#fernscare ask

[fernscare]

I absolutely adore Toni! Perhaps we could have more Toni content?

Also please tell her I love her, she's my favorite ghoul 💜💜💜

unrestrained summer fun

[fernscare]

Can you show us the back of your jumping jack demon? Id really like to make my own

Sure thing!

I used a whole mess of paper making the thighs - part of a failed attempt to prevent the black thread connecting the thighs from becoming visible when I pull the tail. Might be fixable with more engineering. Ultimately, it's just 1) a cord connecting the upper arms 2) a cord connecting the thighs, and 3) a pull cord that connects the two previous cords.

[fernscare]

What is that spider in your pfp called

Marbled orbweaver (Araneus marmoreus)!

[fernscare]

HI. good morning hello your art is so incredibly cool. like it scratches just the right parts of my brain. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

very beautiful very powerful Thank You for making stuff + posting it & blessing my eyes & my brain with it.

Thank you so much!!!! Feeling honored to share accolades with the noble lumpfish

[fernscare]

I'm sorry if I missed this on your blog but do you do commissions?

Yep!

[gremlinpal]

toni. how did you make toni

a tutorial

[fernscare]

Hello,

I've see your purple puppet Friend (Tony?) and wondered if I could make one myself? If not is ok :)

Have a nice day!

Yes, of course! I strongly believe there should be more handmade ghouls in the world. Here's a tutorial I made a while back, which you could modify to make your own unique ghostie.

I should mention that some of my methods have changed since Toni. I am currently working on a ghoul that with aluminum foil and masking tape forming the head base, rather than styrofoam.

[fernscare]

Since you showed how to make Toni, may I ask how you made Maude?

Sure! I'm new to both polymer clay and puppetry, so there's probably a better way to do all of this.

Materials: I used aluminum foil, polymer clay, yarn, fishing wire, screw eyes (which are little screws used for, like, attaching hooks to earrings and stuff), acrylic paint, and some kind of ring. I used circles of wire to make the "rings", but I've been thinking about replacing them with keychain loops.

Make the head: the head is an aluminum foil ball covered in polymer clay, which I then baked, painted with acrylic paint, and sealed with a varnish. There's absolutely a better way to get the screw eyes into the clay, but I just kind of stabbed and twisted them in there.

2. Make the hands: The hands are just polymer clay, which is again baked, painted, and sealed. I poked a screw eye into the back of each hand.

3. Make the fur: I made tons of yarn fur chunks by tying together small bushels of yarn. I hot glued these all over her head to make her hair. I also used a couple yarn strands from a fur chunk at the bottom of her head be her arms, if that makes sense. I tied lots more fur chunks to her yarn arms.

4. Construct puppet: I attached fishing wire to the screw eyes and to three "rings" that then go on my hand. I control her head with my index, and her hands with my thumb and middle finger. Once she was up and about, I did a lot of trimming and adjusting of her fur to make it look natural. Also, I pierced her ears and added little earrings :)

[fernscare]

does Toni like birthday cake?

Yes! But I think she mostly likes the fire ON the candles ON the birthday cake.

[fernscare]

I hope this doesn't come across as weird, but your art is so beautiful it moves me. When you posted the details for your ghoul it felt like oh I can make art?I know that sounds absurd but I always felt like art was something only for people who had been practicing their whole life. I'm always scared to copy things but you were inviting others to join. It feels so beautiful to be allowed these things. Thank you.

This is such an incredibly warm and thoughtful sentiment. Thank you so so much and please make art <3

There is, however, a selfish motive behind sharing ghoul tutorials, which is that I very much want there to be more ghouls in the world. Each one is like a rare and precious orchid 2 me

[fernscare]

Hi I just discovered your blog and I absolutely adore your work! I just wanted to ask if you sell any of your work/take commissions?

Thanks so much!! I do take commissions, and my dms are open to discuss ideas and quotes!

I sometimes sell originals, but it depends on the piece. I'm in the process of prepping an online shop to sell prints and originals! Thanks for asking!

[fernscare]

Your art makes me feel emotions (positive). It's truly fantastical and beautiful.

this makes me feel emotions (positive)! thank you :'))

[fernscare]

I have been slowly acquiring celestial-body themed tattoos and would like to get a sun to match my moon. I also just adore every piece of art you've shared here on tumblr. Would you consider taking tattoo commissions or alternatively allow me to take a stab at drawing my own fernscare-inspired critter-mouthed sun to keep with me always? They bring me such joy!

Yes, I very happily take tattoo commissions! Shoot me a message any time to discuss details. You are also certainly very welcome to pull inspo to make your own design! Either way, please consider sending a pic, I'd love to see how it turns out!! :)

[fernscare]

Do you do prints at all? I love your art and would kill to buy some

Not presently, I'm afraid! My current aim is to open some kind of online shop by next spring, so hopefully prints will be in my future! Thanks so much!

[fernscare]

happy second birthday toni!! and fern, have a very good valentines day, and do share what horror movie is your favorite?

Thank you so much, I'll pass on the well wishes to her!!

Probably the Blair Witch Project because I love trees and campfires! This is probably way more info than you wanted, but here are the doodles that directly preceded those color self-portraits, where I just wanted to list out my favorite horror movies :')

[ID: pencil doodles of a person thinking lovingly about a series of movies, with an icon representing each move. Movies listed are The Blair Witch Project (1999), Ravenous (1999), Lake Mungo (2008), Ganja and Hess (1973), Ghostwatch (1992), Saint Maud (2019), The Wicker Man (1973), Near Dark (1987), The Lost Boys (1987), The Alchemist Cookbook (2016), and The Babadook (2014).]

[fernscare]

what are u studying in grad school? :)

pollination ecology! bugs and plants :)