1) Create a reference. This is my first proper art doll, and especially since it's a gift, I wanted to have all the design elements ironed out.
2) Craft some cool eyes. I ended up not using the s pictured because they were too big, but I sculpted a smaller set that matches the design for the face.
3) Make that face. I used polymer clay.
4) Put that head on a body. I used some steel wire for the skeleton, cotton wool for the body padding. The legs I wanted to keep thin so they are polymer clay.
5) Give it some skin! I used soft anti-pill fleece. Half way though I learned the "jim henson stitch" which made the legs appear flush on the body. It's a small tedious stitch, but invaluable to know. At this point you can see I also sculpted the hooves on.
6) Painting!!! blush that body and paint the face. I also painted the hooves gold to match the peacock and mythos theme.
7) hair, lots and lots of hand blended fibers. I usually weft custom hair with my sewing machine... but this doll and it's fibers were too small, so I went with a BJD technique I saw on youtube. I ended up making the silver wefts (neck), black (back) , and a black/silver transition (shoulders).
8) Attach all the details that were made separate, the hair, the scales, and (not pictured) the horn.