Thanks, HL2. I'm going to handle these heads the same way I did Gunn (and the way I should have done Vampire Willow). I.e., finish sculpting the head, paint it, tweak it, repaint. Repeat as necessary. When it feels "finished" to me, I'll post pics and ask if anyone would be interested in buying a copy. At that point, I would need at least 5 fairly firm commitments to make making a mold worthwhile and the price reasonable for an amateur sculpt (which is what I do), which to me is $17 shipped for an unpainted head. The good news at that point is that from the time the mold is made, I can pretty much turn a paid order around within 2 days.
I am a buyer, too, and I admit I am fickle and demanding when it comes to portrait heads, especially if I'm going to fork over $25+ for an unpainted head. Honestly, from what I've seen, Whedonville collectors are not like other fandoms where commissions and prepays will work very well. There just isn't enough interest/commitment/deep pockets, not to mention consensus collectively speaking, that I believe a sculptor making the sculpt and showing the sculpt then soliciting buyers is the best process for us.
This is also conducive to workshop-type projects like mine, where I can post in-progress pictures and get feedback. No matter how critical I am of my work, it's only natural to become blind to alternatives, which is why I'm grateful for Sue's and your comments RE. Wesley. I have yet to paint it up to see how much more work it will need, but that's where I'm at with that one. Willow will probably be done well before Wesley.
The only problem I've found doing things this way is that aside from the possibility of a project funding itself, for me as a hobbyist I have no incentive to work on something unless I want to which is probably why the Tara head shot ahead of Wesley on my depth chart. Plus I've had other things going on.
