About Andy Valentine
ABOUT ANDY VALENTINE
WHAT IS UP, FELLOW HUMANS
If you haven’t figured it out by the URL, the branding, the large text above, or the fact that it’s plastered all over this site, I’m Andy Valentine, professional prop maker and the sole force behind Andy Valentine Props.
I’ve been a cosplayer since 2013, and in that time spent more hours than I care to even imagine teaching myself to create super detailed costumes and props using a host of different materials and methods. In that time I’ve won numerous national and international competitions in the art, guested and taught workshops all over the world, represented a bunch of different companies doing promo work, and was even featured in the the banner advert for DragonCon all over Atlanta in 2021.
But all these wide and interesting skills aside, once I got started on 3D modelling back in 2017, I was well and truly hooked.
My journey into the world of 3D modelling started when I needed some swords for my Geralt cosplay, and I’d just bought my first 3D printer and was after an excuse to use it, so I downloaded Fusion 360 and started learning how to take the designs from paper into printable 3D models.
I had no idea what I was doing, but after about a month I had models of the Silver and Steel Mastercrafted Wolven swords made, and they’d come out great. Considering they were my first ever model, I’m amazed that they’re actually the most made Witcher swords by cosplayers to this day (I’ve seen literally dozens of builds of them), and they’re still the most downloaded Geralt swords on Thingiverse.
Since then I’ve spent thousands of hours learning the tools of the trade at my own speed, and have produced literally hundreds of models for myself, commissions, and more recently as my full-time job. I moved on from Fusion 360 to Blender to give myself more creative range and freedom and to allow me to showcase my work to it’s fullest potential.
Amazingly, I now do this for a living. In 2021 I quit my job in IT to become a full-time prop maker, and I’m happy to say that things are continuing to go from strength to strength.
I now spend my days making props from a whole stream of sources to sell in my store, on my Etsy page, and as part of my Patreon; and it’s the happiest I’ve been in a long time.
Typically I just work on projects that I’m interested in or that are culturally relevant at the time of making, but if you ever want to speak to me about a commission, don’t be afraid to get in contact.
Thanks for reading, and happy making, friends
Andy Valentine x
