steve talkowski's sketchbot prototype @ san diego comic convention 2008

For a while now, Steve Talkowski has been developing his own creation; SKETCHBOT into an actual 3-dimensional toy figure, with process and documentation on both his blog and flickr - of his own adventures into DIY-production of a prototype. Quitting his dayjob a few months back, to delve full-steam into the toy-realms, Steve will be pounding the convention aisles of the San Diego Comic Convention to showcase his prototype Sketchbot figure which he has just completed! Meanwhile, CLICK THRU to read more about the creation of Sketchbot!


TOYSREVIL: What are your plans for the Sketchbot Toy @ SDCC? Spilleth thy Master Plan!

STEVE TALKOWSKI: My master plan is for World Domination via unleashing of the ArtBots, of course!  ;)

You may recall that I left my day job back in May to pursue this venture full-time.  I set SDCC as a deadline to get a prototype completed, the bring it out to San Diego and shop it around, find a manufacturer and distributer that can help me produce this, and garner interest in the character itself.


[Final Handpainted-Prototype]
TOYSREVIL: A Man With A Mission and A Prototype! What made you up and DIY it yourself in the first place?

STEVE TALKOWSKI: I really didn't know of any other way to do it.  I knew pretty much exactly what I wanted to do, and figured it would be a great learning experience.  I also wanted to have something dimensional that I could hold in my hands as I further refined how I would go about creating a 3d model in the computer.  My ideal scenario would be to have a pipeline that consists of: create 3d model, output to 3d print machine, hand off to master sculptor for any final detailing and attachment setups, off to manufacturer for mass production.



TOYSREVIL: Following your process and developments has really been truly educational and an eye-opener, IMHO. A Hands-On experience is the way to go (I'm just lapping up the online documentation, the cyber-parasite that I am LOL :p) ... What is the final Sketchbot going to be made of? Hand painted? Any particular quantity you're gunning for?

STEVE TALKOWSKI: I've had in mind rotocast vinyl all along for this first run.  Depending on the cost, I think having separate molds for the arms and legs would make it easier to paint or stencil up.  I also have four unique colour-ways planned for this particular robot, each with a unique accessory to be held in his outstretched hand.  If I can do a run of 1,000, I can split up the batch with 4 colour-ways and a small, limited edition DIY blank that I would love to get into the hands of customizers around the world for a Sketchbot launch show sometime early next year.  Realistically, I'm hoping Sketchbot can be ready for NYCC '09



TOYSREVIL: A Man With A Mission, A Prototype and A Plan! Watch out NYCC 2009! This may sound ignorant and nigh mercenary of me (habits of thy blog, I suppose :p), but with the finished protos that you've achieved (congrats btw!) - what are you going to do with them after SDCC? Giving them away? Making them available for purchase?

STEVE TALKOWSKI: Well, I only cast five of these for now.  Two will be painted up as the main Sketchbot, and the remaining three will be painted up as protos for the unique colour-ways I have in mind.   I'll most likely have to send these out to a manufacturer for reference, so I won't be selling or giving any away for the near future.



TOYSREVIL: ... daymn, I feel like such a Plastic-Peddler now ... heh ... Do share with us tho, how did Sketchbot come about? What was the genesis of the character's creation?

STEVE TALKOWSKI: I've always been fascinated with robots and have constantly sketched, doodled and designed my own versions.  A literal translation would be  "Love of drawing + Love of robots = Sketchbot!"  As for the genesis of the character, I'll point you to the following post from my blog for more information: http://sketchbot.blogspot.com/2008/03/sketchbot-character.html

The idea of a retro-styled robot had been with me for many years, and while I was at Blue Sky Studios I whipped up the first test 3d model of a barrel-shaped robot.


TOYSREVIL: Tis all looking good from where I'm at, Steve! In closing (so that you can get on with life, SDCC and The Dark Knight :p) Do share with us, Who Is Steve Talkowski? And what does he plan to do at SDCC, and beyond?

STEVE TALKOWSKI: I come from a fine arts/animation background and have had this obsession with returning to doing my own work - hence, leaving my day job 2 months ago to pursue this.  I'm hoping to generate more interest in Sketchbot at SDCC and come home knowing how and who will be helping me produce my first designer toy.  Sketchbot is but the first of many in a line of robot toys I have in store, not to mention a slew of other characters I have in the works.   I'm also creating a body of work (paintings, drawings, animation) that will co-exist with the toys themselves.

For more information, you can visit my current site at http://web.mac.com/stevetalkowski and keep up-to-date via the blog http://sketchbot.blogspot.com


TOYSREVIL: Totally rawkin' it, Steve! Wishing you a fruitful SDCC to come, and for Sketchbot's future!