Furring Heads

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Furring Heads

Step 1 Well, by now you have probably drunk your caffeine supply dry, so get a refill of your favorite caffeine laden soda *Grin*. | Step One Image
Step 2 A Image & Step 2 B Image & Step 2 C Image | Step 2 Make sure you plan out your for colors ahead of time, and have them all on hand. So, you can ride your momentum, and not get stuck by having to wait on your fur to arrive. In this case I will be furring the Fox mentioned in the Toaster Head Technique. His colors will be Red Fox (1 yard), Cubby Bear Black (1/2 yard), and Cubby Bear White (1/2 yard). The measurements are what I have on hand though I will only use half the amounts I started with. Also draw out where you plan to lay the fur on the head with a sharpie marker these lines will help guide you (Image B).

Step 3
I start with the dominant color Red Fox, and measure the width & length of the muzzle where I start. Using a cheep coloring pencil I draw a rectangle of the widest measurement, and the longest measurement. Using a box cutter (so as not to damage the fur) I cut the rectangle out, align it in place, pin it down, and using hot glue, glue it down in the line I drew on the head where that color of fur was going to go. Taking that cheep coloring pencil I turn up the edge and draw a line matching the line of where the fur is supposed to go. With the box cutter, & a pair of snips I carefully cut off the excess of the rectangle of fur. Then I finish gluing the edges down with hot glue. Next, I do the cheeks the same way, trying to meet the edges of each piece as close as possible without over lapping.

Step 3 A Image
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Step 3 B Image
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Step 3 C Image
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Step 3 D Image

Step 4 A Image
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Step 4 BImage
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Step 4 C Image
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Step 4 D Image

Step 4
I continue this process, with each piece turning the fur nap the way it would appear on an animal. I keep measuring out squares and rectangles of fur, applying them and then cutting the to match the previous piece, and so they aren't too big. Try not to over stretch the fur, or cover to much at once as this will cause puckers. A little practice here and you'll get the hang of it. The following steps are much the same, and take your time, be careful as it's easy to get hot glue on the fur, and cut down to much. If you make a really big mistake you can pull the fur section you messed up on off. Again be careful as you will tear up the foam, and often have to do patch work, and shaping on the foam.

Step 5
Once all the Red Fox is on I move to the White. Again using the same method, measure, cut, glue, and shape then glue down for each piece.

Step 5 A Image
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Step 5 B Image
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Step 5 C Image
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Step 5 D Image
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Step 5 E Image

Step 6 A Image & Step 6 B Image | Step 6 I usually cover the eyeholes completely, as I will be cutting them out, and even making them bigger. So, don't worry to much about the eyes yet.

Step 7
Ears, they can be tricky. They can be done in multiple piece (probably safer, and easier), or you can be a moron like me a do them with one whole piece. Which leads to puckers which have to be cut out and glued down. I usually start with the inside first, and then do the out.

Step 7 A Image
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Step 7 B Image
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Step 7 C Image
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Step 7 D Image
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Step 7 E Image

Step 8 A Image & Step 8 B Image | Step 8 I draw up a set of eyes on paper, to gage the size and shape. I pin them on and see how it looks. I may make 3 or 4 pairs of eyes before I'm satisfied.
Step 9 I cut out the eyes at last, I start small, and constantly check the paper eyes to make sure I don't exceed them, and still leave room for glue mounts. | Step 9 A Image & Step 9 B Image
Step 10 A Image & Step 10 B Image | Step 10 Keep on cutting till I feel I got enough for eye sight (check it by butting it on). Then taking stretchy black t-shirt cotton, I line the eyes by gluing thin strips in. Why? This improves sight as it focuses light, and also if you picture was taken the flash would not pounce back off the light colored foam underneath.

Step 11
Making the Eyes *insert death march music here*, I have a saying in both art and costuming, "Its all in the eyes", or "The eyes are the gateway to the soul. If your eyes suck, then your soul sucks". People instinctively look at the eyes first before their brain tells them to look at anything else. This need goes back to the days of cave men (maybe back even further), and is meant to judge whether a stranger is a friend or foe. This still applies to fursuits as well. "Is that 6' fox coming at me going to eat me, or say hi?" That's what the unconscious brain is thinking, so again if your eyes suck then your head has to work harder to covey who you are, and if your head sucks the rest of you has to really work hard (which at this point you've already caused a large crowd to commit suicide due to fear or revulsion). But remember you still got to see, so often we have to make a compromise.
So, for this step your going to need these tools (or something close): Airbrush (or spray paint in the color of your choice), Nylon mesh fabric, pliers/wire cutters, coat hangers, empty bottle of bleach, sharpie, and hot glue (low temp is safest for this part).

Step 11 Image

Step 12 A Image & Step 12 B Image | Step 12 Now, take the pliers, and shape a frame for the left and the right eye, use the paper eye as a comparison.
Step 13 Taking copies of the paper eyes I cut out the white, and trace them on to the bleach bottle. Then I cut them out (This is why you want an empty bleach bottle, and not use a full one). | Step 13 A Image & Step 13 B Image & Step 13 C Image
Step 14 Image | Step 14 Now I make a tension bar and glue it on to the frames (this will be to resist future tension).
Step 15 Oh, and you'll need some foam board, and masking tape. Cut out two squares of your nylon mesh, and tape them taunt to the raised frames of foam core you will have to make (this will help prevent paint mistake, and running). Make sure the mesh is taunt. Remember taunt. Taunt… Got it?. Oh not to taunt. | Step 15 Image
Step 16 A Image & Step 16 B Image & Step 16 C Image | Step 16 Oh, and you'll need shelf paper (also called shelf tack), cut out a masking for the pupil, and stick the adhesive side on to the mesh. Now start applying the eye color slowly, so as not to block over the fine holes in the mesh. Wait for the paint to dry and then apply another very thin coat, just misting the mesh. Layer the paint slowly, until you get the eye color you want.
Step 17 Once that's done I compare size and shape with the frame (Image A). Next I paint the wire frames black with a spry enamel (Image B). | Step 17 A Image & Step 17 B Image
Step 18 Image | Step 18 I center the mesh, placing the pupil where I want it, and start hot gluing the mesh to the underside of the wire along on edge. When that sets I pull the mesh down and taunt to the opposite side, and hot glue it also to the underside. Finally, I do the third edge, and the edge that falls under the plastic eye white I leave lose. Now, using hot glue I set the eye whites, and with tweezers I pull the mesh tight and glue it to the eye whites, and the tension bar.
Step 19 Adding flourishes to the eyes, neoprene (called fun or craft foam), or felt are what I suggest. Using the paper eyes and the pre-drawing as an guide I cut very thin stripes in the shape I require. Again I use a very small amount of hot glue, and attach it to the eyes. | Step 19 Image

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Step 20 B Image
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Step 20 C Image
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Step 20 D Image

Step 20
When the eyes are done, use pins to wedge the eyes into place. This will allow you to align and set the eyes, symmetry is important here. When you are satisfied, using more pins as markers, place hot glue on the back of the eyes (In spot that it won't melt the glue holding the eyes together), and place the eyes on. Make sure you get a grip, and solid mounting, don't want your eyes to fall out when say hi to that group of children…

Step 21 Lips (A fox needs these!). There are a few things I have used as lips; the first is pillow cording, craft cording, and electrical wires. Once you decide on the type of material for the lips simply cut to length, then hot glue in place. | Step 21 A Image & Step 21 B Image

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Step 20 B Image
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Step 20 D Image

Step 22
Adding the final touches. Now time to add the flavor, in this case simple accents to the eyes (the felt line from the top of the inner eye, to the brows), and hair, which is scraps of Fox Palomino airbrushed with Med Brown leather Dye, sewn together, and fixed to the top of the head.

Finished
And now we are done, I hope that these suggestions are helpful, and educational. As a note, this is not the only way to do this; there more ways then I can count on fingers and toes. Don't let the above suggestions limit you, if you find a better way then use it, if you find an obstacle figure it out, and defeat it with your creativity, and not let it over come you because I didn't mention here. "Art is a line of problems, and an Artist is a problem solver."
Enjoy

Finished Product

© 1993-2005: All rights reserved by Odis Holcomb ( OH, O. Holcomb, or Ryngs Rakune). Any reproduction or distribution of the artwork, designs, and images presented here without the prior consent of the artist is strictly prohibited.