It was such a pleasure to sit down with Rainbow Bricks member Matt (known as @stowball on LEGO Ideas) to chat about his incredible Crossy Road project. In this part of our conversation, we focus on his LEGO journey.
"I’m so grateful for all the encouragement and enthusiasm. It really means a lot, and it’s been a joy reading everyone’s memories and reactions to the game." — Matt Stowball
The Interview
Tell us about your LEGO journey. Has LEGO been a lifelong passion?
Like most people, I played with LEGO as a kid, but we could only afford the occasional small set. Computers and video games were my main hobby until 2019, when Season 1 of LEGO Masters Australia aired. Shortly after that, my family and I went to Newcastle Brickfest and were amazed by all the builds.
We immediately bought our then five-year-old daughter some LEGO Friends sets, my wife picked up the Creator Expert Volkswagen T1 Camper Van (10220), and I grabbed the Technic Remote-Controlled Stunt Racer (42095). That was the beginning of the slippery slope!
Do you have a favourite LEGO theme? A favourite set?
I love the Nintendo sets, along with other gaming-related ones like the Atari 2600 (10306) and Horizon Forbidden West: Tallneck (76989). I also collect mechs and dragons regardless of theme – if it looks cool, I want it!
were amazed by all the builds.
My favourite set is either Super Mario 64 Question Mark Block (71395) or The Mighty Bowser (71411), but my favourite building experience was the Game Boy (72046). That set is a masterclass in LEGO design and engineering.
How did you come to start displaying your work at events? Are you a member of a LUG?
COVID cancelled the 2020 and 2021 Newcastle shows, but attending in 2022 reignited my excitement for LEGO. We spent about four hours exploring the exhibits, and I remember thinking, “I wish I was part of this.”
Afterwards, I contacted Rainbow Bricks about exhibiting in 2023. I was accepted and displayed my growing collection of Mario and gaming sets. I’m now a member of Rainbow Bricks LUG and have exhibited at numerous events up and down NSW over the past few years, with many more to come.
What is your favourite thing about attending events and displaying?
It’s incredibly rewarding to share my hobby in such a welcoming, community-focused environment while helping raise money for local charities.
And I’m a big kid at heart, so I especially love interacting with the children who come to the shows. I try to make my exhibits fun or interactive, and seeing their faces light up is the best part.
How has being part of the Rainbow Bricks community influenced your building style or encouraged you to take the leap into LEGO Ideas?
Because I exhibit at many of the same shows each year, I want repeat visitors to see something new. People spend their hard-earned money to attend, so I feel we should give them a fresh experience each year.
There aren’t too many official LEGO themes that fully align with my interests, so I decided to move into MOCs instead. I started by building custom gaming models from Rebrickable, then began designing my own – the first being a 1:1 replica Nintendo Switch.
I now plan months in advance for what I’ll display the following year. I’ve always loved creating things – art, board games, software – but designing my own LEGO models feels like the perfect combination of creativity and passion.
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Are there any LEGO builders who have inspired you in your craft that you’d like to mention, whether friends who have helped you directly or creators you admire from afar?
The first time I saw fellow Rainbow Bricks member Andrew Steele’s creature models, I was blown away. I would buy every single one if I could. I also admire Joss Woodyard’s work – it’s no surprise he became a LEGO Masters winner.
There must be something in the water around Newcastle because we have some incredibly talented builders here. I don’t know if I’ll ever reach their level, but it’s definitely something to aspire to!
Next time we will talk to Matt about his LEGO Ideas Project.
In the meantime you can see Matt's creation on display at Rainbow Brick's next event, Maitland Brickfest on the 17th May at Maitland High School. As with all the Rainbow Brick's events, we are supporting a local charity, for Maitland it is the Maitland Hospital Volunteers Inc. We would love to see you there! .
Crossy Road Gallery
Click any image to enlarge.
