Pop Sculpture: How to Create Action Figures and Collectible Statues

Sculpt toys and collectibles with modern-day tools, techniques and applications used by today’s top industry professionals
 
Ever since a 12-inch G.I. Joe took toy soldiers to a whole new level by giving them the ability to pose via moveable parts, as well as interchangeable clothing and accessories, the business of creating pop sculpture icons for the mass market was off and running. Superheroes came next, followed by TV show and movie characters, most notably those from Star Wars. Today, action figures exist for sports stars, rock stars, even presidents.
 
With today’s blockbuster success of animated films, action figures and collectibles have become a behemoth industry—with a growing need for skilled artists who can bring these characters to life. So how do you get started?
 
The trio of veteran industry insiders who authored this book take you on an incredibly thorough journey that begins with drawing conceptual drafts and continues through rough sculpting and honing the final product. Along the way, you’ll learn how to research your character, shape casts from a variety of materials including wax and resin, make accessories, articulate characters so that they are poseable, paint them, and ultimately convince an art director to buy and manufacture them. Whether you want to make small PVC toys, collectible statues, or larger high-end collectibles, Pop Sculpture offers step-by-step demos and words of wisdom from the pros.

RUBÉN PROCOPIO has contributed to more than 25 Disney animated features, including The Little Mermaid and The Lion King. He founded Masked Avenger Studios in 2003 to expand his sculpting, design, and comic book illustration services.
 
ZACH OAT is the editor of TelevisionwithoutPity.com, a popular TV and movie criticism website. He is former editor of ToyFare magazine and was the original “toy wrangler” for Robot Chicken on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim.
 
TIM BRUCKNER, one of the pioneers of the comics/fantasy toy field has worked for companies such as Kenner, Gentle Giant and DC Direct, where he designed and sculpted the DC Dynamics statues.