Just got the first picture from the photoshoot at Ikkicon! I got to wear Jun the Swan for the first time and really enjoyed it. It was different to not be covered in armor. Just the helmet.
But I loved it! There was so much freedom. And I'm happy that a few people actually knew who I was.

Finally had a day where I could get busy on cosplay stuff.

I've been wanting to do something from Skyrim since I turned it on. To get me used to working on bladed props, I decided to start with Mehrune's Razor. The handle is MDF. Blade is Sintra with styrene for detailing. If I get enough of a response, I might be willing to sell a few copies.

I've been inspired by a friend's recent cosplay choice and have begun work on the Twin Victims from Silent Hill:4.  I've even found a way to make the fingers move! ehehehe

I've waited to provide the link till now because it's now up for voting. It's been approved! Go vote for my shirt!!!

I've submitted another design to Threadless. This time, to their Loves Drawing Challenge. The design is still waiting for approval, but here is the link anyway. If you'd like to wear this as a shirt, then vote: http://www.threadless.com/submission/389868/Bird_Demon/from,Moonwildflower
And Ikkicon is coming up! Several members of my group, Shinka Studios will be going. We'll be helping out with the Armor Panel and doing our own Latex panel.
And Skyrim. sigh... So many hours devoted to that game. And I want to to devote a few more IRL. My next personal project will be a daedric sword. After what I've learned from the gun, I feel I'm ready to tackle something like this. And I hope to make a good mold so copies should be available to anyone interested.

My client (who is doing the movie in Austin) picked up the pistols today, along with the dogtags and the tablet. I'm really proud of the guns and I can't wait to build some more. I've got one more item to build for the client, but after next week, I'll open again for commissions.

Wow. A month to the day since my last post. I must apologize. I've been kept busy.
The main cause has been the props that I'm almost done making for The Ascendant, a pre-thesis movie being done by a grad student down in Austin.

And I'm in talks to possibly be hired to appear at an official launch party for a game studio in Austin in the coming months. (Fingers crossed) So, I've been playing around with my first set of prosthetics. Let me tell you, I'm not too crazy about PAX paint so far.
ART
And there is still art. There is always art. ArtOrder has issued a new contest and I had to enter. With the new John Carter of Mars movie coming out, they want people to do an illustration from The Princess of Mars novel that the movie is based on.
I found the book online and have to say that I enjoyed it. I've got a sketch and am working on the final in Painter. I'll post the final or some WIP as it goes along.
NOVEL
 After a few more rejections, I'm having my family and close friends read my manuscript so I can do another round of editing. And this goes for my query letter too. It's just so hard to take everything I've written and smash it into 250 words or less.

Like I said. Two weeks left. I don't know what place I'm in right now, but I know for sure that I'm not in the top three and that is where I'd need to be to earn any of the prizes. Go here:  http://www.otakuhouse.com/cosplay-idol/north-america-finalists-2011/april-martin/  and Vote!

While there, go checked out some of the other amazing cosplays including:

Exshadow- http://www.otakuhouse.com/cosplay-idol/north-america-finalists-2011/kyle-mathis/

Pikminlink-http://www.otakuhouse.com/cosplay-idol/north-america-finalists-2011/pikminlink/
 
Hopie-chan-http://www.otakuhouse.com/cosplay-idol/north-america-finalists-2011/hope-smith/

Of course, when the day ends, this is just an online contest based mostly around popularity. And I haven't been the cosplay world as long as the three featured. I don't expect to win, but this is a fun way to meet new people and let them know about what I've built and worn. 

The 11th Dr is done. I think. I might go back before varnishing it and darken some of the shadows. But before I mess it up, I'm moving on to the 9th Dr.
I'm really happy with my progress on these oil paintings so far. I can even see myself getting better with each one. The strokes are becoming more natural and I'm even ignoring the pencil lines and just letting the paint do what it wants.
And movie news: Most of the prop concepts are close to %100. I just have one more to get approved and then I can start on the construction. I even went and picked up some half round styrene rods yesterday and words can not describe how excited I was to have them. I think it mostly stems from what I've seen Blind Squirrel and Volpin do with the same supplies and now I get my chance!

They just opened this morning and I'm in the top 40. I had to enter three other cosplays into the event for voting. That includes my 7 from the movie 9, Tali from Mass Effect, and the Silence from Dr. Who.
Please come by, take a look and vote! It would be awesome to make it to the top three!
http://www.otakuhouse.com/cosplay-idol/north-america-finalists-2011/april-martin/

I'm doing a series of every version of the Dr. Started with the 10th. Next is the 11th.
Plus a quick Disney illustration for a friend.