Charlie Flatt's work

[CrimsonGhost]

can we see some of your work because honestly i dont think anyone on here can come close to Charlees sculpts except for a select few.

Sure, check out Mattel's Retro Action Sinestro and Green Lantern. Those are mine.

[Anarchy]

Sure, check out Mattel's Retro Action Sinestro and Green Lantern. Those are mine.

I'm not trying to offend but im just not a fan of them. The sinestro sculpt is ok, i dont like the lantern sculpt i think that superman sculpt is terrible, but its alot better then anything i can do thats for sure. case in point put the flatt sinestro sculpt in front of me and that one in front of me im not gonna choose the mattel one.

[CrimsonGhost]

Please post a pic of Flatts Sinestro.

[CrimsonGhost]

Oh, and I'm not offended, but please be specific about what you don't like like I was with Charlees work.

You seemed to be calling out my credentials as far as what I know about sculpting, and I feel that getting professional work as a sculptor (as well as being a professional artist for over 15 years) should say i'm not just some ham-and-egger.

Again, I wasn't trying to insult Charlee's work, I was just pointing out the anatomical mistakes he makes.

[Blackkryptonite]

With all due respect to Charlee, his work is top notch and we'd all certainly be a little less evolved if he hadn't really started doing what he does. I think Charlee's best attribute to his figures is his attention to detail to his figures costumes and accessories. His head sculpts are okay but definitely not his best quality. There are several Museum members and I believe are equal to and even exceed Flatt's work. Again, no disrespect to Charlee. I would have never gotten involved in the hobby if it hadn't been for him and ye ole Capt. Dunsel.

[megozilla13]

I have to agree...

....about somewhere in the early 2000s Charlee's "uniqueness"
began to disappear like "tear drops in rain" (so to speak),
and all the talent 'round these parts began to show....

In the end, Charlee is more of a "pioneer icon"
than "the leading superhero figure/doll maker".

And, really, I always thought Charlee's strength was his figure rendering
as a WHOLE while his sculpts on their own were pretty hit and miss.

I agree with the hit and miss but when it came to the hits like Deadpool, Daredevil, Asylum Joker, Cyclops, Red Skull, I've yet to see someone come close.
Hue, correct me if I'm wrong but your statement is based on pics you've seen of Charlee's work not from seeing actual finished figures.
His "uniqueness" as you call it is a style that was his own and although some have borrowed from it, if you collect 50 custom Batmans from 50 different customizers, if you were familiar with his work, you could pick out the flatt, and............... if you took the heads off those 50 customs you would still be able to pick it out.

Charlee would always be the first to tell you that he wasn't a sculptor. I always thought his greatest strengths were his sewing and tailoring. The body alterations he made at a time when no one was doing it. The accessories he would make from scratch that were so perfect they could have been factory made, and maybe most importantly his huge body of work.

If Charlee isn't the leading superhero/doll maker, then who is?


mikej

[Anarchy]

Oh, and I'm not offended, but please be specific about what you don't like like I was with Charlees work.

You seemed to be calling out my credentials as far as what I know about sculpting, and I feel that getting professional work as a sculptor (as well as being a professional artist for over 15 years) should say i'm not just some ham-and-egger.

Again, I wasn't trying to insult Charlee's work, I was just pointing out the anatomical mistakes he makes.

like i said man not trying to offend all due respect for even being able to sculpt that good. i cant even get anywhere near that, tonight i'll post a pic of flatts sinestro on the site i think i only have the toyfare cover with sinestro on it

[starsky]

I agree with the hit and miss but when it came to the hits like Deadpool, Daredevil, Asylum Joker, Cyclops, Red Skull, I've yet to see someone come close.
Hue, correct me if I'm wrong but your statement is based on pics you've seen of Charlee's work not from seeing actual finished figures.
His "uniqueness" as you call it is a style that was his own and although some have borrowed from it, if you collect 50 custom Batmans from 50 different customizers, if you were familiar with his work, you could pick out the flatt, and............... if you took the heads off those 50 customs you would still be able to pick it out.

Charlee would always be the first to tell you that he wasn't a sculptor. I always thought his greatest strengths were his sewing and tailoring. The body alterations he made at a time when no one was doing it. The accessories he would make from scratch that were so perfect they could have been factory made, and maybe most importantly his huge body of work.

If Charlee isn't the leading superhero/doll maker, then who is?


mikej

amen to that mike! charlee's strength was not sculpting but in sewing and attention to the details of the character. and dont forget charlee's hal jordan green lantern! one of my faves, and i still have the one i bought from you!!

[huedell]

I agree with the hit and miss but when it came to the hits like Deadpool, Daredevil, Asylum Joker, Cyclops, Red Skull, I've yet to see someone come close.

...those are, as you've indicated, his "hits"
and AFAIC there were many more "misses" than "hits".

Even with the sculpts you mentioned, I still think there have been
better sculpts rendered...or at LEAST "as good" of sculpts
rendered than some of those...but, frankly I'm not about
to get into a "shooting" match over which ones

ESPECIALLY since at the moment I am too lazy to re-examine
people's past work
and Lord forbid post stuff (I stink at posting pics)

....and ALSO especially because it's already agreed that
his sculpting wasn't all that hot to begin with.

In other words, re: sculpts...Charlee is easily trumped.

(actually I WILL mention some names at the close of this post,
but it still hurts me to do it because I know I'm leaving out
a lot of vital customizer info)

Hue, correct me if I'm wrong but your statement is based on pics you've seen
of Charlee's work not from seeing actual finished figures.

I'm guessing that by "actual finished figures" you merely mean seeing them
in person?

If that is true, you are right.

Frankly, Charlee's work never interested me enough to see it in person
and neither have the "gushing" of those that have purchased his
figures.

I've bought billions of 8 inch figures... customs and otherwise....
from online pics...

and I'm pretty convinced that no amount of "in person"
viewing is gonna have a significant impact on my tastes.

Usually this "in person" thing just sounds like overkill from happy customers...

...not that there's anything wrong with that,

but it's just an 8 inch clothed figure for cripes sake...
and BEING an 8 inch clothed figure it's easily enough
captured by a few well shot pics

a happy customer had to be impressed by the online pics of Charlee's work
before getting it "in person". And I haven't been that impressed.

Especially for the high price tag.

His "uniqueness" as you call it is a style that was his own and although some have borrowed from it, if you collect 50 custom Batmans from 50 different customizers, if you were familiar with his work, you could pick out the flatt, and............... if you took the heads off those 50 customs you would still be able to pick it out.

That kind of "game" would mean something to me if I enjoyed Charlee's
sculpt style in first place...I don't...so the point is moot.

HOWEVER, I do think it''s pretty cool that YOU and others
feel that way, and I am impressed by Charlee's ability
to create that kind of impact "artistically" in spite of my personal disinterest.

Charlee would always be the first to tell you that he wasn't a sculptor.

So, you're saying he agrees with me? Aw, you know what I mean.
No reason to make excuses. Either one likes his sculpts... or they don't.

I always thought his greatest strengths were his sewing and tailoring. The body alterations he made at a time when no one was doing it. The accessories he would make from scratch that were so perfect they could have been factory made, and maybe most importantly his huge body of work.

And THAT ^^^ is what I was getting at in my previous post.
Charlee has accomplished a LOT and I'd be ignorant if
I did not see that.

If Charlee isn't the leading superhero/doll maker, then who is?

It certainly isn't Charlee IMO....style-wise and especially
pound for pound "money to figure" ratio.

TYPE3TOYS, BLACK KNIGHT etc. etc. (I'm ashamed to say I can't
exactly recall who else altho' there are quite a few others)
do incredible quality work that stands up to Charlee's work....

....even a guy like Ed Nagy who does a lot more simpler work has
a better eye for proprtions of acessories and just as good an eye if not better
for headsculpts most notably when it comes to facial features
and their "geometry"...I present the CREEPER sculpt he made YEARS ago
as a great example. It's not as detailed as some of Charlee's sculpts but
it looks more "correct" to me. Charlee's come off too abstract
in many of his facial sculpts for my tastes.

[Anarchy]

I agree with the hit and miss but when it came to the hits like Deadpool, Daredevil, Asylum Joker, Cyclops, Red Skull, I've yet to see someone come close.
Hue, correct me if I'm wrong but your statement is based on pics you've seen of Charlee's work not from seeing actual finished figures.
His "uniqueness" as you call it is a style that was his own and although some have borrowed from it, if you collect 50 custom Batmans from 50 different customizers, if you were familiar with his work, you could pick out the flatt, and............... if you took the heads off those 50 customs you would still be able to pick it out.

Charlee would always be the first to tell you that he wasn't a sculptor. I always thought his greatest strengths were his sewing and tailoring. The body alterations he made at a time when no one was doing it. The accessories he would make from scratch that were so perfect they could have been factory made, and maybe most importantly his huge body of work.

If Charlee isn't the leading superhero/doll maker, then who is?


mikej

Mike, exactly theres something about his joker or his year one bats, or his deadpool that noone has come close to them, look at that year one and you could have 50 different batmans but to me that year one or that deadpool is just simply amazing.

[Anarchy]

Oh, and I'm not offended, but please be specific about what you don't like like I was with Charlees work.

You seemed to be calling out my credentials as far as what I know about sculpting, and I feel that getting professional work as a sculptor (as well as being a professional artist for over 15 years) should say i'm not just some ham-and-egger.

Again, I wasn't trying to insult Charlee's work, I was just pointing out the anatomical mistakes he makes.

All i've got is this crappy scanned photo from the toyfare issue but you can get the point of how the figure looks, and its not that i'm bashing you in any way, utmost respect for what you do, i wasnt excited over the "new megos" maybe its because the sculpts are meant to look like megos, maybe if i saw more moderized versions of say sinestro or green lantern i would like them more. I think the green arrow sculpt on the new retro figs is the best out of the bunch but i hear they just made a few changes to the mego green arrow head.

[thunderbolt]

Sure, check out Mattel's Retro Action Sinestro and Green Lantern. Those are mine.

Wow, did not know who did the headsculpts for Mattel. Congrats. I personally prefer your look to the sometimes constipated look of the Flatts. Your Sinestro is dead perfect. There are several customizers on this board that have outpaced Charlee, Type3Toys, BK and Captain Mego come to mind.

[Meule]

while the work here is nice, theres just something to say about someone who can make a figure as a whole; without boosting a head, shrinking a head, enlarging a head, while im not taking away anything from anyone who does this I stand by that a select few can do what charlee did. with that said, I think james bradys heads are incredible, type3toys sewing is also incredible, and a select few that can make a figure as a whole.

Someone show me a green arrow, a joker a year one bats better then charlees, and IMO it cant be done.

BK, Type 3 Toys and Captain Mego make figures as a whole and they outdo Flatt if you ask me
You wanna talk sculpts? Check out Derek's latest Joker sculpt.
Neal Adams Joker head sculpt - Mego Talk
Or Jessica's work
President of the Assembly, Planet of the Apes - Mego Talk


To name but a few

[Blackkryptonite]

The forum is loaded with talent and it's always a joy to see what each of us come up with and to watch how our talents progress. I really wish Charlee could take some time to join us now and then.

[ctc]

>i dont think anyone on here can come close to Charlees sculpts except for a select few.



Don C.