Nite Owl NODDer’s
Like Whoa!! It’s been a journey to get here. Where is here? Well “here” is the release of my first miniature production figure, the NODDer. It all started when I was a featured guest on the Urban Robot Cat Podcast back in August of 2020. The subject of vinyl figures was touched upon and up until then I had never considered releasing a Nite Owl figure. I had customized many other artists “blanks”, but never my own. After the podcast, I gave the subject some serious thought and started sketching out my owls in three dimensions. It may sound easy, but when you are used to working in two dimensional flat planes, making the jump to three dimensions can be a little nerve wracking. You have to consider things you’ve never considered before, like what does the backside of my owl look like? Also the physics of it all, as in is the design too “top heavy” causing it to fall over? You get the idea. With time, the sketches turned into more detailed drawings with a clear idea of what I wanted to see in my owl figure. Then I began pitching the idea to various vinyl companies. I received the same response, “very cool idea, but we don’t think you can sell the number of units necessary for this concept to turn a profit and interest us”. I was definitely a bit off put by the responses, but after careful consideration, I fully agreed with their take and abandoned the pursuit of my own Nite Owl figure. The last thing I wanted was to be sitting on an inventory of 900 unsold figures.
Well, about a year later while grinding in the NFT space (yeah, i’m not too proud to admit that I made a foray into NFT’s.) I had linked up with a designer out of Germany who goes by the name Datadope Collectibles. We collaborated on a few digital animations that were quite successful in padding our crypto wallets. At the time, Datadope was just getting started in 3D modelling and asked if he could use my owls as subjects while learning the craft. Based on our previous successes, I said yes. After seeing his initial modelling results I handed off a sketch of a new idea of an Owl crossed with a spray can. Real original, I know…but there was something unique (and fun) here.
And now, after some back and forth design tweaking between the two of us, we arrive at the “HERE” !!! The big day is approaching quickly. On Wednesday, August 20 at 12 noon PDT, we are releasing a small run of 8 NODDer’s on the chopsticks website. First come, First serve. No Bots, just owls! Each NODDer is 3D printed and then hand painted (YES, hand-painted!) with Alpha 6 Alphakryliks and has received 2 coats of UV clear coating for a polished finish. There are two sizes available: the 4-1/2” tall figures and the 8-3/4” tall figures. No two color ways are the same insuring each NODDer is unique in it’s own way. Each owl is signed, dated and numbered. For an added bonus, each one is hollow with a removable base so you can stash some emergency cash, illicit contraband, keys to a safe, passwords or whatever you wish to hide from prying eyes. Let’s see your vinyl figures do that! Ha!
Let’s be clear about something, I didn’t create these NODDer’s to prove anybody wrong. Rather, I did this to prove myself right. I believe in myself and my work and I’m not going to waste any time trying to convince anyone who doesn’t. Here’s some free owl wisdom: Work with those who want to work with you, don’t waste your time chasing after those who don’t.