UPDATE!

Resin testing is complete! I have finally figured out the right mix of resins to yield parts that are equally tough as they are flexible. Printed off 3 sets of complete arms with various ball joint designs to test out which one I liked the most, fit the best, and offered the best grip. So we're off to the races! On to phase 2: the complete figure.

I have designed the full prototype in CAD, just have to figure out the quickest, strongest and most cost effective way to set it up for printing. Almost there!!! Hoping to have a full prototype by next week. The UV resin holds my acrylic paints surprisingly well, so after many paint tests, that step is also complete. Can't wait to see how it goes!!

Cracking The Code

Now that I am finally up and running with printing my prototypes, here comes the fun part. Finding the right mix. The process in which the the printing works uses liquid resin. Their are tons of different companies, varieties, textures and applications. It's almost overwhelming how many different varieties are out there. Some strong, some not so strong. I want my figurines and toys to be able to take a beating, and last for years. So now I'm embarking on the quest of finding the right combinations of resin to deliver a prototype that won't snap or crack under pressure. this journey has been so much fun. My favorite part about the creative process is “trial and error”. Trying this, trying that. Figuring out the perfect process that will offer a killer and totally fun product. Just have to crack the code.

Follow Your Dreams

Today marks a groundbreaking moment in my career as an artist and aspiring toymaker. Over the last month, I acquired various new pieces of technology that I knew little to nothing about. A 3D scanner, 3D printer and 3 to 4 new computer programs that I have never used before. In this time, I gave myself a crash course in navigating this technology and programming well enough to finally produce a physical object. A Hand in this case. But not just a hand. A Hand that started life as a drawing, then into a clay sculpture and finally a 3D printed object. When this little hand popped out of the Printer, I cried tears of pure joy. I turned a drawing into an object I can produce over and over. This moment provided me with the realization that there is no limit to my vast imagination. I'm front row center to a dream I've had for so long that I never thought it would be possible. This is a dream come true in every way. I couldn't have accomplished it without the love and support from my Wife, my family and friends. If you follow your dreams long enough, doodling, playing with Lego and Modeling clay will eventually pay off. I can't for the day I can finally share my toys with the world.

Let's Try This One More Time, With Feeling...

I have had this personal blog since I started my website back in 2012, and never really utilized it. I typically never have anything to say.

But now I do.

I've always been more of a "Show" guy, and not so much a "Tell" guy. So here it goes...

I've been sculpting since I was a child. Ever since I could get my hands on play dough, I always wanted to sculpt. As a kid I would ask Santa for clay, and make my own action figures. Sculpture has always been a little escape. A limitless sandbox for my imagination. Something that went from being fun, to being my therapy, and back to being fun. Sculpture saved me from depression. From feeling like I don't belong. It started to give me a true sense of purpose.

Since around 2014, I've always wanted to create something fun with my artwork. Something that combines my style, creativity and artisty. But also something fun that you can interact with. Something you can play with at any age and at any time. I've always been a fan of Chess. Ever since my father taught me how to play as a child, I never turned down a game of chess. So I decided it would be fun to make my own chess set. I spent the last few years perfecting my pieces, but I had to put that project on hold due to the cost of finishing it, and I got distracted with another idea.

Collectable Figurines.

At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, I made an unbelievable deal with a Sculpture Museum to begin selling my pieces in their store. As well as beginning my own personal online store where I sell merchandise and my sculptures. This was quite possibly the highlight of my art career, but to me, it wasn't enough. From this moment a bulk of my time had to be spent on maintaining the inventory, and not so much on making new things. So the chess set and the figurines had to take a back seat.

Flashforward to now...

In late 2024 - early 2025 I was yearning to return to the fun. So I continued working on the prototype figurines with the dream of being able to share them with the world. I didn't have the right equipment, knowledge or direction to transform this dream into a reality. So I had to ask for some help.

In April of 2025 I received an extraordinarily generous donation from my friends and family to pursue this adventure. They believed in me. They believed in the prototype, the potential, and how fun it can be. With this funding secured, I was finally able to acquire the technology that will move my sculptures to the next level. I then spent the past few weeks on a crash course in 3D Scanning, Rendering and 3D Printing. A universe I knew little about.

So that brings us to today. May 2025. I am now able to not only 3D print my sculptures, but also sculpt them using a computer instead of a ball of wet clay. This leap in technology has been the push I needed to ignite my creativity and inspiration in myself without getting my hands dirty. It has finally bridged the gap between my imagination and reality. I couldn't have done it without all of you.

Amazing things are just around the corner and moving at break neck speed. I can't wait for you to see...