links

The following links represent fellow artists, businesses, friends, mentors, places and information I, Drew Young recommend visiting. Many of these folks are at the top of their craft, true masters. Please note that we are not responsible for the content of these websites. Unless otherwise stated, we have no direct or ongoing business relationship with the following websites.

And a word to the wise....Competition, ego and vanity can make people rise...or fall to the occasion! Bear in mind too, that excessive lauding or 'plugging' may also have hidden motivations (what are friends for right?). So do your own research in a variety of settings and try to read between the lines when and wherever possible.

People evolve too. Many artists, dealers and services (including our own) have made mistakes and improvements; and a great many did not set out learing a craft with the concept of forming a business in the beginning.. Over the years (like myself) many have striven to improve themselves, such that I've seen a number of hobbyists --turned small business owners--, slowly earn a well deserved reputation for their efforts.

Above all, consider human nature in all things. Be safe. Be wise. Be careful. Enjoy perusing.

www.JamesArlen.com Mr. Gillespie is a world renowned armourer & researcher with film and television experience. Specializing in very high end reproductions and restoration. In addition to knowing an incredible amount of information about Italian and German harnesses (suits of armour) by handling them, measuring them, etc... James remains but one of a few individuals who has ever handled the actual Archduke Sigismund suit of armor made by Lorenz Helmschmied. (hurry up and publish that paper James!) He is also been a good friend & mentor for at least a decade. Our countless hours of conversation have inspired me and driven me to learn ever more about my own craft.

www.medievalrepro.com Peter Fuller is one of the most talented armourers alive today. Residing in Canada, his work is among some of the most influential around. Like many, I am in awe of his higher end work, including a must see, the: Sir Goerge Clifford suit of armour I enjoy corresponding with Peter and look forward to his new pieces.

http://www.thak.ca Robb Martin is, to my knowledge, the only other actual maker (ie, armourer) who can make high quality LOTR arms and armour in their own workshop! His fantasy armour is superbly crafted yet I am more impressed by his overall range of talents. Armouring and blacksmithing are actually polar opposites of one another, yet Robb has mastered both. See his decorative wrought ironwork. A good blacksmith is worth their weight in gold. Angie Martin is also very kind and helpful. Please feel free to contact them.

www.fparmor.com/ The first fan made Boba Fett suit that made me sit up in my chair and say "WOW...now that's Boba Fett," was Fettprides. 'FP' is one of those kinds of costumers who seems to have sloughed off previous expectations of accuracy and aimed for a higher level. For such a master of villainous characters as Fett and Vader, he is actually quite friendly!

http://www.starwarshelmets.com/ "Jez": Star Wars archeologist. Jez will go down in Star Wars history along with the likes of Steve Sansweet, as establishing both the historiography and archelogy of Star Wars costumes. This may seem silly to the 'un'-fan, however many of the trilogy's arguably iconic helmers and armour might have been lost to the annals of time had not someone endeavored to catalog and catagorize each piece; even beyond what LFL - ILM had access to. Jez has also done an admirable job of sifting through original work, recast work, and modified / idealized pieces to determine the pedigree of various questionable costume parts. "Hats off" to ya Jez!

www.r2ro.com/ Arturo is to Jango what Fettpride is to Boba. Arturo's Jango suit is still one of the absolute best around. A virtual clone of Temeura Morrison (or the other way around perhaps?) Arturo -all cleaned up and polished - could have been a stand in for the actual Jango suit. Arturo is also one of those costumers I have a lot of respect for, in large measure because of his friendly demeanor as well as fantastic artistry. His 'latin' artistic java is an exciting future-blend of Diego Rivera and Frida kahlo with a few X-wing pilots tossed in for good measure.

www.vaderpainter.com Bob Bean is truly a founding father or rock of the greater Star Wars costuming 'scene.' While I have never met him personally, Bob went out of his way to facilitate my armour painting to meet a deadline for a lecture I was giving. He went so far as to lend his own helmet to me when it was realized my own would not be ready for in time. He also asked David Prowse to autograph a poster for me; one of my prized possesions.

http://www.lightlink.com/armory/armory.html I cannot speak highly enough of Robert MacPherson or "Mac." He is probably one of the top 5 armourers in the world. He is also one of the most approachable and generous. I have had the pleasure of speaking with him in person and on the phone many times; he has always shared his insight and knowledge with me. What makes Macs work so utterly incredible is its near "flawlessness"...truly fit for a king (no joke)! I have handled a number of his pieces, from full suits to helmets. Truly, Robert MacPherson's work was the inspiration to push my own body of work farther than I had ever envisioned.....to the extent that I am now wholly obsessed with details (gee thanks!). I also like Mac's sense of humor, an appreciated dry wittiness in a field that can tend to be a little stuffy.

http://www.chipfranklin.com/ ...My uncle...my mother's brother, Chip Franklin is our family's answer to all that could be, never was, might develop and still lingers on the air of AM talk radio. Chip's quick wit, sense of humor and healthy disregard for the political shampoo we are expected to bathe in... and the bubbles we are told to gaze at, makes tryptophan a dangerous drug during halftime diatribes. Was that really a wardrobe malfunction or the real Michael Jackson?

http://www.greatamericanrestaurants.com/ ...My other aunt and uncle, via my mothers sister, own and operate some 10-odd award winning restaurants, bakeries and breweries. If you're in the DC area, check out one of these places. The food is excellent.

http://www.eminentbrain.com/ ...high school chum: part actor, part musician, part compuwhiz...fellow intellectual in progress. Brian made headline news when he won a trip into space that was sponsored by his company. But declined the trip and was subsequently labelled as a 'scared baby' for backing out....until it was realized he owed big taxes on the trip. So the old adage is still true... even when escaping the Earth's gravitational grip....two things are still true: death....and corporate greed...I, I, mean taxes. (note to all companies or organizations....when motivating employees with prizes...dont ask them to pay for it too ;)

www.mceran-art.com ...Milivoj Ćeran does some fabulous fantasy and historical work reminiscent of John Howe but with his own twisted approach on reality like this wonderful sketch: http://www.mceran-art.com/portfolio/published/publ_chickb.htm...Why fear the bird flu when there are evil, armoured chickens running about! A chain mail maker too! Love his work.

www.revivalclothing.com Run by Nicole Allen with research and experimentation by Doug Strong (who I believe is working on his dissertation. Some of the best clothing replicas without the haughty attitude often found in the living history field. Both Nicole and Allen are very approachable and open to suggestion which is why I enjoy corresponding with them. Shoes are excellent. They cater to both the living history crowd and the more refined scadian crowd that has really grown in the last 10 years.

www.judithknightyoung.com/ ...yes, my mother is a professional actress (Ive done my share of it too --so the apple didnt fall to far from the tree. I have to give eternal thanks because my mother gave up a scholarship and early acting career to have me; she is now back in the saddle.

www.john-howe.com/ John is one of those kinds of "e-friends" who fascinate me because his garden of genious seems to permeate everything he does. I 'met' him via the internet while corresponding about speaking engagements and 'wisdom' that turned out to be less than.. 'conventional' (ahem). John was a fundamnetal key in the look and development of the Lord of the Rings trilogy costumes, props and scenary as well as Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. One of the most creative minds Ive met and always look forward to seeing what he comes up with next. His living history work is also wonderful.

www.thedailysanitizer.com ...my brothers library of thoughts born from a lifetime of mass media overload and a college degree that dealt heavily with mass media marketing. And while we may have some philosophical differences, I wholly to agree on the absurdity of putting money before people and the dangers of extreme (often vindictive) ideology, especially when history proves it tends to backfire. To the best that we can, what is it Jesus said?: Blessed are the peacemakers and Forgive and Love thy Enemy.

http://www.windyhillforge.com/ One of the most talented and welcoming blacksmiths I know, Stan Yoder. Ive been to his workshop and forge. His work is among the best I have ever seen. If I had the money, my house would be draped in gorgeous decorative fences, gates, and iron ornamentation.....Sam Yellin would be proud!

www.AgeOfArmour.com I am always impressed by artists and armourers who are not only superbly gifted but equally kind and generous. William is also another world class armourer and affable fellow. He has published several treatises on the creation of armour worth reviewing.

www.madmattsarmory.com ...While still relatively new at armour, Matt has risen to a level of prominence for his attempts at tackling advanced projects. His prices are excellant for what he offers and I expect Matt to have a sucessful career in armouring. I have enjoyed our correspondance and shoptalk.