Tonight’s guest, Luis Garcia from Peps 3D Collectibles, has been enchanting adults and children alike. Hailing from the Rio Grande Valley, he is meticulously printing, assembling, and painting realistic, life-sized statues, sometimes even taller than himself! His pieces often celebrate anime and pop culture bringing delight to fans of all ages and drawing the attention of local news. And he has only been doing this about 18 months!

A side effect of his creations is he is inspiring a new wave of makers. Some of his fans have purchased printers for themselves and are working on their own statues. They are supported by Luis who works to make his process accessible. Through his social media posts and videos, he shows how you can do such large pieces with modest-sized printers like the Bambu Lab A1. He answers questions. He does video-shout outs. He shares details on seam filling, gluing, and painting. But most importantly, he shares uplifting messages of inspiration. For example, when starting a project, Luis advises not to worry about perfection. “Make it good later,” Luis advises, “Just make it exist first.”

Tonight, we’re going to make this episode exist. We are delighted to talk to Luis Garcia, learn about his process and how his 3D Printing journey has enriched his life.