nothing has happened.

My Masters dissertation is now in, and I don't ever have to think about the ethics of nanotechnology in Metal Gear Solid 4 ever again. Until my results come back, and hopefully they don't realise that I was talking complete shi*e the whole time

But now, while I'm officially no longer a student, but also not eligible for work in my field yet, I'm in employment limbo. And what better time, while I look for miserably low paying retail and temp jobs, to actually get serious about this sculpting biz?

A custom pony I made the other day, the mascot of UK PonyCon (Brittania) was put into a charity auction at the con on Sunday. The con was awesome, by the way. Anyway, this was my fourth brushable size custom, after two Scootaloos and a Vinyl Scratch. Long story short, she sold for £50 sterling, with 3 bidders going for her. That, to me, is mad. I don't think I'm very good. I have very little in the way of tools or money for said tools, and selling for that kind of money, even for charity, boggles my mind.

Anyway, after talking to some customisers at Ponycon, including a couple that have been doing it for over a decade, many didn't believe that I had only started just over a year ago. Apparently I learn fast. They also gave me great tips, and I finally got proper material. Man, I love Apoxy now, I don't know how I did without. So with compliments spamming me, the high of raising £50 for a very worthy charity (Riding for the Disabled Association), and the realisation that I have very little to do all day except stare at the dog and cat, I decided screw it, I'm going to go and work at this for a while.

So I've wandered dA, and faved a ton of tutorials and stuff from (who I consider to be) the best of the best. A lot I knew, but the little quirks of other sculptors are handy, and some stuff I can't believe I didn't know. I had never even thought of flaming the remains of the hair. It seems so obvious now!

Ideally, I'll actually be able to do customs of a high quality soon, and legit sculptures. I'm getting an airbrush, and I'm supplementing my sculpting tools with ACTUAL sculpting tools. I'm going for it, I seriously want to be able to look at my stuff with pride, and not note every fault with disgust.

Anyway. I've got a Blackjack, a Snowdrop and a Luna in the works for G4, a G1 seapony that's going to be Lyra (I know, blasphemy ), and an original sculpture of Vinyl Scratch all skeletoned out. Let's see how this goes.

Well, it's been a while since I wrote anything... Largely because I haven't done anything. Well, I Platinumed Skyrim, Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas within a week of each other and shaved my head again, but that's really it. Anyway, there's only one thing I'm saying with this journal.

Basically, I'm taking a (semi-permanent break) from customs. It's been the guts of a year now, and I'm just not feeling it anymore. It's why I've been dragging along with some of them, and generally just not doing them; the fun disappeared when I started having deadlines and shit. So I'm going to finish my current commissions (about 4 or 5 of them) and call it a year.

I want to try more challenging things. Really, I want to start into proper sculpture. I have all the materials, just didn't have the drive. Well, I think I've danced around it long enough. I may come back to customs (especially if I fail miserably) but who knows? Couple of weeks and we'll see. Either way, I'll find out.

Anyway, a certain not-smart-but-awesome Security pony and I have things to discuss in the coming days. C'mere till I sculpt ya, Blackjack.

So I graduate from my Undergraduate degree in about 9 hours. I'll be a fully qualified Environmental Scientist. It's worrying that they'd actually give me a degree, but meh.

I'm writing this while paint dries, but honestly I haven't done much. Working on three commissions for Eirtakon on Saturday, that will hopefully be finished by then. They're a Chrysalis from a Cadence (which is exciting, as I've never done this model before) and Blackjack from a glowy Twilight. Was meant to do an Octavia too, but I have no AJ mould, and it's really the only one that suits her unless I dehorn a Twilight (which I might, in the end, I'll ask the recipient).

Made pendants galore, as you can see. There are actually 4 not pictured, since I gave them before I got a chance, but I'll make more. They're nice as little gifts, and it's never been about money for me. Only reason I even charge for customs with friends is to cover the materials. Working on an Assassin's Creed one for gradation tomorrow, because fucked if going to blend in Also, AC3 is epic, get it. Although AC2 and Brotherhood remain tied as my favourites, for storyline and gameplay respectively.

I'm working on a big-ass piece for when I hit 100 deviations or 50 watchers, whichever comes last. Think it's the first time it's been attempted in the fandom, so hopefully I do it well.

And that's it. I'm off to paint, sleep, and get a piece of parchment that tells me I'm a chemist. Laters yo.

I'll be at a meetup, then at a joint 23rd all day/night tomorrow. Just an update.

There will be 4 ponies, 5 pendants and a visual gag (waste of Scupley) uploaded on Sunday through Wednesday. Blackjack, Apple Bloom, Littlepip Mk.2 and Trixie Mk.2 are the blindbags, and the pendants are the cutie marks of Luna (for me), Applejack (for Ciarán), Twilight Sparkle (for ) and two Rainbow Dashes (for and respectively. The pendants and customs are all gifts (except my Luna pendant and the Blackjack custom, which are for me), because I'm just that awesome sometimes

My uber-detailed gift custom for *someone who knows who they are* will be finished on Sunday. I've had to redo the cutie mark so many times, but I'm finally *almost* satisfied with it. She'll then be photographed and posted on Monday, on my way to college.

The visual gag is mostly just to make you snicker slightly, then completely forget about it. Physically representing puns can be oddly easy, but very hit and miss.

There are actually 4 more pendants done, but they aren't ponies. My Adventure Time sword pendant, a new (bigger) labrys, a Nuka-Cola cap one and Gary Oak's thing from Pokémon. I may only diversify rarely, but I go all out when the mood hits me

More on Sunday, where I expect to be quite tired and hungover. Peace out!

Got 8 customs finished this week. Productivity yo! Blackjack, Velvet Remedy, Calamity, Homage, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Cheerilee and Daring Do are all sculpted, mostly painted... And all MINE!!!

As far as ponies for OTHER people go, I gave his Trixie, which turned out well. I forgot to take a picture, since I'm an idiot, but hopefully he'll send me one of her in her new home that I can use *hint hint*. I've also made two gift ponies. One was pretty easy, but the other I've really taken my time on. Normally I can bang these out in about 2 hours of work time (if I focus, which I rarely do), but this one is going to be PERFECT before I ship her. Hence why I do maybe 20 minutes work, then stop and come back when I'm fresh again. I don't mind if the mane of my Blackjack is a bit weird looking at the back, since that's for me, but... Yeah, you know what I mean.

Away from art, I got a new PS3 like 4 hours ago. I had a launch PS3, the old fat 60GB one. He died in April, and since repaired has sounded akin to a tractor crashing into a jackhammer whenever I try to do anything strenuous. So I got me a fancy Super Slim 500GB one. She is whisper quiet, and awesome. The most terrifying walk through Dublin I've ever had. I mean, 9pm on a Thursday, really obvious games console, lots of junkies. Gripping my keys with one hand the whole way, because if someone had gone for this, they were getting cut

Still, I'm happy with her. Awesome deal too, €300 with a new DualShock, 3 games (that I'll trade in for like €70) and a new HDMI. Considering my fat was about €600 when I got it in 2007, I'm sitting pretty. Honestly, I'm writing this now while all my New Vegas add-ons download again, and that'll be another hour. Plus, Dishonoured is out in the morning, as is Pokémon Black 2, so I'll be a busy bunny this weekend.

So yeah. I'll have all my WIPs done by Wednesday, and I'll begin uploading photos tomorrow, assuming I don't get madly engrossed in these games. Which will almost certainly happen.

On a side note, broniesofirelandart.deviantart… are holding a contest to draw our mascot, Shamrock. The prize is a custom pony, and the deadline is Friday evening. Feel free to enter

Arrivederci.