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...

"LEG GODT"

When taking my final shots for my holiday series 'Twas Christmas Told The Merriest Tale, on a whim I decided to remove the majority of the toys and replace them with a miniature hand-built rocket and tiny astronaut, just to see what the juxtaposition would look like-- I ended up with one of my favorite pieces I've ever done. 

I was so pleased with the result that I submitted it to this year's Bear & Bird Gallery's Square Show, my first of 2014. The exhibition opened Friday, January 17th, and runs through March 1st. 

Bear & Bird's site: http://www.bearandbird.com

Complete transparency, when I shot "Leg Godt"-- which, translated from Danish, means "Play Well"-- I didn't realize 2014 was the 65th anniversary of LEGO. The name of the company comes from the phrase, and I thought it was apropos because the tiny explorer is about to have a wild (but fun) adventure. Since LEGO bricks feature so prominently, "Leg Godt" it had to be, as a loving tribute to my favorite toy growing up. 

...Now that I know about the anniversary, though, a celebration is on!

For the rest of the year, I have a series of LEGO-themed images planned... and now comes the fun part of stocking up on pieces!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! FIRST SHOW OF 2014!

HAPPY 2014 EVERYBODY!

I'm thrilled to start the New Year by announcing the debut of my newest piece, "Leg Godt" on January 17th at Bear & Bird Gallery! It's part of the Square Show group exhibition, and I couldn't be more excited! 

Not only is it my first show of 2014, but it also signals a new evolution of my art. The image launches a brand-new project, which is my most sprawling and encompassing to date. I've been doing concept work and camera/proof-of-concept tests for months, and I can't wait to show you...

HOLIDAZE 2013: TIME OF THE DOCTOR

I wanted to bring Holidaze 2013 to a close in very much the same way it began: with a gift.

First and foremost created as my Christmas gift to my lady, The Doctor here was also meant to commemorate Matt Smith's final episode "Time of The Doctor," as well as tip my hat to the BBC and their annual Christmas specials. 

While Christopher Eccleston's Doctor is still my favorite, I did warm up to Matt Smith's 11th incarnation. When I saw the purple suit, I knew I had to make this specific version-- it's right up there with The War Doctor as my favorite costumes worn by The Doctor. It's the perfect blend of the modern era (the boots, shorter slacks), and Victorian gentleman, or a character from an HG Welles story... perfect for The Last Timelord.

                            

Completed in the early hours of Christmas, The 11th Doctor was constructed primarily from a Marvel Universe Professor X body and an old Han Solo head I found in the Fodder Graveyard. Chuck's tie was removed and replaced with a bow tie hand-sculpted from Green Stuff.

Probably my definitive statement on The 11th Doctor, I'm very happy with how this one turned out, as well as the ecstatic reaction. It won't be the last time The Doctor and I meet, however. I hear another TARDIS approaching...

HOLIDAZE 2013: 'TWAS CHRISTMAS TOLD THE MERRIEST TALE

The fifth, final, and title image "Twas Christmas Told The Merriest Tale" is also my favorite-- it encapsulates everything about the series that I love and why the photos "work" for me. 

I've always had an obsession with miniature toys, and I feel that, in this shot, the little guys finally have their time to play. I especially love how the dinosaurs-- traditionally the largest toys-- are actually the smallest. My childhood favorite Anklosaur also plays with my favorite childhood toys: LEGO. Little Blue Robot is a gift that only I share with my Godson. 

Like "The Bluff," "Twas Christmas Told The Merriest Tale" was originally brainstormed as part of a larger "landscape" of toys under the tree Christmas morning. When I lined up the epic shot, though, it was too much for the eye, so I decided to break it up. 

While the "set" and staging were undecided, the concept was not, and I knew I'd figure it out. The trick was clearing everything else out, then letting the miniatures take center stage. 

I loved the set so much, it was used in my first piece for 2014... maybe some holiday cheer will flow into the New Year...

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM STRANGE LABORATORIES! 

HOLIDAZE 2013: 'TWAS CHRISTMAS TOLD THE MERRIEST TALE- "THE BLUFF"

One of the earliest ideas that stuck when brainstorming for 'Twas Christmas Told The Merriest Tale, "The Bluff" was actually supposed to be part of "Fun & Games," but having so much going on at the same time was a little visually overwhelming. Between the vicious match of Hungry Hungry Hippos  between Sock Monkey and T-Rex and the game of Tic-Tac-Toe that wasn't going to end well for Penguin, the characters in "The Bluff" would've been lost in the shuffle.

Inspired by my Mom's love of cards, I wanted a "quiet" scene-- away from all the chaos of the other toys and games-- to set a different tone, focusing on the more intimate moments with friends at Christmas. 

One can only imagine what this bunch is B.S.-ing about. 

The only player with a real card hand is The Diver, who is unbeatable. There were plans for more action figures (even original superheroes), but I didn't want them to take over the theme... so it was up to this lone Joe to kinda sum up ALL pocket-sized action heroes that I grew up with... for some reason, I was REALLY, REALLY into divers and deep sea exploration as a kid. Originally, Diver was going to be accompanied by an old school 60s Astronaut and Cowboy, but I didn't want to step on The Mouse's tail, so to speak.

My favorite little guys are Chattering Teeth (with the Joker, natch), and Lil Red Finger Puppet Thingee, who isn't even playing the right game...