New Works
If you’re looking for my new and current work, please check out my site: www.justinalanvolpe.com
4Horsemen “Toypocalypse” Art Show
Just got back from the 4 Horsemen’s ”Toypocalypse” art show at Toy Tokyo Underground. The show was a fantastic retrospective, featuring a fraction of what the 4Horsemen have been working on over the past decade. The show was overwhelming (in a good way) and packed wall to wall with final packaged pieces, prototypes, and one of a kind “two-ups”.
I had a few of my He-man inspired pieces on hand, and toward the end of the evening I had an opportunity to show them to Chris, Eric, and Cornboy (3 of the 4 Horsemen). There were also a couple of executives from Mattel at the show. Suddenly, there were way more people than I expected checking out my Battlecat, Cringor, and Prince Adam.
Here’s a shot of me chatting with Scott Neitlich (Mattel’s very own Toyguru) and Chris Dahlberg (of the 4 Horsemen). Thanks to Chris for getting so many people to check out my work.
More Smirking Python: TOYSREVIL Edition Blind Box Accessories
These are the blind box pieces that come with TOYSREVIL Edition.
Smirking Python: TOYSREVIL Edition
Heavily influenced by the awesome G.I. Joe/Cobra Python Patrol series, comes this bad ass bald beauty, Smirking Python. Built up on a taller stronger body than the Toy Tokyo Edition, the TOYSREVIL edition utilizes the Barrack Sergeant body, which is very close in movement to the standard Hot Toys body. It features that awesome “cut out” style shoulder and double jointed limbs that the Hot Toys body, Sideshow Trooper body, and 3A body use. Additionally, the body “crunches” well at the stomach to get some really dynamic poses. We managed to procure 20 of these nude figures and we’re really happy with the way our resin head sculpt looks on it.
The edition comes to you with blind boxed styled accessories; of the 20 pieces:
3 x Flintlock Musket & Gunpowder Flask
5 x Sword (metal) & Sheath (random color) w/ 2 x Throwing Stars
5 x Chain Whip (metal) & 3 Frag Grenades
5 x Mace & 2 Gas Grenades
2 x Machete & Smoke Grenades
Smirking Python: Toy Tokyo Edition Pre-Order Part 2
The Secret Set:
As stated previously, this will be an edition of 10 pieces. Of the ten pieces, one set will feature a belt of modern throwing knives and a Chinese Chopper (actually, you’ll be getting the exact figure picture here in these photo’s). These figures will be pick up only at the New York Comic Con 2010, at the Toy Tokyo Booth (booth #2871 in the Cultyard). They will be pre-boxed to preserve the mystery (sorry no request on weapons… it is blind boxed after all).
Pre-order is now open. Go to LABEL111 for Smirking Python.
(This is actually my favorite version, don’t tell anyone.)
Smirking Python: Toy Tokyo Edition Pre-Order Update
The pre-order for Smirking Python will begin 10/6 @ 1:11pm EDT (NY time), at www.shoplabel111.com
The figure features a brand new original head sculpt .
The hand made original ninja costume features the “Tehama Camo” pattern, and is complete with wrapped legs and forearms.
The edition run will be 10 pieces (in honor of the Ten year anniversary of Toy Tokyo). All ten custom figures will feature the same head sculpt, uniform, female body, and gloved hands. However these figure feature blind boxed accessories. 9 pieces will come with a sword and sheath set with 2 modern smoke grenades. The final piece will come with a surprise set of accessories that will be revealed tomorrow!
Smirking Python Influences
Following our Hollow Walker SDCC exclusive 1/6th scale custom figure for Toy Tokyo, comes this NYCC exclusive, “Smirking Python”.
This striking camouflage ninja features a head sculpt influenced by the artist Mati Klarwein, whose work has grace such legendary album covers as Miles Davis’ “Bitches Brew” & “Live Evil”.
Miles music and style is a constant source of inspiration here at our studio.
Smirking Python Custom figure for Toy Tokyo
The NYCC is nearly upon us!!!! And sneaking through the shadow of the coming onslaught of exclusive figures comes the Smirking Python, descendent of the legendary Hollow Walker.
These hand made custom figures feature an original stylized head sculpt (by yours truly) & original “Tehama Camo” fabric costume. This set comes with a female body, a set of gloved hands, a sword & sheath set, & 2 grenades.
This officially marks the second part to our “Ten Year Anniversary” project with Toy Tokyo.
Gundoptimus Sited
Just saw an old post on Super Punch about my old Gundum Optimus custom. It’s one of my first “kitbash” (shudder) project. I’m not sure I like the word “kitbash”. For me that always referred to model kits that were broke up and reassembled with vacuum cleaners and garbage can lids for backgrounds and ships in Star Trek and Star Wars.
I guess I prefer “Custom” but any-who…… awesome! So glad someone likes what were doing here!
Check it out here:
http://superpunch.blogspot.com/2007/12/custom-optimus-prime-toy.html
Waiting for fabric to make more ninjas! The anxiety is mounting! I can’t wait to get it!
We have this killer grey “Fence / Gate” pattern which was again inspired by a vintage GI Joe figure. Well, in this case it’s not one figure, but a series of Cobra figures from the short lived Python Patrol sub-set. I’ve always loved the Python Patrol camo patterns, and I thought the grey diamond-shaped camo from the bib on the Python Crimson Guardsmen, and the overalls from the Python Tele-Viper figure, would make an awesome pattern for a ninja. Here’s a sneak peak at the design, with some reference photos:
Storm Shadow Trooper
So, I was surfing around looking at some SDCC pics from this year (2010). I don’t mean to sound arrogant, but this cheeby / super deformed style “Galactic Heroes” Arf Trooper looks strikingly like the Storm Shadow Trooper custom figure that my wife, Angel, and I made last year for our Cobra – lalilulelo. He later appeared at the “Art Strikes Back” Star Wars art show a month later where he was sold.
Rufufu – Short Eared Bunny in Yellow Jacket for SDCC
This year, my wife and I pulled together some strong pieces for the Comiccon this year. One such collaborative piece was this bunny.
Angel, my wife, needle felted this amazing 8 inch figure, but it was missing something. It has great shape and the armature inside helps to assists with some great poses, but this critter needed an accessory. I’d been staring at this bunny in our studio, imagining a Padington Bear style coat, but I’ve also been watching a lot of Star Trek and anime lately. Design-wise Star Trek and Japanese cartoons have one major thing in common: streamline dynamic designs, with a strong color palette.
Being influenced by a constant bombardment of stripped down futuristic clothes, I came up with this yellow Jacket (made from sheets of felted wool). Instead of buttons, it features fabric bars to hold together the two sides of the jacket. It also features three panels of “police badge” shape flaps that descend from the waist. Hopefully in the future we can make a full size variation on this coat for people to wear.
This is one of those characters that I love. It’s difficult to part with, but alas, if you want to design one of a kind toys, then at some point you need to let them go……
Chewie
In an effort to some how archive what I’ve been doing in the last year or so, I thought it would be an appropriate time to blog about this Needle Felted sculpture I made.
The ComicCon is this week (and you now how the geeks love them some Star Wars) and the Star Wars Celebration either just happened or is happening soon, so I figured people would have furry interstellar travelers on the mind. To that end I present to you the Chewbacca inspired piece that I made for last years “The Art Strikes Back” Star Wars themed art show curated by Art Asylum Boston.
Originally designed to fit in with a series of nostalgic ’80′s themed Needle Felted Sculptures, “Chewie” is to date the only one to be inspired by Star Wars. The focus of the series is to re-interpret iconic ’80′s characters into a retro ’40′s “Little Golden Books” flavor. A lot of the artists who worked on those books had a specific simplistic style. Dyed cut out paper, watercolor, colored pencil and pastel, this style not only guided many young imaginations, but also graced the front of cereal boxes and found it’s way into advertisements well up through the ’60′s. It defines an era for me and establishes a classic look that can still be Dynamic.
Camelman Conductor
This is one of my new pieces for sale at the Toy Tokyo Store (in Manhattan). It was difficult to part with this figure after I was finished. I see him as the Train Conductor in our story of anthropomorphic characters.
He was primarily inspired by Camel Turkish Gold Cigarettes and the Wes Anderson movie Darjeeling Limited.
Wild Mancat
For SDCC this year I created 3 OOAK plush figures using the same basic body. I designed a figure form based on “Alice the Goon” (from Thimble Theatre and Popeye). Each figure features a different Needle Felted head that is inspired by different cartoons that I like.
The Wild Mancat is primarily inspired by Ickis from Nickelodeons AAAHH!!! Real Monsters cartoon. That cartoon was so unique and awesome and predates Monsters Inc by years. I imagine the Wild Mancat as being a forest nomad and shaman, like the main character from Mushishi.
The Investor Mancat
For SDCC this year I created 3 OOAK plush figures using the same basic body. I designed a figure form based on “Alice the Goon” (from Thimble Theatre and Popeye). Each figure features a different Needle Felted head that is inspired by different cartoons that I like.
The Investor is primarily based on side characters from Disney’s Talespin. The obvious visual influences here are the business suit wearing Shere Khan and the lanky mechanic Wildcat
Hench Mancat
For SDCC this year I created 3 OOAK plush figures using the same basic body. I designed a figure form based on “Alice the Goon” (from Thimble Theatre and Popeye). Each figure features a different Needle Felted head that is inspired by different cartoons that I like.
This one is obviously Tony the Tiger inspired, I was drawing on the old ’50′s and ’60′s Tony that I love so much. Why Kellogg’s changed him I don’t know. The ’80′s “jacked up” steroid athlete Tony does not feel original at all to me.
Maybe Tony’s current appearance started as a response to Schwarzenegger’s good eating and exercise campaign for children of the 80′s. Like a bowl full of milk and sugar covered corn flakes is a great thing to give to kids before going out and throwing the old ball around…
At any rate here’s my take on a fusion of the 2 Tony’s. Classic face with a hulked out body freshly ripping out of his swanky Tuxedo.
Prince Adam and his Posse
When I first began Felting, Felt sculptures were a mystery to me. I got into it through my wife, Angel. She had seen some japanese books on Dry Felting, and they were always cute Hello Kitty characters or food. The first time I saw a picture of a Croissant made out of wool fiber I think I just laughed out loud in a book store, saying “what” to myself in a high pitched voice. Special Note: Ignore the weird white guy in the Japanese book store.
Moving right along, the third figure I sculpted out of wool fiber was Battlecat. He still is the most perfect sculpture for me. One part Tony the Tiger, one part 80′s cartoon, and one part Powerpuff Girls.
Two years went by and there was no companion (save the Cringor I made) for my perfect Battlecat. And then a little game called the phantom Hourglass came my way. Followed by another stellar Zelda game known as Spirit Tracks. Inspiration struck and I created this Adam based on Link’s design from the game…..
SDCC – Gah! right around the corner!
So, it’s been over a year since I’ve blogged….. oops. I was working at the prestigious Jeff Koons studio last year while I was doing my own thing too. Really overwhelming. SDCC is right around the corner and my wife, Angel, and I have created a ton of OOAK (one of a kind) pieces, several of which will be available only at the Sand Diego Comiccon. 
Little Baby Cringor
This piece was ultimately based on the design of the Devil Dog from Osaka Popstars. Both my wife & I were invited to make a piece for a group show featuring customized Devil Dogs. The show was held at The Showroom located on the southwestern corner of 2nd Ave & 7th St, here in Manhattan.
I wanted to resculpt the figure in wool using this amazing technique, that my wife showed me. It’s called Dry Felting, & basically your sculpting, using wool fibers instead of a hard clay material.
Using a multi barbed needle, you push the needle into a balled up piece of wool and slowly begin yo shape it. It’s like pointalism in 3D.
It’s truely an amazing technique & my wife’s designs look so fantastic in this style. I thought this character too would look perfect in wool. Classy & antique…..
Doc. Henry Jones
Possibly one of the most interesting head sculpts I’ve come across is this one. I found it on ebay for like ten bucks, and at the time I had no idea that Sideshow Toys was going to make 12″ figures of Indiana Jones. Which is the only reason why I wanted it. I wanted a Henry Jones!
So, I made a mold of this head and what you see here is most likely the 3rd head out of the batch. I made about 5. This one I epoxy-ed onto a 21st Century Toys body. From there the grey suit, from Toy Presidents Albert Einstein figure, really establishes the Henry Jones facade. I made the Bow-tie from black ribbon.
The Hat is from a Mold I made of the green Hornets derby. The suit case hails from the Leiji Matsumoto Arms Collection, and a pair of WWII Dragon Spectacles really finishes the toy off nicely.
Destro part 3
Destro was always more menacing and I took him way more seriously than the Commander. After all I once read that the Commander’s personality was a bit of Hitler mixed with Yosemite Sam. I am not joking.
The writers literally wrote Cobra Commander to be an evil dictator. As the series progressed they realized that the character just wasn’t working out with that personality in the given scenario’s.
Enter Destro, he was the stabilizing evil genius, ever since the beginning of the series. And I think now that we’re all a lot older we can see that so much better. Subconsciously, everyone seems to respect and relate to that character more. I remember the first GI Joe mini series (I think it’s the one with the Weather Dominator) Cobra captures Duke, and Cobra Commanders immediate thought is gladiatorial competition! Of course! After all isn’t that a normal first response to POW’s?
So, they throw Duke into a pit with a ten foot tall wrestler. Each gladiator is controlled by a device around their head (like Batman’s the Mad Hatter) as Cobra Commander and Destro manipulate them each with a Joystick control mechanism that is reminiscent of an atari controller. Ah, so eighties.
At one point Destro makes it a point to say, “Ok, we’ve had our fun, now let’s just kill him and move on to the next phase of our plan.” At that point Cobra Commander flips the hell out and is insistent on controlling Duke until there’s no fight left in him. I guess he just wants to break his spirits. Destro is actually animated to appear annoyed. Which is a phenomenal leap for an early 80′s cartoon.
Who is Destro in the pantheon of Cobra? The action figure says Cobra’s Arms Dealer. Even the theme song says something like: “… GI Joe against Cobra and Destro, fighting to save the day … GI Joe, A real american hero …” etc. Seemingly, Destro’s status has been established to be at least equal to that of Cobra Commander. After doesn’t he later get his own Iron Grenadiers.
So, despite his distinct red “Cobra-like” jacket collar, he’s his own man. Not quite a terrorist, just an arms dealer. Who lives in a castle in Scotland. I always thought he was a black dude, but no, he’s Scottish. Which reminds me, on a side note they should get Sean Connery to play Destro in the upcoming movie. That’d be like taking two icons and mashing them together into a new fantastic icon super-hybrid … hurray!
Maybe that’ll be my next Destro: a Sean Connery version.
Destro part 2
Right off the bat, I wanted to make the classic leaders of the Cobra organization. I sculpted the Cobra Commander “sack face” and then later on I sculpted a smooth face shield for another version of the Commander. When it came to Destro, I was about to sculpt the head and then I realized “wow, there are some amazing bald headed figs out there.”
I figured I could alter a pre-existing bald headed 12″ figure. And guess what: I did.
I wanted Destro to Command respect as soon as you see him. Therefore I custom made him from a 13” Martian Manhunter, this version of Destro is intended to stir up memories of the animated adaptation of the character, while carrying all the details of a new and modern toy. I sculpted his neck “collar”and his trademark medallion was realized with the help of an expensive Swarovski Crystal. Really. The Gloves are from a 12″ Boba Fett. The Boots are made from the mold I made of the Cavalry Boots, which I used for The Supreme Chancellor edition of Cobra Commander. The clothes are made from a pattern that I designed (and they took about 3 days to get right, as I took them apart often to make adjustments to the bulky DC Direct 13″ body.
Though Destro is an inch taller, when paired together with the Commander they just feel right to me. The Commander is about 1/4 inch shorter than my other 12″ fig’s, so Destro appears to tower over them. But he looks in scale, and scale is very very important to me. Not to brag, but the more I sculpt and the more I custome I’ve discovered that I have an uncanny knack for scale. I think it’s something I developed in school.
I studied comics and with comics you draw them about twice as big. When printed, they’re scale down to the general size that we’re all familiar with. I think from seeing this art every day for a long time (and in it’s varying scales) I’m able to judge with amazing accuracy. I only say “amazing” because sometimes I even surprise my self. I’m no robot but my guesses about scale are 99% accurate. Apologies for any arogance.
But the point is, I always felt like Destro was just bigger, like his very presence commands a silent respect. Subconsciencely this is achieved through height. Cobra Commander acts like yosemite Sam because he’s a little short, destro says little and commands a great legion because he’s tall like a Titan.
