The Bricks Box

MEET THE MAKER: THE BUILDER BEHIND THE VISION, INTERVIEW BY GIORGIO D'ALBANO

49th episode:

JOSS IVANWOOD WOODYARD a.k.a. JAYFA MOCS

Where are you from and what did you study?

I'm from Australia, and I initially did a Bachelor of Music majoring in jazz piano at university, but now I do LEGO full time!

What do you do, what job do you do now?

I work as a creature designer at Epic Games, making animals, monsters and other similar things for the various LEGO Fortnite game modes. It's a very cool job!

What inspired you to become a LEGO builder?

I've been building LEGO for pretty much as long as I can remember. I've always just enjoyed the freedom to bring my ideas to life in a physical medium, and LEGO lets me do that in a way that makes sense to my brain

Where do you get inspiration for your creations?

I love taking inspiration from nature, all the crazy animals, plants and everything in between that already exist in the real world. But I also love building things from my favorite movies and games

What is your favorite LEGO work that you have built so far?

I think my favorite will always be my build "Tyto" the owl griffin. There's almost not a single standard LEGO brick on it, and it was a massive challenge to pull off that I'm very proud of

What has been the most complex challenge you have faced as a LEGO builder?

I think my second run of LEGO Masters AU on LEGO Grandmasters was the most challenging experience I've had as a builder. It really was a huge test of endurance, skill and having to think creatively on the fly

Do you have a favorite technique or a special method that you use in your constructions?

I'm probably best known for my use of flex tube (or 3mm rigid hose) to create organic looking curves in MOCs, but I always try to innovate and come up with new solutions for things with each build!

What themes or subjects do you like to explore the most in your creations?

I love making dragons and other similar mythical beasts. Any kind of monster in general really is what I'm typically drawn to building

What is the largest or most ambitious project you have ever made?

My diorama from the movie "Spirited Away" is my largest build to date. But that could change soon! I have another really big Studio Ghibli build planned that I'll be starting on very soon

What advice would you give to someone who wants to become an expert LEGO builder?

My advice would be to find what you're passionate about and channel it into your building. The best way to get better is to just build a LOT. And if you love what you're building, that's much easier to do

Link Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jayfa_mocs/

Link Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfa_mocs/