Good question, I think most are fine will people selling custom but I think some see the new influx of new folks who seem to treat this like its KR. Paint a toy regardless of skil set, say you are an 'artist' an put it up at a crazy price and expect everyone to want it and love it. It slmost like flipping toys with a twist... Correct me if I am wrong. As for the value of what a custom is worth its a difficult topic, depends on your perspective really. Its really relative less the actual materials used and cost of import/shipping. Is this art? Is this a hobby? Is it a nerd spazm? The value of anything can vary, but I think most people here (95%)can see when a price is too much, but there are others that seem something and see this as pricless. Go figure.
I personally don't have any issue with the KR Newbs coming here, painting toys and trying to sell them. I think we have a chance to see some really good work. the board, the buyers and the market dictate if they are successful or not. Like it, buy it. don't like, don't buy it. pretty simple. If no one is buying for whatever reason, then these KR entrepreneurs will likely move on. As Roger said only the buyer can determine the value of a custom. realize that lee who doing the show 2nite is a well known western customizer. who r we to deny talent like this?
I think the artist has to have some honest sense of worth. And as usual around here the people will speak if something is out of order.
Yes, value is subjective, but I think the underlying question is whether all customizers are artists. It seems like people assume the two are the same, but I do not think that is always the case.
I don't know if it's the case, but what I'm thinking is KR customs are being bought by new jacks from KR. When I use to post over there people would buy the lamest fucking customs and go gaa-gaa over some ill-conceived, ill-executed crap. Not saying that's what's happening here (yet), but it's a slippery slope. Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder - but sometimes people just have really poor taste.
Some customizers are artist in the traditional sense of the word in that they also do art...paint, sculpt, draw. But really, who is to say who is an artist or not. I think it's fine for people to post their work in the Custom section. I think that every custom or flat piece of art that is posted is always up for sale and if anyone is interested, they can always send a pm.
no, not all customizers are artists. I'm not an artist by any means. I do think that a lot of artists customize toys though.
Those are good points. I think some of the most interesting customs come from artists who originally worked in 2-D mediums.
What are we denying? Maybe getting "pizzaid" for it? Noone is stopping anyone from customizing. In fact, I would say you just witnessed "market dictation" at work. An overvalued custom was put up, noone bought it, someone halfheartedly offered half of the asking price, and people gave him shit. That's the market at work. We don't need more rules, but don't be surprised or insulted when people police themselves.
I personally am not a fan of customs to the point of buying one, but I do like to see them. Customizing is one, of many, things I HATED about western. When it turned into this DIY platform and the main focus shifted a lot from the actual production stuff to the blanks it lost a lot overall and it made me look at production stuff as crap as I really started to notice flaws in paint apps and designs, not to mention platforms. Western stuff didn't have as far to go for me to fall off with it as compared to most kaiju though. KT's blank stuff makes me glad I am not really a fan of RxH or Gargamel stuff, really how would everyone feel if Urban Outfitters caught on to kaiju and started slanging those blanks by the truckloads?
Customs suck. Why anyone would buy one is beyond me for the most part. There's just too much cool stock toys (contemporary and vintage) out there to keep up with. That being said, people should feel free to go ahead and blow money on them. A while back Flynn posted about how he wanted customerizers to have fun but not to pimp their colourized toys on the board. I can't find the post unfortunately. I guess the board has changed. It's amusing that a "customized" toy can kill the value of the original piece.
That has its positives and negatives, as long as its production stuff, cool, I would love for stores to stock it, not many people would buy it anyway for retail and higher production rate and more buyers SHOULD equal lower prices. I love SB and would be stoked on collecting it even if I could buy pieces for 5 dollars and walk into a rite-aid and pick them up as long as they were up to the same standards they are at now. Blanks however are a different story, if they started churning those out I might be looking for a new place to spend my money.
in my mind.. I don't immediately associate boardmembers like Lash, Toybot, Koji, etc. as "artists", more like customizers or hobbyists . like the folks on "pimp my ride"... they are very talented at their craft, but i think of them as customizers. now if a guy paints a awesome naked chick on the customized car, I think of that as an "artist"
I've been painting Western toys, and frequenting thr KR boards for a while... At one point I had a pretty decent Kaiju collection which I had to sell for car repairs So It's not like I just came from buying [expletive deleted], to painting Kaiju... Ever since I was little I loved Ultraman, Godzilla, Eastern culture, and viny toys from the Sushi place/Japanese grocery... Ever since I started customizing Western toys, I've wanted to make the change, or at LEAST do Kaiju as a side hobby... Customizing western toys, doing shows, and commissions is more like work than a hobby most of the time. Getting a challenging eastern sculpt, and knowing I have to accentuate or bring something extra to a 3d figure with just an airbrush, is not only challenging, but fun, and much more satisfying than other things I customize... I myself don't collect western customs. If I could afford them, I'd love some eastern stuff. As far as selling it. Right now I'm just trying to practice, experiment, learn how to use an airbrush, and this paint. I've been pricing my stuff for what I seem is fair. The cost of the figure, plus the cost of materials (paint, thinner, brush, compressor)... But I'd also be happy to take trades just to do new pieces... I just enjoy the painting, and if you wanna buy my stuff, cool... If not, then don't.. If you have something nice to say, say it... If you don't, or you have some criticism, speak up... Also, painting over a production piece, just makes your collection that much rarer... What's wrong with that? I think it's funny that people would rather have a factory painted piece, over a one off piece, that only YOU own... I'm not making things to make money (god knows I've spent enough on paint, and airbrush equipment this month to prove that), I just want to bring something new, or different to the scene... And if you don't like that.. I'm sorry... You can stand in line, to get something 50 to 200 other people will own. While someone else will have something as good or better than a production piece, and they will have the ONLY one... So... I guess this KR Western customizer will still keep making Kaiju, and maybe one day, someone will like it, and if they do, cool.. if not, I'll keep making them till someone does... D
"Also, painting over a production piece, just makes your collection that much rarer... What's wrong with that?" "You'll want to take your umbrellas out with you on Sunday, folks, it appears we have a front of heavy shitstorms moving in..." "While someone else will have something as good or better than a production piece, and they will have the ONLY one..." In your modest opinion, of course...
Maybe I'm just confused as to why some people collect at all... Is it because its visually appealing, it's who makes it, it's "rare"... I'd never stand in line screwing someone out of their chance to own a figure, just so I could strip it and paint it. But there are too many figures that are just not selling out, so why not add something else to them. Change up the colors, make them unique... I never said my stuff was as good as a production piece, but i've seen some customs here that are better than their production counterpart, and the people who bash or hate customs won't ever get a chance to own it, because someone who recognized talent had the sense to buy it... Now they have an edition of 1/1
I think the bottom line is that if someone wants a custom from someone, they can always pm the guy..whether it is to commission a figure or buy a current one.
it's pretty simple get a couple sculpts your interested in, paint them then strip them. repeat as often as you feel you get the practice you need and it's not as financially crippling as a result. as far as customs go for every one good naw fuck it great custom there is a mountain of crap.
Excatly... Which is why I'm not going to be posting customs in the SALE section, but I think it is totally appropriate to put it in the trade section of you want someone to have it... I know I don't want 300 of my own pieces filling up displays.
