Minimate Labs

Stay Puft Wallpaper - Completed

November 30, 2009

Sometimes you just reach a point where you say, "It's not getting any better." I've reached that point. Not in a good way though. I keep trying to tweak things without really improving them.

Time to just call it done and move on to the next project.
Read More...

Battlestar Galactica Propaganda

October 26, 2009

I've written previously about my fondness for the propaganda-styled imagery. It was brought back into the public eye with the Obama "Hope" image and its subsequent countless parodies.

The annoucement of more Battlestar Galactica Minimates as Toys'R'Us exclusives gave me a chance to get in on the act.
Read More...

Stay Puft Wallpaper - Chestcap Removal

October 22, 2009

These guys look a lot better without the chest caps. The proton packs and belt equipment had to be moved around a bit to maintain all the proportions, but I think it looks good.

I have discovered what I think will be the hardest part of this image for me. Stay Puft's face is really giving me troubles right now. I really want that angry "You shot me!?!" expression, but all my attempts end with poor results. What you see above is the best I've come up with so far.

I think I'll let that part sit for a whlie and work on the background and hairpieces for the guys. I'll probably finish out the proton packs first. That's a solid goal I know I can accomplish.

Translucent Wall Hangings

October 20, 2009

This is going to be another one of those light-on-text-heavy-on-pics type posts. There's really not too much to say about taking photos of Minimates, having them printed at various sizes, surrounding them with frames and suspending them on a wall.

Which is exactly what I did.
Read More...

Stay Puft Wallpaper - Color

October 15, 2009

Oooh, progress. I've made the lines smoother and more consistant. Obviously there's color as well. These probably won't end up being the final colors but they're close.

I made the heads turquoise to force me to decide on giving them hair or leaving them as blanks. I'm leaning toward 'hair' even though they'll hardly look like Minimates at that point. The chest caps really detract from the Minimate-ness, I think I'll try an alternate version with standard chest-blocks. That should help.

I'm looking forward to the shading and proton streams. I'm dreading the inevitable facework.

Block Babes

October 12, 2009

We've all heard how bad the economy is. Some people have been hit harder than others. When things get tough, sometimes you have to do things you're not proud of just to get by.

Last spring I needed to make some quick cash so I started up a new Internet venture. As a word of caution, the following post may be Not Safe For Work. Click at your own peril.
Read More...

Stay Puft Wallpaper - Sketch

October 8, 2009

I think I've decided on an alternating big post-little post type format. Today is the little post with a preliminary wallpaper design featuring the new Ghostbusters Minimates.

I threw it together pretty quickly to just get a feel for how the Minimates should be layed out. It's a good first start, but needs a lot of work. I'll move the ledge closer to the Ghostbusters and probably swap the two leftmost. I'll probably crop it a bit tighter too.

Anyway, I'll probably be showing these in-progress shots as the 'little-posts' for a couple weeks. As long as I don't find some extra time and complete it all this weekend.

Unfortunately Stay Puft doesn't look angry, just old and tired.

Pantone Project

October 5, 2009

If it isn't already totally obvious, I like things that glow. From LEDs to bio-luminescent sea-life, if it emits light it is good. I also like things that are transparent. Actually translucent is a better word. If light can pass through it, it is good.

I decided to combine those two fascinations into this Pantone project. There was a set of translucent Kubricks that sold for silly money. I couldn't warrant spending huge funds on a Kubrick item, I decided to spend funds on making a Minimate version. Then I made it glow.
Read More...