(Dan Chudzinksi's mixed-media sculpture 'The Ripper,' winner of the Stan Winston School Monster Making Contest)
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- Artist Dan Chudzinski’s Beginnings
- Chudzinski’s First Life-sized Figure
- A Life of Unusual Adventures
- Making “Turbulence”
- From Zoo Taxidermist to Creature Creator
- Chudzinski’s Early Inspirations
- More Turtle-inspired Art
- “The Mudpuppy” Sculpture
- Constructing the Haunted Throne of the Voodoo Queen
- Drawing Inspiration from Native Arts and Craft
- Bringing His Muse to Life
- Creating Art in Two Dimensions
- From Artist to Museum Curator
- Creating Art That Grabs Your Attention
- Breaking Into Film
- Dan's Biography for 'The Ripper' - SWSCA Monster Contest Winner
Artist Dan Chudzinski’s Beginnings
Born and raised in Fremont, Ohio, Dan Chudzinski received a B.F.A. in sculpture and a B.A. in history from Miami University. He would then go on to earn an M.F.A. in three-dimensional studies from Bowling Green State University.
Chudzinski’s First Life-sized Figure
Made from silicone, fiberglass, brass, and mixed media, Dan's first life-sized hyper-realistic figure, 'Virgil the Ragtime Relic' (pictured above), was created during his second semester of graduate school at Bowling Green State University.
A Life of Unusual Adventures
With a command of techniques rivaled only by his diverse interests, Dan Chudzinski’s quest to improve his artistic skill set has led to a host of unusual adventures.
Making “Turbulence”
Dan's mixed media creation 'Turbulence' (pictured above) features a life-size chimpanzee jetpack pilot and was made using silicone, steel, fiberglass, and punched hair. This figure won Dan a 2012 Gold Award Nomination from Spectrum: Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art.
From Zoo Taxidermist to Creature Creator
Throughout various chapters of his life, Dan has worked as a zoo taxidermist, apprenticed under master marble carvers in the mountains of Northern Italy, made functional artillery pieces for film and television, and created totem poles with Tlingit master carvers in Alaska.
Chudzinski’s Early Inspirations
(A life-size taxidermy and mixed media recreation of Dan's favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles villain, Bebop.)
The Ninja Turtles were one of Chudzinski's earliest sources of artistic inspiration and the reason that he first discovered the Italian Renaissance masters. The piece pictured above was featured in Heavy Metal magazine, by Kevin Eastman, who created the original character.
More Turtle-inspired Art
As a new interpretation of Aesop's fable The Tortoise and the Hair, Chudzinski created 'Gus Gets a Jetpack' (pictured above), featuring a life-size box turtle made from Super Sculpey, resin, wood, acrylic paint, and found objects.
('The Grindylow' - Dan's first fantasy dive suit made with brass, copper, steel, aluminum, mixed media.)
“The Mudpuppy” Sculpture
Dan Chudzinski created his sculpture 'The Mudpuppy' (pictured above) from a mix of epoxy, steel, and fiberglass. It features an enormous bulldog - approximately 500 lbs! - and his dive-master as they take a stroll outside the Grand Rapids Public Museum during the 2014 ArtPrize Competition.
Constructing the Haunted Throne of the Voodoo Queen
The custom throne in the image above was inspired by Dan's visit to the tomb of Marie Laveau (aka the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans) and features over 2,000 antique nails, authentic horns from repurposed taxidermy mounts, and the hide of an alligator.
Drawing Inspiration from Native Arts and Craft
Using techniques he learned during his time working with Tlingit master carvers, Nathan Jackson, Stephen Jackson, and Tommy Joseph, Chudzinski made the wolf mask pictured above. The mask is a combination of yellow cedar, abalone, acrylic paint, and opercula and no, that's not Photoshop - the shoot was done with a live wolf.
Bringing His Muse to Life
When asked what the source of his artistic inspiration might look like if it could appear before him, Dan was inspired to create the 'Muse' (pictured above) a life-size figure made with fiberglass and mixed media, who now resides in his studio.
Creating Art in Two Dimensions
This graphite illustration of 'The Fish Thief' is one of the many creature/character concepts lurking in Dan Chudzinski's sketchbook.
From Artist to Museum Curator
In 2015, Dan was named Curator of the Mazza Museum of International Art from Picture Books (University of Findlay), which houses the world’s first and largest collection of original illustrations from picture books.
('Through Wind and Darkness, I Summon Thee' – Dan's spin on the evil queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.)
During his time as museum curator, Dan has also found time to contribute his own art as well, including the piece pictured above, made with shed antlers, wood, glass and acrylic paint, which he created for the "Enchanted Brush: Villains" exhibition at the Mazza Museum of International Art from Picture Books.
Creating Art That Grabs Your Attention
Based on a local legend, Dan used foam, conduit, resin and acrylic paint to create 'Bessie the Lake Erie Monster' as an attention-getting device outside of the Mazza Museum of International Art from Picture Books at the University of Findlay. This 40’ faux skeleton is the size of a school bus and welcomes school children at the beginning of tours. It has even served as the centerpiece of a dinosaur-themed wedding reception.
Breaking Into Film
Dan's first character design to come alive on film was for a 'Sikh Bodyguard' created for Miguel Ortega’s period adventure, The Ningyo, which focuses on cryptozoology. This incredible film was created in the director’s L.A. apartment!
If you have not yet seen it:
Then, watch the making of:
Dan's Biography for 'The Ripper' - SWSCA Monster Contest Winner
As a relentless cycle of corruption and greed threatened to eliminate the world’s most majestic creatures, a team of biologists and engineers worked to develop a poaching deterrent that would reverse the trend towards mass extinction. Inspired by the hunting prowess of nature’s most efficient predators, a pack of mechanized creatures were released into strategic locations to protect indigenous species while targeting weaponry, non-organic devices, and human trespassers. Utilizing a sophisticated self-charging fuel source, the machines were left to stalk the savannah until structural failure.
(The Ripper by Dan Chudzinski. Mixed Media Sculpture, dimensions: 49" L x 32" w" 29" H.)
More of Dan’s work can be viewed at danchudzinski.com.
And please follow his artistic adventures at “Dan Chudzinski Studio” on Facebook and Instagram.
(A portrait of Dan Chudzinski by photographer Dave Casperson.)
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Check out the original Monster Making Contest Winner Announcement: The Ripper
View all the entries at Monster Making Contest