Spotlight On: Custom Vinylmation Artist Jared Flores

WDWNT on December 21, 2012

Today’s artist sent us pictures of some of the most impressive Star Wars customs MC and I have ever seen. We are really excited to spotlight Jared Flores of Southern California for the first on DV… and we have a feeling there are many more to come.

Destination Vinylmation: Your Star Wars customs are amazing. How long have you been painting?
Jared Flores: I have been painting my whole life. I actually majored in painting. I primarily use oil on canvas, but Vinyl is a great way for me to take a break. Though I have only been painting Vinylmation for a few months, I am really excited about where my custom work is headed.

DV: What drew you to the Mickey shaped canvas? 
JF: I have been collecting Vinylmation for a few years now, but only recently have I been creating customs.

DV: Why did you choose Star Wars for a line of customs? 
JF: I have always been a Star Wars fan. I wanted to make some of the characters that don’t make it to licensed merchandise as frequently. I knew I wanted to see them, and was sure others would get a kick out of them as well.

DV: Which one are you most proud of?
JF: It’s hard to pick a favorite. They all have such realism. I think it has to be Lando in disguise. Just because of the unique costume choice and wonderful detail in the face. I think the shadows on his face really make it recess back. Jabba the Hut may be my favorite though, he is just such a creep.

DV: How long does it take you to design one 3″ Vinylmation? 
JF: I design as I go, and each one requires a unique amount of time that is usually equal to the amount of detail. I can say that I spend a lot of time hunched over my work table.

Sora and Riku from Kingdom Hearts
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Where can people go to view more of your work?
My tumblr page is a great way to get my auction updates, buy new pieces, and commission work for your own. Everything I create is for sale!

http://jaredcircusbear.tumblr.com

VinylmationTraders.com to Provide Photos and News

WDWNT on December 21, 2012

Destination Vinylmation is happy to announce an agreement with VinylmationTraders.com! What does this mean for our readers and podcast listeners? In order to bring you the most comprehensive reports possible, they have agreed to share news and photos with our listeners and readers and in return, we ask that you check out VinylmationTraders.com to connect with fellow collectors when looking to trade Vinylmation.

 

Many of you are already aware of the wonderful service VMT provides. They are a trade only group dedicated to the fair, honest and fun trading of all things Vinylmation. Please visit their group to join and read over the site guidelines. I myself have made trades on Vinylmation Traders and I personally know many other people who have as well.
OC Vinyl Don, President and Founder of VinylmationTraders.com, is a fixture at Vinylmation events in California. Don and his staff do a remarkable job documenting and reporting the events that take place on the West Coast. With DV stationed on the East Coast, this agreement will provide you, our readers and listeners, invaluable coverage that was not possible before.We hope you enjoy the expanded coverage this agreement offers and hope you check out VinylmationTraders.com the next time you are looking to make a trade.

Tom Corless’ 8/23-8/29/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on December 21, 2012

I visited the Walt Disney World Resort last week covering all four of the theme parks and I have plenty of newsworthy pictures to share, so let’s take a look at what’s happening around the Vacation Kingdom:

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

The Rainforest Cafe sign inside Animal Kingdom is still missing

Beastly Bazaar is closed to become a character meet and greet experience this Fall

Wreck-It Ralph has taken over the display at the exit of the Magic of Disney Animation show

Vannelope is voiced by Sarah Silverman

That cake looks so real…

The game Fix-It Felix is inspired by games such as Rampage and Donkey Kong

Ralph even started as a monster just like one you would find in Rampage

Niceland is the city in the game

Ralph and Felix

Hero’s Duty might end up being the darkest looking scenes in any Disney animated film ever…

Hero’s Duty is inspired by games such as Gears of War and Halo

Voiced by Jane Lynch

Sugar Rush is inspired by games such as Mario Kart

Looks like a possible villain to me…

They were painting the next Ink and Paint Cell to be released while I was there

A Hatbox Ghost big figure has been released

There’s also a new Stitch figure

For the first time in ages, the decorations in The Studio Store do not represent a single new film!

Nice to see the original intended decorations back for once

Banners for Finding Nemo 3D up

The LEgend of Jack Sparrow building was painted blue

Walls are now up near the front of the building

The menu has been drastically changed at Backlot Express

BUFFALO CHICKEN BREAST NUGGETS! AHHHHHHH!

Next-Gen FASTPASS preparations already made at American Idol

Moving over to Epcot, work continues on the new Disney Vacation Club booth near Canada

A strange wall has popped up in the queue for Journey Into Imagination

Possibly FASTPASS related?

The Kim Possible sign-up areas in Innoventions have been completely removed

While passing by on the monorail we could see that the new parking lot for the Grand Floridian DVC wing is almost complete

Moving on to the Magic Kingdom, the park is ready for Halloween

There is a new banner at the beginning of Celebrate a Dream Come True

I’m not sure when it happened, but Mickey and Minnie are in normal clothing on their float

The Junioe Jungle Boats outside of the Jungle Cruise have reportedly been closed permanently

Next-gen FASTPASS ready to go at the Jungle Cruise

Same at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Meanwhile, some rather drastic queue modifications have been made at Pirates of the Caribbean

There is now a point where the two queues meet

Work continues on the former Fantasyland Skyway site, soon to be home to a new walkway and restrooms

Thought this was an interesting shot as it gives you an idea of where the Mine Train will be as you walk into Fantasyland

Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction

The Castle Walls are nearing completion

Some work being done on the roof of Mickey’s Philharmagic

Most of the Snow White facade is now gone in preparation for Princess Fairytale Hall

Grass continues to be installed on the roof of Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

The signage has been installed on Big Top Souvenirs in Storybook Circus

I LOVE the popcorn lights…

FOOD!

Some new Space Mountain shirts are available

Moving back to Fantasyland, the lights were on inside the Castle Walls

Lights were on in the Beauty and the Beast area as well

They were testing lighting on the turrets of the Castle Walls as well

The Mickey-O-Lanterns are much brighter and actually flicker this year

The Truth is Out There

WDWNT on December 21, 2012

A wonderful Vinylmation set designed by Annemarie caught my eye recently. It is based on one of my all-time favorite TV shows, The X-Files.

The set is made up of a 9 inch “I want to believe” poster with a junior grey alien with a three inch Mulder and three inch Scully. Annemarie auctioned this set off for charity.

She even gave Mulder some sunflower seeds on the inside of his left hand. After all  what would he do without them. Annemarie also posted a photo of a 3 inch “Partridge in a Pear Tree” for the Christmas season.

Any ideas for a 10 Lords a Leaping figure? Follow her work by going to Facebook and liking her page, Vinylmation by Annemarie.

Spotlight On: Custom Vinylmation Artist Stephanie Cassata

WDWNT on December 21, 2012

One of my all-time favorite Disney animated movies is “Meet the Robinsons.” Customs featuring that movie are far and few between. So when a friend of mine sent me a picture from an artist on Etsy with the following custom… I had to contact her. Stephanie Cassata from Anamosa, Iowa is the subject of our spotlight today. She has also designed one of the sweetest Vinylmation 95s I have ever seen.

Destination Vinylmation: We don’t see too many “Meet the Robinsons” customs, what made you choose this movie ?
Stephanie Cassata: I love the movie “Meet the Robinsons”, not only is it hilarious, but touching and inspiring too. “Keep moving forward” is a quote that is so important to remember.

The scene depicted here is a very exciting one where Wilbur takes Louis to the future. The fantastic scenery paired with the soaring score makes this one of my favorite scenes in the film. I really enjoy the retro style of the future, which is another fun aspect of the movie. And with “Tomorrowland” becoming “Todayland”, truly is the cherry on top of this moment.

DV: You also have a custom that looks straight out of Disney’s Cutesters series. Your 3″ Kawaii Custom features all kinds of treats including some Disney themed ones. I spot the Mickey ice cream bar… what else is in there?
SC: There is a Dole Whip on the right side of the face, school bread on the side of the left foot (found in the Norway pavilion at Epcot, which by the way is delicious!), and the blue popsicle on the back of the head is a nod to the amazing Kingdom Hearts games.

DV: You custom painted a Vinylmation 95 to look like a Sugar Rush Racer from Wreck-it-Ralph. This was a brilliant idea! First off… is it edible?
SC: Thank you! It certainly looks good enough to eat! My aim was to make it as sugary sweet as I could, from the bright colors to the sparkling details. I knew the wheels had to have candy rims, and I had a lot of fun adding the “frosting” to top it off (which is actually Whipple applied using actual frosting tips). This custom does make me hungry for some cake!

DV: The wheels are my favorite part. What is yours?
SC: I think I’d have to say the front-right area is what makes me smile the most. Something about the colors all coming together at the point is just beautiful. The peach ring with the peppermint swirls, the blue merging into the yellow, and the sprinkle/stars are very aesthetically pleasing together.

DV: Where can people go to view and purchase your work?
SC: They can visit my Etsy shop to see my artwork available for purchase, which can be found here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/StephanieImagined. People can also visit my art website to see even more work I have done: http://stephanieimagined.weebly.com/

DV: Do you take commissions?
SC: Indeed I do! I love to work with others to create the customs they would love to see come to life. I can be contacted through my Etsy, website, or straight through my email stephanie.cassata@gmail.com with any inquiries, questions, and commissions.

DV Thank you for sharing your work with our audience.
SC: My pleasure! Thank you for the spotlight, it really is a treat to share my passion with the world and the fantastic Vinylmation community.

2013 Dated Vinylmation Released Today

WDWNT on December 21, 2012

This open edition figure is available right now on Disney’s Vinylmation Facebook store. You can pick it up for $12.95.

The figure will be available on December 28 at Disneyland and on January 4 at Walt Disney World.

Spotlight On: Custom Vinylmation Artist Brian Shapiro

WDWNT on December 21, 2012

To have your custom work spotlighted, please send an email to DestinationVinylmation@gmail.com
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Destination Vinylmation: Do you ever draw a concept then give up on it because you can’t make it work in 3D? Or do you stick with it and make alterations? 
Brian Shapiro: Luckily, I haven’t had to abandon any designs because I couldn’t adapt them, but you can see I’ve had some challenges that required some sacrifices and compromises to make them work. I will typically redraw a design on paper until I’m happy with it, and I never start painting without a definite understanding of how I want it to look. For example, when I created my Zom-B custom, I wanted to make a zombie, but for some reason I struggled with the facial proportions of the canvas’ head.

Then I came up with the idea of breaking up the face by using the nose as an avulsed eyeball. By painting in a shadow under the muscle attachments of the dangling eyeball, I think I made it look like it literally popped out of its socket.

DV: The Prospector is a very fun looking design. I hear you designed it for a special event? 
Brian: There’s a great group of pin traders in central New Jersey called the Central Jersey Disney Pin Traders or CJDPT for short.

They have monthly evening or afternoon meets, but twice a year they have weekend long events that attract over 150 pin traders from as far as Canada and the west coast! In recent years, Vinylmation trading has become popular at their events, and I have made some very nice vinyl trades with the group’s members. More importantly, I’ve made some great, lasting friendships there too. Last summer, the CJDPT decided to have a trading event in Anaheim during the D23 convention. The event was called Westward Ho! Traditionally, they will raffle off prizes at their events, and I’ve donated customs to use for the raffle. For Westward Ho! I wanted to create something fun in the spirit of the event. I came up with the idea of an
old prospector who travelled west and found pins while prospecting for gold. I painted a grizzled Vinylmation prospector with a gold tooth and a worn hat holding a sifting pan. In the custom made pan, I made a faux gold CJDPT pin from dental acrylic. The pin even had a miniature Mickey rubber back sculpted on it!

Using a model kit and some spare wood shapes, I made a covered wagon with a hidden Mickey logo on the back, and I placed the prospector and the wagon on a custom base made from wood flocked with stone and sand. I also placed a worn wooden plaque on the base with the name of the piece, “There’s Gold in Them There Hills!” In true Disney fashion, I think the set told a complete story.

DV: The details are great… including the hidden Mickey and pin. 
Brian: Thank you! And again, thank you for your interest and generous spotlight of my work!

Mickey’s Circus- Robots 3

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

Disney Store announced Robots 3. It is a twist on the first two sets. This one, is all Disney characters as robots! It will still be a 12 figure blind box series. Both MC and I are super excited to see where this one goes. We also love the character selection so far with the first two figures shown to us not being a part of the Fab 5.

Mickey’s Circus- Movie Based Vinylmation

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

Disney announced that they will make a better effort putting out the Vinylmation when the movie hits the theaters from now on.

There will be four total 3″/Jr. LE Combo sets released around the March 2013 launch of Oz The Great and Powerful. They are all designed by Ron Cohee. 

3″ Oz with Jr. Monkey LE Combo Set

3″ Glinda with Jr. China Doll Combo Set

Celebrating The Lone Ranger on the silver screen in the Summer of 2013 will be this 3″ LE Combo pack featuring Tonto and The Lone Ranger. They are designed by Eric Caszatt who took great care to give us an accessory crow on Tonto’s head instead of just painting it on. 

The release of Pixar’s Monsters University movie in June will have it’s own 12 figure blind box series dedicated to it. 

Mike and Sully, all ready for college, were shown off at Mickey’s Circus. Then we got to see the shining example of NOT being released with the movie hitting theaters… or Blu-Ray… POTC On Stranger Tides.

Mickey’s Circus- Star Wars 3

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

Star Wars Series 3 is coming in May 2013 to be released at Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This installment will have a Return of the Jedi Theme. They showed us a few figures.

3″ Gamorrean Guard

3″ Royal Guard

The following pictures are from Attractions Magazine at Star Wars Celebration VI