From symbolist art, prehistoric mammals, cartoons and crypto zoology to rock ?n? roll and gypsy music, sculptor David Meng says it's "offbeat things? that really stick in his mind...

Maybe that?s why he blames seeing fantasy film ?Labyrinth? when he was seven years old for inspiring him to want to work in films. Ever since then, he?s been making his own puppets, toys and creatures.

After studying art at college in his hometown of Michigan, he began corresponding with Dick Smith (the makeup artist for The Exorcist and The Godfather films), who later became his mentor and a source of information for David. ?Dick?s sharp eye and strong, honest guidance helped me improve and tighten my skills to a much higher level?, says David.

David eventually moved to Los Angeles, where he began designing and sculpting for movies, including Alien vs Predator and Van Helsing, and for TV shows and commercials in the States. Meeting some of the industry?s greatest talents, such as sculptor/designer Jordu Schell, he was inspired and encouraged to bring further refinement to his work. Two years later, he was invited to join the team at Weta Workshop to work on the creatures for King Kong and the merchandising range for the film.

?I sculpted a piece of Jack Black and Adrien Brody fighting in the pit for Kong?, he explains (pictured above). ?It was the first time I had done more than one figure in a piece with that amount of complexity going on in it. The one thing that concerned me at the beginning was just getting Jack and Adrien?s likenesses right. Finishing that piece was a small personal triumph.?

Dave has also managed to fit in time for his personal projects, too. Here is one of his own compositions, titled 'Man with Dogs', which he designed and sculpted himself.

David is currently working on designing and sculpting creatures for a number of confidential projects at the Workshop. ?There are sculptors and designers at Weta who continually inspire me to improve, and I think I?ve taken another artistic leap from being around them.?

To learn more about David?s work, read this article about the making of the King Kong collectibles or click here to view his portfolio.