I remember being gifted the set while visiting extended family on a long road trip across the US, and never having time to actually build it, so I don’t believe I ever actually finished it, and instead, it became the beginnings of my system parts collection.Īndreas: You’ve got to start the collection somewhere, haha! Are there any builders out there that inspire you? Patrick: The first set I remember being gifted was set 6054 Forestmen’s Hideout (I had to google that, sorry fellow AFOLs!). Ok, I’m curious, what was the first LEGO set you remember? I am also a big believer in keeping things simple, I will almost always opt to use one piece vs a more complicated 27 part connection to achieve a similar goal.Īndreas: That’s very interesting and I can see the influences-thank you for sharing. I like to believe that I have a very recognizable use of color, of clean lines and surfaces, a fondness for fantasy creatures, and a love of cool coats. Parts usage, shaping, parts availability have all changed dramatically since I started my Brickshelf account in 2002, but I think it is possible to pull one of my MOCs from 2002 and put it next to one I’ve done in 2021 and still see the spirit of that character-design in place. I don’t build with a fan fiction or a story in mind when I build, but that drive to express a character in a build is something deep-seated that I think comes across in my builds. Patrick: The thing that brought me into BIONICLE as a teen was always the story and characters. Patrick: There are a lot of different things that might drive me to a build! Sometimes it is the desire for pure creative expression, sometimes it is an image I can’t get out of my head that I need to create, sometimes it is a contest with an intriguing theme, sometimes it is to relax, and even sometimes it is the pure selfish desire to win a contest and continue to prove my skills to myself and others.Īndreas: Anything that gets you building is a good thing, I always think, haha! Do you feel that you have a certain style? Now, why do you build? Is there anything specific that drives you (aside from the massive financial benefits that we all enjoy)? It was both life-changing and life-affirming.Īndreas: I couldn’t agree more. I’m forever grateful for the opportunity. And the group of people we displayed with in the gallery that year are some of the greatest people I’ve ever met. I am so glad that I got to take part in such an experience with so many folks from all over the world. Patrick: The LEGO House AFOL weekend in 2018 was the most international LEGO fan event I’ve ever been to. Anything you want to share about displaying in the Masterpiece Gallery? But October 2021 was my honeymoon, and being able to go through it with my wife for the first time was everything to me.Īndreas: Yeah I can see that a honeymoon with your wife is hard to beat, that’s amazing. Seeing our MOCs behind the glass in the gallery will forever be one of my happiest moments as well. The day in 2018 we spent exploring the LEGO House experience zones together with Mel, and the rooftop zones with Warren and Teresa added in is still one of the best memories of my entire life. Patrick: I have now been to the LEGO House twice, once for the weekend in 2018 when we installed in the Masterpiece Gallery, and just recently in October 2021. What’s your favourite memory from that wonderful place?
But you’ll still find plenty of little system tiles and slopes and the like in my builds! LEGO is LEGO as far as I’m concerned!Īndreas: That’s great insight, thank you. For me as well, it is the line that kept me from ever experiencing a “dark age,” and it is safe to say that it has changed the entire trajectory of my life. The original BIONCLE line was a multimedia storytelling experience, and that thirst to tell a story with our builds is a big part of the appeal for many of us. I get to breathe life into a character or a creature, explore fun design motifs, take a character that was made for the original BIONICLE story and reinterpret it through the lens of the story told, with no concerns or regards for selling it as a set. Patrick: For me, at least, BIONICLE building feels more like concept art for character creation than anything else. What’s the deal with Bionicle? I mean, do you not like studs? Andreas: Ok, the question that must be on everyone’s mind.