Shannon Larratt is Zentastic

I don’t have anything finished to post about today, but I have a ton of really fun stuff on the go that I’m going to do a little sneak peak of. We have a big road trip coming up so I don’t know if I’ll have a chance to post any more for a while so I figure I’ll jump the gun on these so there isn’t too long a silence. First let me share a chess set that I’m working on. It’s supposed to have a medieval sort of feel to it. I’m particularly happy with the bishop personally. The tower is the only one I feel “iffy” on, not because I don’t like it, but because I worry that the style isn’t a perfect match. It’s based on the “Tower” and the “Hanged Man” tarot cards, so the style influence is a bit different than the rest.

Click to zoom in so you can see the details. I will post better pictures when this is done. I’m making this set as a gift so I am not sure whether I’m making more for sale (probably not) but I am open to requests or commissions. That said, a chess set is a pretty time-consuming project and a major commitment so it’s not always something I have time for (especially because I have two unique sets to finish — custom board included — and a third already promised).

The pieces are cast in pewter with a black patina that is partially buffed off. There are some imperfections in the mold itself (some bubbles that a sharp eye may catch) but I have finally figured out how to make perfect casts in pewter. The trick for me was switching to a better silicone (the tin was offgassing causing bubbles so I switched to platinum cure), and more importantly, giving the mold a hearty dusting of graphite powder. The latter has got me pouring a perfect piece every time. Anyway, these pieces will be mounted on stained wood bases that indicate the side (ie. white or black, or more accurate, cherry and ash or something like that).

Following the flattering and gratifying response that my ET ring got, I’m working on a few more sculpted rings. I’m doing a baby Admiral Ackbar (special request from Nefarious), a baby Cyberman (as in these guys from Doctor Who — it will get the “crown” as a second piece), and a cute skull ring with exposed brain. They’re quite early in the process, but this is where I’m at, showing them with a quick blackwash and ivory drybrushing so I can make sure the detail is as I want it. The baby Ackbar has “IT’S A TWAP!” engraved on the inside, and the skull has “RIDICULUM SUM, ERGO SUM” which is Latin (dog Latin most likely) for “I am silly, therefore I am”.

Can’t zoom these — no need since they’re not fully detailed yet.

They’re just plastic right now as I develop them, but when I’m done they’ll be cast in pewter as well. I have some nice gems that I may set in the eyes of all them. I did a test mount and it looks awesome, but I will save that surprise so I don’t reveal all my tricks until the end. These ones will definitely be for sale by the way. I have some other cool rings currently being carved, but they’re just one offs. The reason they’re one offs is that I’m carving them to fit specific stones, fossils, meteorites, and other neat artifacts that I have waiting to be turned into something nice.

Enough boring internet blabbing, it’s Friday Pizza and Movie night tradition for Nefarious and I. See ya!