Too Busy to do any regular posting :(  But here is the work in progress.  Still have a bunch to do on it, one week left til Con.  Can't speak in complete sentences. 

The vambraces are actually attached to the mail shirt, and note how the straps tuck into the vambrace itself and the inner face is smooth so a bowstring won't snag when loosed.  The shirt itself is bronze anodized aluminum with gold anodized aluminum inlaid pattern.  1/4" rings - took a long time.

The spaulders are cuirbouille hardened leather underlayer covered by a brass plate or brass scales and then another layer of hardened leather on top - with cutouts to show the brass underneath.  New technique, VERY STURDY armor.  The breastplate will be made the same way and I have a brass scale skirt to go with it.  Much heavier than my old armor but the weight is better distributed.  The lines of my new armor are closer fitting and a little smoother than my old armor. Hopefully it will make me look a little more svelte. :)

I got inspired the other day and whipped up a new design for some metal and leather vambraces.  The design is modified from the Barbarian vambraces, and incorporates over 100 individual steel scales on each vambrace.  The overlapping scales and the rivets in back make a very dense and rigid structure that takes impact very well.

Well, no, I'm obviously not.  And this armor is Viking not 6th Century Geatlander.  But they are both Scandinavian.  Anyway, this is a new  Studio Kensai design featuring a two-tone dyed leather scale armor with removable pauldrons (shoulder armor).  The pauldrons are water hardened, articulated, and removable.  The vambraces (armguards) echo the scale pattern.  The hardened spangenhelm (helmet) also carries through the scale motif and features an adjustable suspension system.  The chainmail  and sword are sold separately.  This is one of the styles of armor which I will be selling at ConNooga.  A special edition of this armor will be the prize for the Costume Contest.  Hope to see you there :)







There are more images of this armor and accessories in the Studio Kensai Gallery, link at left.

Hello Friends, Romans, and Countrymen.  

It has been a crazy time since my last last post.  I have missed a lot during my absence from lj.  A belated birthday goes out to lorofhaladin.  It would take too long to discuss the hectic that has been my existence since December.  So instead I will post pics of new projects.  I wll be going to ConNooga this year (Feb. 22-24)  in Chattanooga, TN.  Got me a table and everything :)  Hope to see some of you there.  

Well this is a mosaic mail shirt with a bronze Celtic Cross.  It didn't sell on Ebay so hopefully someone will pick it up at ConNooga.  I will post more pics of my wares at the show as they get finished.

 

Studio Kensai understands the need to make armor available for people of all sizes, including the extremely small...and plastic.  The popularity of ball jointed dolls has been growing and very few artisans offer armor and weaponry to the resin warriors out there.  Well that all changes today.  Studio Kensai is proud to offer armor and weapons for the Volks SD13 ball jointed doll, a high end Japanese model.  The armor is made with the same care and attention to detail as our full size armor, hardened in the cuirbouille technique and exquisitely tooled.  We even offer super fine mosaic chainmail in a wide variety of colors.  The pauldrons are even articulated like their full size counterparts.  If you own or know of someone else who owns a Volks SD13, let them know that now they can properly equip their dolls for battle.

Here's a new pic that was just finished today.  Pencils by Philip Smallwood, Inks and Digital Painting by Michael Cook.  The character was created by our friend, Kelly.  Mike is particularly happy about how the hair turned out. :)

     Well here it is, the official blog for Studio Kensai, my multimedia art studio.  My name is Michael Cook, and I'm a full time armor and weapon maker.  I'd like to thank my good friend, Jo, for setting up Livejournal for me.  This is my first actual blog so I'm sure it will be an interesting experience. :)   I've never really been into the whole blogging thing, mainly because I never really knew what to write.  In the grand scheme of things, my day to day life doesn't have a whole lot of excitement going for it.  
     However, I do make pretty cool armor and weapons.  That's something fairly interesting to write about.  I recently went into business for myself, making armor, costuming, and weapons.  Before then, I was an armor maker for a costume manufacturing company for three years.  Way before that, I was a martial arts instructor and close quarters combat instructor for Sullivan County Sherriff's Department.  So I bring all of those experiences and my historical research to my armor and weapons.  Even my fantasy inspired pieces are based on principles used in real armor.  Therefore, they are actually more comfortable to wear than one might think.  This was a video made for DragonCon where I get to explain some of what goes into what I do.   The Inside The Con documentary has me at  2:22 into the video.   So there is the shameless plug portion of the blog.  ;-p  I am still working on the official Studio Kensai website where people can order the goodies I make.  Although anyone who comes across this blog and sees the pictures, can feel free to contact me by email and order stuff.  I do a lot of custom work, so the sky's the limit.  My email addy can be found in my Bio, but here it is just in case - studiokensai@comcast.net.
     I'd like to take this opportunity to give a wave to those near and dear to me.  Thanks again Jo, and good hunting to Anna ;).  Hey Daniel, the mini helmet is going to help me a lot.  :)  Thanks to Mel and Chris and all of you at Arms of Middle Earth, hope to see at least some of you at ConNooga!  To my best friend, Hey Kris, I'm finally back online!  To Anna W., it's all your fault - thank you again. :)  Hello to my friends at The One Ring.net, and AlleyCatScratch.com.  A big hey goes out to my friend, Nate.  Wishing the best for Les, Steve, Jon S., Jon F., Kevin, Ryan, and James V.   To Jadd, Chad, Aaron, Josh, and Mike - wherever you are, I hope fortune smiles upon you.  To Brandi, I hope life finds you happy and well.  A special thanks to Durwin Talon, one of the best professors I have ever had the privilege to learn from.  To Jason in Savannah, it looks like we're still going to be here for a while.  To my new friends, Blue and Relay, you guys rock my face off.  Hugs to my little sister, Becky, one of the bravest people I know.  Can't forget to mention my local gang.  A rocket punch to Philip, who's always got my back.  A stiff drink to Kelly, my sister foodie.  A KOL salute to Erik.  Special thanks to Charles and Maria.  Sympathies to Pat for his unforgiving work schedule.  Yatta! to Jessie for introducing us to Heroes.  A Can't Thank You Enough For Everything to my parents-in-law.  And finally to my partner in crime, Abi, my wife of twelve years,  WHHHEEEEEEE!