Reactor-88’s Custom Corner: Shiffa

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Welcome to the March edition of Reactor-88’s Custom Corner. This month we’re highlighting Shiffa.

What’s your name?

My real name is a bit complicated to pronounce, so it’s easier to just call me SHIFFA.

Where are you located?
I currently live in Mexico City.

Day job or full-time artist?

I’m currently a freelance artist, specializing in character design and illustration for various brands of clothing, accessories, and magazines. In my free time I like to get my hands dirty- either in paper toys, custom toys, or graffiti.

How long have you been painting toys?
I’ve been a part of the custom toy world about two years now.

Anything specific you’d like people to know about your toy work (style, influences, special techniques, etc.)?

In every work that I do, I try to make it different from the previous one- whether in art, colors, textures, character, etc. I do not like to repeat or continue a line like this. I do like to design monsters. When it comes to customizing a toy, I use acrylic paints, airbrush, spray paint, Sculpey, and other rare materials that could go right into the character. I still remain influenced by my childhood idols: Jim Davis (Garfield), John Kricfalusi (The Ren and Stimpy Show), Stephen Hillenburg (SpongeBob SquarePants), and at present inspired by artists such as Huck Gee, Brandt Peters, Mc Bess, Mark Ryden, Derek Hess, the list goes on…

Do you take commissions?

Yes I accept commissions- I love customizing toys and the challenge of creating something new every time I create a new custom. New learning, new character, new colors, new headache.

Best ways for people to contact you/see your work?

You can contact me via email at hola@dashiffa.com, or you can find me at @DaShiffa on Instagram, and on my Facebook page I upload some of my processes, characters and illustrations.