What an unexpected treat I found on Facebook today. Disney Store artist Gerald Mendez has posted a photo album tutorial on how to airbrush a 9″ Vinylmation. It is located on his Facebook page.
“Knowing the enthusiasm of many Vinylmation custom artist trying to figure how to airbrush a vinylmation piece I decided to post the step by step pictures of how I Airbrushed the 9″ Vinylmation Cosmic Mickey” – Gerald Mendez
We told you that a Maria Clapsis designed Valentine’s figure would be awesome and we were right. Check it out! (Pic from Vinylmation Exchange and adjusted by us) It’s Cupid. With a bow (like Sagittarius) that you can see at the bottom. There are also hearts in his ears. My only hope is that he has wings too! He’ll be $14.95 and will be available at both D-Streets and Online on January 4th.
What do you think?
While at the D23 Expo in August, I was mesmerized by all the upcoming Disney Vinylmation on display. But M.C.’s attention was caught by many of the non-Disney created figures at the show. One custom artist in particular had some unforgettable pieces on display. Ryan Marella is a custom artist from California and you are in for a treat with today’s spotlight.
Destination Vinylmation: What got you into the art world?
Ryan: Art, I guess, runs in my family. My dad has an artistic talent and so does my twin brother. I was always amazed at the different aspects of art… so many possibilities, and so many awesome artists. I suppose what really inspired me was reading comic books. The art work is just amazing. Artists like Jim Lee, Rob Lifield, Todd Mcfarlaine and so many more.
DV: Have you ever taken an art class?
Ryan: I did try to take as many art classes in High school as I could. I took some in college but never really could focus on one type of art.
DV: Do you collect the Vinylmation created by Disney artists?
Ryan: I do collect Vinylmations with my two other brothers. I find it a lot easier to share a collection. The Disney artists do an amazing job.
DV: What’s your favorite figure?
Ryan: I like the urban 1 three eyed monster, it was alot of fun trying to find some one to trade for it.
DV: How long have you been creating custom Vinylmation?
DV: I never even thought I would be painting Vinylmation. A friend asked me to make him one during a trip to Walt Disney World in January 2011. My first custom was very rough, but the more I painted the more I got better at it. It’s fun creating different characters, you never know what you’re capable of unless you try. I have now created over 130 customs.
DV: Wow! Can you pick a favorite?
Ryan: My favorite would have to be Captain Jack Sparrow.
DV: How did you come up with the idea of the Manny Pacquiao piece?
Ryan: Manny Pacquiao is Awesome and I watch all his fights, so one day after the Pacquaio/Mosley fight I decided to make a Vinylmation of him. He had to be on a 9″.
DV: How much work went into creating Manny?
Ryan: Creating MP took a lot of work. I first had to research all his pics from the last fight. I had to find different angles of MP to get the right detail. Then I sketched his face on the vinyl. During the time I create any vinyl, I try to watch videos about them. It helps with the creative process. Finally painting and clear coating it, that took some time.
DV: What is your favorite aspect of it?
When I finally finished, I was very happy at the end result. I guess my favorite aspect of it is MP’s facial expression, I think it shows his personality really well.
DV: How about the hardest part?
Ryan: The hardest part is the face, getting the right expression takes some work.
DV: Where can people go to find out more about your customs and even purchase one from you?
Ryan: I do have a website, www.ryactiv.sketchlab7.com. And, if you trade Vinylmation, I do trade at Downtown Disney outside D-Street Anaheim.
Destination Vinylmation: We featured Jorge Castilla in a previous spotlight article and now he is back with some new customs. Jorge, we appreciate you sharing your work with the the DV audience.
Jorge: Thank you for having me back as a featured custom artist. I’m very enthusiastic to share the vinyls I’ve been working on since we’ve last met and some vinyls to come!
DV: Hey, I see a new flavor at Star Ducks Cafe. Tell us about it.
Jorge: The second flavor of the Star Ducks line is Mocha! It’s a darker more chocolaty looking vinyl then the last “coffee” looking Star Ducks vinyl. Each SD Mocha vinyl is very individual too! Every one of them has a unique chocolate topping applied differently to each. That way if you choose you’d like more then one you know each of them will have their own personality! Due to the success and overwhelming demand of the first flavor, I expanded the number of production for this second flavor. The original Star Ducks was made to a limit of 20. This flavor however is limited to 50. Each is signed and numbered and comes with an Artist Card that is also signed and numbered. Just like all my other vinyls.
DV: I love the character this new flavor has. Have you thought about making the chocolate syrup being raised up as bumps on the surface instead of just being painted on?
Jorge: It actually is raised! I use a thick paint for the topping. I use a similar paint for the *Slimed* Lonesome Ghostbuster Mickey variants too that actually glows in the dark!
DV: We have heard other artists talking bout all the time it takes to produce customs. When you are getting a lot of orders in and have to keep production moving, how many cups of coffee do you go through?
Jorge: Man, It’s become close to a fulltime job. But it’s something I really enjoy doing. There’s a sense of achievement each time I finish one of my customs and knowing someone’s going to enjoy them. It take a lot of time though. Especially with my vinyls becoming more elaborate.
DV: Tell us about this robot mickey looking custom.
Jorge: Mecha Mickey is the latest of my current releases. He’s like a wind-up toy! He has a spring-loaded crank on his back too. It’s funny because I was working on this custom in the conceptual stages for awhile. Figuring out how I was going to make the antenna on top, what colors I’m going to use… Then suddenly Disney released a “Robots” line of vinyls. I thought oh dang I better finish some of these already!
It’s my first custom using the “new mold”. Most people I’ve shown it to don’t notice till I say something because of all the additional details I tacked on. The response has been quite nice so far. Did you know the feet on the new mold pop off? Man that makes it sooo much easier to paint them if someone’s the type of custom artist that uses spray-paint or air- brush.
DV: I enjoy collectibles that reference Disney movies without blatantly being that Disney movie. Your new Grape Soda custom is exactly what I mean by that. Talk about the inspiration for this figure.
Jorge: Yeah, I like references that are more of a nod or wink at a movie just as much if not more then I appreciate artwork that is straight up a character from a movie. Making a soda bottle vinyl I feel is something that a certain group of people will clamor for at first glance. You know, the type of person that has to have their movie in wide-screen and watch all the commentaries & bonus features (like me). The more casual fan may look at it and think “meh, it’s just a bottle.” But when they inspect it further and see that bottle cap on top they’ll be like oh yeah! From the movie, UP! That’s what I’m hoping for. Expect the Grape Soda Vinyl to release in mid September.
UP is one of my favorite Pixar films. It’s actually a favorite for me and my girlfriend. We even dressed up as Carl and Kevin (the bird) for Mickey’s Trick or Treat Party at Disney’s California Adventure a few years ago!
When listening to one of your pod casts I chuckled when one of you went on about how depressing UP is. I think it’s one of those films that tells you your adventure continues regardless of the storms you’ve endured, and that you can still make something of the time you have regardless of where you’re at in your life. Oddly enough, for a movie revolving around a house flying using helium balloons, it’s also very grounded in reality.
DV: Are you making these using the clear chaser figures?
Jorge: That’s a trade secret I’m afraid.
DV: I enjoy an ice cold Moxie every now and then. What’s your favorite soda?
Jorge: Water please! Haha it’s actually rare for me to have a soft drink.
DV: Any more Pixar figures on the horizon?
Jorge: Most definitely. I have a couple concepts I’m still playing with. Some Pixar and some more original. For those interested in following my work closely check out my Facebook page devoted to my customs!
DV: Thanks for the update on your work.
Jorge: It’s always a pleasure. Thanks again for the opportunity! Keep up the great work you guys do too!
Annemarie is back with her latest custom, Locke from the TV show Lost.
Destination Vinylmation: Were you a fan of the Lost TV series?
Annemarie: I was (and still am) a HUGE fan of the series. It’s scary, actually. I’m a bit crazy about it.
DV: Why Locke? Was he your favorite character or just the most fun to design a custom based on?
AM: This was actually a custom order, so I didn’t choose the character. I was always more of a Jack fan. 🙂 But Locke lent himself well to the vinylmation form, he’s got the perfect round-shaped bald head for it.
DV: Tell us about some of the details on this figure.
AM: The figure was created for a fan, so I wanted to include as many details as I could on the figure. I knew I’d include the Smoke Monster (since SPOILER ALERT Locke eventually became the smoke monster) but I decided to take it a step further and design it in a way that would indicate sort of the “bad Locke” on the back. So I painted the countdown clock in the hatch on one of the ears, and the same clock on the back but in a more dire consequence (after the button fails to get pushed. Non Lost-fans, bear with me; I know you’re terribly confused already.) To make it more ominous, I made the Smoke Monster a bit bigger and closer to Locke, as if it’s part of him. Throw in a compass and Locke’s ever-important, trusty knife, and he was done!
Destination Vinylmation: This time around we are featuring you Barnabas Collins figure (Johnny Depp’s character in the new movie Dark Shadows) and also Michone from The Walking Dead.
Ryan Marella: Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins from DARK SHADOWS was fun to create, I’ve worked on some other customs of Johnny Depp movie characters before, I’ve had some practice on his face which made it easier. Faces are a challenge, getting the right expression can be difficult,but once you’ve started, it’s hard not to finish.DSCN7692 is from the WALKING DEAD,her name is Michone accompanied by two armless walking dead who are supposed to be her boyfriend and friend, in the show she has them in chains and she walks around with them to hide her scent from other walking dead.
DV: Is there a greater challenge when painting the faces of real people as opposed to cartoon characters?
RM: Creating cartoon characters is easier because they have a simple look about them, not too much detail. Now creating real people requires the expressions and look for that character they portray, some people are harder than others.
DV: You can view more of Ryan’s work at his website: www.ryactiv.sketchlab7.com
Today marks the release of the 2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival 3″ Tony (from Lady and the Tramp) figure.
The 3″ LE 2500 figure designed by Billy Davis is the second Food and Wine Vinylmation so far. You can find it for $16.95 at the Festival Shop located just past the entrance into the World Showcase (or by the beer kiosk if that helps). You can also find Tony a the Festival Shop near Morocco and at Mouse Gears.
I found him checking out the scenery. So how does Tony look? i find him to be an extraordinarily designed figure. The face looks great. As does the pile of spaghetti and meatballs in the ear. The issue I have is with inconsistent production value. Actually the only consistent factor was there seemed to be a small error on all of them.
One of the most common errors was a blotch near the left shoulder as seen above.
The other common error was a string of paint falling off the pasta… almost like a strand of pasta hanging off the bowl, but this was not an intentional 3D effect. It was almost impossible to find one without this error. The other less common errors were lines around Tony’s mouth, lines on his shirt and specs of white in the tie that should be all black. These things distract partially from an otherwise perfect figure.
The first in a series of 8 Fantasia Combo Sets has a release date. The Yensid/Mickey set will be released on Friday, October 12 at both D-Streets. It will be $24.95 and has an edition size of 2000.
Check out our Fantasia Explained page for me info.
The Custom Artist Project is a group of 11 of the best custom Vinylmation artists in the world who have come together to make their own blind box series. Series 1 is called “Sidekickz” and is a mix of different Disney sidekicks from films or TV. It will be released on October 6th. Each day leading up to the release, we will spotlight a different artist from the series. Today we spotlight custom artist Brian Shapiro.
Hometown:
Philadelphia, PA
Website:
Http://www.Facebook.com/BRInylmation
Http://www.BRInylmation.com
What Disney Sidekick did you choose?
I chose Creeper from Disney’s movie, The Black Cauldron, which was released in 1985.
Why did you choose that sidekick?
Sadly, The Black Cauldron was not much of a hit for Disney, but I really enjoyed it as a kid. It’s based on a great series of books by Lloyd Alexander. Because the film is not as popular as some of Disney’s biggest hits, there is very little merchandising. When there is merchandise, commonly pins, it usually features the visually striking villain, the Horned King, or the lovable heroic sidekick, Gurgi. In fact, these two appeared together in a Vinylmation 9″/3″ combo set a few years ago for the movie’s 25th Anniversary. That’s actually when I got the idea to do the Horned King’s sidekick, Creeper. Creeper is a hilarious, goblin-like underling with a mix of Igor and Gollum in him. He is horribly abused by his master, and you can’t help but sympathize for the guy, even though he’s evil. I think he has the most humorous moment at the end of the movie (SPOILER ALERT) when he realizes the Horned King is gone forever. At first he laments that his master is gone, and then realizes that hey, he is GONE, and starts laughing and celebrating! Going back to the set released by Disney, I thought it was amazing, but I thought Creeper should have been in there with the Horned King. When I was invited to participate in the Custom Artist Project, I immediately wanted to do Creeper as my Sidekick! I also thought it would be cool to make a Black Cauldron accessory to accompany him!
Favorite Disney Movie?
That is tough!! My favorite animated film is Beauty and the Beast, and my favorite live action film has to be a tie between TRON and The Black Hole.
Favorite Disney Theme Park Attraction?
The Haunted Mansion is my all time favorite.
Favorite aspect of working on the Mickey shaped canvas?
After three years of doing Vinylmation customs, I really have come to appreciate just how adaptable the Mickey shaped canvas is for creating just about any character. If you design it right, you can make tall, short, thin, or chubby characters fit by playing with their wardrobe and accessories. You can also give the illusion of flatter faces or snouts. As for the ears, I used to find them the most perplexing part of the mold, but now, I consider them the best. The ears can be used to place eyes, pointed ears, and antennae, or they can be used to set the scene by providing a sense of the background environment.
Thank you, as always, for your generous spotlight of my Vinylmation work!
More info on the Custom Artist Project:
Website: http://www.facebook.com/groups/ArtistProject/
How to purchase: The price of one blind box is $65, including shipping within the US. We’re looking into international shipping right now, but it will probably be another $5-10 if it works out.Paypal is going to be the accepted payment. It is limited to one household per blind box.
What you get: You will get one blind box (yes, I’m actually making boxes) with one of 24 different figures. Some figures come with accessories. You will also get 11 different cards, 1 from each artist.
The Custom Artist Project is a group of 11 of the best custom Vinylmation artists in the world who have come together to make their own blind box series. Series 1 is called “Sidekickz” and is a mix of different Disney sidekicks from films or TV. It will be released on October 6th. Each day leading up to the release, we will spotlight a different artist from the series. Today we spotlight custom artist Josh Edwards.
Hometown:
Chatham, IL
Website:
You can visit me on my facebook page: Crazy4Vinyls Customs
What Disney Sidekick did you choose?
I chose Iago as my Disney sidekick.
Why did you choose that sidekick?
I chose him because I know he is a popular character from Aladdin and there is already and Aladdin and Jafar vinylmation so I thought he would fit in great.
Favorite Disney Movie?
Favorite Disney movie, such a hard decision. I am a big fan of all of the Pixar movies but my favorite would have to be Finding Nemo.
Favorite Disney Theme Park Attraction?
Favorite attraction, another hard question. There are so many. Can I pick one per park? Magic Kingdom Space Mountain. Epcot Soarin’ Animal Kingdom Expedition Everest Disney Studios Toy Story Mania
Favorite aspect of working on the Mickey shaped canvas?
My favorite part of working on the mickey canvas is really the whole process from beginning to end. I love watching an idea come to life as I am creating it. The best part is almost toward the end as the final touches are being added and the piece seems to come to life!
More info on the Custom Artist Project:
Website: http://www.facebook.com/groups/ArtistProject/
How to purchase: The price of one blind box is $65, including shipping within the US. We’re looking into international shipping right now, but it will probably be another $5-10 if it works out.Paypal is going to be the accepted payment. It is limited to one household per blind box.
What you get: You will get one blind box (yes, I’m actually making boxes) with one of 24 different figures. Some figures come with accessories. You will also get 11 different cards, 1 from each artist.
