Simpsons custom toy process thread

aye jay · #1 (**permalink**) 07-30-2007, 02:05 PM

yello!
being a huge simpsons fan, i was pretty bummed when i found out about a custom toy art show with a simpsons theme opening on august 1st. I figured i was way too late, but being i have no shame, i sent a flurry of e mails and was able to squeak into the show with less than a week to get this done. Pushing aside paying work, i set into this having no idea what i was doing. fortunatley, i found max flos thread asking about tips and did a little more reseach and dove in headfirst. I thought it might make a cool process thread, so here we are.

fresh out the box, as the rappers used to say:

not pictured: took the toy apart, and washed it with mild soap and water and let it dry

next, to the outside world for primer. i used cheap spray primer i had lying around, my first mistake:

next, broke out the sanding sponge, and leveled things out a bit. Jeff albertson let me know that i was a hack and had no idea what i was doing:

I then started adding layers of color with acrylic paints. i wasnt able to find any of the pro kinds in my podunk town, so went with golden. At this point, after 10-12 layers i realize that the yello will not cover up the primer. Going to plan b, i decide to do more of a rough wash-y type of look, cause i have to. the disco music i'm listening to attracts company:

i had planned on doing this type of linework on the toy, and am a bit awfull at painting, but proceed anyway:

hard to tell, but i water down some brwn paint and give it a dirty wash, adding and subtracting paint to areas:

time to break out the rustoleum clear coat, and give it a few layers of gloss:

not pictured: as directed i warm up the joints by dipping them in warm water, but still have a really hard time getting the toy back together, scraping off paint in parts and having a mini panic attack.

after fixing the nicks, it's in the box and fedexed down south for a showing. While i make no claim to the toy being great. it was a really good learning experience and i had a ton of fun doing something that was near and dear to me. word up!

more info about the show:
http://www.meltcomics.com/events/archives/00000210.html

andydiesel · #2 (**permalink**) 07-30-2007, 02:09 PM

man, that's pretty wicked.

ASPrintingPress · #3 (**permalink**) 07-30-2007, 02:10 PM

yeah those eyes a rad

aye jay · #4 (**permalink**) 07-30-2007, 02:12 PM

thanks dudes! a closed mouth is never fed. i think that if you want something, ask for it, i'm surprised at the stuff i get to do sometimes just by approaching people. worst they can do is say no!