Tic Top 5: Interview with Matt Jones aka Lunartik

Welcome to Tic Top 5 where we ask an artist or specialist the hard hitting questions (not really they're actual quite easy). Todays artist is Germany based Matt Jones aka Lunartik JOnes who is an Artist, Designer, Sculpter, Customiser of Toys and Owner of Lunartik.

Matt Jones has been customising for some time winning prizes for his work and has been a regular feature in countless exhibitions around the world but you know when you've made when your own designer toy becomes a sort after figure for the collection or to customize yourself. Matt is about to embark on his latest exhibition this weekend with the Mini Tea Tour at Raygun Comic Store in London and has a competition running for all you customizers out there.

With all this experience in customising, producing and exhibiting we thought it appropriate to get Matt to answer today's Tic Top 5:

1. How did you start in the industry of creating & customizing? I was drawing charecters for a long time, I was show the door to the deisgner toy industry by Phil Corbett in around 2004. I started on a good foot by winning a TOY2R competition with a qee bear (pictured above), I did a few custom pieces using existing toys and soon became bored of the shapes and found it a good use of my time to make my own shape which happend to be "Lunartik in a Cup of Tea" I used a mix of my love for Tea and Toys to make this design, I hid the legs inside the cup to add mystery and give him his own distintive look.
   Since 2005 when he was first created. I have customised many Tea Cups and come up with all sorts of new designs for him.
   
   I've dabbled in custom shows, and have put out some limited edition pieces, and have have a sensession of major toy releases and recently I've been commissioned to make the Doctor Who figures for the BBC/Titan Merchandise.
   
2. What was the first toy or item you customized or created? The first toy i customised was a Qee Knuckles bear in the shape of a frog, I named it Hophop and gave it a back story! It was a fun piece to do, I wasn't concerend about re-shaping the piece but more about how the paint alone can re-shape the piece for the on looker. I did the same with my "QT Qee".
   
3. What influences you?
   It's a tough question as I get this a lot and my answers change all the time. Currently I'm going through a patch of non-influences. I've been changing direction in my head so many times, and I dont have time to be influenced by stuff currently. I will have to come back to you one day in the future and answer this one.
   
4. What are your weapons of choice?
   These days my weapons of choice are pen, pad, paint brush and computer. I've stopped customising for a bit as I have to concentrate on my artwork and my manufacturing assignments these days with Lunartik in a Cup of Tea.
   
5. If you could collaborate with anyone (living or dead) who would it be?
   I think its best to see what comes up, chance meetings are normally best for everyone.

If you'd like to get in touch or know more about the very cool Matt here's his links:

• Website: Lunartik

• Store: Lunartik

• Facebook: Lunartik JOnes

• Twitter: @Lunartik

Coming back tomorrow to see who's next in the Tic Top 5 hot seat.