Artist Name: James yeah?
Location: Birmingham, ambulance England
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/people/james_yeah/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/jamesyeah

Custom Toy Lab:
For the first time ever, this site we’d like to present our first artist interview ever. Joining us for the interview is UK’s James yeah?. Whether you’ve seen his Flickr photostream, emergency or been on his Myspace page, you’ll know that his pieces are interesting and unique with every project that he does. Getting away from the small details, we’d like to get to the more interesting part of this interview! Without further ado, Custom Toy Lab would like to present James yeah?
Custom Toy Lab:
First of all, we’d like you to thank you for taking the time to do this interview with us. Talking to you previously, this happens to be your first artist interview ever, not to mention it’s our first here on the site as well. How does it feel?

James yeah?:
It’s pretty exciting if not a little nerve racking, I’m honored you’d ask me though and I’d like to say a big thanks to you and to Custom Toy Lab for asking me to do this, I hope I don’t come across badly ha.

Custom Toy Lab:
So, tell us about yourself James.

James yeah?:
Oh that’s quite a difficult question, I’m 25, I live in Birmingham, England but really wish I didn’t. If I’m not painting toys I’m watching films, riding bikes, doodling or looking at how to spend money I don’t really have. I’ve been into the art scene in some way or another for a long time, I used to write graffiti many years ago (badly I might add) then got into street art, illustration and have finally and happily found myself well and truly addicted to the vinyl toy scene.

Custom Toy Lab:
Where does your inspiration come from?

James yeah?:
Most of my inspiration comes from other artists, mainly other customizers and urban artists. I spend a lot of time looking at other peoples work and gaining inspiration from other peoples creations.  I also read a lot of graphic novels and watch a lot of films so I get quite a lot of inspiration from those, especially animated films or ones involving robots and the whole steampunk mechanical style. I also get inspiration when someone asks for a commission; just having a starting point is great for brainstorming ideas and designs.

Custom Toy Lab:
Is there any specific series (such as a graphic novel or movie) that you get most of your inspiration from?

James yeah?:
Well I absolutely love the Hellboy comics, as well as V for Vendetta and the watchmen I’d really like to make some toys in a darker style but I’m not quite ready for that yet. I do really love Hayao Miyazaki films and a lot of the Pixar and Dreamworks films though and those give me a lot of ideas for my animal toys.

Custom Toy Lab:
When did you start getting into customizing toys?

James yeah?:
Not that long ago really,  my first toy was finished in February this year, so only about 7-8 months. It’s not long compared to a lot of the others in the scene but I’m here to stay.

Custom Toy Lab:
They say that every artist has specific tools and techniques to get the job done, what would you say yours would be?

James yeah?:
Sand paper and primer, I’d be absolutely lost without them.

Custom Toy Lab:
On average, how much time does it generally take you to finish a piece that your working on?

James yeah?:
On average I’d say about a month-ish per toy, I like to take my time and stand back every now and again to make sure it’s how I want, I also spend a lot of time sanding and priming as I like to get as good a finish as possible.  I also make mistakes quite often and end up having to strip toys back down and start again.

Custom Toy Lab:
What’s the designer toy scene down there like in the UK?

James yeah?:
It’s a pretty small but quite a close knit community, we’ve got some absolutely amazing artists over here and everyone’s pretty friendly and supportive of each other. We don’t have many shows or anything like that but it’s a great small little community that I’m very happy to be involved in.

Custom Toy Lab:
Are there any artists within the UK community that you would like to work with?

James yeah?:
Oh yeah that’s absolutely loads I’d love to do collab work with, I’ve already got something planned with the guys from 2petalrose who make those awesome war Munnys. I’d also love to work with Okkle as he makes the cutest little creations, same goes for sneaky raccoon, I’d also love to work with the guys from Porlzilla cause ozzels are awesome and also riot68 whose zombie works are crazy and I know he’s not from the UK but I’d love to do some work with Bill Betsovic as his toys are stunning.

Custom Toy Lab:
Do you have a toy collection of your own? If not, what type of toys would you like to collect?

James yeah?:
I do indeed collect toys, I find people who customize toys and don’t collect to be a bit odd, I mean why customize something you wouldn’t own or collect yourself? I’m currently trying to build my customs collection up, I’d rather buy one off originals than mass produced pieces, although I do own a lot of mass production pieces simply as the chances of ever getting an original from the artist will be near impossible.

Custom Toy Lab:
What’s the craziest idea or concept you’ve ever come up with? Was it possible to apply on a toy?

James yeah?:
Oh most my ideas are always a bit crazy and far fetched, I usually have to bring them back down to reality and to what I can actually make,  I’m currently working on a normal 8inch robot Munny for a dj, it’s probably my most far fetched concept yet but I won’t spoil the surprise for you.

Custom Toy Lab:
If you could give any advice to those starting out in the custom toy scene, what kind of advice would you give them?

James yeah?:
Just take your time, practice your techniques and be patient, patience really is the key to making toys I’ve found.

Custom Toy Lab:
Did you have any help from others when starting off in the custom toy scene?

James yeah?:
I suppose so yeah, well I read a lot of toy making tutorials and how to’s when I started but I’d say it was more the positive responses and tight knit community that made me want to carry on and make more toys and try different things.

Custom Toy Lab:
Do you take commission request? Where and how can people contact you if they wish to have artwork done?

James yeah?:
Yeah most my toys are commissioned, you can contact me through Myspace (jamesyeah), Flickr or email me at j_hughes101 [at] hotmail.com

Custom Toy Lab:

Last but least, if there is one thing you could customize apart from a toy what would it be?

James yeah?:
Oh there’s loads of things I’d love to custom or things I’d love to make, I’d like to custom something like a bike or custom make a full size replica robot outfit complete with weapons. My absolute dream though would be to work on a film like Hellboy or similar making those amazing props they have, I think I’d be in heaven doing that for a living.

Custom Toy Lab:
We’d like to thank James yeah? once again for doing a one-on-one interview with us here at Custom Toy Lab. James will have a toy tutorial featured on our blog very soon, so make sure to keep an eye out for that. We look forward to seeing more of his projects in the future, but also wish him the best of luck!

Click here for toys posted on Custom Toy Lab by James yeah?