After two and a half decades of working in the corporate world of toy
design prototypes and bringing robots to life in the animatronics field,
Thomas Kuebler opted to explore his full creative potential as a
freelance artist. Armed with the tools of his trade, a very supportive
and patient wife, and a few really good flea markets, he set forth on a
new mission to bring the world inside his head to life. His highly
detailed life-size characters range in venue from pirate museums to
private homes to the offices of DC Comics and have been featured in
publications such as Spectrum and Rue Morgue. Kuebler and his wife
currently reside in North Carolina.
Countless
times I have been asked why I do what I do. To tell you the truth, I
can’t entirely put my finger on it. I know that, as a child, I found
joy in fantasy and being scared of monsters and boogeymen. I had a
short attention span and still do. But, there were geniuses like Rod
Serling, Norman Rockwell, Jim Henson and P.T. Barnum who could tell
the most intriguing stories and keep me riveted. I loved scary
movies, zoological science, anatomy, puppetry, and creating anything
with a face on it. I was a class clown and spent a lot of time
sequestered in the coat room. My notebooks were peppered with
drawings of hideous creatures and morbid situations that by today’s
standards would get a child sent to a psychologist. I loved working
with my hands and muddling with new mediums, always busting up my
toys so I could Frankenstein them into some new creation. Yeah, I
was kind of an odd kid.
Eventually,
I had to find a way to marry my childhood passions with growing up.
I went to college, got a BFA, and found employment that honed my
skills. I was a toy designer, a sculptor for an animated robotics
company, a prop maker, etc. All of these experiences increased my
knowledge of methods and materials and provided me with a steady
paycheck, but something was missing. The yearning to tell stories of
my own eventually overtook my fear of financial insecurity, and
I
became a freelance artist. I wanted to bring to life the kind of
lore that brought me so much joy as a child, each new sculpture a
fascinating biography of the bizarre. A tangible tale told right in
front of you.
Sometimes,
when the opportunity presents itself, I like to blend into the
audience and watch the faces of children as they view my work. They
are my most honest critics. They are able to give the best feedback
without uttering a word. And, the most satisfying moments are when I
see the spirit of an eight year old child light up on the face of an
eighty year old woman. That’s the kind of stuff I live for.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What kind of clay and silicone do you use and
what are some of your sculpting and painting techniques?
Most professional artists have learned and/or developed trade secrets
and techniques through schooling, labor, hard knocks and lots of
personal expense. It is what makes their work their own. Asking an
artist exactly how he/she created his/her art is much like walking up to
a magician after the show and asking him to expose his illusions.
There are a lot of great art material/instructional
providers for sculptors on the net. My personal favorite is
www.smooth-on.com. They sell sculpting materials and instructional DVDs
for nearly all of their products. These materials can then be tweaked
and manipulated by the artist to achieve his/her own personal best.
Some artists offer classes, DVDs, or books on their
techniques. Jordu Schell, an outstanding professional sculptor in
California, offers classes at certain times of the year. Check the
schedule at www.schellstudio.com.
To post your artwork and receive feedback, you can join the forum at
www.theeffectslab.com.
Do you have any words of advice for the aspiring artist?
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Always copyright your work
www.copyright.gov.
-
Don’t believe them when they tell you it can’t be done.
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Whether working for/with a company, agent, associate or friend always
get all agreements in writing.
-
Try to get as much exposure as you can to new materials and techniques
through your school, workplace, the net, books, and DVDs.
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Pick a duck. Rather than spreading yourself too thin, choose an area of
focus and explore that avenue.
How can I tell which of
your sculptures are available for sale?
At any given time, my sculptures may be located
in various different galleries, exhibitions, and in my studio. The
availability status of my artwork can change frequently. For
information about currently available sculptures or to discuss a
potential commission, please email specifics to
tskuebler@earthlink.net
or call (919) 965-3130.
Where can I find your work?
Current
exhibitions are listed on my News page.
