Presidential MONSTERS at SDCC!

About a couple months ago, I did a project for a new action figure toy line, Presidential MONSTERS! These figures are a hybrid between the classic monsters and the American presidents. They are fully pose-able, with real clothes, and styled like the vintage Mego figures. They are being officially released at San Diego Comic Con this weekend July 21-24th 2011 at the Presidential MONSTERS booth #3449!


I was brought on to do three of the seven character illustrations for the packaging cards: Richard Nixon as "Monster from the Watergate Lagoon," George W. Bush as "Zom-Bush," and John F. Kennedy as "The Phantom of the White House." The images were painted wide to fit the back of the card as well as the front.

Here is the art:
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Here are some details of the art:
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As each character has a theme color, the theme color for Nixon "Monster from the Watergate Lagoon" is orange, so the original approved colors of the final illustration were adjusted by the packaging designer for continuity of the set between artists. You can see the package version of Nixon and Zom-Bush below which you can also get as T-Shirts:

I had a very tight deadline for this project as the art had to go to the factory in order to be printed on the packaging cards in time to have everything ready to be released by this weekend at the San Diego Comic Con. Plus, I was working on these illustrations when I was finishing the creation of 3 creatures for the film Blood on the Plain, but luckily I was able to complete these 3 creatures as well as the film's 3 creatures in time! They started off as traditional gouache paintings, but once I was about 50% finished, I completed painting them digitally in Photoshop in order to meet the deadline.

Here are what the toys look like:
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Here is the whole line:
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They even are making MINI Presidential MONSTERS:
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If you are going to be at San Diego Comic Con this weekend July 21-24th 2011, be sure to stop by the Presidential MONSTERS booth #3449 where you can be the first to own these monster presidents and t-shirts featuring my artwork!! The booth is right next to the Mezco Toys booth. Also be sure to visit booths Heroes West Coast #729 and Toy Tokyo #5437! I unfortunately will be unable to attend SDCC 2011 to see the offical Presidential MONSTER release, but if you go, send me some pictures of the Monsters!!

These toys will be hitting the shelves at various national retailers, toy stores, and novelty shops very soon. Also, some REALLY BIG news about this haunted toy line is also coming soon, so keep posted!

Monster Nixon, Bush, and Kennedy Illustrations by J. Anthony Kosar.
Photos of Toys and Logos courtesy Heroes In Action Toys.
Presidential Monsters, Toys, and Art © 2011 Heroes In Action Toys, LLC.
All Rights Reserved.

The Art of Mask Making - June 2011 Recap

June also marked the 2nd time the Art of Mask Making was offered by Kosart Effects Studios! Once again, many students from across Chicagoland came out to learn the Art of Mask Making In an intense 4 Saturday course. Students learned everything from creature design fundamentals to sculpting, molding, casting, painting, and finishing techniques. Check out some of the pictures below in the Flickr slideshow from the Art of Mask Making - June 2011!

"Best class I've ever taken!"
~ Mitch Martos (Art of Mask Making Student - June 2011)
See Mitch's work below with the other students!

Thank you to all my students!! I also want to send a HUGE thank you to Blick Art Materials, Zagone Studios, and Fantasy Costumes for their sponsorship and all their help and support in making these FX courses possible!

Be sure to catch the next
Art of Mask Making Course
and other FX courses from
Kosart Effects Studios!!


Photographs by Kosart Effects Studios, LLC.
All Mask Designs Copyright their Respective Artists.
All Rights Reserved.

The Art of Make-Up FX - June 2011 Recap

June marked the first Art of Make-Up FX course taught through Kosart Effects Studios. 6 students from all over the Chicagoland area of all ages came out to learn various "out of the kit" techniques of theatrical make-up FX. In an intense 4 Sunday course, students learned everything from theatrical make-up fundamentals, age and corrective make-ups, 2D and 3D character make-up design, and injury make-up. Check out the Flickr slideshow to see the creative work of the students from the Art of Make-Up FX - June 2011.

"I learned a great deal more useful techniques in this short amount of time than any semester-long make-up course I've taken."
~ Justine Losoya (Columbia College Graduate & Art of Make-Up FX Student - June 2011)

"The Art of Make-Up FX was another home run for Kosart Effects Studios. I recommend it for those looking to get their hands bloody . . . I mean their feet wet in the world of Special Effects Make-Up!"
~ Scott Mitchell (Art of Make-Up FX Student - June 2011)

See Justine's and Scott's work below with the other students!

Thank you to all my students for being a part of the first Make-Up FX course from Kosart Effects Studios!! I also want to send a HUGE thank you to Fantasy Costumes, Blick Art Materials and Zagone Studios for their sponsorship and all their help and support in making the Art of Make-Up FX possible!

Be sure to catch the next
Art of Make-Up FX Course
and other FX courses from
Kosart Effects Studios!!


Photographs by Kosart Effects Studios, LLC.
All Make-Up Designs Copyright their Respective Artists.
All Rights Reserved.