Thursday, January 31, 2013

Custom Tribal Pygmy Blind Box Series - Date Announced!

It's official!  I'll be dropping these little cutie patooties this Saturday, February 02, 2013 in my store!  Currently, I don't have any pictures that have been taken with an actual camera (vs. my phone).  I also don't have a white background large enough to accommodate more than one or two pygmies at a time.  Aaaand yes, I still need to finish the grass skirts and try out the jewelry.  What was I doing last night, you ask?  I was searching for the new series of Kre-O Microchangers and then playing Talisman.  (Nerd alert!)  Even us busy folks need some time to unwind every once in a while.

Blurb about the pygmies: Done in collaboration with Small Angry Monster, this 10-piece blind box drop will be available Saturday 02/02/2013.  These vinyl toys have removable handmade wooden tiki masks.  Each of the 2.5" figures in the series is unique; figures and masks have been hand painted with high quality acrylic paints.  All come signed and numbered by SoKo Cat (that’s me!).





So there we have it.  My first series drop!  Very excited.  Hopefully everyone will be very happy with the quality of work and creativity.

I was also thinking about using one as a giveaway.  Maybe in a week or so, I'll try to reach 300 followers and use a leftover pygmy (assuming there are any left over ^.^).  We'll see.

Ok, nerds.  I have lots of work to finish up before I can go home and paint for the remainder of the evening (yes, I'm at work), so I shall bid you farewell for now.  After I've finished these dudes and dudettes and have official photos, I'll update again.  Talk to you all soon.  Stay warm, dry, healthy, and nerdy as always.

kthxbai

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Tiki Toil Tuesday

A non-Monday post?  Inconceivable!  Well, to be honest, I was rather tired and without coffee.  That makes a hissy spitty SoKo Cat.  

This past weekend, I was visited yet again by Small Angry Monster.  Aside from hanging out with friends, getting sushi, and scaring and scarring the bejesus out of me by watching The Grudge (呪怨!!!!  EEEEeeeek!), we buckled down and pumped out what I think is a really awesome collaborative project.  In one weekend, we started, worked our butts off on, and virtually finished a series of awesome ten pygmy monsters wearing tiki masks.  They'll definitely be dropping within the next week. 

It's so very exciting, and will be my first custom series drop!  Here are a few spoiler pictures.  Some have already been posted to my Instagram page. Some may be new.  ^_^

More pictures tomorrow as I try out some beaded jewelry and finish up the skirts!  I'm super excited for this drop!  Are you??

 
  

   

It's been a lot of work, but it was all very fun.  I'd do another series again in a heartbeat.  Maybe I'll use Munnys or Trikkys next time.  Maybe I'll do larger pygmies!  It's exciting to think about. 

Alright, nerds.  Hopefully you enjoyed these lovely pics.  I'll touch base with you tomorrow.  Depending on how much I get done tonight, I may have a better idea about a specific drop date.  Until then, stay nerdy and don't sit too far on the edge of your seat -- especially if you have a rolling desk chair.  I've learned the hard way that it's all too easy to fall off.  ^.^

kthxbai

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Wicked Wintery Weather Wednesday

I really need to have less lame names for my Hai, all.  Is this week over yet?  At least it's Wednesday, right?

So, what's the weather like by you today?  Our local high was at about 3 pm this afternoon.  It was a whopping 18°F!  Phew!  It's almost a heat wave!  Tonight's low is estimated to be 12°F.  Luckily, the cold doesn't bother me too much.  I sport some knee high socks, a warm sweatshirt, awesome flannel PJ pants, and sit under a fluffy blanket with a fire in the fireplace or the spaceheater pointed in my direction.  Add some hot tea and a tasty snack to the equation, and I'm all set.  All set.

As promised, I'm giving you the latest and greatest RE: Goblintown gobos.  Weapons and leather have been basecoated again due to flesh spillover.  After a little wash and highlight, they should be good to go.  Then all that's left is eyeballs, teeth, highlighting hair, and flocking bases.  Yes, that sounds like a lot of work, but the skin was the time consuming part.  From now on, this will (hopefully) be cake.


This week on Instagram, I announced that when I reach 100 followers, I'd give custom toys to a few random peeps.  It took maaaybe three hours, and when all was said and done, I was at around 150!  Awesome.  Prizes include the painted Android and the piece with the eyeballs, seen in my store.  I think that after these gobos are done, I'll start working on a few small customs.  Once finished, it'll be giveaway time again!


Gooood byyyyye toys.  You're going to a good home where people will love and appreciate you.  I'd put an "In Memoriam," but it seems like overkill, doesn't it?  Ok, let's try: 


Yea, that's kinda weird.  Nvm.  Hahahahaha.

Oh, and look it's time to go again.  Ok, nerds.  It's that time again.  Don't cry.  I shall give you yet another bout of babbling in a few days.  Until then, stay nerdy and forever addicted to my awesomeness.  And my painting.  Let's not forget about the talent and the painting. ^.^

kthxbai

Monday, January 21, 2013

Exciting Prospects!

This weekend was absolutely mahhhvelous.  Met new people, spent time with good friends, and ate tasty foods.  How obvious is it that I'm motivated by food?  I'm like a freakin' hobbit.

First up is the gobos.  Yeah.  As you can tell, I didn't take any updated pictures of the gobos.  Well, I had some superb help from Small Angry Monster who was visiting this weekend (he's looking for an apartment!  Excited!), and after a few lessons in quickly highlighting a gobo, we inked and highlighted ALL of them.  Thanks for all of your help.

Next up is Laura who recently landed a BIG job!  Congrats, Laura!  We all took her out for sushi Saturday night.  This was less than half of the food we ordered.  A delicious mix of hot and cold food, I was very happy with its quality and quantity.  Even though I don't like fish.  Yes, I know.  There's nothing but fish on that platter.  I had the chicken teriyaki.


Sunday SUNDAY SUNDAY!  Monster truck racing!  Ok, I lied.  But while there was no monster truck racing, there was a wonderful visit to Hoboken to see Eric aka Argonaut Resins.  Business discussions, moving plans, art shows, new ideas!  It was all very exciting.  And then we went to Popeye's and ate fried chicken and continued to talk.

Artists talking!  Tuttz!  Fancy studio space!  Oooooo!


I gotta get me a big piece of paper taped to the wall so I can have a seamless white background when taking pictures.  This dude knows what he's doing.  It's like he's a professional or something!


These are the Monster Magnets painted by Small Angry Monster.  They're absolutely wonderful!  When asked if I could do a better job, I said I wasn't sure but would be willing to try and see.  So, that's my newest project: painting a set of Monster Magnets and comparing them to the guru.  It's going to be epically fun.


Also, while there, I received a tip about a show and the real possibility of working with some cool peeps AND being in a show.  More on that laters if/once I have details.

Other than that, my weekend was pretty boring. ^.^

Oh, and look at that.  It's time to go home.  Tonight we make a wonderful Korean dinner complete with bulgogi, white rice, dried seaweed, and whatevs else we have in the house.  Baked beans.  Not really.  I don't know.  LOL.  I'm so out of it.  I hate Mondays.

Ok, nerds.  And with that, I bid you a farewell.  Stay warm ... and nerdy, as always.  Next time you hear from me, I'll have updated pictures of the gobos...as if you're desperate to see them. :P

kthxbai

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Thirsty Thursday

Thirsty Thursday is a bit of a misnomer.  I am currently thirsty, but not for alcohol.  Today has been a surprisingly non-stressful day, which makes me happy.  The unfortunate part is that when things don't go wrong, I have nothing to report.  That brings special meaning to the phrase "no news is good news," I suppose.

I've recently worked on a bunch of Goblin Town gobos.  They're coming along slowly because I'm not drybrushing the skin -- I'm highlighting everything individually.  In the long run, it doesn't really matter the method, but I did try flatbrushing a few of them, and even though they're still very nice, I know that I utilized an easier, quicker method.  It essentially means I feel less accomplished having spent only 5 minutes on each model instead of nearly 30.  Eh, whatevs.  We'll see how I feel come this weekend.  If I have the time to devote to nonstop gobo painting, I'll opt for highlighting.  If not, I'll flatbrush.  OR I'll do a combination of both.  Oh, my life is so hard.  I have such difficult decisions to make.


Motorbot recently released a Mini Scowl in his store, and even though parts of them have been painted, I'm going to see if I can get my paws on one that's resin only.  They look like a lot of fun to paint, and once these freakin' gobos are done, and I return Mr. DuBose's Egg Nabber...(oh yeah I was going to work on Zombies too.  Again.  My life is so difficult.  I can't decide what fun project to begin next...), maybe I'll start on the Hoot Hoot.

Haha, and just like THAT, my words of happiness have angered the gods of work.  I have lots of aggravating things to do.  SO many, in fact, that I've let this post sit for over four hours.

Right, then.  Back to work.  Oh, look.  It's time to go home. ^.^  Suckahs!

What did we learn today, nerds?  To never EVER think to yourself "work has been really easy today and I'm kinda bored."  Because some all-mighty translucent hoobajoob will raise an eyebrow and say "challenge ACCEPTED!" and smite you.  You'll be smote like you've never been smote before.  Then you'll need an alcoholic drink on this wonderful thirsty Thursday.  See what I did there?  I came full circle.  I'm so clever. 

kthxbai

Oh, yes.  And stay nerdy.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Monday Madness

Happy Monday!  I don't mean it.  I don't mean it at all.  Mondays are horrifying because that means I am back at work and need to actually do all of the things I actively decided not to do last week.  

Naturally, this means I should update my blog!

This past weekend was productive and exciting for a variety of reasons.  I've been chugging along nicely with the LOTR Goblin Town goblins.  There will be pictures soon, I promise, but any artist will agree with me when I say that right before everything comes together it looks like absolute rubbish.  I'm at the peak of my rubbish phase and refuse to take pictures until I have all of the skin properly highlighted.  From there, I'll complete the last of the highlights on the leather, weapons, and facial features (eyes, toofs, and hair).  

Small Angry Monster volunteered to paint Radagast from the Goblin Town box and managed to have him done by this weekend.  When I went up to Connecticut Friday/Saturday, he revealed this lovely piece of artistry!  He claims that he didn't spend very much time at all on it and estimates that this is approximately 50% of his ability.  50%?  Are you kidding?  Bah.  Whatevs.  To be fair, this isn't his most impressive work (not by far), but I think we can agree that it is super-duper-uber awesomeholyshitwoooows.

I mean -- look at this!  Radagast (and Sebastian)'s paint job is freakin' awe inspiring!

BLAH!  Talking about his painting for more than a few minutes makes me want to vom out of pure self-deprecation.  I kid, I kid!

[Beat]

Sooooooo moving on (snicker), this past week I purchased a newly released goblin (far left in the picture) from fellow artist Jonathan DuBose and he was so wonderfully kind enough to send me an extra load of goodies!  Because I'm looking to expand my portfolio, I'm offering to paint and return pieces to other artists.  Win-win, right?  Well, in any case, the middle piece is the only one he wants me to return after I've finished painting them.  

Oh, wow.  Yes, it does seem like I have a thing for goblins.  I assure you it's entirely coincidental.  That's very strange.  Hmm...


Other than that, I'm procrastinating the shiznat out of the Tricky Trikky and getting all of my Goblin Town lovelies done.  After that?  Maybe some of Mr. DuBose's resin pieces, maybe some custom Munnys with Small Angry Monster, and, oh yes -- I have zombies in my future.  Specifically a box o' zombies.

So much to do!  And school starts back up next Tuesday.  Did I mention that I'm entering my last semester of graduate school?  Well, I am.  An MBA.  Not because I like business, but because I was feeling restless and my company has a decent tuition reimbursement policy.  If you want to know more, I'll be happy to elaborate some day.  Not like you care, but whatevs. ^.^

Ok, nerds.  It's time for me to head out.  I'll surely be back for more ramblings later on this week.  Maybe if we're all lucky, I'll have pictures of nearly completed goblins.  Until then, be patient, remain curious and interested in my slowly progressing work, laugh at my sarcastic and senseless ramblings, and most importantly, stay nerdy.

kthxbai

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

So Cold Cat

Do you see what I did, there?  Instead of SoKo Cat, I'm so cold.  I regret to inform you that the space heater in my office fried itself only moments ago.  My previously warm and cozy cat space has now turned frigid and frosty, plummeting a few degrees at a time each time a draft from the front door whizzes past.  So, I placed a purchase requisition for a new, better heater and if I'm not suffering from hypothermia by tomorrow at this time, I will resume said toastiness with the new hotness.  (Another pun!  I'm on fire!)  Until then, it's hot beverages which mostly consists of coffee, coffee, COFFEE!!!!! (boing, boing, boing, boing)

Right, so...last night I was planning on working on the Tricky Trikky, but had an unexpected journey to 750 Piece Jigsaw Puzzleland.  3 AM rolls by all too quickly when doing a jigsaw puzzle, don't you think?  I did have some help until almost 1 AM from friend and fellow artist Laura Weintraub who managed to put together at LEAST 15 pieces.

This first picture was taken at about 9 PM last night.  We were watching Taken 2: The Takening (Ok, it's just Taken 2) and had quickly abandoned the puzzle due to Liam and Famke and their takenings.

 
 
Fast forward about 5 hours.  Voila!  It's a nearly completed puzzle!  To be honest, I almost decided to head to bed at 2 AM immediately after I took this picture...but then didn't because I found another piece.  And then another.  Then I looked up and it was 3 AM.  Ergo me being exhausted yet highly caffeinated.


Getting to the meaty part of my update (how obvious is it that I've had too many cups of coffee?), THIS is all I have accomplished thus far on fair Tricky Trikky.  A little snowflake.  Ossum.  Only three or so more (at varying sizes), and then I shall begin painting.  At this rate, I should be done by 2014.

 
Tonight,...I'm not sure what's going on.  The People's Choice Awards is on, and I'm a sucker for awards shows.  Laura may come over again to have something tasty and easy for dinner (i.e. epic chili), finish the puzzle, and wince at the categories and their silly teenage heartthrob nominees.  Blor, I can feel my IQ dropping.  It's going to be wonderfully awful.

Sooo, yeah.  Disappointing art update; awesome babbling coffee update.

More later, nerds.  Yes, yes.  I miss you already.

kthxbai

Monday, January 7, 2013

Talking Tricky Tolkien

Hais.

It's Monday.  Joy.  I'm currently sitting behind my desk at work eating a tuna sammich.  Rather than eat in silence, I figured I'd multitask and update. 

Currently, I'm working on three different projects.  HA, that roughly means that everything will pretty much take three times as long to complete, lol.  Whatevs.  I'm having fun. 

The first is a large lot of Moria goblins from the GW LOTR set.  I'm doing these little tykes to help out Small Angry Monster who has at least five times that in buildings, elves, additional goblins, and more on his plate.  It's not a challenge, per se, but it's more goblins than I've ever done at once.  I think there are somewhere around 100.  Let's not think about 100 unfinished goblins.  I don't want to get overwhelmed and have my tuna revisit me -- especially at work.  O.o


The second project consists of The Hobbit: Escape from Goblin Town - Limited Edition.  I picked this baby up the day after Christmas, and even though you really can't tell because you're just reading text, this set REALLY EXCITES ME!  ^.^

So far, I'm working my way through the 36 goblin warriors, Goblin King, Grinnah the Goblin, Goblin Scribe, and Goblin Captain.  It's extremely exciting not only because it's new GW Tolkein stuffs, but because I've never painted these goblins before.  NERD ALERT: I was watching the movie and thinking to myself Self, I really hope I get to paint these and BAM I am!  Moria goblins are great, but I've been painting GW LOTR since 2001.  New material is always fun.
 


Lastly, I've recently started working on a custom KidRobot Trikky that is proving to be a bit tricky (no pun intended).  Without giving too much away, I'm doing a winter theme minus any Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza/Boxing Day references.  The problem with the tricky Trikky is the 3D element with no definitive guidelines.  It's literally a blank canvass.  I mean -- don't get me wrong, I've done my share of drawing and painting on a flat surface, but this round, smooth medium has really given me a headache. 

Don't fret, my pets.  Even thought I know you don't actually care and aren't worried at all, I'm reassuring you that I'll figure it out.  Once I have something more than pencil lines and shapes, there will be updates with pictures.  Oh, the pictures there will be. 

Ok, sammich is in my belly and I have plenty of work to keep me busy for the next few hours.

I'm going to make another cup of coffee and try to be productive and most certainly not think about art or painting.  I kid.  Of course I'll be thinking about painting.

Until next time, nerds.  Stay...nerdy.

kthxbai

Sunday, January 6, 2013

A Labor of Love

O hai.  Nice to see you again!

Hopefully everyone's weekend is going well.  I've been relaxing and trying to get my sleep schedule back on track after a week long holiday/vacation.  Now that I'm back to work, I figure it best to try to be in bed at a normal hour to be up at a reasonable time.  For the record, it's not going very well, but I expect to be back on track sometime within the next month. ^.^

That aside, today I'll be showing you a few pictures of my most recent finished projects, all using high quality acrylic paints.  I haven't found my niche quite yet, which is why you'll be seeing a fair amount of diversity in these early stages.  Soon (hopefully, lol) you'll see a pattern emerge as I settle into something that works.  Or not.  I've learned that an assortment of products and projects prevents the development of monotony and ultimately boredom.  I mean -- candy does it, so why can't I??

Moving on, my very first project was a gargoyle I found this past October at The Forest of Fear (which happened to be a very fun experience because a friend of mine knows a lot of the staff from the New York Renaissance Faire).  From the ring in the nose, I deduced it to be a baby bull...ergo the name Bullgoyle. How menacing can a purple Bullgoyle be, you ask? Well, I'll let you decide that. 


The second project is a DIY Android.  Believe it or not, I sprayed this little vinyl dude with white primer, so any green you see was added by me.  You may not be able to tell, but there are five different shades of stippled green, and three different weathering types.

The slight camo motif makes it appear somewhat militaristic, and that was my inspiration for its name (Hooah Droid).  Future projects include the Hooyah and Oorah Droid.  They'll most likely be navy blue and white/grey, respectively.  You'll undoubtedly see pictures when I start.
 

A pumpkin with teeth.  aka Toofkin.  Toofkin is actually called "Pumpkin Muncher," and can be found on the Kaiju Kaos website.  This resin piece really made me work.  Leaves, body, and stem were all very nicely sculpted and cast, and each have at least three colors for shading and highlighting.  It was, however, a very gratifying and enjoyable piece.  Only about 1.5" tall, it was similar to painting a miniature, which is where I started. 


Aaand then there's the Custom Space Eyeball Monster.  (Is it so obvious that I couldn't think of a clever name?)  Sculpted and cast by Ocu_Lar (Hellgnome), I was given the honor of painting this by mentor and friend Small Angry Monster who gave me invaluable advice and taught me how to use a flat brush to efficiently and effectively highlight raised areas while leaving the recesses the base coat color.  Eyes have been rimmed and washed red for a realistic eyeball appearance, and when complete, I gave it a gloss coat for that extra something something.  

A very large (even though only about 3.5" tall) project, I am extremely happy with the outcome.
 

FYI, if you are so inclined, these can all be found in my store.  Just to let you know, all of these pieces are one-offs.  Aside from the Droid variations, I don't foresee doing any pieces similar to these.  If you are interested in purchasing, please do so quickly before they're gone!

 Right, so thanks once again for reading.  I'll admit that this post did not wow you with the sheer awesomeness of my wit, but don't fret.  There will be plenty of time for that come this week once I have a few ten hour work days under my belt.

Alright, nerds.  Have a good one.  I'm going to heat up some leftover Chinese food and gorge, wait twenty minutes, and then gorge once again.  See you soons.

kthxbai

Friday, January 4, 2013

O hai!

Thanks for stopping by! SoKo Cat here. This is my blog. Kind of drab right now, but once I start updating regularly, I suspect that it'll pick up. Like any awesome party you've ever been to. It starts off slow but once you get some cool peeps to hang around and maybe pour some vodka into the punch bowl, it turns into a rockin' party!! I kid...or do I? ^.^

The SoKo stands for South Korean. Yes, I am South Korean, although I've essentially lived my entire life in New Jersey.  The Cat part?  Well, I draw anthropomorphic cats from time to time. 

If you're just passing through, I hope to see you again soon. If you are a sardonic, sarcastic, dry-wit type of person, I'm going to ask you to stop here and read my next few posts, as I think you'll enjoy yourself and even maybe chuckle from time to time at the sheer ridiculousness of some of my future posts.

I'll probably start by showing you a few pictures of pieces I've recently finished. While working on other toys or models, I'll be updating with pictures and progress and such. And in between, I'll probably just ramble. But at least it'll be amusing.

That's about all for now. Talk to you soon!

kthxbai