Interrogate Mike

[Mike Hill]

Originally Posted by Vader

Mike,

I know you used to sculpt a lot of figure kits. Your focus now is likenesses and 1:1 busts. Do you have a preference for one over the other?

Yup Im all about the faces. I didnt enjoy sculpting tiny shoes or belts etc. But its nice to have covered the full spectrum of scales etc.

[Vader]

Do you try to give your own "take" on a piece, or do you just try and replicate the character as precisely as possible? I know your pieces ultimately have a "feel" to them. I can recognize one of your pieces instantly. But is that intentional?

[Mike Hill]

Originally Posted by Vader

Do you try to give your own "take" on a piece, or do you just try and replicate the character as precisely as possible? I know your pieces ultimately have a "feel" to them. I can recognize one of your pieces instantly. But is that intentional?

No it isnt intentional,but you are right. If you blanked my mind I could tell you which was my piece.


I sculpted a HULK yesterday for my Portraits line. I followed nobody elses version,didnt look at a scrap of reference and you can tell its one of mine.

I had fun because i wasnt tryin to copy anything.Do i feel its the best interpretation of the Hulk? No way. Its just A version, but i felt it when I was sculpting.

And nobody can say its wrong. they can say they dont like it but they cant say its wrong.Which is refreshing.

[Vader]

I'd love to see your own articulation of a character like the hulk or thor. No doubt the DF pieces have as much you in them as they have Ross. Ross has never really had a definitive take on Marvel characters (apart from Spidey). That being said, you would have still been somewhat constrained by the concept art.

Your pieces have an "art" flavour to them. They are not just "realistic". They are more. Making something "live" is more than replicating it with precision. That's what you do. Your work seems to give the character a soul. It captures a character at a moment in time. The lines are softer than most other portrait sculptors. More subtle. I expect that's what sets your work apart.

It's much like Randy Bowen's work with its uniqueness in style. It's a signature style. But nothing too obvious or articulable. That's a very good thing. If it's articulable, it can be copied.

[Vader]

Oh yeah, any chance of some pictures of your recent hulk sculpt? I promise I'll stop asking you questions for a while after these (and give others a chance).

[Mike Hill]

Ha thats OK. I'm just hangin.

[Vader]

Mike,

Will you be selling the portrait busts?

[Mike Hill]

Yup as one offs. No other copies wil be made.

[Anton Phibes]

Anything new in the realm of oh, say Werewolf of London? I have the model you did a few years ago, and its a favorite.

[jsoex]

Originally Posted by Mike Hill

I think I do..at least pics of the finshed sculpt before molding. I'll dig them out if you would like to see them.

I'd love to see that Venom in the clay stage!! Also, any chance of you posting pictures of your version of the Hulk? Everybody would love to see that.