Sculptor: Hasbro, Kenner, Mattel, Playmates, Solar Wind, Tweeterhead, Bowen Designs, Danger Island Models
Mike Cusanelli’s WonderFest appearance is sponsored by Danger Island Models.
Sculptor Mike Cusanelli started modeling at the age of 7, mostly building Aurora monsters, Monogram airplanes, & armored vehicles – then was heavily influenced by Shepard Paine’s dioramas for Monogram.
Mike says he was introduced to Sculpey modeling clay by Fantasy Modeler Magazine and The Art of Star Wars: “This led me to want to become a professional sculptor and modelmaker. After high school, I fell ass backwards into a position at H.G. Toys in Long Beach, NY, in 1982, as a trainee artist. Eventually, a sculpture and model shop was created where I learned pattern-making, vac-u-forming, and molding and casting, which would prepare me for a career in freelance sculpting, which I began doing in 1988.”
Mike’s talent led him to companies, such as Hasbro, Hasbro Europe, Kenner, Mattel, Playmates, Toy Max, as well as Gallo Pewter and Soldat. When Ken Ellis left Hasbro in 1995, he and Mike began a working partnership that led to the creation of Solar Wind Productions. It continued until Ken retired in 2015.
Mike created deluxe resin model figure kits for Tweeterhead—as well as pre-painted statue masters. He worked for Bowen Designs in their final years, and credits Randy Bowen as a master art director who taught him a great deal about the art of sculpture: “He is a fine human being.”
Besides sculpting, Mike has worked as a figure painter and offered statue repair and build-up services.
Recently, Mike’s been working with Danger Island Models, Jeff Wehenkel and Steve Smith’s company: “an exciting new chapter of my life getting to create new sculptures/resin kits in a traditional way.”
Mike continues to build model planes and science fiction subjects as well as collecting and customizing action figures. He’s been a member of the Long Island Historical Figure Collectors Society since 1983. He credits this fine group of artists with teaching him how to paint figures for real!
Now living in in eastern Tennessee with Lisa, his wife of 35 years. The couple has two grown sons and two grandchildren – so far!