Interview with customizer D-LuX

dunny munny designer toy bearbrick qee art toy 

Please tell us a little about yourself
I’m D-LuX (aka Dan). I was born and raised in Detroit, and have lived in the Metro Detroit area all my life. During the day I work for one of the largest law firms in Michigan, and in ALL of my spare time I help run LiFT Designer Toys in Royal Oak, Michigan.

How and when did you get into designer toys?
I’ve always collected toys in some form for years. A few years back a friend of mine gave me a Voltaire Deady Qee off his key chain. After looking them up on-line, I discovered Dunnys. Like most, that was my “gateway drug” to designer vinyl. After that I was hooked, and haven’t looked back.

What are your favorite toys and/or artists?
Artists: I’m really into local artists like Glenn Barr, Mark Heddie, and of course Detroit’s own Tristan Eaton. I’m also a big fan of Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup, Joe Ledbetter, Pushead, Kathie Olivas, Brandt Peters, Greg Simkins, and Doktor A

Toys: I love love love clear Japanese vinyl. Anything clear and Japanese I adore. As far as things I collect… Probably the Calli by Biskup, or my Mr. Bunny. I also really like Kathie Olivas’ “Benny and Redbird a lot. There’s really so much stuff I like, it’s hard to narrow it down.

Tell us a little about your own collection
Well over the past few years it’s evolved so much. For a while it was mainly mini-figs, 8″ Dunnys, and Qees. Then I started picking up everything that came out, or caught my eye. After a while I thinned down my collection and focused mainly on Kaiju. Once again buying everything I could get my hands on. Then there just started to be too much stuff coming out every week, and I realized I would go bankrupt if the Kaiju addiction continued. My collection these days mainly consists of original sculpt figures by Ledbetter, Biskup, Baseman, Glenn Barr, and Tristan Eaton. Instead of trying to keep up with everything coming out, I can buy past pieces at my leasure. Although I’m fairly sure the Ringo hunt took 5 years off my life.

When did you start customizing?
I started last year with a simple Munny for a friends birthday. Since then I’ve done around 50 or so pieces, for people and shows all over the word. I’m actually working on a few pieces right now for a soldier serving in the Middle East. It’s taken me a while to figure out what I was good at, as I’ve never had any formal training when it comes to painting, or sculpting. It’s really rewarding to know your art is seen all over the world, and is liked enough for people to contact you requesting things. That’s what really keeps me going when I’m coughing up polymer clay dust for days.

What are your favorite toys for customizing?
This past year I did a series of “Throw Back” Teeters based on some of my favorite iconic figures from my childhood. I also had a lot of input from collectors as to what they liked, and it they turned out to be ideas I didn’t even think of, but were also things I loved when I was a child. So I guess I’d have to say the Teeters right now. I also did a Your Momma figure a while back, and that was a real fun one to do too. Hopefully this year I’ll get to toss some paint and clay on some toys that have yet to be customized. Right now I’m working on an Akuma Bomb for the next toy show at LiFT this Spring.

What materials and techniques do you use?
I mainly use cheap acrylics, and Super Sculpey. I really use a free-form technique when I work on a toy. Generally I get an idea, or I’ll get a request from a customer, then I just go at it. I strip with acetone, sand it lightly with a 3M sanding sponge, then sculpt or paint. Since I sculpt on most of my pieces, I start with a rough sculpt then add or remove here and there to get the desired shape. Often times baking a single piece 3 to 7 times depending on the difficulty of the shape. Then it’s off to sanding. I use a LOT of sandpaper, and a air purifier with a Hepa filtration system to keep me somewhat healthy. Once that’s all done, I prime it with brush-on Gesso. I like using Gesso, because it’s more forgiving than most spray primers. Then I slap on some paint, and hit it with the Krylon Crystal, or Matte clear-coat depending on the desired finish. Lately I’ve been doing alot with bright neon colors and splatter painting. These were colors I loved growing up as a skateboarder in the late 80’s/early 90’s, so they really appeal to me. This year I’m going to try my hand at painting some Kaiju, so I’ll be picking up an airbrush soon. LOOK OUT!

How much time do you spend customizing a toy?
It really depends. A piece with little to no sculpting can take anywhere from 2 to 3 hours if I have my idea mapped out in my head. Some pieces that require a lot of sculpting can take 4 or 5 days, of 4 to 5 hour sessions. Sometimes even longer. I’m usually busy with the office and LiFT, so it ends up taking me a bit longer on heavily sculpted pieces. I’m usually working on 2 or 3 things at the same time, so it’s really hard to say how much time each piece takes.

Do you make other art besides customizing toys?
Not really. I did a skate deck a while back, and 2D painting really doesn’t seem to be my “thing”. I’ve done a few things with resins, and original pieces out of Super Sculpey, but nothing I would call “art” just yet.

What other interests do you have (besides designer toys)?
I love watching horror movies, driving fast, mountain biking, spending money, eating pancakes, napping with my dog. Nothing to exciting… When I get down time, I just try to relax as much as possible.

Do you take on commissions?
Of course! Usually if someone comes to me with a toy I can give them a general idea of what I’d like to do, or see on that figure, but I’m always open to hearing customers ideas. I will also do trades for commission pieces as well. So if you don’t have a lot of cash for a custom, you might have something boxed up that you wouldn’t mind parting with. I’m pretty flexible.

Where can people see more of your work and/or contact you?
You can see more of my customs at: DLUXART.BLOGSPOT.COM or MYSPACE.COM/CRACKERDELUX

If you’d like to contact me regarding customs you can contact me at: DLUX_ART@YAHOO.COM