After two and a half decades of working in the corporate world of toy design prototypes and bringing robots to life in the animatronics field, Thomas Kuebler opted to explore his full creative potential as a freelance artist. Armed with the tools of his trade, a very supportive and patient wife, and the odd inhabitants of his own personal fiction, he set forth on a new mission to bring the world inside his head to life.
His highly detailed life-size characters range in venue from museums to private homes to the offices of DC Comics and have been featured in publications such as Spectrum and Rue Morgue. Kuebler and his wife currently reside in North Carolina.
Tom creates his works of surreal, hyper-realistic art using silicone, foam, resin, and any other material which triggers his ever-expanding imagination. This gallery briefly outlines the process of a recent piece he created, "The Mythical Menagerie of Dr. Baltus Bagoon"
For more awesome creations - Visit www.thomaskuebler.com
''Flying Monkey'' sculpture created using non-sulfur clay.
Sculpture is divided using a clay wall.
As Shell Shock is applied to sections of the sculpture, more clay walls are created.
The finished Shell Shock multi-piece mold.
The cast Dragon Skin silicone skin being removed from the Shell Shock mold.
The silicone head, feet and hands are affixed to the rigid foam body.
The head is painted using Psycho Paint silicone paint combined with Silc-Pig pigments.
Hair is added to complete the look.
A sculpt of ''Baltus'' is created using non-sulfur clay.
The completed character sculpt, ready for molding.
Shell Shock is used for the rigid mold. IT captures excellent detail and is extremely rigid when cured.
The completed Dragon Skin casting, ready for finishing.
The head is affixed to the rigid foam body, and the foam is carved to form shoulders.
The head is painted using Psycho Paint silicone paint combined with Silc-Pig pigments.
Eyelashes and hair is punched into the silicone rubber skin.
The completed ''Baltus'' sculpture.
Tom Kuebler and ''Baltus Bagoon''
The completed installation ''Baltus Bagoon the Organ Grinder and His Monkey''
