(Credit: Chris Casella)

As a child in the 1980s, Josh Sutton loved to play with Star Wars figures. Now it’s his job.

At age 34, the local freelance toy sculptor creates, sculpts and paints toys – everything from action figures to vinyl creatures – that can be found on store shelves across the nation.

“You just think toys are cool as a kid,” said Sutton, who now owns ERA Sculpture LLC, a sculpting and prototyping studio.

The Storm Troopers of his youth still serve as inspiration, as do web sites, comic books and other toys.

“A lot of it’s just looking around and seeing what’s cool,” he said.

The basement walls of his Westerville home display his creations. Doubling as his workshop, the space also houses a sculpting station, a painting station and an array of equipment for pouring molds and casting figures.

On the heels of finishing toys for the San Diego Comic-Con in July, Sutton was already working on more projects. He said that when he’s finishing up for conventions like Comic-Con and Toy Fair, his workday stretches up to 16 hours.

“I want to make sure that my quality is light years ahead of my competition,” he said.

Originally from St. Johns, Michigan, Sutton came to Columbus to attend Columbus College of Art and Design in 1997 as a transfer student from Western Michigan University, where he was unable to find his place as a future toy sculptor. After graduating from CCAD in 2000, he worked with local toy company Sculpt This, where he had previously interned, and friends at Plan-B Toys gave him small freelance jobs.

In 2001, Sutton sculpted the accessories and base for a 7-inch Angel action figure from the television series of the same name. The release of this action figure in stores was one of his first big moments in the toy biz.

“Just seeing that first toy hit the shelves . . . opening it up – it had that new toy smell,” he said.

When Sutton met Mezco Toyz president Michael “Mez” Markowitz at Toy Fair 2002, his career took a new turn. The industry giant soon commissioned Sutton to create a new collectible figure.

Since then, his career has included a contract position with Hasbro in 2008, the sculpting of two military figures for Singapore’s Deyun Hobby and his current position with CCAD as a toy design instructor. Now in his fourth year teaching, Sutton said his goal has been to introduce students to new materials and techniques.

“Seeing the ones who really want to do it – when they get excited, I get excited,” he said.

Sutton’s excitement for toys extends to his family life. He and his wife, Jodi, have outfitted their one-year-old son Ian with plenty of playthings, the first of which was a stuffed monster. Ian’s toy collection has quickly grown to include oversized Batman and Hulk toys.

“There will be his toys,” Sutton said, pointing at the toy box. He then smiled and pointed at the collection lining the walls leading to his studio: “And daddy’s toys.”

For more about Sutton's work, visit www.erasculpture.com.