Inanimate Objects » Inanimate Objects

Where do you get your ideas?

The shows, the comics… leftover parts. If the Joker shows up in a scene wearing a swimsuit, and I think it’s funny or it’ll look good on the shelf, chances are I’ll make it. Then I think about associations. I can’t remember Harley in a swimsuit in an episode, but (read more...)

How do you manage to use so many Harleys/ Supergirls/ Hawkgirls/ DCDs and other rare or expensive figures?

I’m always on the lookout for a deal. If I see something on clearance that I feel might be useful, I will usually buy it. Furthermore, I’m always open to new ideas. One never knows when the right base figure or new character design might spark something. To that end, (read more...)

Will you sell or trade a figure from your stock?

Outside of a specific item for trade, I am not in the habit of releasing my stock figures. (read more...)

How do you store your stock parts and fodder?

Everyone has their own system and space. On my work desk, I keep a transparent tower of drawers. It’s perfect for small parts like heads, limbs, hats, etc. (Found at the Container Store.) I also maintain a closet that has a good deal of storage capacity. In addition to housing (read more...)

What’s your work space like?

I have several work areas. The main one is my general purpose desk. This is where I do most of the work, including assembly, sanding, Dremeling and painting. This desk is very much specialized towards customizing. I also have a full workshop in the garage for more general construction, and (read more...)

How do I take great photos of figures?

Action figure photography has exploded as its own sub-genre in the last few years. There are some truly amazing artists out there. You can find most of them on social media. With that in mind, each one of those artists will recommend a different method. You simply need to pick (read more...)

What kinds of paint do I use?

Primarily, I use acrylic paints. Most any acrylics will work fine, be they the $.99 specials or the high-end professional series. Acrylics mix easily, dry quickly, and react well with primer. Primarily, I use the Ceramcoat brand of acryclics, commonly found in craft stores. I’ve used these since I was (read more...)

How can I get vibrant, smooth colors with acrylics?

It takes planning and thinking ahead. In general, you want to paint darker colors on top of lighter colors. The quick and dirty solution would be to spray a figure with white primer, and then paint everything on top of that. But that can have some downsides. Maybe you don’t (read more...)

What color did you use for (any random) custom?

I get this question a lot, and the truth is I rarely use a color straight from the bottle/tube. I do try to as often as possible, as the color is easier to reapply later if I need to, but most times I have to mix colors. Unless it’s white, (read more...)

How do I mix colors?

There are entire books and courses of study devoted to this question. Needless to say, I can’t even begin to scrape the surface here. Assuming you’re already familiar with the color palette of pigment, acrylics mix well together. I usually mix up just as much as I need at a (read more...)