Collectors and fans alike have a chance to own one-of-a-kind Star Wars art pieces while giving to a good cause with The Empire Muggs Back. Lucasfilm asked artists, comic book creators, toy designers, and celebrity fans armed with markers, paint brushes and glue guns to transform blank Mighty Muggs (donated by Hasbro) into custom Star Wars art which will be auctioned by The Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Starwars.com chats with artist Cat Staggs about her process for turning a blank Hasbro Mighty Mugg into Thrawn.
What did you choose to do for your Mighty Mugg art piece?
This was not easy as Hasbro has pretty much made most of the characters. I just kept trying to think obscure and then I would Google. Finally, I went to the Expanded Universe. I loved the Thrawn series and he seemed to be a good choice. My favorite baddy from the EU.
Why did you want to participate in The Empire Muggs Back art project?
It is for a fantastic charity. For an artist like me who is a 2-dimensional illustrator, it was a challenge to work on the Mighty Muggs.
What was your step-by-step process? What materials did you use?
Never having worked on these I wasn't quite sure what to do. I started by figuring out if marker would work. I used a clear gel medium to give the little guy some texture and something for the marker to stick too. Then I went in with a pencil and skethed on the face and costume. Then went in with the underdrawing of the face. Once that was done, I finished the hair and costume. Finally, going back and adding the color to the face and hands.
What were some of the challenges you faced while making your art piece?
The most challenging part by far was picking a character or going with a mural type illustration.
Why do you think Star Wars fans will love The Empire Muggs Back project?
They are unique one-of-a-kind creations by some of the best artists in the galaxy. And they are freaking adorable.
The final Mighty Muggs art pieces can be seen at at The Empire Muggs Back on Starwars.com.
Stay tuned to Starwars.com for in-depth The Empire Muggs Back coverage, info on the online charity auction, Mighty Mugg crafting tips and artist profiles.
