About the Column
The real action in Vinylmation these days is creating your own. Disney sells blank Vinylmations for you to craft into virtually anyone or anything. Thousands of these custom creations exist. Some are, well, it's best not to say what they are, but many are outstanding: often as good as what you can buy from Disney. We're rounding up the best custom Vinylmations and presenting them here, three times each week, with a word or two of commentary from their designers.
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FROM: Vinylmation My Way Published Saturdays and Sundays
Flounder
Caroline McCormic goes under the sea for Vinylmation inspiration
After a succession of villainous vinyls, including Maleficent, Diablo, and the Grinch, let's relax under the sea: Caroline McCormic's custom Flounder wouldn't harm a haddock or scare a squid.
Here's Caroline on why she chose Flounder as her first custom and how she built him:
click an image to expand and read notes:
Flounder: Front View
Flounder: Back View
Flounder: Side View
The first Disney movie I remember seeing was The Little Mermaid. I was four, and the film made a huge impression on me. I had an obsession - I even thought I did an excellent imitation of Ariel losing her voice to Ursula. I was a big fan of Flounder. I cherished my Flounder stuffed animal. My mother's friend, Sherri Stoner, was actually the reference model for Ariel's animation.
At the time, I misunderstood this to mean my mother was actually friends with Ariel, which I found very thrilling. The one time I spoke with Ms. Stoner on the phone, I only wanted to know if she could put Flounder on. He was unavailable.
I have fond memories of Flounder, so I thought he would be a fun start for my first custom.
I started with a blank yellow vinyl. I sketched out my design on paper and then sketched it on the vinyl. Flounder's ears are the ocean water with bubbles, including a hidden Mickey on the back.
The feet are Flounder's tail fin.
I filled in the rest of the feet area as the ocean floor, including coral on both sides and the infamous 'dinglehopper' on one side.
Next, I used acrylics to fill in my design. My husband does art, and he helped me mix the two colors for Flounder's stripes and the ocean water color. I sprayed the vinyl with matte medium once the painting was done to finish it off.
I had a lot of fun creating this vinyl, and I am looking forward to working on others. I have really enjoyed the interaction that occurs on Vinylnation's customs board.
It is so much fun sharing creations and seeing other people's creations.
More: VINYLMATION MY WAY
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