|
Spencer: I exclusively hold the Copyrights to all my art and I hold Trademarks which are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (a very costly and tedious process). I have worked MANY o' 13+ hour days to get to this sophomore status in my career. At the risk of sounding like Lars Ulrich from Metallica, (Notorious Anti-Napster Crusader), I just hope people respect the hard work that goes in. I'm speaking for musicians, poets, photographers, singers, ALL ARTISTS who pour passion into their craft so that we all might be entertained and enjoy art. So I have one small request to readers: If you post a pic of my art on your "Yahoo Group," or your "My Space" / "Black Planet " page, I ask that you please make a clear note, preferably a link, to where my website can be found: www.BootyBabeArt.com
Spreading the word is very sincerely appreciated.
(I guess that is my answer.)
MVRemix: I believe many artists have found themselves in similar circumstances. I for one can think of no less than three entities that use the exact same pitbull logo for their products. (A video game manufacturer, a t-shirt company, and an actually dog breeder) People tend to treat the internet like the beach. "Oh look I found a logo in the sand”. Get the message people, just because it’s easy to steal doesn’t mean it was easy to create. Can you give our readers a quick breakdown on the time that goes into the creation of each original design from concept to finished product? It's fairly obvious I wouldn't be able to pull off "Cotton Candy" with a Barbie doll and some Plastersine.
Spencer: Well, there’s nothing quick about it.. As for the basic chassis alone: I start with a pose that most inspires me. Then I take a plastic doll (like a Barbie) and use it as a structure, posing it in that position permanently by gluing all the joints. I also have to cut it up to widen the hips, and change the proportions a bit. Then, little by little, I add a sculpting material called Sculpey III. You can actually accomplish about 95% of the sculpt in this material. The finer, detailed sculpting is done with wax and dental tools. Ultimately the figure has to be broken down into individual elements that will be molded separately. (The molding process involves silicone rubber and is an art in itself.) It is necessary to kind of ‘engineer’ the figure so that it can be reproduced consistently and cleanly. I cast the parts in resin. (The factory overseas uses cold-cast porcelain.) When the pieces come out of the mold they require a lot of cleaning and sanding. Then the figure is assembled like a model kit and is ready to be painted!
MVRemix: You know I think if I was putting that much work into something I’d be a little pissed if someone decided to run my logo down someone’s ass crack as well.
We’ve discussed your passion for the art and the labor involved with these creations, so let’s discuss the business aspect. I think it's safe to say that for someone to make a living off of their work one has to be willing to tackle the "Business" side of the art. Let's look at Booty Babe Art the business for a second. What types of things are you planning to ensure your brand continues to resonate with the buying public?
Spencer: It’s kind of funny - It was really just a hobby that turned into a business. I posted a cheesy Earthlink website of the Original pieces and people responded. But it was that response that made it seem as though this could be viable as a business. The same has served to guide me as for what would be popular styles to produce. In other words, posting Custom and Original work has, in effect, served as viability research from which I get valuable feedback. When I hear the same requests over and over it’s safe to assume that this is an idea that would sell as a limited edition offering. One thing I definitely plan to do in the future is introduce a variety of new poses and body types among the limited edition styles. There is also a remote possibility that Booty Babe Art will some day be available, at a lower price point, as a vinyl dolls. But that’s just a rumor at this point!
MVRemix: ‘Bout time someone put a new twist on blow up dolls (I kid, I kid). Further to the last question do you fear commercialization at all? For instance, fans of the original Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles black and white comic book, felt pretty let down when the little indie book they loved became a mass marketed juggernaut. What's your take going to be when McDonald's figures out that maybe one of your sculptures would be great advertising for a value combo? Or maybe MTV thinks Booty Babes has to be a cartoon. Can the spirit of your work survive the spotlight?
Spencer: I don’t really worry about commercialization because I wouldn’t sign a licensing agreement unless I had some form of creative involvement. Somehow I also feel that my ‘audience’ (if I can say that) wouldn’t be turned off. Example: P. Diddy, Nelly, 50 cent – Going commercial is not “selling out” among this lot.
MVRemix: Finally, seeing as how you have an extensive background in art and graphic design what other sorts of projects can you be found working on?
Spencer: {laughs} Since I quit my day job you can find me working on projects such as painting the trim on the house, excavating the front yard; making way for a paver stone walk way. But seriously, I’m very passionate about architectural design these days and an important goal in front of me right now is building a dream workspace! That’s why we moved to Nevada by the way, I would never be able to afford this space in Los Angeles. I already built the 1:64 scale, plastic model of the workspace (for use with Match Box cars.) Once I get set up though, and have a comfortable place to work, I want to get back into the habit of doing more drawing. I would eventually like to offer some illustrated 2D poster designs along with the 3D sculptures. Maybe I will produce a sketch book of the results. And one of my life goals is to one day produce a full-scale bronze Booty Babe.
MVRemix: Sketch books are always a good time. I’ve bought a couple myself. A full scale bronze Booty Babe? I’m fairly confident that right there is the missing first step to world peace my friend. I’ll have my minions begin the task of stripping this country of all the bronze that isn’t nailed down. Unless the nails are bronze that is.
Thanks for taking the time to do this interview Spencer.
Spencer Davis and his creations can be found at www.BootyBabeArt.com
Drama En Sabah can usually be found doing something that should be de-criminalized at nurlord@excite.com
*The interviewer happened on the Scarlett’s World website after writing this article and seems Scarlett no longer weighs 5000lbs. She however is still hot.
**Pam Grier is not a hundred years old. But yes I would thoroughly savage her given the opportunity even if she was a hundred and two.
| 
