There are advanced techniques used in the creation of Desertmountainbears. This page is meant to explain the techniques a bit further.
Needle scultpting is done with a long needle and strong thread. It is used to shape, muzzles, eye sockets, bodies, paw-pads. Where it really stand out in the bears is the paw-pads.
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Needle felting is used to sculpt muzzles, eyelids, and noses. Loose wool is added and with a special barbed needle it is stabbed over and over. This tangles the wool fibers and felts the wool. There is no pattern used. It is the best way for me to get the shape of the muzzle I want.
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Waxing a needle felted nose. Wax applied over the felted nose gives it the realistic look I desire. Since the nose is made the same time as the muzzle, there is no add on, it looks like it grows out of the face. The wax makes it smooth like leather.
Pure bees wax is melted and applied in layers to the felt, the first couple of layers sink into the felt, and then it is built up. After the application the nose is smoothed a scultpted with a small pair of scissors which are held over a flame to heat them. Bee's wax is hard, and has a very high melting point. The finished nose is quite hard, but it can become dented of scuffed if mishandled.
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Rooting mohair into the muzzle is the newest technique I have been working with. It allows me to add fur to the muzzle, in any direction, and any color I choose. Then it can be trimmed down, so it is short, like a bears and still have a great shaped muzzle that I have created with the felt. When finished the fur is firmly rooted into the muzzle. This may be gently brushed taking care not to grab the felted wool underneath.
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rooted and trimmed
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only felt
rooting fur strand by strand with a felting needle
Scissor scultping is haircutting. For ten years I worked in a salon as a hairstylist. I can trim with precision. This technique is applied here and there all over the bear to shape the fur how I want it. The results can be seen in the panda photo above. This was done with a comb and scissors.
Shading is adding color. There are many ways this can be done. I use a dry paint brush and acrylic paint on the fur. On the paw-pads I use permanant art markers.
Heber's face before and after shading.
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I do hope that this page has given insight to the time and skill that goes into every Desertmountainbear. I think these things give each bear a unique and individual personality.
