I'm an OOAK Art Doll Artist and Freelance web designer. I love handcrafted products and I'm infatuated with Faeries. My biggest inspirations are Brian and Wendy Froud.
Above you will see some images of eyes I created using Magic Glos, magnified using my optical loop as they are very small (2mm-3mm)
Ok, so after several tests done with Magic Glos, I can join many others in the confirmation that this product does tend to yellow.
This is NOT what we want when we create doll eyes. Art is supposed to stand the test of time, look at the Ancient Egyptian Pyramids…. just sayin.
Disappointed as I may be, I’m glad that I stuck to my guns and tested this product for myself thoroughly prior to selling them or using them in work I plan to sell.
Magic Glos is a great product, it works well and actually creates GORGEOUS stunning eyes. But you will find my tutorial has been revised, and I still urge new artists to always RESEARCH and TEST your products thoroughly BEFORE selling them to collectors.
In my earlier stages of development….lol, I made some mistakes that I now know not to repeat. Most of these mistakes were from listening to others who really didn’t know what they were talking about. Whether it was done to throw me off purposely or just because of lack of knowledge, who knows, but if in doubt of ANYTHING always consult a MASTER ARTIST or join a Guild that offers mentoring from established, trusted and well known professionals.
Some Artists that have been at this for awhile already know what products to use for eyes, which do or do not break down with UV light, heat and time. Many of them do not choose to offer this information freely, and I can’t say I blame them. They had to spend the time and money to learn this themselves, we can’t be brats and expect them to just “give away” this information so we can then compete with their work. We still do have very giving Master Artists who are willing to share their knowledge freely, which is a HUGE gift and should not be taken for granted. Two of the most trusted sources I know of is Deb Wood and Jack Johnston. You can find links to their sites in my links section. I’m pretty sure Deb still hand paints her eyes and Jack sells eyes but I don’t believe he sells eyes in the smaller size range. Plus, because I mainly create Fantasy Art, I want my eyes to have more of an ethereal or “magical” look to them. You can still find eyes to purchase from other Artists and hopefully they have gone through the same tests to ensure longevity and quality. Always ASK if in doubt!!!
We are all friends, at least we should be, but we are also competing for business and collectors. We can help each other, but I don’t believe that all knowledge should be given away because that creates lazy Artists….my opinion. Artists are very hard working people, we toil from sun up to sun down trying to perfect our work. That is the way of the Artist!
I made several pairs of eyes using Magic Glos. I tested these by the following methods:
1) “Heated” once embedded in polymer clay at 275° (Showed little to no signs of problems)
2) “Heated” twice embedded in polymer clay at 275° (Showed slight cloudiness)
3) “Heated” three x’s embedded in polymer clay at 275° (maintained slight cloudiness)
We want eyes to be optically clear, cloudy is not good.
4) Placed in window sill in direct sunlight for 7 days. (showed signs of the beginning stages of yellowing)
I’m actually testing this further by keeping the eyes in the window sill for the next two weeks to see just how bad it gets.
Not good… what if a collector places their doll in a curio next to a window?
5) Placed on shelf in a room set at 75° without any direct or indirect light. (the eyes appeared to maintain their original state of clarity)
However, how many Collectors want to buy a doll and hide it in a closet for fear the eyes might break down? Not good.
My original reason for going to a resin is because TLS, Translucent Liquid Sculpey, always seemed to give me a hard time with bubbles. These bubbles are sometimes really hard to see prior to curing because of the color of the TLS. I’ve also tried FIMO decorating gel and had the same issues with bubbles. Not every pair of eyes turned out bad, but 6/10 usually did.
My husband is a Bio Medical Technician of approx 15 years as well as an Artist. He has a very good understanding of how chemicals react with each other and how to work with them to obtain a desired outcome. He often helps me on the technical side of my craft, and I’m always thankful for his guidance. He was leery about me using the Magic Glos but supported my trial of the product.
Currently he is researching some products that may prove to be better candidates for this project.
One of the other things that bother me about some doll eyes is that if you touch them with polymer residue from the clay they will get a film on them. I use my fingers when setting my eyes, I want to be able to handle them without fear I’m compromising them. If you try to remove that film, it destroys the surface area of the eye which then takes away the clarity. I’ve tried plain water on a q-tip, alcohol etc… nothing seemed to clean it off without making some sort of change to the surface thus reducing the overall quality of the eye.
With a little bit of time and research I was able to find several websites that claim to produce resins that are UV light resistant, optically clear, autoclavable or heat resistant. I’m in the process of ordering some of the products.
I’ve also read a few posts here and there saying that the use of resin in doll eyes will always produce yellowing over time.
I don’t feel comfortable with accepting that as a FACT just yet. There are MANY products out there that are used in the medical industry and many other industries where the same level of performance is required, not “wished for” but REQUIRED.
To remove bubbles, a vacuum can also be used, my husband uses one at work almost on a daily basis for removing bubbles from epoxies, glues and other sealants. Not all of us have access to such equipment, so of course I’m looking for a solution that is a little less convoluted. One of the other reasons I was hoping Magic Glos would work is because it is not a 2 part mix. I liked the fact I could squeeze the product from the bottle without having to mix two different parts.
There is another product that was referred to me to try, the product is called ICE Resin, however, this resin is even stated by the manufacturer that it will YELLOW if in direct sunlight. So again, what collector wants to worry about where to place a sculpture for fear that it’s eyes will yellow or break down?
I have found multiple promising products already, the only thing to do is trial and error. But I will never sell my eyes until I know FOR A FACT that they will not yellow, fade, cloud up, disintegrate or otherwise compromise my work.
FAEBAE’s Official Forum, The Enchanted OOAK (TEO) is welcoming all Artists and Art Lover’s to join us!
TEO is just another great place to share your art, interests, meet new people and learn new things.
The forum is powered by NING and provides powerful social networking features, RSS feed content from various niche resources, events and news about FAEBAE as well as member’s blogs, news, events and more.
There is a quick and easy application process to join, this is to protect against SPAM. There is no fee at this time to join TEO, we would love to have you there!
Ok, so I’m working on a new doll but I’ve decided that I’m going to attempt my first BJD. I feel I’m one step behind many as BJD’s have been becoming increasingly popular amongst OOAK Art Doll Artists and Collectors over the past couple years and I have not yet even attempted to create one as of yet.
So there must be something “addictive” about it, much like handmade soap – once you make your first batch and see the difference how could you possibly go back to grocery store brands?
Well, my first hurdle to cross is the overall concept of what I’m trying to accomplish. A Doll that has articulated joints, strong enough to be handled, yet delicate enough to appreciate fine detail.
So that leads me to my first test rounds of what type of medium (s) to try. I’ve heard quite a few folks say that air dry clays work well, such as La Doll and Premier. This is a HUGE step for me, I’ve NEVER used air dry clay for dolls before, always polymer clay such as Prosculpt, Cernit, Fimo etc…
I went out and purchased a package of La doll and Premier, as well as DAS.
DAS
I’ll tell you, my first impression of DAS was – yuck LOL. I didn’t like the smell or the consistency of it at all at first for working with sculptures. Maybe it’s just because I’m used to the texture of polymers that I feel this way, but I’m forcing myself through a complete “test” with this product by taking it and making several size thicknesses, shapes etc to see how strong it is and if there is any flexibility to it at all. I can almost tell right off the bat, it’s probably not going to be very flexible and perhaps this is the “norm” with most air dry clays – I don’t know yet, but there does not seem to be much stretch or flex to it in it’s “wet” state. It also leaves this crud on your fingers, white chalky substance. Doesn’t really bother me too much, but it will take some gettin used too.
RESULTS: After setting 24 hours this product was HARD as nails. The solid round shapes I made would have taken a hammer to crush, the longer thinner shapes seemed to snap with relatively strong pressure, but were overall relatively strong. No flexibility, of course, it’s not a polymer clay.
La Doll
La Doll seemed better at first, still not used to the consistency of air dry…. but I can see how you could (with practice) do well with it. However, I found that it didn’t seem to blend well. This might just be me not having the experience yet of working with it, but alone by itself, La Doll seemed to be promising.
RESULTS: After setting 24 hours this product was extremely weak. Snapped and actually crumbled with moderate pressure. I could not see it doing well at all, but some Artists swear by it. To me, as a stand alone clay product for BJD’s I would not want to try to use it. The thick and long thin test shapes I made were weak, and I was surprised how they crumbled between moderate pressure of my fingers.
Premier
This product is very cushiony, soft, like La Doll but softer. It’s also white compared to La Doll which is a grayish color. According to the manufacturer, you can blend both La Doll and Premier together, so being the curious little cat I am, I went ahead and did this mixing a 1:1 ratio to start. While that sat up, I also created some test pieces using just strictly Premier, which I have had some friends say that is what they use exclusively.
RESULTS OF PREMIER ALONE: I was very surprised to find that Premier alone ended up being extremely strong. Even the long thin test shapes I made gave me trouble to snap, I will still make finger armatures, but I feel much better about this product than I do using La Doll as a stand alone product.
RESULTS OF PREMIER AND LA DOLL 1:1 MIX: The combination of both of these clays actually seems to weaken it, although the premier seems to help the texture of the La Doll clay during it’s wet state. It was stronger than La Doll alone but weaker than Premier alone.
These are just my personal observations from the products I purchased, it’s not to be taken as FACT, so please do your own tests.
One of the other things that I found to be a small pain in the butt is keeping the air dry clay stored. Not that it is a big deal, but I’m a worry wart… I was scared to death my product would dry out because I could not keep it air tight. If I do end up using air dry clay on a regular basis, I think it might even be a good idea to invest in one of those food saver machines, just for piece of mind. I mean, it’s not like if I leave a $12.00 block of “polymer” clay out that it’s going to dry up and go to waste, I’m not used to this stuff!! LOL I just know I can’t afford to accidentally waste product and I’d rather not find out the hard way.
Brainstorming for OOAK (One of a Kind) BJD’s from Polymer Clay
Now, I could just go ahead and attempt to make a BJD using my old friends Prosculpt, Fimo and/or Cernit… however because of the way BJD’s are constructed I may run into problems with coming up with a core. I know that you can shrink Styrofoam at up to 400° , obviously with clay you would not want to go that high, but I know Styrofoam will also catch fire if left at high temps for too long…plus there are fumes. Styrofoam seems it would be a great core for air dry…but I’m not so sure about polymer…. unless Styrofoam at lower temps, not to exceed 260°, might be ok.
I’ll do some experimenting, I just need to be REALLY CAREFUL not to catch fire to anything or create fumes that are toxic.
There is also tinfoil, however, I’m not so sure I’d feel comfortable using tinfoil as a core without covering it will Florists tape…I’ve tried to use uncovered foil before as an armature flesh and it’s caused damage to the sculpture. I learned that hard lesson several years back when I first started sculpting. To me it just seems it would take a LOT to get that out afterwards (tinfoil and florists tape) even with a dremmel, but it may prove to be easier than I might be thinking.
Now, I could just sculpt the “head” as normal and then dremmel the inside out enough to place the hook to hold the strings, I’d still have to cut the skull cap off and then glue that back down after I attached the strings….
Looks like I have some more experimenting to do! LOL But, I will take pics along the way and feel free to send me questions or advice
Finally I’ve joined IADR, International Art Doll Registry.
I’ve been meaning to do this for a very long time, but I was waiting until FAEBAE was at a certain point or level of completion, it will never be 100% “complete” but that is with any growing website.
I just wanted to feel as if I could put it on auto-pilot for awhile and after several years of blood, sweat and tears I’m there!!
I’m very proud to be a part of such a lovely talented group of individuals who all share a common passion – ART DOLLS.
It’s been a mission of mine to finally separate my personal art blog/site from FAEBAE.
That is pretty difficult considering I’m the same person, and it required a little “sorting out” in my head as to how I actually wanted to set this up. After working with several blogging platforms, I’ve decided I like WordPress and Blogger best.
So, I’ve decided to keep FAEBAE’s Official Blog on Blogger, and I’m using WordPress to power my personal Art Blog (this site).
The only other Blog that I will post personal Art related information on is on TEO (The Enchanted OOAK)
I have had an OOAK Steampunk Sculpture in the works and am finally getting back to it.
My inspiration for this piece comes from Abney Park,
Sleep sleep my Isabella
safely in your carousel
Sleep through the spinning
Just like your beginning
Sleep my child….
This sculpture started awhile ago, since then I’ve completed Alice in Wonderland Madness.
I’m now working on completing this piece.
The base is complete. Wood burned, painted and accented with real moving parts and Steampunk Style design.
Isabella will be the “OOAK ART DOLL” sleeping on the large gear, meant as her spinning carousel. She will be fully costumed in steampunk attire with extreme attention to detail. I hope you like her! I will be posting more images soon and she will be available on FAEBAE as soon as she is complete.
Everything is handmade, including the large gear which is sculpting and finished to appear as a distressed steampunk gear.
I’ve been reminded of my all time favorite movie, Labyrinth. Yes the “David Bowie in tights” movie LOL. But more importantly, the overall concept of what life is like while you are trying to find your way. How our attitudes, decisions and character can impact our future and those around us.
One of the scenes from the movie that I most relate to is when Sarah encounters two doors that are guarded by some interesting characters who warned her not to trust them because one of them “always tells the truth” and one of them “always lies”.
Sarah thought she had this riddle whipped, and she made her choice. The choice she made ended her up falling down a trap door. While she is falling, a bunch of hands grab onto her and stop her midway down. At first these helpers appeared to be just hurting her, but she quickly realizes that they were actually trying to help her.
They then ask her, “WHICH WAY?” “UP OR DOWN”? At first this confuses her, but after given only a few moments to think by the “Helping Hands” she makes another hasty decision believing it was the most logical one. Sarah chooses down, after all she was already headed there – right? Quickly after making her choice she realized it was the wrong one, but it was too late, no going back.
This landed her straight into an Oubliette, a dark dungeon to place someone to forget about them.
LOL, how many times have I felt like I’ve been stuck in an Oubliette, hoping that Hoggle will come to my rescue and make a passage for me to get out. But sometimes in life we have to find our own way out, there are no helping hands waiting to catch us when we fall and we have tricksters along the way who’ll do anything to stump you or send you off down the wrong path, just “because” they can. The majority of my adult life has been spent being an aspiring artist and entrepreneur, oddly enough, this is where I find most of my life’s lessons. That leads me to my “list” of things to be CAREFUL OF on your journey amongst Artists and our Niche, which I ADORE.
Top 5 things that bother me most about certain Artists, and what I strive NOT to model after:
1) Overly inflated ego… ever email an Artist and tell them how great you think they are or try to ask them for a bit of advice because you can’t imagine anyone’s wisdom to be more profound than someone you admire so much? And they either ignore you flat out or get pissy at the “idea” that you dare question their “techniques”? Yeah, I’ve had this happen a couple times, and you know what? I feel sorry for them. Because I feel it takes more than just “Great Art” to make a person GREAT. It is also takes a kindred spirit and humbleness to those who admire you and your work. After-all, without those who appreciate them – who are they anyway? I’m not saying that I feel an Artist should give up all their secrets and knowledge, that is what apprenticeships are for, and I don’t feel that it is fair to expect an Artist who has spent YEARS learning their craft to just “give away” all their resources or information simply because they’re asked. I just feel that there should be an obligation of respect and humbleness present between and Artist and those who take the time to notice their work and appreciate it enough to even inquire about it.
2) People who ask or accept too much of you without offering something in return…oh how many times have I trotted down this path before. Only to get to a point where I have basically bled myself dry of my time and energy to try and “help” someone only to get a simple “thanks” but they do nothing to equally barter or return the favor. Unfortunately this behavior just eventually makes those of us who are “Givers” be more hesitant in what we offer because after awhile it sucks to get constantly used. So please, if someone offers to do something for you, or offers a “Free” bit of information that helps you or does something that you SHOULD appreciate, RETURN THE FAVOR. If they can’t benefit from anything you can offer them, offer a small donation – something. This is the “system” we have all forgotten about, the BARTER system. It works BOTH WAYS and it’s EFFECTIVE.
3) Artists who bicker over “copyright” This is just ridiculous and becoming a MAJOR pet peeve of mine. In some cases, I TOTALLY AGREE. If someone copies your work – yes, you got a right to get upset and even demand they stop, publicly “call them out on it” and if they don’t respond, get a lawyer involved if it continues. BUT I’ve seen Artists bickering over just ridiculous things, someone uses a similar pose, concept, technique etc and all hell breaks loose. If it’s not an exact duplicate, more than likely it’s just coincidence. And if they did just so happen to be inspired by your work to try to make their own version – I just really don’t understand what is so horrible about this. Sorry, but I feel that this has just gotten out of control. With all the tutorials, classes and resources out there, and folks using the same sources of inspiration someone is bound to get a similar idea and without even knowing your work, create something that appears to be similar. I’ve seen great likenesses even in Artist’s works whom have huge followings and are now very commercialized, with the work of Artists that came even way before their time, that weren’t even as popular. This “fear” of getting pinned as a copycat artist hinders a lot of artists and when someone makes a claim publicly against them without going through the proper channels, I feel they need to be pretty damn sure it was a deliberate attempt at DUPLICATING their work before opening their mouth. If anyone knows me, they know that Brian and Wendy Froud are literally my HEROS as far as art and creativity goes. I’ve sculpted one piece based on a picture from one of his many books in my personal collection, it was NOT a duplicate, I’m certainly not that good LOL, but it had a great likeness and I made it very clear he was the source of the inspiration behind the sculpt. It was a fairy sitting on top of a mushroom. Now… how many “Faeries sitting on top of a mushroom” have been made????? Anyone care to take a wild guess? I bet almost EVERY single OOAK Art Doll Artist at some point has used a mushroom in their concept, a Fairy sitting or kneeling on a mushroom etc. Does that mean we are all copyright infringing upon Brian Froud? Do you think that he is so arrogant and petty that he would publicly call out every one of us who have done similar work? I don’t know the man personally, but I honestly doubt he is that type of person and he is without any doubt one of the GREATS. So, trying not to offend anyone, but to those of you who are so quick to throw stones…try to control your urge to flip out. Before you go nuts on someone when you see something that looks similar to something you have done, look a little more, I bet you will find many more just like it. All we can do is try to be as original as possible, put our own spirit and creative touch into our work, respect the sources of our inspiration by giving credit whenever possible and take great care not to purposely infringe upon the rights of others. And keep our EGOS IN CHECK.
4) Ignoring the needs of new artists…ok so I’m not even close to being satisfied with my artwork to consider myself a step above anyone. But I have seen a lot of new artists who you can tell either have just recently embarked on their journey into creativity or could use some honest and constructive criticism. It’s hard to know the personality and character of everyone, whether they are the type that can take criticism or not. But I do believe when someone asks you to critic their work, you should do it honestly. And the Artist requesting the critic should be prepared to hear what you have to say. It drives me crazy when someone asks for critic and it’s blatantly obvious that the person needs to “work on a few things” and everyone says how great it looks but then gives NO helpful criticism where it’s needed. No one likes to be the one who points out the negative. But let’s be honest here, how are we really helping them get better if no one is willing to be honest? All we are doing is helping them fail or helping them form a false sense of accomplishment. That is NOT fair, especially when coming from an Artist who is more experienced and skilled.
5) And lastly, I can’t stand it when someone befriends you only to become two-faced and then try and hurt you. Yeah, I won’t “name names” but I have been burnt several times during the development of FAEBAE by some who obviously don’t understand the meaning of the words “ethical” or “honest”. They claim to want to help, and then quickly show their true colors, they know who they are but hide behind a false facade and keep their true agenda hidden just long enough to try and strike you down. Or they use you to gain whatever it is they came to get from you and then leave you hanging in the breeze, but they do it in a very manipulative and sneaky way as to not get found out for what they truly are….after all they have a phoney reputation to uphold LOL. I’m sure that I’m not the only person that “they” have taken advantage of and then just simply cut off, so I’m not too worried about it continuing for much longer because I firmly believe in the laws of KARMA. But, it is frustrating when you try as hard as you can to be “friendly” and “helpful” only to have someone deliberately try to cause you problems. I just let it roll off my back now, and that is what I suggest to any of you who have been “done wrong” by someone who you thought was a friend or someone you could look up to. Don’t let it consume you, in the end, it’s them who have truly lost. Focus on your real friendships, trustworthy connections and your own creative future. Just be sure to learn from your mistakes along the way. In time, these “phonies” will loose their ability to mask themselves and you will see their empires fall.
So these are a few of the obstacles I found along my journey into the “Labyrinth” and each new turn or path I take leads me to a new success or failure which brings forth a lesson learned. To become a better Person and Artist. I’ve met some “hurting helpful hands” along the way, some liars and cheaters, some wise creatures and some who need a little guidance themselves. In the end, it’s my confrontation with the “KING” of my own inner demons that I must face, to become a master of my own world, my own life and my own creative being.
On-Line Niche Market Classified Ads & Auctions for Fantasy Art lovers – Faerie Approved Site!
IMAGE RESOURCE: Google Images *Images are screen captures taken from the movie Labyrinth, Wiki can be seen here
*THIS VIDEO IS SCARY, DON’T WATCH AROUND KIDS* My Review starts below
I have not personally played “Video Games” for over a decade…sad but true. But, I used to play until my thumbs literally felt like they were smashed in. I now have a 15 year old Son who of course feels as if his PS3 is an appendage and that life without it would be nothing less than devastating.
He has been trying to get me back into playing games for quite awhile. I just didn’t really see a game that struck my attention, that really held my interest – at all.
My Son’s birthday rolled around this month, and of course, my husband and I found ourselves standing in line at Gamestop trying to get the latest game my Son had been begging for… LA NOIRE. I watched him play through Mafia 2 and I must admit, I was blown away as to how much CGI has changed the gaming universe plus the storyline itself was like watching a mini interactive movie. I started to really enjoy looking forward to watching him in the evenings, it became our little “thing”.
So back to the story…. while standing in line with a bunch of other disgruntled parents spending their paychecks on their kids, my husband taps me on the shoulder and I turn around to see the “Alice Madness Returns” display. The game had not yet been released, but I was instantly captured by the insane depiction of Alice (Wonderland’s Alice) and the fleshy castle background. I had read many spins of the original Alice story, but I always was taken back by the more sinister, darker side of Wonderland. It instantly had my attention, and I found myself actually getting excited over it.
Watch the Video Demo… but don’t do this around young kids…it’s scary.
My review continues below….
Back when I used to play games, it was either PC or the older Nintendo consoles…yeah of course I have heard of PS2 and PS3 and Xbox etc…who hasn’t spent at least $200 or more on these systems, especially if you have kids. But I was trying to play it cool and stick with my old school ways and went looking for the PC version…
Mistake number 1…. even though I just bought a brand new HP PC from Best Buy not even 3 months ago, my system wasn’t even close to being equipped to handle this game.
Tiger Direct told me that I needed at least a 400-500 watt power supply, and my graphics card wasn’t nearly sufficient. OK… so I just dumped $50 on a game, and then found out that I had to dump an extra $100 just to get my PC up to spec to be able to play it.
So, frustrated and irritated I hit the EA forum and few other places on-line and started to read all the complaints coming from the PC community. Glitch after glitch, complaint after complaint… I was getting really aggravated… I mean I had not even had the chance to play this yet and I was very quickly becoming quite turned off and regretting EVER trying to get back into the gaming world.
But, every time I seen screenshots of the game I would push beyond the negativity that was forming in my mind and decided, I was going to find a way to play this game and enjoy it – period.
Oh yeah, before I forget, one of the larger let downs was the fact that I had read the PC version would be bundled with the original American Mcgee’s Alice game that came out 10 years ago…that I never knew existed… only to find that was not entirely true. That was only available as a PC “download” from the Origin site, which by the way, they terminated that offer only days after the game was released…wasn’t that nice of them.
I would provide a link to Origin, but honestly, I don’t feel they deserve it. LOL Sorry, but all you got to do is Google “Origin” for games, and if you are already a gamer you know exactly what site I’m talking about. And don’t think you will get any help by posting your questions or complaints on the forum, they just ignore you.
So…. I made the “life changing decision” of calling Best Buy and asking them for an exchange for the PS3 version. They agreed, which I was very happy about because they didn’t have to do that, I had already opened the box. But they said because I could not get it to work on my PC that they would exchange it, so THANK HEAVEN for Best Buy customer service! (Thanks Gina from the Clearwater Florida location So I had to pay an extra $10 to get the PS3 version home, no big deal, much cheaper than buying a new power supply and graphics card and without having to face all the glitches and other problems related to the PC version… I asked my Son to load it up for me on the PS3.
AND! When I opened the box, there was the “Free Online Pass Code” to download the original Alice game! Just sitting there like a golden ticket in a Wonka bar… I was so pleased – and PS3 even offered a $1.99 download that gave me extra “outfits” for Alice to wear, including some really cool weapon upgrades….My personal favorite it the “Flesh Maiden” depicted in the middle below….
So, let the game begin…
It took me a little while to get used to how the controls worked, again, coming from a much “simpler” gaming time period I actually thought I bit off more than I could chew for a moment…but after a few minutes, I found it was quite easy and am now pretty good at it.
From an Artist’s viewpoint, I got to say that this game blew my imagination completely into deep space…it had me literally zoning out staring at all the unique twists and turns, colorful and captivating scenes and just an overall unbelievable product.
The characters, or “bad guys”, from this game are nothing short of nightmarish. I’d have to say that the Insidious Ruin was the most “creepy” so far…. they are large black globular beings with the face or faces of porcelain baby dolls. The other creature I thought was really neat was the Teapot…
Ok, so Chapter 1…and there is a total of 6 Chapters by the way, I find my way into Wonderland for the first time.
I was mesmerized by the artistry, I will probably say this about every chapter, but for a first impression… it just sucked me in and I have been unable to escape from my absolute addiction to this game.
Gorgeous and strange plants, floating dominoes and other objects from childhood embedded into each scene like a lost dream hidden away within the imagination. One of my favorite scenes from Chapter one is the stone fountain depicting Alice crying. I don’t want to give too many screenshots or say “too” much because I honestly want anyone who reads this to invest in this game and enjoy it as much as I am. I will give a few screenshots here, but not “too many”…
As I got better with controlling Alice, it got easier to find all the hidden paths and snouts…yep, I said snouts.
Like I said, this review isn’t about giving spoilers…it’s about giving my opinion and overall experience of this game, as an Artist.
And I want to make sure you understand why I’m doing this on FAEBAE’s blog, because of course this is a “video game” and FAEBAE is a niche Art and Craft Site. My reason is this: I have found this game to be an extremely inspirational take on Alice, and the “Art” from this grotesque, steampunk masterpiece is NOT something to be missed – by anyone. Yeah, it’s a little gruesome, but there is also something very beautiful and unique about it as well. Not to be confused with Disney’s original version, whatsoever, but it has it’s own “classic” twist on a very nostalgic and deep, dark fantasy.
Back to the game…ok so I took my first step into Wonderland, had a chat with the Cheshire Cat and found myself back in the streets of London where my nightmare began. The scenes where Alice is “normal” and walking the streets of London are like a break from the crazy world of Wonderland. It helps you start to understand the connection between Alice’s reality, and the alter reality she has created in her mind to deal with the tragedy of loosing her family ….(TIP: play the first Alice game to be able to follow the story better)
The journey through Wonderland allows you to collect memories, to help unlock the “truth” that Alice has hidden from her own mind. The memories she obtains are sometimes hard to understand, they are given in a very strong dialect that you will learn to appreciate more as the game continues, but don’t get too wrapped up trying to understand every single one because (if you are anything like me) you will find some are almost impossible to fully understand.
The slips back and forth into Wonderland and London happen before and after each completed chapter. Sometimes I wondered if I’d ever get to the next chapter…yeah they are long LOL, but every second is worth it. There is not a single step or turn where you don’t see, hear or…did I almost say smell?? LOL well, you get the idea.
Throughout the game you find weapons, my favorite is the Hobby Horse. It is just too cool to look at, and it packs a major punch.
You can catch a good look at it here in this screenshot, of course, you upgrade the hobby horse and it changes it’s appearance each upgrade to a more powerful tool of destruction…
So where am I now? I’m at the Dollhouse…and it was not easy getting there. And if you download the $1.99 pack from PS3 Network you will see how beneficial those extra outfits and weapons are…just be sure that at the “Main Menu” you select “Equip”. From there you can switch clothes and upgrade your weapons, and each upgrade from the pack will give you extra strength, life or some other “power” that will help you get through the Chapters. When you switch to a new outfit, rotate Alice around so you can see the entire 360 degree view. I’m currently sporting the Hattress outfit… if you look closely you can see this cool spin on Steampunk, her left arm is nearly all clockworks.
My favorite Chapters so far have been the Caterpillar (this Chapter seemed extremely LONG) and I really loved it when I ate the cake in the Queen of Hearts level and grew so I could stomp on the cards…that was SO wickedly cool. The Executioner had my heart pounding, talk about creepy…he literally chases you, and you better run! I also love the “side missions” where you literally look like you are a paper doll in a “paper” world, it’s almost as if you are playing an entirely different game. It’s a pleasing break to find at times when you are seeking a little refuge from the mind challenging puzzles.
Another really cool thing about this game is being able to go into “Hysteria” mode. With the Flesh Maiden dress, you can go into Hysteria at anytime in the game. Normally though you can only go into Hysteria when you are about to die from battle, it makes you invisible for a brief amount of time to help you defeat the enemies that are whipping your butt. You know when your life is running low, the “glass” from the dream starts to shatter and you see the reflected light from the cracks…very cool concept.
I was so happy to see that you can also purchase the actual “The Art of Alice Madness Returns” hardcover book.
Check this out….
On Amazon, you can take a peak at some of the pages…Oh yeah, I’m buying it. Would not feel right about not having this on my book shelf sitting right next to my huge collection of Brian Froud, Terry Jones and other mind blowing possessions which also includes Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland Visual Guide.
Off with her Head! I mean…Back to the game!…LOL
So, it’s June 29th approx 12:30pm and I’m blogging about this adventure I’m on with Alice, it took a lot of self discipline to do this as all I want to really do is slide back into Wonderland…however one does need a break to allow the eyes to rest and the imagination to settle down. I need to make it really clear though, this is NOT a game you want to play around your children. It is filled with very frightening imagery and is NOT something you want to share with anyone who easily gets grossed out or has trouble sleeping with the lights off.
I think one of the most disturbing scenes is when Alice meets the Tweedles, let’s just say they don’t shake her hand and dance around…
Alice is a very tormented soul in this version of the beloved Fairytale. She is constantly trying to figure out if she had anything to do with her family burning alive in the house fire. Of course there are “those” who believe she did, and perhaps they are right? Who knows at this point…. all I know is I feel compelled to continue to help her find the answer….
I’ll be adding more soon, I need to complete the Dollhouse Chapter…
WARNING: DO NOT WATCH THE FOLLOWING VIDEO IF YOU ARE AROUND SMALL CHILDREN OR IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE SPOLIERS! THIS IS A VIDEO OF THE DOLLHOUSE CHAPTER
Halfway through the Dollhouse…
I must admit this chapter is probably the creepiest LOL, it is loaded with grotesque depictions of possessed toys and demented childlike humor. It is also, in my opinion, the hardest level I’ve reached so far. Tons of puzzles, hidden paths and for some reason I feel it’s just overall more difficult to find your way. I also…and I hate to say this because I just love this game so much, but I got sick a few times because of some of the movements on the screen. Lots of twisting, turning, rotating etc… so be sure that you take some motion sickness remedies before you throw up…LOL yes, I threw up. But, I also suffer from motion sickness, it may not bother you.
I love this level, and it’s the one Chapter I was most excited about, but it is harder than the others in many different ways. But again, I’m just visually stunned every turn I make in this twisted nightmarish game.
It is June 30th, approx 3:40 pm… I have not played as much today, after getting a little sick I decided I needed to take a break. But I plan to get through the rest of this Chapter by tonight and will post my ending comments about my experience in the Dollhouse soon!
Here is a screenshot from the Dollhouse level…
Alright…. so I figured out what was making me sick, I have a pretty large monitor and was sitting too close. LOL
Out of all the Chapters/Levels however, I found the Doll house level to be the most frustrating. It is puzzle after puzzle, and there are some areas where you are playing like a pin ball style game with a creepy doll head which drove me nuts because it was very difficult to figure out all the “touchiness” of the controls. The perspective view changes often by itself leaving you feeling momentarily dazed and that would lead to failure. Anyway, you will see what I mean…..
Back to the “ART” of this Chapter – WOW. That is pretty much all I can say, the B*tch Babies were very difficult to kill, and were probably the coolest of all the bad guys that I ran into. They appears somewhat possessed, chasing after you with old rusty scissors and other tools to stick and slice you. The colors were very dreamy, and just like all the other levels of Wonderland, something odd and brilliantly constructed awaits you every turn.
Ok, I’ll be honest, this level actually had me quite annoyed after awhile, I had to put the music on mute because it is a very repetitive creepy melody that never goes away… but the game would not have been as cool without out. So I’m very glad that I got to experience The Dollhouse, but am very glad I completed it…LOL
The ending of this Chapter is very exciting, I won’t tell you what happens because that just wouldn’t be right….
All Aboard! It’s time for Chapter 6 – The FINALE
The Final Chapter to what has been one of the most extraordinary and visually mind blowing games I’ve played in over a decade…
Well, you are in for a battle, and I would suggest after failing the mission a few times – if you want to make it a bit easier…. get that $1.99 download if you haven’t already and be sure you are “suited” for a major confrontation, because it’s a biggie LOL… here is a hint….
The final Chapter is just amazing to look at, like a storm in a dream. The visual display of color, light and extreme detail brings the story to an end leaving you wanting more, but satisfied at the same time.
All together, I have to give this game a “9″ out of “10″, the reason not a “10″ is because I’m waiting for what American McGee has in store for Alice next! And yes, in case you are wondering, this was the inspiration behind my recent OOAK Art Doll Sculpture Alice in Wonderland Madness….
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