The Sinister Circus: a look back on early efforts

Clowns have always fascinated me. There's something magical, mysterious and courageous about clowns from the classic jester and party clown to the circus and rodeo clown.  So it's no surprise that I would paint clowns at one point. The Sinister Circus is a parody of our world as I saw it around the turn of our current century.  From politics, pop culture and societal norms to technology, recreation and evolving markets.  We live in the Sinister Circus but are we the clowns or the audience being led along by them?




(note: these have all been sold many years ago and I thank those early patrons. )

Empires Comics Vault has some of my art for the month of January

My Little Sentinel

Converting and customizing toys has been a favorite of mine since I was in grade school. It started off with repaints of my Hotwheels and Micronauts and has just continued on.

Many artists have been converting vinyl toys, most popular are the Kid Robot ones and My Little Pony. When I saw the Robot Chicken skit with My Little Apocalypse Ponies I realized that I had to make my own. So I got out on the net and looked around at what other artists were doing. WOW! All you have to do is Google "my little pony customs" and you'll see!

For my custom, I wanted something close to my interests. I decided to go with the Sentinel from the Matrix.

I started off disassembling both the pony and the sentinel. I gave the pony a primer of black to help with previsualization.



I'm using wire pins and modeling putty to join the two main parts


To mark the right spots for holes in the bottom of the sentinel, I painted the post tips with a contrasting color, white, then fit the sentinel on the pony.



After that and drilling out the holes for the pins, I did a couple of dry fits.





I like the second one as it uses all the sentinel parts. The first one, however, shows more of the pony and creates better balance of elements. The other consideration is basing. I'm not sure if I'll base this piece yet. The tentacles can support the form well enough, but wont be adjustable. If I put it on a base,the tentacles can then be positioned however I wish.


The only leftovers I have now are a few of the claws and the pony's head. Well, I do have plans for those...

THE PROJECT COMPLETE


AND WITH A BACKGROUND TAKEN FROM A FRAME OF THE FILM as a stand-in. I'll be painting a 1/2 view background/display for the model. Some would suggest the drop code, but in the film's reality, the sentinel only existed in the war blasted environs of the "real world" and not at all in the "the Matrix".



As you can see, I opted for a simplified form where the pony can still be seen. I had blanked out the whole model, save for the orange of the tentacles, then gave it a base coat of gunmetal (2 parts silver with 1 part black) with silver highlights. The eyes are orange (like the toy's original) with a liberal wash of red (to bring it closer to the movie image).

Two things would really kick the model up a notch:
Red LEDs in each of the eyes and more dimensional sculpting of the body. Overall, however, I'm very pleased with the results I obtained.

Of course, now I have to chase this muse as far as I can. What to do next....

Persons interested in purchasing this pony should contact me directly through email or Myspace Mail.

"Be seeing you..."



C!nder

These were done by suggestion. So now they're up at Side Show Studios!! I'll have to admit, I really had fun painting them! Go check them out!


psst...Gizmo KAKA!!

New Hakomorphs Arrive at Side Show Studios!

VIVA LA LUCHA LIBRE
(Inspired by a cool song by the Secrections)

Hot Rod Robbin

Davey Jones' Parrot of DOOM!

Zombie Robot Bunny

Red and Blue Bird

You can find these and many more at Side Show. They'll make great gifts for the Holidays!!!

April 22, 1923 - December 11. 2008

Dedicated to hottest pin-up in history.

Thanks, Betty Page, for being one of the inspirations that fuels my art.