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How did I miss this thread? The thread is full of awesomeness!
Whole thread is like Doritos for your eyes
Guys!
I want to share with you some sort of interview/conversation we had with Randy Queen about the process of creating Pop Culture Shock Toys Randy Queen’s Ariel Darkchylde statue that is coming up to pre oreder on Thu! For me it was really an honor to be able to work with Randy, not only because he is a great artist - he draw chicks as only a few can draw - but because he is also a great and cool guy!
RQ: This is not an easy job to do, creating something from nothing, either in real or digital clay, and at the high level of craft that you work at. What inspires, pushes and motivates your art?
A: Fantasy stories! Simply as that, just the sense of fantasy. When I was a kid, my father and my grandfather gathered a huge collection of comics released by the Argentinean publisher Columba Editorial. Those stories were amazing; characters as Nippur from Lagash, Crazy Jack, Jakaroe, Dago… Written by Robin Wood, Oesterheld, etc. and penciled by the Villagran bros. Solano Lopez, Ruben Meriggi, etc. Awesome stories that took me to amazing and astonishing travels. I still find out myself thinking and remembering those tales in my head while working. I read again and again the works of Lovecraft, Poe, Howard, Tolkien and others. Yeah, it’s all about fantasy.
RQ: Any other sculptors whose work you admire, any go to guys when you need a shot of inspiration?
A: Lots of them!!! When I am about to start a piece, I gather considerable references, and realize most of the time it’s the same sculptors’ works: Martin Canale, Tim Bruckner, Tony Cipriano, William Paquet, Ruben Procopio, Andy Bergholtz, Ray Villafane; Clay Moore to name a few. I am huge fan of them, they do magic!!! They are my heroes.
RQ: Best time of day to work? When are the magic hours?
A: Night. Always at night! I go to the workshop at about 10 PM until the sun raises 7-8 AM. It is the best time for me!
RQ: You sculpted both the MK Scorpion and the Darkchylde pieces that were revealed at San Diego Comic-Con. I know how much work the Darkchylde piece was, but how is it to see not only one, but two of your pieces on display in that glass case making their debut to the world after spending months on end crafting them?
A: It was great!! For one side, it was Ariel; as you said we put a lot of work on her, but it is not common to work directly with the creator of the characters so it was a great feeling, although I never felt so much pressure because you are well known because of the sexy ladies you draw: it was quite a challenge. To see her standing at the booth meant I did what I was expected to do, I was able to - at some point - give life to your creation! And about MK9 Scorpion, it was the premiere of Jerry’s fans long time requested line, the first of the series, most of what is coming next depended on it! It was a great show!
RQ: Do you ever hit an artistic wall, or creative burnout, and if so, how do you get you on the other side of it, or is it just something you just have to push through?
A: Yeah!!! Most of the times!! But then I look into my huge collection of toy/statues image library saved on my computer and while browsing it I start to feel the anger and hate over the works of those talented bastards, I start to curse them in different languages because of their awesomeness and that gives me the strength to go back to my own stuff. When working on my own designs and characters, I like to take a look to fantasy illustrations: Brom, Frazetta, Vallejo, Kelly, Warhammer and Warcraft concept art,etc all those are my biggest inspirations.
RQ: As with any art medium, fans and art collectors only get to see the finished product, the end result which is ideally, the satisfying answers to the questions you had to ask, and all the head banging against the wall people don’t get to see. What is the most satisfying aspect of the process for you?
A: The creation process. Most of the times when the piece is finished I look at it and think to myself “it is done, so what’s next?” I really love the step by step, day to day work until the piece is finished. By changing the medium from traditional sculpting to digital, I got a lot of people asking if I missed clay, and the truth is I do not! Why? Because digital gave me something traditional doesn’t have - for me- ! Time! Working under art direction, it’s awesome how fast requested changes can be done, now it is much easier to try to get exactly what the art director requests. Awesome! And when doing personal projects, the chances to sketch it to see how will work while I am working on it is great. Yes, the creation process is what I enjoy the most! Zbrush rocks!!!
RQ: What is the most challenging aspect of the process for you?
A: In general: dynamism. When you are working on a piece you want to represent with some sort of movement, to achieve a believable dynamic pose is by far – for me – the most difficult challenge. To make it like if it is really moving, or about to move, or finishing a movement. If you take a look at Bruckner’s DC Dynamic pieces you will see what I am talking about, it is amazing how Tim was able to give that sense of movement: the anatomy, the flow of the figure. Simply amazing. Another example is Martin Canale, the way he represents anatomy in each piece is something beyond my understanding.
RQ: Darkchylde is the story of Ariel Chylde, a southern teen who can shed her skin to become the different creatures from her many recurring nightmares. The goal with the 15th Anniversary piece was to create an elegant, evocative work of fine art. Something that didn’t look like just another back arched, fist clenched, super hero comic book statue. This is a girl who is at war with the shadows of her spirit. So her strength, hope, and determination had to be represented, as well as this nightmare from her id that is pushing through and shedding her skin. I’ve talked a lot with my friends about transformations… about how butterflies enter a
chrysalis and have to change and evolve in order to survive. I think that’s a powerful visual metaphor, and I’m building a new Darkchylde story called “burning butterflies” around it. Do you find it helpful or more daunting where there are subtle themes, and subtext represented in the art you are working on?
A: It is helpful and daunting at the same time. Helpful because when a character has a background story it gives you something extra to work with as you picture the character in situation, it is like a fast “full of images” short movie playing in your head, with music and all. That is very inspirational! And exciting as hell!! And daunting, because you might feel the pressure to achieve what the creator of the character wanted or wants to tell about it. The pressure of not knowing if you are going the same path the creator wants you to follow, like if you might not do justice to his creation. It is a wonderful ride! In Ariel case, the sketch you did as reference gathered her story all together, not only her look, but her determination and her “don’t mess with me” attitude.
RQ: All bias aside, I think this is one of the most beautiful and iconic female statues I’ve seen. We all push for the best, yet sometimes it’s hit and miss. Some of the most memorable female pieces of the last 14 years have been Moore’s very first Witchblade, and his Aphrodite IX . Those seem to be some of the more memorably evergreen sculpts, and I think this one is as well. Additionally, the statue market was much broader when those pieces were released, and while Darkchylde is a more limited run, I feel she is just as powerful and commanding in artistic presentation. So it will be interesting to see if she becomes another evergreen, classic piece. The fans sort of determine which works endure, but you have to give them the good stuff to choose from, and I think you really brought the goods, so many thanks for that.
This has been a long, difficult process in creating, and you did a wonderful job capturing a beautiful girl and her mythic themes of nightmare and transformation.
A: Wow, What can I say? A big thank you!!! It was really an honor to be able to work with Ariel side by side with you, Jerry and Keu Cha - let’s not forget he reviewed the piece and gave her the final touches. Also this piece wouldn’t look alive without the magic of Mike Najera painting skills. Yes, I am honored, and by hearing you are happy with the result is music to my ears, and of course, meat for my ego! I am more than happy you feel we did justice to your marvelous creation. Can’t wait to see what you have planned for her next!!!
A: Now, I have a few questions for you… how does it feel? How does it feel one day you woke up and you realize your creation has 15 years in the world? Not only in comic book form, but as action-figures, several statues, minimates, posters, and soon a motion picture directed by no other than John Carpenter. Do you still remember the days when Ariel was just in your head and you dreamed of her?.. and of course: what is next in Ariel’s life?
RQ: Haha. You turned the tables didn’t you? At 15 years I just think how fast time zooms. When you’re in the middle of the river fishing, you don’t notice how fast it all flows around you. This statue for example, I’ll wake up 10 years from now and it will still be in my office, you know? But right now it’s new. You just wake up one day, and you’re there. It’s interesting to go to a show and see the comic collections, a toy or a statue in a display case and you think, that wouldn’t be there unless ‘x, y, and z’ happened. But it’s patience, and hard work and sometimes things click.
I’m not sure I’ve fully processed Carpenter being attached as director, because I’m such a fan of his movies. He made The Thing, and created Michael Myers and Snake Plissken! If I could pick one director in a dream scenario, it would be Carpenter, so we’ll see what happens. I’m happy to still be here, working with other talented people creating cool art like this new statue. Music, writing, sculpture, and art all feed our spirits and help keep us going, so to participate in the creation of it is a joy and privilege.
‘Randy Queen’s Darkchylde: The Ariel Chylde Saga’ fine art statue will be available to order from sideshow on Sept. 8th.
alterton great statue and thanks a lot for sharing the interview 
Magada: thank you very much, I am glad you like the piece and you have enjoyed the interview.
Now, lets go back to… WARRIORS!!!
Here you have the painted version of three Minions’ story characters, for the zbrush models just look a few pages back and you will find them. Done with Zbrush and Photoshop. GO ZBRUSH!!
Keep on zbrushing!
Alterton
Attachments
Totally TOP row to me!!!
Incredible work my friend
Keep posting more of these amazing stuff, please!!
nicee!
love the throne guy!
You always give a very tradicional feeling to your works, i like it!
cheers!
these are astonishing! throne dude takes the cake for me amazing details, top row for sure!
Sego, Mariano, Mike! Thanks guys, glad you like them
Here is another one!
Alterton
Absolutely beautiful work! Enjoyed this thread thoroughly! Keep em coming.
Great work man! I love it all!
Best regards,
Thanks Favio and Ragen!
Here is another one!
Alterton
Attachments
Holy…insane dude!!
Great!
j.c.s.o.a.s. 
Thanks G, piz and dapharmer! Glad you like them
How about another one?
Alterton
sorry, I forgot this one!!
Awesome sculpts, man! Love all the prints. And thanks for the tips!
Great attention to detail man. It feels like you can touch them.
wonders if anyone else here got what jcsoas meant 
and says it again in light of new images