Hey guys! So I got a chance to interview the creator of Squid Kids Ink, and I wanted it to show you guys the quick Q&A of what this is all about. This is what went down... Me: What is your name? Nate: Nate Mitchell Owner/Operator of Squid Kids Ink Me: What is Squid Kids Ink all about? Nate: My company motto is "For Geeks By Geeks", and that pretty much says it all. I'm into comics, video games, movies, toys, and a lot of pop culture in general. I make stuff that I like and want to own, hopefully other people like it enough to buy it. Me: How did you start the company? Nate: I started SKI while I was working at Playmates Toys around 2006. It was mostly a creative outlet, because corporate jobs can be stifling. In the beginning, I was mainly sculpting my versions of popular characters. It wasn't until 2008 that I really started developing my own brands like Squibs and So Analog. I quit my day job at Spinmaster Toys in January of 2012 to do SKI full-time. Me: What inspired you to start this? Nate: It was mostly about creative freedom. I was tired of translating someone else's movie or cartoon designs into toys. I wanted to create stuff of my own from scratch. Making the product is the easy part for me. The real challenge is developing the characters and the worlds they live in. Me: How would you describe your style of art? Nate: I'm not really sure how to describe what I do. A lot of "art" has some kind of message behind it. I hate being preached to or being preachy. So, I would consider myself more of a designer than an artist. I like to create new things, but with So Analog I've been creating new things from old things. Me: Were you always about art? Nate: I can remember being slightly better at creating things as early as 3rd grade, if not earlier. I think I've had a least 2 major artistic milestones when I was younger. In 5th grade I shifted from collecting Baseball cards to Comics and Comicbook cards. That's when my drawings became more than stick figures. I was mostly emulating the comics I loved like Spawn, Predator, Ghost Rider, and Silver Surfer. In my small town in Wyoming, I was know as one of the few kids that could draw really well. The second milestone was when I was 19 and started sculpting some of my favorite movie and comic book characters. At age 22, I went to Otis and graduated in 2004. While I was there, I was known as one of the few people that could sculpt really well. Me: What is your favorite 10-Doh! ? Nate: My favorite is probably the 10-Doh! Tombstones. The shape and color just work well as a tombstone. My favorite production figure is probably "Will Work". Anyone that had an NES can relate to that label and they usual laugh a bit. Me: What toys/artwork do you like to collect? Nate: It's tough these days. I have to sell toys to buy toys, and I currently like Hot Toys. So, I have to sell a lot of toys to only buy a few toys. The art I collect is a bit different though. I've met and worked with a lot of crazy talented people, so I mostly collect stuff from the people I know. I'm also trying to collect original art/sketches from them, instead of prints. Most of the art I've acquired has been as gifts or as trades. Me: Do you make any exclusive toys/artwork? Nate: I usually do exclusives for the conventions we do, but they're only exclusives if they sell out at the cons. Everything I make is limited and usually really small quantities compared to big toy companies. Me: Do you plan on having any collaborations with any other artist or who would you want to collaborate with? Nate: I've worked with a ton of great artists on Mini 10-Doh! Series 1, 2 and the large versions. I've contacted plenty of others, but it's really tough to wrangle artists together for a series or art show. They all have their own priorities in life, and their priorities don't always line up with mine. Me: What is your plans with future toy designs? Nate: I'm currently trying to work out a deal with Sega to do a So Analog Genesis figure, but I'll have to do another Kickstarter campaign to fund it. I'm still developing Squibs and their universe. I have new resin Squib Kid figures coming out soon and hope to do production figures soon. And below, I got some quick pics of what you can expect from Squid Kids Ink. Instead of me showing you guys all the goodies, you should check his stuff out! He will even have his new Ante Up Series coming out soon, so stay tuned! All that fun info is down below: www.squidkidsink.com -website www.squidkidsink.bigcartel.com -store www.squidkidsink.blogspot.com -blog You could also find him on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook at @squidkidsink If and when he starts that Kickstarter, you guys should come and support. I definitely will! I just want to give a shoutout to Nate! Thanks for the opportunity to interview, man! And also, thanks for you readers for stopping on by. Until next time... You know you want this Squibs Hat! Go to his store now! :)
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