People ask me all the time, “Where does the handle Leifkicker come from?”
When I was a kid, I lived at the edge of the woods. Whenever I complained to my parents that I was bored, they would send me outside. Still bored, I would walk around kicking leaves, earning the name “leaf kicker” from my parents. When I later got into gaming, I played a Gnome in D&D and named him “Leifkicker”. As a stout and bearded man I thought a play on a Viking name would be funny. The name has since followed me into forums and just kind of stuck.
People also often ask me how I got into sculpting. My interest in building something from nothing, in creating, started as a child with legos and blocks. As a young adult, I experimented with many different creative mediums and art styles. In college, I worked for awhile as a caricaturist. Since then, I have done graphic design, made wire-wrap jewelry, and at one point I worked for a blacksmith making custom armor.
As a life-long gamer and artist, I’ve always customized my own pieces for gaming. When I realized that I wasn’t the only one who wanted custom game pieces, I found the opportunity to use my art skills in a fun hobby.
I loved combining my two greatest loves, art and gaming. When my creations began to grow in popularity, and my customer base expanded all over the world, I started developing my hobby into a way to make a living doing what I love.
I turned my basement into a professional workshop and art studio, and continue to expand my work into various new genres and applications. Since all of my items are hand-crafted, I relish offering my customers unique alternatives to the assembly line. Everything I make is limited edition and hand-crafted by me right here in my home studio.
I spend six days a week in my basement studio, my hands are always covered in paint and dried resin, and I am constantly shaking off sand dust. I create mythic deck boxes, specialized gaming accessories, stash boxes, and sculptures. I especially like making artifacts, items unique and rare enough to start a conversation. When I’m not busy coming up with new ideas or filling orders, my family and friends keep me busy repairing their favorite toys or restoring their broken or damaged antiques.
Honeydew (Eric)
I give you a small-plot urban farmer and native fruit winemaker turned resin artist..on the weekends- Honeydew.
He has previously helped in The Studio about 5 years ago before the birth of his son and is now back. Honeydew casts, sands, and “rough-in” every Settlers piece and almost every deck box that comes out of The Studio. 🤩
The Being
Hello, The Being here, also known as Kristen or two small humans call me “Mom”.
When I’m not in The Studio answering messages, taking pictures, or being Leif hype man you can find me soaking up time with my family cooking and going on bike rides. I am passionate about health and mindfulness, just trying to be the happiest, healthiest version of myself possible.