Amusing Mini/Monstrous Paranormals (Original series)

[Meadowknight]

Hi guys! Some of you know me already from Designer Con last year (2014), the October Toys forum, or my Facebook page. I design, sculpt, mold, and cast my own mini figures called AMP (Amusing Mini Paranormals). Currently I am working for a toy company doing contract work, so my time is limited for AMP, but I am keeping up with it as much as possible ! I will be expanding the series beyond mini figures too as time allows, so the main series outside of my minis will be titled "Amusing Monstrous Paranormals" . It's pipe dreams for the moment, but if I get to take it as far as I want, I would like it to branch out from mini figures into a action figure and comic series, and if it becomes popular enough, a videogame! For now I'm just chipping away at whatever I can. I have multiple new sculpts in the works, and a 31 page comic written, with 13 (almost 14!) already existing figures. I will be posting my art here, but you can also check out my stuff by following these links...

Facebook AMP page (check out the pinned post! Would you back an AMP Kickstarter for PVC?) - https://www.facebook.com/AmusingMiniParanormals

Shop (to buy my resin casts) - http://meadowknight.storenvy.com/

Also, I have a youtube account! My dad is a professional songwriter, guitar player, and composer . He has given me some of his music and may be writing some additional songs that I can use for a future visual novel, or video game! At the time of this post there are 3 songs currently uploaded, here is the playlist - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65L0TZygUxU&list=PLSwxmDYyGLzJ4S41GE1NYe6LbdXsRhTOt

A shot of some of the gang! Ecto Rex is 4 and a half inches tall, and the rest are 1 to 2 inches tall, pressure cast in crazy durable Task2 resin by Smooth-On.

[Meadowknight]

Here's some art I did for a promotional postcard I did that I give out with orders (almost out, need to print more!)

Front


Back

[Meadowknight]

Here are some AMP illustrations done by other artists, that maybe someday can make it into an art-card set if permission is given (I know I have permission on at least a few). For now enjoy them here .

This is some artwork of Big Rad Wolf that a friend of mine did for me! This is by the very talented Darren Douglas. Darren is a professional concept and comic book artist. Do you remember the futuristic Wipeout racing games? Darren did all the concept art! I love this painting he did of Rad!


A lot of you guys probably know Joseph Whiteford! Check out this awesome art he did of Beast Blossom a while back!


Also, here is some great Ecto-Rex artwork by the talented Donkiku!


Lastly here is some really cool Alien Ghostworm art by Corwin Webb!

[Meadowknight]

Big Rad Wolf means business with some S.L.U.G., OMFG, and M.U.S.C.L.E. companions!

[Meadowknight]

Ninja Gnat, doing...ninja things...

[Meadowknight]

Some fun with glow in the dark casting!

Lights on!


Annnnd...lights off!

[Meadowknight]

Some Shotomoth goodness..




Officer Lawcust and Fuzzbuzz on the case!


Ecto-Rex (mini version) and Ecto-Gecko play in some portalplasm slime!

[Meadowknight]

Here's a few images of me and my Designer Con 2014 booth, followed by tons of progress to completion images of a display I made for Dcon. It was my first (and hopefully not last) Dcon experience! I had a blast, and made some new friends in the process. I wish I could attend this year but I am too bogged with contract work. My fingers are crossed for next year!



AMPs and some of my other work!


This is a big light up display I created for AMP called Portalplasm Ruins! Both kids and adults got a kick out of it, and I had a blast creating it. Here are some shots of my month journey of creating it (though a couple of the faces attached to the walls I had partially sculpted beforehand) .

Block out


Sculpting pieces for it!








Resin coating and assembly! Pieces are in weird random colors because I was casting with random pigments, lol. The majority of the coating I used purple pigment on purpose, so when I sprayed my gray primer before painting, I could tell what spots I missed. The display consists of foam board, cardboard, cast resin pieces from my sculpted details, and for texturing I put some rabbit litter into a blender, lol. I also cut up the foam board into brick sizes (the same as my more detailed sculpted bricks), and mixed them into wet resin, and then dumped them for a rubble pile effect!




Lighting test! I used a combination of fiber optics and LED lights to illuminate the entire set. This was difficult only having a month to make the display (I always get inspired last minute ! lol ), and never having done anything with lights. Crash course! I purposefully cast my stone and tree faces in a semi transparent resin for the light to shine through, and then painted everything but the mouth and eyes.


Completed sconces! I molded and cast a few of these to put at the entrance, and up the steps! You can see some of the work in progress on those in images pasted above. I then put flickering LED lights into them to make them appear like sconces with a flame inside! The crackled glass look is strips of plastic I cut from a water bottle, taped to form a ring, then textured with aquarium silicone. After that I paint washed them orangey-yellow to further diffuse the LED lights. The tops and bottoms are molded and cats from my sculpt using gray pigmented resin and metallic FX powder.


Then FINALLY came time to paint it !

Masked off certain areas for primer coats!



Wiring the lights! (hey it was my first time doing LEDs, I KNOW it looks sloppy, haha! )

Sconce wiring! After wiring I glued them in place, but the entire display is made so the lights can be replaced. This display is TOUGH too, it won't fall apart over the years since it's entirely resin coated.

Light test! Everything worked after a few trouble shootings!







Videos of lighting tests can be seen here! I used color change lights, flickering lights, and blinking lights to add extra life to the atmosphere. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=vb.672859706132681&type=2

And FINALLY...it made it to Designer Con!

[Meadowknight]

This is a AMP I created named Cliffhanger Crestie! I have bred crested geckos (I have a ton of babies currently and a few adults!) and they are amazing animals...I HAD to make one for AMP! And make him adventure themed...just cause . However he came out a little larger than I wanted, so I will be resculpting this character when time allows.

I painted one of the casts!


And then some of my hatchlings played with him!

[Meadowknight]

Here is some stuff I am currently up to, along with a photo of the available 12 shown together, that you can find in my shop (some colors and figures are sold out however).

This is a very rough concept sketch I did of Big Rad Wolf (the main character in the AMP universe, a werewolf from the 80s!), in his human form, shown with King Crumpet (jumping), and Ecto Rex (above). You can also see Radmote, Rad's trusty sidekick perched on his shoulder! The main point of this little drawing is for me to see what the character's actual sizes might look like next to each other for the comic book I am working on. It's also to try to figure out the style, which I want to be a range between semi realistic, to very wacky and cartoony. For example Rad is sorta semi-realistic, while King Crumpet is very cartoony.

And here we have my latest AMP in the works, IceCream Cronie! I snapped these photos before baking his front half, he is currently baked though with most of the back half of the figure complete. When time allows I will mold, cast, and add him to my shop as the 14th AMP! (well #13 Cliffhanger Crestie needs a re-sculpt).


12 out of the 13 existing AMPs! Some are 2 inch regulars, and some seen are 1 inch sidekicks!

[grappp]

Figures are fantastic! I have two pieces in the collection

[Mutt12]

My mind... blown!

[Meadowknight]

Figures are fantastic! I have two pieces in the collection

Aww thanks man!! I LOVE that photo too, thank you for the comment and sharing that!!

[Meadowknight]

My mind... blown!

Thanks !!! lol!

[Mutt12]

My mind... blown!

Thanks !!! lol!

No problem. That display set is just... just... there's no word to describe it. Schmooblydong? That's not it, but it's close.

[Meadowknight]

I haven't finished sanding him yet...and these pics were taken before doing ANY sanding...but I finished the sculpting on Ice Cream Cronie!



Also, I almost have the face and hair done now on a Big Rad Wolf as a human!

[Meadowknight]

My mind... blown!

Thanks !!! lol!

No problem. That display set is just... just... there's no word to describe it. Schmooblydong? That's not it, but it's close.

Thank ya! I got inspired sooo last minute too..I had MANY nights of staying up overnight working on that....for Designer Con I ran my booth on 1 hour sleep because everythign was so last minute, lol!

[Meadowknight]

This is a little something I wanted to share. I know not everyone is for digital sculpting and 3D prints...but I'm going to get back into practicing zbrush again soon. This site was suggested to me as an awesome professional 3D print source http://lightbeam3d.com/ ! It has rekindled my interest in digital, that such smooth prints can be created. That being said I may be giving it a shot as soon as time allows. I haven't touched zbrush in over a year, and even then I hadn't fully grasped it. When I can I'll try completing at least one character, and get a prototype made, and see if I can capture the same vibe and soul of my clay pieces. To me, I have a pretty positive attitude about digital work after working in zbrush a bit...I used to be entirely against it, but there are some great advantages that can really enable artists in ways clay just can't do. I'm not quite there yet, but I want to get back to it.

This is a work in progress of a standing Ecto-Rex I started and did not complete yet, using Zbrush. From what I can tell so far, I'll be able to achieve the same as I can in clay, and then some once I know the ropes better. Digital (in my opinion) isn't cheating how I thought it was either, but there are huge time saving perks not possible with clay, and that extra freed up time can be invested in further creativity . This Ecto-Rex was just a test..I wanted to try him standing, and see what sculpting drips would be like digitally...it's tricky! WIll I give up clay? Nope, will I give up digital? Nope...both are cool and useful to me, but opinions obviously vary.

[Meadowknight]

Hey guys!

Some of you may be interested in a Facebook page I just started. It's for trading and selling minis, and also for mini figure artists to post whatever they are making and selling. Please check it out and join! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1019210231433933/

Also, Ice Cream Cronie is pretty much done...he just needs a little more sanding so I can mold and cast him. I am also considering sculpting a few Madball styled pieces, so stay tuned for those! I will probably do a Big Rad Wolf version first, a friend suggested I call him Radball, lol. I figure that may be fun to sculpt for a change, and I'm planning an 80s themed party for some friends and I...and I need madballs for the loot bags . The prices suck for needing like 8 mini madballs... so I may just have to make my own !

[Meadowknight]

Remember C.U.T.I.E. Club figures?? Maybe just I do since I'm a chick !



Also, I ordered some Big Rad zipper pulls for the cold weather! The image on them turns, so you can adjust the orientation. I will be including one free with orders while supplies last! I still have some figures left over from the previous drop as well, including red Big Rad Wolf figures. The mold is also currently busted so get him while you can, it may be a while before I can make more! http://meadowknight.storenvy.com/

[Sethl]

Really fantastic work all around!

[Meadowknight]

Really fantastic work all around!

Thank you!

[Bio-Masters]

Your stuff is flippin' great!

[Mutt12]

This is a little something I wanted to share. I know not everyone is for digital sculpting and 3D prints...but I'm going to get back into practicing zbrush again soon. This site was suggested to me as an awesome professional 3D print source http://lightbeam3d.com/ ! It has rekindled my interest in digital, that such smooth prints can be created. That being said I may be giving it a shot as soon as time allows. I haven't touched zbrush in over a year, and even then I hadn't fully grasped it. When I can I'll try completing at least one character, and get a prototype made, and see if I can capture the same vibe and soul of my clay pieces. To me, I have a pretty positive attitude about digital work after working in zbrush a bit...I used to be entirely against it, but there are some great advantages that can really enable artists in ways clay just can't do. I'm not quite there yet, but I want to get back to it.

This is a work in progress of a standing Ecto-Rex I started and did not complete yet, using Zbrush. From what I can tell so far, I'll be able to achieve the same as I can in clay, and then some once I know the ropes better. Digital (in my opinion) isn't cheating how I thought it was either, but there are huge time saving perks not possible with clay, and that extra freed up time can be invested in further creativity . This Ecto-Rex was just a test..I wanted to try him standing, and see what sculpting drips would be like digitally...it's tricky! WIll I give up clay? Nope, will I give up digital? Nope...both are cool and useful to me, but opinions obviously vary.

I'd love to see the standing Ecto Rex as a large vinyl toy

[Meadowknight]

Hey guys! Long time no post...I'm just busy and don't want to post every single thing I post on facebook on here and annoy people, haha! It's been a while though so I'll share here as well. My free time is super sparse with the contract stuff I have going...but I am still chipping away at my original work as much as I can, and that is where my heart is at so HOPEFULLY someday my indie work can be my full time work .

I have a new AMP very close to completion, I'm still working out the details and refinements on his front half...but it's almost done. This is Fish Hook! I have been obsessed with a show called Once Upon a Time, and absolutely love Colin O'donoghue's portrayal of Captain Hook (sorry but I'm female so...LOL). Fish Hook is a total tongue and cheek tribute to his character, and I am having a blast with it. Plus people have been wanting a nautical themed AMP. I'm obsessed with pirates right now so more may happen in the near future, he needs a crew or a nemesis...I'm kicking around some ideas already for another pirate figure or two.







And who would Captain Hook be without a Smee? So I created Smeel, a Smee Eel, haha! He's almost done as well, and in proper AMP sidekick tradition he is only 1 inch tall.



There's also a figure I have been chipping away at who I'm naming Skitters, that's about 6 inches long. He's a tribute to all of the crazy obscure rubber monster figures from the 80s that could be found in party stores, 5 and dimes, and as arcade prizes. One of the main toys I collect are obscure 80's creatures, stuff like dor mei, and Imperial, Defenders of the Planets...that sort of stuff! Skitters is also highly inspired by the vintage finger monsters and ugly wugglies as well! I'm brainstorming on the best medium to cast him in, since he's almost done...and if there's a way to replicate that cheap airbrushed look without the paint chipping on something like resin or rubber. I need to strike a balance of durability, affordability, and a way to do the pieces quickly enough to keep the price affordable. He's mostly a personal figure, I have no idea if he'll be popular...but if he sells well I'll likely do more like him.



In other news, I'm finally buying a new pressure pot sometime this week or as soon as my current invoices clear. I'm just waiting for them to hit my account and I'm grabbing one off Amazon. My small pot from Harbor Freight died on me back in the fall after a few years of heavy use! I am also completely out of resin and silicone, so with the combined expenses it's going to be a bit tricky to get back up and rolling quickly. That being said if you have been considering buying any AMPs but haven't pulled the trigger, or know people who would like AMP, please grab some figures or share the shop link http://meadowknight.storenvy.com/. I am making good money off contract work, but my side sales really help fund material costs for AMP. You guys help keep me rolling, so thank you! There are characters like Big Rad Wolf, and Officer Lawcust, and Beast Blossom among others that I cannot even produce anymore without making a new mold, and most of my AMP followers don't have a Ice Cream Cronie or Cliffhanger Crestie yet either. The more sales I make, the more molds I can make or remake, and the more figures I can produce so you guys have more color options .

Oh! And I just surprised myself the other day realizing I have a total of 14 AMP figures already fully completed. I didn't realize I had that much, lol. Fish Hook will up it to 15, and Smeel will up it to 16. I've almost hit the 20 mark with AMP, and may be at 20 before the year ends depending on free time. The AMP collection is definitely growing!

Hope you enjoyed the new pics! This is only a rough estimate for now, but I'm hoping to have all three of these new figures available for sale sometime in July. I have no idea what I'll be charging for Skitters, but he will cost more than an AMP figure since he is so big. I will try to keep him affordable as I can though. Please let me know if you guys like the look of him, because he's definitely MOSTLY a personal piece...I am really curious if other people will want one. Most likely I'll have some first casts to show this June if I don't run into trouble converting the new pressure pot, but drops will likely happen in July. I will definitely post updates with them so you have a head's up! I will also be (finally) casting more Ice Cream Cronies and Cliffhanger Cresties alongside them too. My pressure pot literally died right after I finished Ice Cream Cronie, so only a few people got him! Not even 20 people own him, it literally died after a few casts. There are a few Cliffhanger Cresties, and some of the other characters still available in the shop for now if anyone is interested!