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 which were auctioned by The Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Starwars.com chats with LucasArts character artist Manny Llamas about his process for turning a blank Hasbro Mighty Muggs figure into a special tribute to the Ultimate Evil Apprentice from The Force Unleashed.
Why did you want to participate in The Empire Muggs Back charity art project?
I loved the idea of making a unique Star Wars Mighty Mugg, and wanted to help represent our team here at Lucasfilm; and what's even better, it's for charity.
I've never made one before or used an airbrush, so it was an interesting project from all aspects.
What did you choose to do for your Mighty Muggs art piece?
I chose the Ultimate Evil Apprentice from Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. He is my favorite character in the game, so I thought it would be cool to try and get him in Muggs form.
What was your step-by-step process? What materials did you use?
I started from a Darth Revan Mighty Muggs mold, so that I could use the skirt for the Ultimate Evil design. I began by painting the entire thing silver, then worked backwards on the layers the Ultimate Evil Apprentice had by masking over top each time, and that was the real challenge; the masking. I used a paper material called frisket, which is transparent and has a sticky side. I ended up with an unbelievable mount of peeled off frisket by the end of the project. After each mask was in place I mixed paints and airbrushed them accordingly.
What were some of the challenges you faced while making your art piece?
Masking as I mentioned was very time consuming and involved some tedious trial and error. From drawing out a test masks on cut up zip-lock bags to test how they fitted around the curves of the Mugg, to re-cutting masks on the frisket that didn't fit as planned. Also, it being the first time using an airbrush, I messed up the smoothness on a few of the layers of the Apprentice, which I end up rubbing completely with some water and cloth, and starting from scratch three times. Thankfully that only happened on the second layer each time.
Why do you think Star Wars fans will love The Empire Muggs Back project?
Mighty Muggs have grown in popularity quite fast. I found many fan forums with amazing custom Muggs they have created. I was really impressed with the imagination and quality out there on fan-made Muggs. Hopefully, we brought something unique and fun to the table for fans!
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