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Saturday, April 20, 2013

WARRACK'S SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW


CUSTOM SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW



We got hold of Craig Warrack to discuss being this weeks Spotlighted Customizer. 






I'm here with Craig Warrack! Welcome to the WGC Spotlight Interview. Tell us a little bit about your work with action figures. 


Q. How did you get into the field and what is the attraction to action figures for you?

A. “ I’ve always been into action figures. For as long as I can remember, and I guess I was spoiled rotten here, I’ve always wanted and ended up getting the coolest toys. I grew up in the 80’s so was constantly marketed to with cartoons, comics, and movies. I loved it all, and wanted the toys so I could mix all those universes together and play out my own stories. Of course, they didn’t always make the toys kids wanted, so customizing was almost a necessity to really get to the full potential of action figures. Whether that was getting my mum to knit capes for Secret Wars’s Magneto and Doctor Doom, or using Plasticine on an Action Force figure (that’s G.I. Joe to you lovely US citizens) to make a Predator, the 80’s were fertile ground for raising customizers.  “
Q. Customizing usually involves a lot of painting, sculpting, and use of tools to modify or fabricate pieces. Do you have any history in artistic creation or was Customizing more of a learning experience?

A. “ I did very well in Art & Design at secondary school (that’s High School to you lovely colonial souls) and I did toy (PUN!) with going to an Art University, but I didn’t pursue it. My feeling was always that if I made my hobby the focus of my life, then I’d probably end up resenting my hobby. Whether that was a wise decision or not, who knows, and who cares?! Anyway, customizing was definitely a learning experience for me, and it’s always going to be an ongoing learning experience too. Every figure raises a new, specific challenge for me, and that’s what really attracts me. I don’t tend to tackle custom projects if I know right from the start how to do it. If it seems impossible, I really want to try it.“

 Q. How would you best describe your artistic process?

A. “ I like to try and capture the essence of a character. I know that sounds like total wank, but that’s what I try and do. I don’t really want to repaint a figure so that it’s wearing the costume of whoever it is I’m making. I want to make a figure that can hit the poses, and have some form of playability to it. The ToyBiz Marvel toys always tried to capture the characters’ powers, usually in the form of some daft action feature, but that’s really influenced me. I always try and make the custom represent the character and their powers in some way. I think a good example would be the Flash Venom I made. At first when I saw the character in some promo image I rolled my eyes and thought he was just cashing in on the guy-with-two-guns wave that was happening. However, when I read his first appearance, he was an amputee, he could do interesting stuff with his costume, he was Flash Thompson! Now-THAT-fired my imagination and I immediately tried to think about how I could show all that in a figure.“

Q. What types of paint, sculpting media, or special tools do you commonly use or would recommend?

A.  “ I get asked this question a lot. I have things I use (Citadel Paints, Milliput, bits of wood, flossers, aborted cat foetuses (j/k)), but the best materials I think people can ever use are the following: Whatever works best for them. My YouTube channel has video diaries on it where I talk through the materials I use and how I use them. It’s not really a ‘how-to’ situation as I don’t really want to pretend I have even the slightest idea of what I’m doing when I customize, but it’s just to show people what I do, and perhaps encourage them to try and it and hopefully outdo me . “

Q. What inspires you on your designs?

A.  “I tend to stick mostly to Marvel comics characters, so the comics obviously inspire me. Looking at my custom collection, it seems weighted heavily towards villains, and specifically ‘event’ villains. Those one off guys who were suddenly the most super evil thing ever and the heroes were really up against the wall fighting them. Those are the kind of stories I like and the narrative and drama from those stories really inspires me. “

Q. Is there a scale or toy line you prefer to work with and why?

A.  “It has to be Marvel Legends. For me, Marvel Legends was the ultimate evolution of the action figure, and as that goes along with what I try to do with my customs, that’s the toy line I’m pretty much devoted to.“
Q. Are there any particular references you use more than others?

A. “I like to go straight to the comics, to the story that I like. Sure, I can google images, but as it’s the story that’s really inspiring me, there are little artistic nuances in the story itself that I think affect what I’m doing. Trying to work from a trading card picture can sometimes upset that. God, it’s all very pretentious isn’t it!.“


Q. Is there another Customizer who inspires or inspired you when you began Customizing?

A. “Every customizer is an inspiration to me. Whether their work makes me want to try something as cool, or whether I see them get praise for something that I think isn’t how I see the character in my mind, it all keeps me inspired and enthused. I’m good friends with Glenn Webb and he really is an inspiration for me. Like me, he puts his face and personality out there along with his customs. That’s of massive importance to me! Taking this hobby out of the closet, so to speak, and making it witty, ridiculous, fun, exciting and all round interesting is such an admirable and inspirational thing for me. “

Q. What is your favorite Custom Action Figure made by someone else?

A. “Oh, lord, that’s really putting me on the spot. I’m hypercritical of e-ver-y-thing, so finding something I like can be really tough! Ha ha. I think Glenn’s Tick-Tock from Return to Oz is my favourite. I think I’ve got that connection with it because I’ve seen it in person.  “

Q. Do you have a personal favorite of your own work?


A. “I think it’d be Onslaught. “

Q. What about it made it stand out for you?

A. “I think that figure best sums up my approach to customizing. I think it just speaks for itself.  “


Q. What was your biggest learning experience you've had while customizing that you're comfortable mentioning and was there something you'd do differently now?

A. “Are you asking me for an anecdote of when I made a complete arse of things? Ha ha. That’s never ever happened of course! No, every single custom is a learning experience and full of mistakes and successes. Except of course when I tried to sculpt a smoke shrouded Mysterio head out of hot glue. He came out looking like a demented Santa and went straight in the bin. The only learning that came out of that was, don’t do that again. . “

Q. Do you do mostly commissioned pieces or make whatever characters are inspiring you at the moment?

A. “I don’t do commissions and I don’t sell my customs. Sure, I used to, but I found the whole interaction with the customer to be completely frustrating. It wasn’t down to the customer at all. It was just trying to do this over the internet, and them wanting a very specific thing and me wanting to do a very specific thing, and it was just… well, hell frankly. I don’t know if it’s a pipe dream, but I want to get a fairly decent collection of customs that I can go and exhibit at a Comic-Con. . “

Q. Where's the best place online or locally for fans to see more of your work?

A. My YouTube channel is THE place to see my work. I exhibit my customs there and do other entertaining stuff as well. I used to keep a blog (it’s still there) but isn’t up to date. You can also find my stuff by looking for me on FigureRealm and TheFwoosh, and I’m out there with my real name (which is luckily fairly unique) so just pop Craig Warrack into google and I’ll invade your screen.


-Links-



Q. As a part of the Customizing Community are there any tips, techniques, or words of wisdom you'd like to pass on for those starting out?

A. “Yoda time, eh? Hmm. I suppose the one thing I’d want people to do is do what they love. But also, do what you love as best you can. Putting your work out there is a real chance to express yourself. That might seem all airy-fairy, but it’s what I believe. Put thought and passion into what you do and stand proud with it.. “

Q. Before we go, are you currently working on any customs that we can watch out for you'd like to mention to the readers?

A. “Archangel from Uncanny X-Force’s Dark Angel Saga is on his way very soon. I’ve just got to take some decent photos and shoot some video and he’ll be ready to wing his way across the internet. I just need to find some construction paper and a lens wide enough to fit those damn massive wings. “
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Well, that's it! Thank you _Craig Warrack_for taking the time out of your schedule to answer our questions and help us get a better view of the Customizing World. As always Customizing fans, thanks for listening! Come back often to get more insight on the inner workings of a Customizer!

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