The Road

Remember this?

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Well, I had to start over and finish it right.  But it was worth it.  It’s a Gentleman ring I dubbed “the Road Agent”  for a client with a custom-shaped gold obsidian stone.  It turned out great and has this amazing subsurface gold highlight when the light hits it.

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This whole thing brings up the point of mastery, which is something I am constantly talking to my artist friends about.  What is it and are we (or is anyone) that thing?  The skullsmithing industry is a small community.  We all pretty much know each other and most of my instagram is occupied by makers that I follow.  Everyone seems to be a true master of the craft.  But the truth is that I know for a fact that we all regularly and frequently screw up multiple aspects of projects.  Problem with social media is that you don’t see that stuff, usually.  And I get it.  You don’t want clients thinking you’re incompetent.

But the more I think about ‘mastery’ the more the prospect of imperfection comes to light.  Because the more I learn, the LESS CONFIDENT I become in the craft.  I’ll knock out what I think is a series of absolutely awesome pieces and then screw up something as simple as a stone setting or a comfort fit.   Take that along with discussions I’ve had with other artisans that have what I’d call “mastery” and I’d say that mastery and humility come hand in hand.  In other words, if you’re walking around thinking that you’ve GOT THIS then you’re probably a journeyman at best.  If you’re walking around thinking “holy shit there is so much to learn and all of my contemporaries are so inspiring” then you might be approaching legitimate mastery.

I think this is why most artists I know walk around thinking that at some point they’re going to be ‘found out’ and everyone’s going to realize they don’t know they’re shit and it’s all going to come crashing down.  What’s actually happening is that they’re reaching that peak.  Mastery.  And to call it a ‘peak’ is actually yet another fuck up of mine because I don’t think “mastery” is a place.  I think it’s a path.

So, I’ll leave you with a custom skull ring (full jaw) I finished for a client a few weeks ago that might be one of the finest sculpts I’ve ever made.  Path to mastery, right?

…and then…..

I completely screwed up a wax for a totally similar piece that I should have been able to do perfectly.  This is for a client who is getting multiple pieces from me.

Luckily, I’ve been able to send him finished pieces while we begin remaking this one.  In the meantime, yeah, whooops.

So yes, I’m a master skullsmith.  Yes, I screw up all the time.  Yes, I will end up putting a perfect piece in your hands at the end of it.   Here’s to all the other skullsmiths out there and the next time your silver throws too cold and totally destroys your wax tree, remember that we’re all in the same boat.  I’ll leave you with this shot of a skull I put together in Zbrush.  I’ll be casting this soon to begin working on a new Deaths Head line that will be uber-realistic skulls set in slightly smaller rings:

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Jupiter

 

 

The wait is over.  As of about 10am this morning, I’ve finished the first cast of the new Jupiter skull.  This is a sculpture for most people.  The ring is so massive and so heavy that only larger hands can deal with it.

 

 

 

In fact, I won’t be offering the ring at smaller sizes.  I wanted this one to be a statement.  A skull ring for the skull ring connoisseur.   We’re talking about 36mm tall and about 3.35 ounces of solid sterling silver.

 

 

It’s not a hollow-backed job either. (though in the case of this ring I’ll make an exception and do a hollow-back version IF requested.)  Standard issue on this bad boy is solid backed and thick-shanked.

 

 

I happen to think he looks good with the brushed metal finish below, but high-polish is standard.

 

Other good news?  The bottom jaw can be designed in various stages of opening when cast.  That means if you want YOUR Jupiter to have its mouth slightly open or screaming wide, I can carve it up that way.

The Jupiter will be released on the website in the next few weeks and will retail at $699, but I’m going to be running a special promotion for the month of August as a special “let’s get acquainted” for the new member of the skull ring family.   I’m going to sell the first 5 of these new Jupiters for $400 each plus shipping.

So that’s it.  The first 5 people to email me at matt@mtmaloney.com and place an order for this ring will get theirs for 400 bucks.

 

 

Waxing Jupiter

The first test wax of the new Jupiter Skull ring is completed.  And here she is next to the King Skull for a size comparison.

 

 

 

Now don’t get me wrong.  I love the King Skull.  It’s my baby and I wear one every day.  I’m always going to be partial to the classic jawless silver skull ring.

However….

 

Right.  See, this is the largest realistic skull ring I’ve ever made.  The wax is 39mm from jaw to the top of the forehead.  It’s also very detailed, just like the King.  While the King might be an every-day skull, this one will be worn on special occasions or when you really need to make a statement.

The original design is taken from Grey’s Anatomy.

 

That’s why it doesn’t look evil.  Personally, I don’t see the skull as an evil or mean thing.  It’s just a skull.  The Jupiter is precisely that.  It is legitimately un-screwed-with.

I still have some changes to make, but I’m looking forward to throwing these up on the site.  I’ll probably start them off at a special rate and then move them to their standard price point after a bit.

Stay tuned…

Tiki don’t lose that number.

We’re not done yet, but I couldn’t wait to post progress from James’ Tiki ring.  This thing looks so fucking cool I can’t stand the thought of giving her away.

But give it away, I shall.  James has been an awesome client and he’s been very patient as I’ve perfected this monster.  I’ve just finished sanding it and it’s in the tumbler right now.

I kinda dig how it looks without a final polish.  I wonder if we should consider a brushed finish on this F’er.  James, drop me a line and let me know what you think.

This tiki ring isn’t the only piece I’ve been filing and sanding today.  I’ve got a preview of the new JUPTER SKULL – the absolute goddamn King Kong of all skull rings.

That’s her right now in two pieces – the master cast of the both the skull and the jaw.  Still have a TON of work to do here.  YOu can see that the jaw still has a big ugly sprue sticking out of her.

The master cast is two pieces, but I’ll fuse them together at the wax phase for clients so they are still cast as one piece.  This also allows me to config this bad boy with an open-jaw if the client so wishes.

I was really torn on even posting these yet because I’m weeks and weeks away from finishing it.  But I couldn’t help it.  It also shows some of my clients why the process takes so long.  These things are UGLY when they come out of the fire.  This one’s already had a LOT of cleanup work done to it by my pal Louis.

I’m hoping to have the Jupiter introduced by the end of July.  We’ll see how it goes.

Stay tuned!