Name: How I make a living as a professional Lego builder
Uploaded: 2023-04-17
Duration: 8 min 51 s
Description: Eric Hunter is a professional Lego artist who designs and builds Lego models for private and corporate clients, including Microsoft, New York Life, and Children’s Hospital. Before starting his own company, The Art of LeGogh, in 2014, he worked as a model designer at Legoland California Resort for eight years.

<p>I've had many jobs in my life and I got to say that that designing Lego models is definitely by far the best. You really can build anything with these little bricks. I'm Eric Hunter. I'm 53 years old. I'm a professional LEGO artist. Welcome to the art of LEGO. This is my kitchen and here are a few portraits I've designed out of LEGO. This is a mosaic of penny, my roommate. And down here, here's one of me, this is my studio as well. Back here, this whole first floor is one giant room that's been converted into several smaller areas. I actually sleep here. We've got the dining room and then back here is where all the fun happens. This is where I I I store my office right next to my living room. Actually, more like in my living room, I've had models in the 10,000, 90,000 range. And now just last week, I got my biggest commission to date. Actually, a six figure budget. This is the beginnings of a 1 to 1 scale 1968 Camaro S S for the estimate I calculated 245,000 Lego bricks to complete this model. Most of my clients models would probably fall in the between, I'd say 1200 to $3000 range. The budget doesn't have to be that large. If you can make a car this big or you know, as big as you want anything, it's all about scale and then about detail, thousands. As far as how the money is spent, I have three different rates. You of course have to buy the Lego and I have design time and then I have build time and miscellaneous time, which is basically buying organizing and shipping time. I've actually returned money to a client because it didn't cost as much as I thought it was. I'm not here to get rich, you know, I'm here to do what I love this tiny little walkie talkie piece is now usable as an actual walkie talkie human size. What I love about my job is seeing the final model. I love to see it to hold it. It's tangible and then it's done. I don't have to work on it, believe it or not. When I am not working, I will build a Lego set to relax. I like to look at the instructions and flip through the pages and build the model that somebody else designed. Takes the pressure off me. The most challenging thing with working with LEGO models is lighting every brick has a tiny little hair space in between it and it becomes a real challenge to have a fully lit model look good. I think a car is, is definitely the most popular. Just my freelance since 2013, I'd say I've designed between cars and trucks. Probably 2025 different different vehicles. I think people love their cars and they want to immortalize them on their desk. Now, I have a potential client. They want a model of a truck. I ask them to make model in the year, what color they want? After a client has ordered a model, I'll go and digitally design the model in the computer. I usually use a program called LEGO Digital designer. It's a free program by LEGO. After you design the model in there, you can basically rebuild it piece by piece. Once it is approved, I will then go and order the lego. I order from brick link, brick link is basically like ebay for lego. It's anything lego you need. It's new lego or lego. Here in my studio. I personally chose to not keep too much LEGO on hand. I order LEGO as needed for each project as I go and each project ends up with a little over and slowly builds my collection. As everybody knows, storing lego can be a challenge. I choose open top bins and bin cups. I use some like tackle box and tiny drawer storage as well. The building is the fun part. Of course, I glue the models I use methyl ethyl ketone, which is actually any K for short and it's, it's a solvent, it melts the Lego together. It doesn't really glue it together. It's pretty impermeable and very durable. So a model should pretty much last forever. I use many different tools. You name it. I mean, I use belt Sanders, drill presses, planers, Lego rulers. This ruler is a vertical ruler. This ruler is for horizontal measuring. I use glue clamps, I use anything industrial. It really depends on the model on the inside of many of the Lego models I design. There will be infrastructures, there might be a steel frame, there might be access panels, mounting points. But the trick is, it's all on the inside. It's pretty much hidden away the tool that I use most here. Good old mallet, save my fingertips. I have been going with Lego since I was, I would say four years old. This is a book that really inspired me to get more into LEGO as an adult in the back. It shows a picture, a picture that was really inspirational to me. It shows a group of ladies actually who are all the model designers for Lego land in Denmark. They were only accepting creative resumes. And I thought, well, I found a product, what product might I be? And rice crispies? Was it because Eric and Rice, this was a perfect fit. I got a job at Legoland California back in 2005 as an associate, a model associate. It was a dream come true for me. Within about a year's time, I went from associate to designer. At that point, I started designing buildings for Miniland and doing life size sculptures of people and anything else. Legoland Parks might need the tallest Lego model. I was a part of was the Lego Land, Malaysia Petronas Towers model which took about six months. I had 1000 an hour budget to design that I was then responsible for managing and guiding the team to build it. At one point, I believe we had 23 or 24 people in the model shop all working on the same project. I think we ordered 100 and 20,000 Lego one by two pieces for the windows. The final model ended up being just under 33 ft tall for about a four year period. I believe it was the world's tallest Miniland structure. So I actually had a world record. Unofficially after I left Legoland in 2013, I decided to start a Lego design company. My friend Penny, who was actually my roommate in college way back in the late eighties. She said, hey, why don't you come out to Connecticut? I found this really unique place that used to be a mechanic shop for a buick dealership. And it is now my home and my Lego studio. Since I started my company, I have made, I would say upwards of 400 LEGO models for, for clients. Some of my corporate clients have included names like Microsoft New York Life. My latest is Children's Hospital. They really enjoy adding LEGO into their, their world. Back in 2013, it was a one man operation as it is again today. At one point I had eight employees. I really do enjoy being a one man operation because it allows me full control, but it's very limiting. Ultimately, I see growing my company into having a model shop with several employees full time, constantly building all of the designs that I am designing. And of course, I'd help build too when and if I could, I kind of see a little young Richard Nixon in here. So this is actually Pee-wee Nixon.</p>

Eric Hunter is a professional Lego artist who designs and builds Lego models for private and corporate clients, including Microsoft, New York Life, and Children’s Hospital. Before starting his own company, The Art of LeGogh, in 2014, he worked as a model designer at Legoland California Resort for eight years. 

How I make a living as a professional Lego builder

Features

Eric Hunter, owner of The Art of LeGogh, designs and builds Lego models professionally for clients, such as Microsoft, New York Life, and Children’s Hospital.

Eric Hunter is a professional Lego artist and owner of The Art of LeGogh, under which he designs and builds Lego models for private and corporate clients, including Microsoft, New York Life, and Children’s Hospital.

Eric Hunter is a professional Lego artist and owner of The Art of LeGogh. He designs and builds Lego models for clients, such as Microsoft, New York Life, and Children’s Hospital.

I've had many jobs in my life and I got to say that that designing Lego models is definitely by far the best you really can build anything with these little bricks. I'm Eric Hunter. I'm 53 years old. I'm a professional LEGO artist. Welcome to the art of LEGO. This is my kitchen and here are a few portraits I've designed at a LEGO. This is a mosaic of penny, my roommate. And down here, here's one of me, this is my studio as well. Back here, this whole first floor is one giant room that's been converted into several smaller areas. I actually sleep here. We've got the dining room and then back here is where all the fun happens. This is where II I store my office right next to my living room. Actually more like in my living room, I've had models in the 100,000 range. And now just last week, I got my biggest commission to date. Actually, a six figure budget. This is the beginnings of a 1 to 1 scale 1968 Camaro Ss for the estimate I calculated 245,000 Lego bricks to complete this model. Most of my clients models would probably fall in the between, I'd say 1200 to $3000 range. The budget doesn't have to be that large. If you can make a car this big or, you know, as big as you want anything, it's all about scale and then about detail thousands. As far as how the money is spent, I have three different rates. You of course, have to buy the Lego and I have design time and then I have build time and miscellaneous time, which is basically buying, organizing and shipping time. I've actually returned money to a client because it didn't cost as much as I thought it was. I'm not here to get rich, you know, I'm here to do what I love this tiny little walkie talkie piece is now usable as an actual walkie talkie human size. What I love about my job is seeing the final model. I love to see it to hold it. It's tangible and then it's done. I don't have to work on it, believe it or not. When I am not working, I will build a Lego set to relax. I like to look at the instructions and flip through the pages and build the model that somebody else designed. Takes the pressure off me. The most challenging thing with working with lego models is lighting. Every brick has a tiny little hair space in between it and it becomes a real challenge to have a fully lit model look good. I think a car is, is definitely the most popular. Just my freelance since 2013, I'd say I've designed between cars and trucks. Probably 2025 different different vehicles. I think people love their cars and they want to immortalize them on their desk. Now, I have a potential client. They want a model of a truck. I ask them to make model in the year, what color they want? After a client has ordered a model, I'll go and digitally design the model in the computer. I usually use a program called LEGO Digital designer. It's a free program by LEGO. After you design the model in there, you can basically rebuild it piece by piece. Once it is approved, I will then go and order the lego. I order from brick link, brick link is basically like ebay for lego. It's anything LEGO you need. It's new lego or lego. Here in my studio. I personally chose to not keep too much LEGO on hand. I order LEGO as needed for each project as I go and each project ends up with a little over and slowly builds my collection as everybody knows, storing lego can be a challenge. I choose open top bins and bin cups. I use some like tackle box and tiny drawer storage as well. The building is the fun part. Of course, I glue the models I use methyl ethyl ketone, which is actually any K for short. And it's, it's a solvent, it melts the Lego together. It doesn't really glue it together. It's pretty impermeable and very durable. So a model should pretty much last forever. I use many different tools. You name it. I mean, I use belt Sanders, drill presses, planers, Lego rulers. This ruler is a vertical ruler. This ruler is for horizontal measuring. I use glue clamps. I use anything industrial. It really depends on the model on the inside of many of the Lego models I design. There will be infrastructures, there might be a steel frame, there might be access panels, mounting points. But the trick is it's all on the inside. It's pretty much hidden away the tool that I use most here. Good old mallet, save my fingertips. I have been going with Lego since I was, I would say four years old. This is a book that really inspired me to get more into Lego as an adult in the back. It shows a picture, a picture that was really inspirational to me. It shows a group of ladies actually who are all the model designers for Lego land in Denmark. They were only accepting creative resumes. And I thought, well, I found a product, what product might I be? And rice crispies? Was it because Eric and Rice, this was a perfect fit. I got a job at Legoland California back in 2005 as an associate a model associate. It was a dream come true for me. Within about a year's time, I went from associate to designer. At that point, I started designing buildings for Miniland and doing life size sculptures of people and anything else Legoland Parks might need the tallest Lego model. I was a part of was the Lego Land, Malaysia Petronas Towers model which took about six months. I had 1000 an hour budget to design that I was then responsible for managing and guiding the team to build it. At one point, I believe we had 23 or 24 people in the model shop all working on the same project. I think we ordered 100 and 20,000 Lego one by two pieces for the windows. The final model ended up being just under 33 ft tall for about a four year period. I believe it was the world's tallest Miniland structure. So I actually had a world record. Unofficially after I left Legoland in 2013, I decided to start a Lego design company. My friend Penny, who was actually my roommate in college way back in the late eighties. She said, hey, why don't you come out to Connecticut? I found this really unique place that used to be a mechanic shop for a buick dealership and it is now my home and my Lego studio. Since I started my company, I have made, I would say upwards of 400 lego models for, for clients. Some of my corporate clients have included names like Microsoft New York life. My latest is Children's Hospital. They really enjoy adding LEGO into their, their world. Back in 2013, it was a one man operation as it is again today. At one point I had eight employees. I really do enjoy being a one man operation because it allows me full control, but it's very limiting. Ultimately, I see growing my company into having a model shop with several employees full time, constantly building all of the designs that I am designing. And of course, I'd help build too when and if I could, I kind of see a little young Richard Nixon in here. So this is actually P Nixon.