THE PEPPERMINT PLAINS

The Peppermint Plains was created for CMN's third event of the 2015 season, Red & White. I was approached to work on a piece that would tie in with the organization's first themed concert. At first, I thought, "What's red and white? The White Stripes?" then I remembered their distinctive peppermint swirl bass drum. "What if I made a landscape out of peppermint candies?"

Terrible (but ambitious) concept sketches emerged:

I began the hunt for a Christmas staple in the middle of Spring. I was genuinely stunned by the lack of traditional peppermint candies like circular after dinner mints, candy canes, or sticks. The majority of the materials were purchased online, with the exception of the base, rocket, and spaceman.

The difficulty in attaining materials proved to be an omen: Peppermint Plains was the most difficult photo shoot I've done so far. I'd never worked with candy before, so I had no idea how it would react to my usual construction materials. The laying of the peppermint swirl "road" went smoothly. It wasn't until I applied the crushed candies to the glue that I realized the severity of the problem: the candy and the glue were melting together, but never drying.

Undeterred, I began constructing a castle made from the swirled peppermints... which promptly slid apart and became a gooey mess. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise because I really liked the candy cane forest with the peppermint road. When I saw it in the viewfinder, it immediately took me back to childhood games of Candy Land with my sister.

In the very back is a mountain range made of pink cotton candy... this was a happy accident, because those "mountains" were actually supposed to be a cotton candy sky, which melted under studio lights.

Immediately after the shoot, I swore I'd never work with candy or real food again... but I keep coming back to this idea with gumdrops...

THE DEVIL OF HELL'S KITCHEN

"Bob, I'm telling you, check out Daredevil when you have a second. Bendis is killing it right now." I was waiting in line at the movies with one of my best friends and frequent collaborators, Manny Gomez (AKA So Crazy It Just Might Work), when he made the recommendation that finally stuck. Shortly thereafter, I picked up an issue of Daredevil and was hooked immediately. I was a fan for life.

Fast-forward 15 years.

Netflix announces an original series and I'm very cautiously optimistic… would this be a retread of the horrible early 00s DD movie? Announcement after announcement gave me more confidence. The great Charlie Cox would be Matt Murdock. My favorite character actor of all-time Vincent D'onofrio would be playing Kingpin of Crime, Wilson Fisk. The visual tone was dark & brooding, as if David Fincher was directing Frank Miller & Bendis's version of the character. Then I saw that trailer. 

I had to make a figure.

I began working with whatever reference photos I could find, which, much to my chagrin, would prove to be inaccurate. My first attempt at the character utilized a 25th Anniversary Snake Eyes body, Duke head, and movie Cobra Trooper legs. It debuted the same day as the Netflix show, and was dismantled the same day. 

By the end of the first episode, I was totally addicted to the show and had already started Daredevil Mk2.

I kept the same head and legs, but the torso was borrowed from a GI JOE MP and the hands were from a newer version of the Cobra Trooper. The hands had two extra points of articulation, so now Daredevil is even more poseable.

He's even armed with the wooden batons that were a gift from his old mentor, made from real wooden dowels ('natch). 

While I am planning to make Mr. Murdock in his red attire, I haven't started the piece just yet. I've got base materials in mind, though, so he should be underway soon enough. Honestly, this stealth "Ninja Suit" is cool enough, and I actually would've been okay with it being the official DD costume… but I digress.

In the meantime, I'll be trying to figure out how to build a version of Wilson Fisk that doesn't look completely ridiculous…

LOST IN LEGOLAND

Strange Labs is honored to be showing at Bear & Bird Gallery (http://www.bearandbird.com) once again for their 5th annual Square Show exhibit. The group show, which runs March 13th-May 2nd, 2015 is locals-only and features talented artists of all ages, mediums, and backgrounds. This time around, I debuted "Lost In LEGOLAND"-- what I hope is the first in a series of LEGO-themed images to honor my favorite toy and the brand's 75th birthday. 

This particular toyscape is inspired by the classic LEGO Creator bucket sets, and features pieces that date back to my childhood collection (specifically the bricks with the eye and smile, as well as the floating yellow head). My goal is for the Little Spaceman to visit all of the different LEGO themes, starting with favorites like Classic Space, Classic Castle, and Pirates!

For those that can't make it down to sunny South Florida, here's a shot of "Lost In LEGOLAND" on the wall:

Keep it locked to Strange Labs… very excited to show some projects I've been prototyping in secret for over a year, as well as a ton of surprises...

NOW ENTERING TOYLAND...

After over a year of planning and months literally building the cast of characters, Saturday, February 7th, 2015, Strange Labs was proud to finally welcome you to TOYLAND! Debuting during CMN's Composed Variety Concert at the Coral Gables Museum, the project is about an intrepid group of toys who must band together in order to survive in and escape the otherworldly, nightmarish reality known as TOYLAND... 

"Happy Birthday"- After awaking in a giant forest of gifts and walking miles of crumpled wrapping paper, our group of toys finally enter a clearing...

"Arrival of The Traveler"- Surviving brushes with the local flora and fauna, the toys encounter something they've never seen before: a tiny being who falls from the sky. If it's not a toy, what is it? 

"Scum & Villainy"- The wilds of TOYLAND are nothing compared to the perils of what passes for civilization. Toys of all kinds trade secrets, stories, and remember the good old days; memories of a life before this… place.

Look for the next image from TOYLAND to debut at Bear & Bird Gallery's Square Show 5 on March 13th, 2015, which runs through May 2nd, 2015!

http://www.bearandbird.com/square5/

More TOYLAND to come via the CMN concert series (two more to go!)… for more info, visit their site: 

http://www.compositummusicaenovae.org

They're fighting the good fight for art & culture in Miami

SOME TOYLAND TEASERS FOR THE NEW YEAR!

To ring in the fabled, legendary year of 2015 (thanks to Back to the Future 2), I had a "creative jam session" with my Wizard Army co-founder, So Crazy It Just Might Work, where we hung out in the studio and did some camera tests for upcoming projects. 

I was so happy with what I got, I thought I'd share a sneak peek...

These two shots are tests for TOYLAND. While not the final image, I wouldn't be surprised if what I end up using is very close. I've already made alterations to the diorama, and plan to change the "cast," as well as add a little bit of drama the scene seemed to be missing… 

Oh, and the "jam sessions" will continue, but there'll be more TOYLAND updates before then… KEEP IT LOCKED… 

THE DISCOVERY

The concept for "The Discovery" drove me crazy for about a year before I finally cracked it. Proof-of-concept shots with the Astronaut and the rocket haunted me... what was it missing? I liked the contrast of the explorer and his discovery against the stark, inky black background. 

But it still needed something. 

This specific piece was originally created for Bear & Bird Gallery's Out of this World art show, which I had to drop out of, unfortunately. The original idea was inspired by the classic black & white Twilight Zone. At the time I shot it, though, I was also binge-watching Unsealed: Conspiracy Files and Unsealed: Alien Files on Netflix. What can I say? It's a guilty pleasure. 

The first, initial image that emerged from that brainstorm session remains intact, but now with a delicious, candy coating of terror... two very different alien encounters with two very different species. The Astronaut's thrill and joy of discovering proof of intelligent alien life is short-lived, only to be replaced with abject horror seconds later. 

The Astronaut is a 4" GI Joe custom figure I built specifically for this photo. Composed primarily of a 25th Anniversary Ace, the paint job is loosely based on the mid-60s NASA spacesuits worn by the Gemini crews. I hand-built the rocket from scrap pieces on my workbench, and the tiny spaceman is a scale model figurine. The large alien in the background was in a random box of toys I had to sell (I remembered last-minute), and the stone "alien" head is an aquarium decoration, of all things.

With "The Discovery" now out of my brain, I've moved onto other, more ambitious dream projects...

CMN ARTIST OF THE WEEK

Recently, I was honored to be named Artist of the Week by Compositum Musicae Novae. It genuinely took me aback, since CMN normally features the work of world-famous musicians, visual artists, sculptors, dancers, writers, and architects. Humbled and inspired, it's only made me work harder on pieces and concepts for future shows. 

The folks at Compositum Musicae Novae are fighting the good fight for Miami's local art and cultural scene. This past Fall, they began their second year bringing the best in music, visual art, and performance to South Florida via their CMN Concert Series.

For more information about CMN, please check out their website:

http://www.compositummusicaenovae.org

Also check out their Instagram feed:

cmusicaenovae

W.I.P. IT GOOD

Work-in-progress (W.I.P.) teaser from The Lab, shot a few weeks back.

There're at least four figures drying in the shot... at least two of them are from TOYLAND, and, as of this post, they are either totally done and ready to shoot, or just need a couple touch-ups.

Keep it locked. 

More updates and cool teasers on the way!

FORCES OF EVIL

No trick, just a little treat for Halloween: A teaser of something major coming from Strange Labs... more details to come...

SPARTAN

Spartan originally started as a Bandai Sprukit. It immediately caught my eye at a local Toys R Us, so I grabbed it and did a quick repaint. Highly articulated with a great design, this guy's from a line of other robots. There are also licensed kits of HALO's Master Chief and various Batman characters, but I haven't seen them in person just yet. 

The piece is a perfect example of a project that begins as its own thing, then evolves into something much more different. Spartan was initially created for an art challenge that my close friends and I did... while working on the piece, though, I slowly started coming up with a story and background for him and decided to incorporate the character into TOYLAND, my next major project, currently in pre-production. 

The creation of Spartan then led to other characters and an entirely new, different plot and story for TOYLAND. Getting VERY close to production, and I can't wait to share my most ambitious project yet. 

It's a doozy. 

BUMPS IN THE NIGHT

I'm thrilled to announce that Strange Labs has been invited for the second year in a row to participate in CMN's concert series!

CMN is a Miami-based organization that showcases up-and-coming local artists and hosts cutting-edge cultural events around the city. The concert series opener-- happening on October 17th, 2014-- will feature visual artists, classical musicians, and even electronic artists... there's been nothing quite like it in the Magic City before. 

To celebrate my favorite holiday of Halloween, I'll be showing four of my favorite horror and sci-fi themed pieces, including my newest, "The Discovery," which will be making its debut at the concert. 

The plan is to print the photos at 11" x 14", so you've never seen these pieces quite like this...

For ticket info and more about CMN, please visit their fantastic website and Instagram feed:

http://www.compositummusicaenovae.org

Instagram: CMUSICAENOVAE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BATS!

75 years ago, my all-time favorite superhero made his debut.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BATMAN!

...And THANK YOU Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Denny O'Neil, Neal Adams, Frank Miller, David Mazzucchelli, Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale, Paul Dini, Alex Ross, Tim Burton, Christopher Nolan, and every other creator/artist who helped me fall in love with some six foot weirdo dressed as a bat. 

STRANGE LABS IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE WIZARD ARMY!

45 years ago today, humanity set foot on another world for the first time in recorded history. Join Wizard Army as we conjure and explore worlds of pure imagination and magic. Let us take you on a journey through space, time, spirit, and mind... "A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to..."

https://www.facebook.com/wizardarmyart

THE WOUND IN THE FORCE

"He is a wound in the Force, more presence than flesh, and in his wake life dies… sacrificing itself to his hunger."

Produced in May 2014, Darth Nihilus was commissioned by a private collector as a gift. While I don't have much knowledge of the character, I have a rabid obsession for all things Star Wars, so this project was right up my alley. The fact that he's a bad-ass Dark Lord of the Sith with a killer design doesn't hurt. 

The collector who commissioned the piece is a friend, so I wanted to keep the project as cost-effective as possible. After looking at Nihilus's design, Hasbro's 6" Black Series Darth Maul immediately came to mind as the base. Their costumes are so similar, that, even if not 100% accurate, it's close enough. 

The figure is entirely Black Series Maul. I utilized the cloaked head, and realized that the hood peeled right off with a little Force. The mask was sculpted over Darth Maul's face with plumber's putty, with a few greebles glued on for detail. I slightly adapted the mask's design; amped it up by being a little more alien and ghostly.

Just prior to delivery. Darth Maul's non-cloaked head is visible in the bottom left of the plastic bubble. Darth Nihilus was a commission I fell in love with, so it was hard letting him go. The client was ecstatic with the result, so I know he's going to a good home... but I just might have to make another one for myself...

NEW ADVENTURES

Strange Labs 2.0 is now open for business and already busy working on commissions and some really fun experiments! To celebrate, here's the first official image from the new Strange Labs workbench. 

What seems like a cluttered desk is actually a still life filled with clues about upcoming projects. Perception is everything. Keep it locked. 

HELLO AGAIN!

This past weekend, Strange Labs had the pleasure and honor of once again working with CMN Arts-- this time for their Spring 2014 Concert.

It was there that I debuted the final version of "Hello New Friends":

Here's the text that accompanies the piece:

Dr. Robert Strange
"Hello New Friends" 2014
Photograph of small toys
11" x 14"

"Hello New Friends" began as a whim; something made and shot for fun between projects.

The tiny scene was staged on my workbench and composed primarily of Lego bricks (background), small gumball machine toys, a tiny scale model astronaut, and a hand-made miniature rocket ship.

Despite appearances, the diorama is actually quite small-- no figure in the piece is larger than 2 inches tall. The rocket itself measures less than an inch, and its pilot is about the size of an ant.

I've always been fascinated by the difference between small and tiny. "Hello New Friends" is a further exploration of that.

-Dr. Robert Strange

"Hello New Friends" was a hit at the show, with a lot of interest and inquiries about the work. CMN's Summer Concert will happen in June, and Strange Labs is happy to announce that we'll be debuting brand-new work once again...

For more info about CMN and the cultural events they put on around Miami, please visit their site here:

http://www.compositummusicaenovae.org

Many thanks to CMN for having my work in the show, and, as always, to YOU for checking it out!

HELLO NEW FRIENDS!

Just goofing off here at Strange Labs with some new friends picked up after a screening of The Lego Movie. Taken in the early hours of 2/11/14, the photo features gumball machine prizes, a Lego Robot, handmade custom rocket ship, and tiny scale model of a person.

The Lego Movie was a lot of fun-- much better than expected. I went to see the bricks brought to life in 3-D, but there were a good deal of well-written gags, and the voice acting is terrific. 

...And there was a trailer for a 3-D Imax movie about lemurs. Which, if you don't like lemurs, you're wrong. Away with you, grammar!

THE BLUEPRINT FOR ADVENTURE

If adventure has a name, it's Jim Steranko... 

Like many boys who grew up in the 1980s, I was obsessed with Indiana Jones. Practically rabid, I devoured ANYTHING I could get my hands on regarding the whip-cracking adventurer. Unlike a lot of my friends and other kids, what really captured my imagination were concepts mentioned, but never shown onscreen. This was the world partially created by Raiders of the Lost Ark concept artist  (and comics legend) Jim Steranko. 

Steranko's art perfectly captured the Saturday morning serial/pulp adventure style-- he helped create the language of the Indiana Jones universe. Before any actors had been approached (including Tom Selleck and Burt Reynolds!), it was Steranko's square-jawed bad-ass that sold the character and, essentially, created "The Look" of "The Man With the Hat." 

This custom was a long time coming; I had been wanting to make a Concept Indy literally for years, specifically based on Steranko's design, as well as the design from the Raiders storyboards. For whatever reason, I've always been fascinated by incarnations of Indy not played by Harrison Ford. I'm guessing that's why I had, like, zero issue with The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles growing up...

Concept Indy originally began as a Logan figure from the terrible Wolverine movie that came out years ago. At first I intended it to be my legit Indy figure for the collection, but when I saw how stylized it was, that project sat on the back burner... until I saw it on my bench a few weeks ago and said, "Steranko Indy's been sitting here the whole time..." and immediately got to work. 

The figure is a borderline LBC (lazy bastard custom); primarily that Logan, with a bunch of Indiana Jones pieces swiped from the Raiders of the Lost Ark and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Indy figures. The 40s-style web belt is from a BBI WWII soldier I had in the fodder bin. The head is from a random Duke I found. 

Fortune & glory in The Far East...

Up in the rafters, avoiding a Nazi search party...

Knocking out a Ratzi bastard!

"Feel like I'm being watched..."

"What sort of experiments were performed here?"

"...It's right behind me. I can smell it..."

What I love about Steranko's concept art is the action and adventure-- you're right in the moment and feel it. Steranko's Indiana Jones is so pure. The quiet, bookish Professor Jones is gone, replaced with a two-fisted adventurer who's as good with his guns as he is with his wits. His Indiana Jones is a distilled bad-ass. 

                           

I'm so happy with my Steranko Indy that I might not even make the Indiana Jones from the storyboards. As far as Concept Indy goes, this guy's my definitive statement. What I really like about him is that, since he exists in a conceptual universe, I can go crazy with villains for him, ranging from cyborg Nazis to supernatural creatures.

The adventures are limitless...