Add to BookmarksInterview: Jason Babler, Illidan Sculptor
Posted 3rd Feb 2009 05:24 PM by Maticus [Edit this post]
Following all the fuss on the intertubes yesterday about the amazing Illidan sculpture that WoW fan Jason Babler has made, we tracked him down and asked him a few questions about himself, his hobby, WoW and more. Read the full interview below which continues after the break.Worldofwar.net: Is the sculpting something you do for a hobby or is it your full time job? Tell us a bit about yourself.
JB: I'm a creative director for a company that does design and PR work for video game clients. Before that, I worked as Art Director for some Ziff Davis magazines: Computer Gaming World, and then Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. I then went on to relaunch Newtype USA, an anime magazine that was run by ADV Films. 36 years old, originally from Wisconsin but now living in the San Francisco Bay area.
I'm a hobbiest, I don't sculpt professionally. This is the second thing I've ever sculpted, and I can only work on this a few hours a week. But don't let that fool you, I've been working on this for almost a year now, so there are still a lot of hours that have gone into this. I've re-sculpted everything at least twice, because my anatomy was off or i just didn't like the texturing, etc. In hindsight, this was an incredibly ambitious thing to do for a beginner. Getting anatomy correct, all the different materials I'm learning to sculpt with, techniques, texturing. It was incredibly frustrating at times, but I've learned a lot.
Worldofwar.net: Why Illidan?
JB: When I started playing WOW a few years back, I came across the artwork for Illidan and loved the design of the character, and when I read about his story, I loved his downward fall, and the mythology behind the character. That is what drew me to him. I don't play WOW anymore. I know that this is going to sound weird, but as much as I love the universe, I just don't have enough time to play and also design/sculpt/ be a husband/etc. My full-time job is incredibly rewarding so I obviously make that my number one focus. I'm about to be a new dad soon and I also want to start working on my first comic book, so I had to stop playing. I got to a Level 29 Troll Hunter and loved it but every time my co-workers talk about their latest raids, I get jealous.
And while I love the action figure that DC Direct put out, I kept wanting a huge version of Illidan. Something on scale of one of my favorite sculptors, Pablo Viggiano (http://www.sculptedheroes.com) He did the amazing Blood Elf Rogue VS Draenei Paladin Diorama (http://affiliates.sideshowtoy.com/Tracker.aspx?aid=2016&sku=2804&cid=67). Viggiano is also doing the " Diablo III Overthrown" sculpt for SideshowToy as well (http://affiliates.sideshowtoy.com/Tracker.aspx?aid=2016&sku=8023&cid=445).
So, after weighing all this, I decided to just do it myself 
Worldofwar.net: Who's Next, Varian Wrynn, Thrall, Arthas?
JB: Arthas seemed to be the next thing I told myself I wanted to do, but then I saw his Frost Wyrm Queen, Sindragosa in the Lich King trailer. (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/wrath/features/artbook/index.xml). I knew I was staring at my next project. Rigging up a LED light inside that dragon sculpt is probably going to be my next project. She appeals to me since I was drawing dragons since I was a kid, and hey, she is frickin baddass.
Speaking of LED lights, the final version I am making of Illidan will have LED lights inside of him, to light up his tattoos, his bandaged eyes and some crystals that will be in the final base. I still have to add his glave, finish his wings, and do all the final detailing and anatomy corrections. I have sculpted it to come apart. That way, I can make molds and then cast the parts with resin to make a lightweight, sturdy copy. Resin is sturdy stuff, and will allow me to drill into it and install the LED lights, glue the pieces together and then get him painted up.
Worldofwar.net: What will you do with the finished product?
JB: Getting licenses is hard to do, expensive and then trying to find a place to get this made is a bit daunting for one person. Sure, I dream that some company will love it so much they would want to sell it with a proper license, but either way, right now I'm just focused on becoming a better sculptor in my spare time and starting my sculpting collection with an amazing piece. Hey Blizzard, if you're interested let me know! Ha!
