Battlemouth

As far as the designer toy scene goes there are countless manufacturers and toys to browse. Once you have spent a couple months looking through all the different glorious toys out there, you may discover that there is an equally large world of customized toys! One such artist jumping the ladder by leaps and bounds is Kevin Olson aka Motorbot. I stumbled across Motorbot while searching for something to spend my weekly alowance on in the Kid Robot forums. While I have many favorites, Motorbot’s work far surpases some of the best. He learned to paint from Bob Ross, and to draw from comic books, two teachers that have certainly left their mark. Born and raised in Texas, Motorbot is an up and commer that the big dogs certainly need to watch out for. I have no doubt in my mind that we will see some of his original works on the line with the likes of Huck Gee, Sket One, and Frank Kozik in the very near future. After striking up a conversation on twitter, Mr. Bot agreed to join his answers to the annals of Battlmouth history by taking part in episode 3 of “7 Questions Indie Artist Edition.”

Enjoy 7 Questions with Motorbot:

1. Who is Motorbot?

I’m just a guy that makes toys. I can’t quite cut it as a full time artist, so I hold down a day job and make toys till the wee hours of the morning.

2. Your primary medium seems to be customizing designer vinyl toys, what made you decide to pursue this avenue?

I studied painting in college, but after I graduated I never really found a way to do anything productive with it. I did odd jobs like murals and portraits and even toyed with the notion of being a comic book artist. Nothing ever really worked out though.

Then I kind of stumbled into the kidrobot forums. After lurking for a while I made a custom madl, and then a dunny, and then another madl. It just snowballed from there. people liked the things i made and started commissioning me, and then i started getting show invites. it’s just grown over time and now i actually have fans which is pretty surreal.

I’ve always been a toy nerd so really it was the perfect spot for me.

3. Would you ever cut your ear off to convince your lover of your faithfulness?

No, that just seems like it would convince someone you were crazy.

4. What is your favorite piece of your own work? Someone elses?

I think my favorite piece is the Devil Maw that I made for the Saddest Little Devil Show. that’s when the maw really started to develop itself in my mind, and I love how the teeth turned out.

My favorite piece by someone else is actually two pieces by Kenn Munk. He made a couple of 12in figures for his everything is black or white show a couple of years ago. I have always loved his things and wish I had had the cash to at least grab one of them.

5. What piece have you been dreaming of doing but just haven’t been able to make happen?

I have a minor obsession with Audrey 2 from little shop of horrors. I’ve made several diffrent versions of her, but I would love to make a 20in vesion, or maybe even one of those big 5ft dunnys they have at shows. that would be pretty awesome.

6. If President Obama ordered a custom, what piece would he want, and how would he want it customized?

I imagine he’d want something that related to his kids. That’s what I would want if I were locked up in that big office. maybe a couple of munny versions of his daughters.

7. What plays through your ipod/radio/cd player etc. while you work?

I usually listen to a local sports talk station called the ticket. If not that then it could be any number of things. The zune pass works well with my constantly changing musical tastes.

Be sure to check out MOTORBOT on www.motorbot.net as well as http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6953613 to purchase your very own original!
And of course you can always see about a commision by emailing info@motorbot.net or try @motorbot via twitter!