Animation setback

When you're learning a technique that's new to you there will always be setbacks.  Today was one of those days.  

First of all I had to remove the substandard school blazer.  Taking the clothes on and off weakens the aluminium wiring.  You can see the bamboo bones and the rubber band separators. The trousers are okay but hanging a bit low.  The cone for the head is too large so that had to be reshaped. 

The new jacket fits better but not very blazer-like.  It's easier to approach the correct shape when you have a practice blazer to work from.  Maybe I should have chosen blue felt.  I plan to add a breast pocket with a shield but the felt doesn't hang right.    I think it needs to be darker.  Maybe I need an alternative material.

The biggest disappointment is the head which looks like a cross between Ozzy Osbourne and Iggy Pop, totally Frankenstein creature-like.  The glass bead eyes are difficult to make life like and the mouth distorts when you try to remove the head to fire it. 

 I'll need to write off most of today's work but I'm glad I've had a go at firing the clay and making a new blazer.