Please tell us a little about yourself
My name is Jim Koch and thats pronounced Cook. I live in Washington State near Seattle. A little town of horrors called Spokane. I am 41 years old and I am a full time artist & designer and I love BMX.
How and when did you get into designer toys?
I found the world of designer toys at the San Diego comic con about 5 years ago. I had seen a cool toy called Fling by a friend of mine named Dave Silva. He hooked me up with Eddy from adFunture workshop. Eddy and myself made the hellbilly Skeeter figure and the rest rolls on.
What are your favorite toys and/or artists?
I love vintage advertising toys, character toys made in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s. My favorite artists today are Trosley, Bob Haro, Miq Wilmott, Ron English, Touma. It changes daily, hehee.
Tell us a little about your own collection.
My personal collection has many weird angles. I dig the vintage stuff but I also love Qee’s and Touma stuff, Bounty Hunter. Anything clown related I freak on. I collect metal lunch boxes, Halloween costumes, Carny knock down dolls, everything wacky. I go to many thrift stores for fun scores.
When did you start customizing?
I had always customized things, my bicycles, my sisters Barbie Van. I had a lot of hot rod model kits as a kid and I would do custom hot rods and stock-cars as my pops built the real thing in the garage. I never read the directions, I just wung-it and made my own version. I started doing custom toys in the designer toy world a few years ago I guess. I enjoy the DIY platform and the many companies like Toy2R, P.I. Making blanks for all of us to have fun with.
What are your favorite toys for customizing
The Qee’s by far, a great smooth vinyl canvas. I also love finding weird objects to make custom wood & plastic toys. I recently painted a 36” Qee for Toy2R, I have a rad video on my website of me painting in lightling speed.
What materials and techniques do you use?
I mostly paint in Acrylics, spray and pens. I draw with sharpies and pencils and keep many sketch books. Most of my design and images go into the Mac so I can brand my product.
How much time do you spend customizing a toy?
Customizing a toy is like giving birth and I know nothing about that. Hehehe -It’s a crazy, wicked thing and sometimes spiritual for me. It takes time and patients, something I am working on. I always have a hand full of things going at once. They take only a week or so I guess. It’s important for my designs to have texture, depth, cool graphics with great humor and that takes time.
Do you make other art besides customizing toys?
I also paint and produce items for exhibits. I do lots of commercial design world wide. I have 6 or so Vinyl toy projects coming out in 2008. Real fun stuff!
What other interests do you have (besides designer toys)?
I ride street and downhill BMX hardcore. I build vintage Schwinn bicycles, oh yeah - I have a Girlfriend I must comfort and keep happy.. -LOL
Do you take on commissions?
You bet! -Hit me up with your ideas and perhaps we can make a miracle happen.
Where can people see more of your work and/or contact you?
I Have a website, store and portfolio at my .com ~ Also, hit me up on myspace
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