Not every child envisions himself a mad scientist. Hiding in a labyrinth as the townsfolk storm the castle doesn’t ring bells of a happy life. But for Dr. Krinkles — real name Joshua Jey Fields — the life of a mad scientist sounds just fine.
Dr. Krinkles is a growing media endeavor. From DrKrinkles.com to a growing collection of iTunes Apps, Dr. Krinkles expanded greatly since the broke-kid early days of the experiment. In a blog post, he says his growing interest in art was fueled by his mother’s support and his passion for the craft. After printing 1,000 copies of a comic collection he “didn’t believe in … after I printed them,” Dr. Krinkles did odd jobs, eventually opening a shop to peddle his art and continuing from there.
Last December, Dr. Krinkles released his latest app collaboration, a music video monster-mash maker with inventive songs and shareable snippets. The app, RokLienz: Rok Out Concert! – Make your own music video!, is available free for iOS devices, with several in-app purchases to enhance the game. This comes on the cusp of a new toy launch by Silverlit featuring the music-making RokLienz in all their plastic glory.
We chatted with Dr. Krinkles via email last month (a day after his birthday) about his craft and coming up with mad creations that often soft and sweet, as opposed to grotesque and oozing.
DUMPLING: I guess we should start with your real first and last name, if you’re comfortable giving that out. And where did the name “Dr. Krinkles” come from?
DR. KRINKLES: My Real name is Joshua Jey Fields, and I always loved the idea of being a mad scientist. Except, I don’t really like science as much as I enjoy the idea of creating creatures and making a big mess with art supplies. Krinkles is a fun word, and I thought the combination is something very fun for kids and easy to remember. Also, I always loved the fact that Dr. Suess wasn’t really a doctor at all.
How long have you been designing monsters and other characters and what got you started?
I started as a little boy and really started to do my own when I turned 9. As a child I would close my eyes and see all sorts of creatures, so I decided to draw some of them and see if I could match it. It wasn’t until my early 20s that I was able to master drawing and painting the creatures that I saw when I closed my eyes. Now I don’t have to close my eyes or do anything special — they just flow out of me with ease, and all of them are more than just a simple creature. They all have a personality and story of their own.
Your art style reminds me a bit of FSc, especially his book Zeet. Who are you most influenced by?
I haven’t been inspired by one particular artist but always enjoyed a wide range, from Jim Henson to Star Wars and Garbage Pail Kids to Dr. Suess. I grew up loving all those interesting characters and the fun grittiness that was shown. So between those and my favorite toys growing up, such as M.U.S.C.L.E. figures and MadBalls, G.I. Joes — they all had a huge impact on me. Then as a teenager, I collected Spiderman comics and Spawn, the Maxx, too. Really loved all of that stuff and saw it all as art, not just comics and toys for kids.
I notice your monsters aren’t necessarily scary, although they might be a bit creepy sometimes. Where did this aesthetic come from?
I’ve always been a day dreamer. I can imagine all sorts of things in any situation. Creativity to me is such an important power that we can really use to make the world a better, more interesting place.
How old are you, where did you grow up and where/did you go to school?
I just turned 34 yesterday, and I grew up in the cold mountains of Pennsylvania. I went to highschool in Hazleton. It’s a very cold, grey area that has grown violent and unsafe since I moved away.
What made you get into the apps market? Was this an extension from a day job outside of the Dr. Krinkles work?
I’ve been living off my art for the past 13 years and have always wanted to make video games. Nintendo and Sega had a huge impact on me growing up. So when I saw that Apple was making it easy to be an indepentdent game developer, I made sure to dive into that as quick [sic] as I could. It’s a great way to get started into [sic] the world of video games, and the possibilities are endless. I plan to continue to do as many games as possible and keep them very different and fun.
What made you think of a music video-making monster musical dress-up app? I have to admit, it’s pretty fun for a while. Did you make the music yourself?
Music has changed so much since I was a kid, and it always will. I noticed companies are finding it hard to make money. This inspired me to make a new way to sell and create music. The RokLienz will be toys coming out later this year, and each of their toys will make music. You’ll be able to play with them as a band together or on [their] own solo. What’s better is that they all interact with the apps I created for them. Although I’ve been in over 10 bands and make my own music, I didn’t have anything to do with the music side of the RokLienz. There are many talented musicians that work in the toy and gaming world that [sic] have placed their skills into the RokLienz.
Have you always wanted to turn your creations into toys, or is this just the natural progression of your craft? 2013 seems like a fruitful time for Dr. Krinkles-related merchandise.
Yes, I’ve always had a strong desire to create toys. It’s one of the coolest things when you’re a child and helps so many children in multiple ways. The power of playing is very important. It helps the imagination grow and bring the world great writers, filmmakers and so on!
What can we expect from you in the future and how can readers keep up with you?
I would say, expect more comics, toys, games, paintings and unique cool creations! Checkout www.DrKrinkles.com. I post on the blog, as well as my Facebook Doc Krinkles and fan page.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Yes, everything in life starts with a goal and working towards it. Everything is possible, and I really do mean everything. If you can think it, then you can make it happen.
Photos: Kenneth Stachnik
Interview edited for style and grammar but not content.