Interview with customizer Slobot

dunny munny bearbrick qee designer toy vinyl

Please tell us a little about yourself
I am 34 years old, married with 2 dogs. We just moved to Miami Beach by way of NYC, to get more space and to live near the beach. I have been painting since I was about 8, when an art teacher took interest in my work and started to spend time getting me hooked on art.

How and when did you get into designer toys?
I was searching the web for Zip Zaps (tiny little radio control cars) around Christmas 2003, and stumbled on Kid Robot. At the time, KR stocked all sorts of weirder items than they do now, including tiny remote control cars from Japan. At any rate, looking at the KR website caused me to wonder how to get some of these cool art figs, and one thing led to another, so on a trip to NYC before we moved there, I made a stop at KR and bought 3 CiBoys Destroyers, a Kubrick Maschinen Krieger, and a Dalek CiBoy. It was the Dalek that did it…

What are your favorite toys and/or artists?
My favorites are Dalek, Biskup, BlooEmpire, Unkl, Doma, Shan Michael Evans (Squidnik), Mike Leavitt, Mars-1, and Kenn Munk. I tend to be drawn to stuff that is more futuristic, space, and robot themed. I also like the stuff that is really bright in color and graphic designer-ish.

Tell us a little about your own collection
I don’t have a lot of stuff, but I have picked up a few choice morsels over the years. I tend to buy stuff to customize more than to collect, but I have some unkl, doma, dalek, a bloo empire custom, a handful of qees, dunnys, kubrick and bearbricks, etc. I am not a completist by any means, so I tend to just try and get pieces I like. I don’t like buy a lot of blind boxes either, it drives me nuts to get stuff I didn’t want. I bought about 10 of the LA series Dunny, never got an Obey, so I gave up…

When did you start customizing?
I started by trying to make my own toys actually. When I first got into the scene, I bought a couple of pieces, but where I was living at the time (Orlando, FL, USA) there were not any shops carrying anything except bearbricks. So, I went to the local art supply and bought a pile of sculpey and fimo and started making my own. They turned out ok, and I got into making my own stuff. I did my first custom for the Trexi Series 2 release. They were fair, but then when I saw what other people were doing, I decided I had to step up my game. My chance came later in 2005 when the Munny came out. Uberbot had opened in Orlando and had a big show for the Munny release. I ended up winning best in show and that Munny marked a turn in my art. I was already painting and sculpting the Slobots, but I pushed myself for the munny and it changed my direction in my painting and sculpting.

What are your favorite toys for customizing
8″ qees are my favorite by far, and I would love to someday do a 16″ or 36″ qee. Mad’ls lend themselves well to the slobots too. I have couple of ideas sketched for really cool SloDunnys, so we will see how that turns out.

What materials and techniques do you use?
I am an assembler and sculptor. In most cases I am adding items to the toy or whatever is my base shape to get the Slobot I want. I use acrylics, plastic spray paints, and primer, as well as magic sculp, fimo, epoxy, and bits and pieces of stuff people normally throw away. I also scour thrift stores, garage sales, and stuff people leave on the street for Slobot parts. On my Slobart I used an old hair dryer for the rocket pack. I had that sitting in a plastic bin full of parts for at least 6 months before I used it. I also really like adding lights to the Slobots when appropriate. The first SloMunny has a flashing red eye, and bart has an LED nightlight mounted in his head.

How much time do you spend customizing a toy?
Most of them take 3 or 4 weeks to complete if I focus in on the toy, but there is a lot of drying time, because so much is cut up and glued on to get the final shape. I usually have 10 or so Slobots in various states of completion, so I am always jumping back and forth as inspiration hits. If I didn’t have to let things dry and set-up I think it might go faster, but, in the end, the extra time sometimes helps to shape the final outcome. I am forced to step away, and therefore have time to evaluate the direction everything is going.

Do you make other art besides customizing toys?
Yes, I paint canvas, wood, and make my own sculptures based on found objects. They are still Slobots, and I make them out of a lot of the items I use for my customs, and a lot of stuff from thrift stores. I have a series of monks that I paint from time to time, and some digital art as well, though the Slobots take up the most of my creative energy.

What other interests do you have (besides designer toys)?
Art in general stimulates me, and I love design in general, like furniture and architecture. I used to collect a lot of music, and still do, I guess, but now that music is such a commodity I don’t collect the CDs and vinyl records like I used to. I also have a business with my wife buying and selling vintage clothes (http://www.mikeandmia.com)

Do you take on commisions?
Yes, always. I really want to do a Gwin custom if anyone is interested.