The Artists Corner

Paul Morgutia – Artist of the Month

The Black Ops Toys Artists Corner focuses on people in the 1/6 hobby who make amazing art out of 1/6 scale action figures. Often you’ll hear that toys are to be left brand new in the box to be worth anything at all. But we believe that taking these 1/6 scale action figures out of the box and painting, weathering, gluing, sanding, cutting, stitching, and photographing them makes them more valuable to us (THE ARTISTS). The figures are more than just pieces in a box. Kitbashing artists make the figures come alive. These are the artists we focus on.

In this episode, Sully and Jensen speak with Paul Morgutia. Paul is an all-around one-sixth-scale kitbasher. Over the years, he’s learned a lot of different techniques on his own. He’s learned airbrushing, color mixing, how to dremel for weathering effects, and custom-making armor. He’s been focusing on Halo action figures, specializing in creating action figures from characters in the video game.

Paul’s advice to someone wanting to get into the hobby and do customizations for fun or commission work is to plan things out first. Always have a solid plan. And patience and time are also important. Don’t rush.

Paul only has an Instagram account. You can find him at @SmallArms_Customs on IG and send him a direct message. He is closed to commission work right now, but it never hurts to check in on his schedule. 

We recorded this episode on February 20, 2024. 

We ask everyone on The Artists Corner a series of rapid-fire (and ever-changing) questions to help you get to know them better. Here are the Artists Corner questions and answers from Paul:

1. What is your favorite movie? 1987’s Predator
2. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
3. Wolverine or Deadpool? Deadpool for all the tactical equipment
4. What did you want to be when you grew up? Highway Patrol Officer
5. What profession/job would you never want to do? Sit behind a desk all day
6. xBox or Playstation?  xBox
7. If you were a menu item at a restaurant, what would your entre be called? Big Steak Platter
8. What is your favorite curse word?  Fuck
9. Do you have a Zombie apocalypse escape plan? No, I don’t but I’d stack up on bullets, water and learn how to hunt.
10. Sum up what you do in three words? Eat, Sleep, Lift

Paul’s Photo Gallery: