Spotlight On: Mike Vetrone’s Sparky Custom

WDWNT on February 6, 2013

Artist Mike Vetrone wanted to share his latest custom… a 3 inch Sparky from Frankenweenie custom using the Whiskers and Tales platform.

“Sparky is one of my favorite characters and I had a ton of fun sculpting the bolt and working with the arms. This is absolutely one of my favorite 3 inch pieces I have ever made.”

Mike also told us that he is planning something “HUGE” to enter into DV’s March Vinylmadness contest. Everyone has until February 14th to enter, so keep those customs coming!

Spotlight On: Karen Turner’s Bedazzled Customs

WDWNT on January 9, 2013

Destination Vinylmation: What is your background in art?  
Karen Turner: I have always been interested in art.  As a child I took classes in drawing, painting with watercolors, and painting with acrylics.  I was in art in high school and majored in art in college for a while.  I then changed my major to history, but art still remained important to me.  After working as an office manager for several years I came back to art and opened an online shop selling my work.  In the end I just kept coming back to my love for creating and painting.

DV: What other non vinyl things have you done?
KT: Lots!!  I paint ceramics, create trinket and treasure boxes, make jewelry, create decorative pieces for the holidays (not just Christmas, but Easter, Valentine’s, Halloween…)  As you can see in my shop – custom Vinylmation make up one section, but there are lots of other sections as well – I like doing lots of different things – nothing ever gets dull or flat that way – everything remains fun and challenging for me!!

DV: What’s your favorite Disney designed vinyl?
KT: Just one? That’s too hard!!  My favorites that I have are: It’s a Small World 3″ from Park 3, Squares from Urban 4, Mardi Gras, and Love 9″ from Urban 6. My favorites from the ones I don’t own (yet) are Magical Stars from Park 1, It’s a Small World 9″ from Park 1, Teacups from Park 1, Birds on a Wire, Red Scream, Railroad from Park 9, Skyway from Park 9, Living with the Land from, and the Gumball Ear hat set.  I’m not really good at narrowing things down!!

DV: What inspired this Bedazzled line of customs?
KT: In November I was at the Magic Kingdom for my birthday (and to check out the new Fantasyland), and was looking at the different figurines in the glass shop on Main Street that are jeweled with crystals and I thought I Vinylmation covered with crystals would be really awesome, so I decided to give it a try.

DV: What was the most difficult part of making these?
KT: I used the new mold for these, which made it a lot easier because of the smoothness of the surface – no buttons of noses to work around. For the Miss Mouse figurines I used Minnie’s Fly Girls from the Park Series #11, which gave me the bow on her head.  The hardest part was just getting the crystals to fit in everywhere – not having any open spots that were too small for a crystal but too big to leave blank.  I quickly realized that I had to work quickly so if I needed to move some crystals I could before the glue dried.  Working quickly doesn’t mean these were quick to make though.  These were the most time consuming customs I have made yet, but I am super pleased with how they turned out – I think I am going to have to make one for myself, since these are for my shop!!

DV: What do you think about the upcoming Minnie platform?
KT: I can’t wait for it!!  When I saw it Mickey’s Circus I was so excited – all sorts of ideas were going through my head on what I could do with that mold.  I have all sorts of things planned to do with those as soon as I can get my hands on them.  Having a Minnie mold just furthers the idea of what Vinylmation started out as to me – whatever design I put on a Vinylmation, it comes back to the fact that I am putting it on Mickey Mouse – Mickey (and soon Minnie) are at the heart of it all – which is like what Walt Disney said – “It all started with a mouse.”  That mouse is still at the heart of all things Disney, and I try to keep that idea in mind when creating my custom Vinylmation.

DV: Where can people find out more about your and your artwork?
KT: You can see all of my work at my shop www.flightsoffancydesign.etsy.com and even more photos on my Facebook Fan Page Flights of Fancy Design. I am delighted to take custom orders as well. My email is flightsoffancydesigns@gmail.com.

I have lots of new ideas I am working on for custom Vinylmation – right now my work table has five Vinylmation that are in various stages of creation.  I have a 9″ Custom in mind that I think is really going to be spectacular – as soon as I finish it I will share it with you.  So, there will be lots of new things coming in the next few months – and I am super excited about it all!!

Spotlight On: Custom Vinylmation Artist Ryan Marella

WDWNT on December 31, 2012

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.

Spotlight On: Custom Vinylmation Artist Jorge Castilla

WDWNT on December 31, 2012

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!

Spotlight On: Custom Vinylmation Artist Annemarie

WDWNT on December 31, 2012

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!

Spotlight On: Custom Vinylmation Artist Ryan Marella

WDWNT on December 31, 2012

To have your custom work spotlighted, please send an email to DestinationVinylmation@gmail.com
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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

Spotlight On: Custom Vinylmation Artist Ashley

WDWNT on December 31, 2012

Today we feature a new artist to our spotlight section. Ashley from Greeley, CO has sent us some pictures of her Up, Finding Nemo and Ratatouille themed customs.

Destination Vinylmation: How long have you been creating custom Vinylmation? 
Ashley: I’ve been a huge fan on Vinylmations since 2008, but only started doing my own customs about 4 months ago.

DV: Have you done other artistic projects before Vinylmation? 
Ashley: I’ve always painted, but mostly on canvas before Vinylmations.

DV: Do you collect the Disney Vinylmation?
Ashley: Yes! I am a huge collector! They’ve taken over most spare surfaces in my place.

DV: If so, what are some of your favorites? 
Ashley: I love the Matryoshka doll from cutesters I and am a huge fan of the entire toy story set! Even though I have them all, I always trade for them when I see them in trader boxes.

DV: Why did you choose Up and Finding Nemo as the subjects of these customs? 
Ashley: Up might be my very favorite Disney movie, so I have had this design in my mind for awhile. As for Peach, she is the highlight of the Nemo ride at WDW for me and I knew she’d look great on Mickey!

DV: You also sent over pictures of your Ratatouille custom… I see a theme here. Big Pixar fan? 
Ashley: Huge! I’m currently on a mission to do one from every Pixar film. Next will be bugs life and Wall-E.

DV: How long does it take to choose just the right scene for the vinyl? And does it take a lot of pre-planning on paper? 
It’s more about finding inspiration in the right place. Like a ride, seeing the movie again or a great poster. I usually do one pre-design on paper to see if it suits Mickey and then go to town!



DV: What was the most challenging part about creating these customs?
Ashley: Finding a way to take a flat design and apply it to Mickey! Once I do a few sketches and outlines things go smoothly from there!

DV: Do you have a website where people can see more of your work?
Ashley: I don’t have one yet, but people are welcome to contact me at twisted.coincidence@gmail.com.

Spotlight On: Custom Vinylmation Artist Jorge Castilla

WDWNT on December 31, 2012

RedVirtue Vinylmation Arts has some new designs he would like to share including the newest addition to his Star Ducks series.

The Candy Corn Starducks will go on auction starting at $34.99 each. There will be seven of this series.
Series starts it’s release this week.

The Steam Punk Willy will be his first “one of a kind” Vinylmation. Only one will be made. It will release in November. It will also go on auction starting at only $34.99.

Visit his Facebook page for more info and links to the eBay auctions: http://www.facebook.com/pages/RedVirtue-Vinylmation-Arts

Spotlight On: Custom Vinylmation Artist Annemarie

WDWNT on December 31, 2012

We want to give an update on artist Annemarie. First, she has a new Facebook page where she displays all of her latest work. When you get the chance, go LIKE that page to get updates on all of Annemarie’s customs. Next, we want to share with you some of her latest work. This first one may be my personal favorite of her customs yet:

 
3″ Furry Friends Figaro and Cleo
 
Front
Back

Totoro! With Satsuki and Mei detail
Country Bear Jamboree Master of Ceremonies, Henry… with Sammy Jr.

Spotlight On: Custom Vinylmation Artist John Ward

WDWNT on December 21, 2012

interview conducted by DV reporter Lee

Destination Vinylmation: What got you started with wanting to put your own style onto a Vinylmation Canvas?

John Ward: I started creating vinyls as soon as I saw that Disney was selling Create Your Own figures. I’ve always been creative and have loved Disney for as long as I can remember, so buying some blanks and making my own Vinylmation figures was a no-brainer for me.

DV: When you are creating a Vinylmation, what do you like to incorporate in the designs?

John: I enjoy the Vinylmation figures that Disney creates; however, I feel they could do more with the backs of the figures. With the pieces I create, I try to make the back of the figure just as interesting to look at as the front. I also like to try to create a story in my vinyls.

DV: Tell us the story of your first custom!

John Ward: I created my very first custom, which was The Adventures of Ichabod. The front of the piece has the Headless Horseman having already thrown his pumpkin head; the reverse has Ichabod and his horse, Gunpowder, looking very scared with the moon on the ear.



DV: One of my favorite pieces that I saw at your table during the Florida Project was your Ratatouille custom! The detail work on it is awesome!

John Ward: Ratatouille is one of my favorite Pixar movies and I wanted to create a vinyl for the movie, but I had to think of how to make both side of the vinyl interesting! Almost immediately I thought how Remy “puppets” Linguini through his recipes. So you have Linguini on the front, cooking away, and on the reverse in the silhouette of Remy under his hat, along with Gusteau at the bottom.



DV: Such an awesome design! I love the storyboards that play out on your work! How long does it take for your artwork to come to life?

John Ward: It usually takes me around a week to complete them. I also do commissioned pieces.

DV: I think I may have a job for you already!! Where can we go to see more of your work?

John Ward: My website is www.siberianarts.com and it has all my Vinylmation customs that I’ve done so far, along with some concept art of ones I plan on creating. I also have displayed other pieces of art that I’ve done. All of my Vinylmation customs are for sale and can be made to order. I also have a Facebook Page: Siberian Vinylmation Customs, be sure to “like” it; I put my new customs up there first!

DV: Absolutely! Consider yourself “liked”! I am very excited to see what you will do next!

On John’s 9″ Dr. Facilier, a black light reveals a different face!