In Episode 7 of LEGO Masters, “Storybook” (3/18/2020), all the teams were presented with an identical, Mad Lib-style story, the blanks of which had been filled in creatively by a group of kids. For the challenge, each team had to present their own recreation of this zany tale involving a “book chicken,” a “horse that can do gymnastics,” a “Taker-Waker,” and more.

For our model, Christian and I chose to build the interior of the Taker-Waker’s house, which the storybook specified as being messy and full of stolen toys. This setting choice, however, turned out to be a bad one. Our decision to build an enclosed structure literally boxed us in, and guided us towards manifesting a more realistic interpretation of the “Land of Koo Koo Magic” than other teams. Unfortunately, this stylistic direction left the Brickmasters cold. On top of this, since we took the story at face value, we intentionally built a cluttered house… but ended up with an unintentionally messy-looking build.

Ultimately, our entry for the storybook challenge landed us in the bottom two teams for the first time. Although Christian and I weren’t eliminated, this was still my least favorite build of the season. Read on for my special dissection of this model’s process, design choices, and more.

September 15, 2021

Get Your Game On!

I designed these life-size replicas of an MSI Aegis Ti5 desktop and an MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD monitor on commission for MSI’s marketing department. Combined, these models clock in at more than 10,600 bricks, and over 42 lbs (14 kg) of weight, making them the biggest LEGO models I have ever designed and assembled under the auspices of my LLC. I can say with confidence that this was the most difficult LEGO-built project I’ve ever undertaken… and, as such, it’s one of the most satisfying to have accomplished. Needless to say, it feels amazing to finally get to share these two models with the world!

Watch the video above for an exploration of these epic display pieces, and read on for even more in-depth info about their process and design choices.

August 19, 2021

Behind-the-Build: Masonic Eagle

I designed this enormous logo sculpture on commission for the Scottish Rite Masons in Massachusetts. Prior to this model, I had no experience with Freemasonry beyond, say, National Treasure, and I’m still no expert. Rather, to me, this project was an exercise in LEGO-izing unfamiliar iconography; it represented a chance for me to tackle a model I never would’ve thought to build on my own. When life throws me a challenge, I like to take it!

In that it’s a large-scale creature, sculpted with studs-out techniques, standing atop a big box pedestal, this Masonic Eagle logo exists in a similar vein and style to my Salesforce character pieces. However, the model also posed its own set of challenges and put forward its own unique questions.

Watch the video above for an in-depth exploration of this display piece, and read on for even more info about its design choices.

July 20, 2021

The Picture of Suburban Bliss

I designed this replica of a private residence on commission. Although the client only paid me for digital deliverables—i.e., design services and instructions, but no physical bricks—I couldn’t resist splurging a little on parts to recreate my finished product in real life, with a few modifications of my own to “spruce up” the build. Yes, that was a pun, because yes, the addition of a towering redwood tree in the backyard was one of my biggest add-ons!

This 360-degree home recreation also features fully realized, furnished interior spaces, making it perhaps the most in-depth structural recreation I have ever completed at this size. Keeping balance between external and internal was a fun puzzle to solve, and while I was battling for space much of the time, I’m pleased with and proud of the final result.

Read on to learn more about the design choices behind this build, and to check out all the rooms of the house!

July 12, 2021

Reach for the Stars: Building Astro

I built this statue of Astro Nomical, a Salesforce character from their Trailhead software, for Salesforce’s TrailheadX 2021 (TDX21) virtual event. This piece was designed to scale with my Salesforce sculpture from last year’s event, TDX20, which was a statue of Codey the Bear. This year’s model, which is nearly 16” (40cm+) tall and consists of over 3,000 bricks, was a formidable undertaking mostly because of timing; just like last year’s piece, I had to complete my design and source the necessary bricks for it against an extremely tight deadline, which was a live-build of the final model for a virtual event.

My recreation of Astro intentionally emulates my LEGO Codey in terms of its design, composition, and techniques; as such, many aspects of the process were ones with which I’d already had experience. However, this project posed some new opportunities for growth, too. For example, Astro’s base includes a lighting element, the which I had to integrate with a LEGO-built infrastructure. The model also features custom decals, modified LEGO bricks, and a pretty dynamic pose.

I feel that LEGO-built Astro pays appropriate homage to my first TrailheadX live build model; in doing so, it reinforces a set style for my burgeoning Salesforce character series. But I also feel that this model advances my character-building format into new territory and breaks ground of its own, which makes me even prouder of the finished result!

Read on to learn more about the conception, construction, and design of this custom statue.

January 27, 2021

What's Up, Dog?

I built these three miniature dog portraits on commission. I actually designed and photographed these models before I shared my larger-scale Cavalier King Charles Spaniel models but, as these mini-dogs were all intended as holiday gifts, I didn’t want to risk spoiling the surprise by sharing them any earlier!

Read on for a closer look at each of these dogs individually, as well as pictures of their real-life counterparts!

December 20, 2020

Two Models Working in "Harmony"

I designed this 1:2-scale pair of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels on commission. They’re some of the first pet builds I’ve ever designed, and I feel quite proud with how they turned out.

Let me introduce you to two sweet dogs: Indigo (the “Tri-Color” Cavalier, with black, white, and brown coloration) and Harmony (the “Blenheim” Cavalier, with white and reddish coloration). Like most pet owners, my client loves and treasures his dogs. Out of respect for his adoration, I sought to recreate Harmony and Indigo as faithfully as possible, and to make the pair complement one another just like their real-life counterparts do.

However, I wasn’t always slated to build both Indigo and Harmony. Initially, my client approached me seeking just a 1:1 replica of Harmony, and I signed on to the project intending to produce a model in that size. So, why did I change scales?

Read on to find out why, and to learn more about the process and design decisions behind these models!

November 16, 2020

Science on the High Seas

I designed this replica of a real-life research vessel on commission. While I’ve done a few seafaring builds before, I’d never built a full-size modern boat prior to this project. I love to tackle new subjects, since they throw all kinds of unexpected puzzles my way; as such, I relished this project as a great opportunity to grow as a builder. In the end, I finished with a larger, cooler, and more beautiful model than I ever expected to produce.

Clocking in at over 2,000 bricks, this minifigure-scale recreation measures over than 20" (50cm) long and weighs over 4 lbs (nearly 2 kg). The boat also features 3 levels of carefully crafted interior details that emulate those of the actual vessel, which are accessible in the LEGO modular building style, via removable roofs and sub-layers.

Read on to find out what’s inside this vessel, and to learn more about the choices I made and challenges I faced during its design process!

October 13, 2020

Behind-the-Build: Lost Boys Hideout

It was an absolute blast to design my interpretation of the Lost Boys’ hideout from the 1953 Disney animated movie Peter Pan. At 18” (45cm) tall—and over 1700 bricks—it’s quite a big creation, and took me more than a month to design and refine. Best of all, I opted to build and present this model as a “LEGO set,” complete with stable building techniques, play features, and a full assortment of minifigures. It just felt more appropriate to the subject material to channel some of my inner child, who loves nothing more than an exciting new LEGO kit. Like Peter Pan, I’m never growing up!

Watch the video above for an in-depth tour and exploration of the Lost Boys’ hideout, including demonstration of its play features, or read on to see detailed images and learn more about the design choices that went into this playset.

September 30, 2020

'Tis the Season... of Spooky!

I designed these famous Halloween characters in collaboration with Build Better Bricks (B3). Every year, B3’s head designer Tyler and I decide on two new monsters to build for the holiday; he does one, and I do one. During our inaugural Halloween season, I built the savage Werewolf on the left. For this year, I built a wicked Red Devil. Both figurines are highly articulated and detailed, and are designed as amalgamations of my favorite versions of these iconic monsters.

Read on to learn more about the design choices that went into each of these models, and to find out how I found my way to their striking photo presentation!

Behind-The-Build: Storybook Challenge

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