This website is about any and everything that sparks the creative genius in all of us. By profession I am a Graphic Designer, and enjoy all aspects of design. From traditional to urban from resin to vinyl, these are all great mediums and deserve to be explored. On top of that everything from music to movies from guns to graffiti.
Erick Scarecrow just sent over a teaser, a little taste of things to come... and I gotta say just from the initial peek we are getting, I am all in! He tells us that it is a collaboration with Japan artist Eno from Tomenosuke, and they are calling this "Zone 6". According to Erick, these won't see the light of day until late 2012... so until then we can just marinate on the above photo!
Spotted over on ToysRevil was a very awesome post that revealed that the folks of at Clutter are gearing up for this years Designer Toy Awards. Last year was the inaugural year, and although there were a few kinks that needed to be worked out, the show itself was a ton of fun and it really does a great job of honoring all those hard working artists, companies, shops, etc. in our industry! That being said, SpankyStokes.com made the short-list last year... the top 5 blogs, but alas did not take home the top spot... but this year we are gunning for it :-) According to TRE, the public call for entries starts Monday, April 9th, 2012... and this year "anyone can anonymously submit an organization or individual for consideration, and entries will be reviewed by special nomination committees which will select the final five to ten nominees per category." Then, unlike last year, nominations will be officially announced during the SDCC in July 2012 and then the awards ceremony itself won't happen until NYCC in October. Now I understand why they are doing that, seeing as Clutter is based out of NYC, but really... I mean there will be so many more artists and companies in town for SDCC than NYCC. Maybe in 3-5 years if NYCC continues to grow, then I can see this being a viable solution... but not now... just my 2-cents. So I bet you are wondering what the categories are this yer... well:
TOY OF THE YEAR • BRAND OF THE YEAR (Previously Manufacturer of the Year) • OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION • BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST • BEST CUSTOMIZER • BEST MINI SERIES • BEST SELF-PRODUCED • BEST COLLABORATION • BEST LICENSED PRODUCT • BEST PLUSH DESIGN • BEST 1/6 SCALE • LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT • ARTIST OF THE YEAR • BEST BLOG • FAN FAVORITE • BEST ONLINE TOY STORE • BEST TOY STORE • BEST TOY FROM A COMIC • BEST DIY PLATFORM • BEST COLLECTION
So it looks like most of the same categories are in there from last go around, and it will be really interesting to see how the voting goes down. I am really stoked for this year, and for all of those soon to be nominated, best of luck to all! More info once we get it, and until then... head on over HERE to the DTA site to sign up now, so you can start nominating on Monday :-)
Originally posted HERE, I felt why not revisit the awesome... as I was flicking through my usual stream of flipboard goodies when I came across Take-G Toys by Takegi Nakagawa. I thought they were quite charming. The creative process stems from an ancient Japanese craft called Yosegi-Mokuzougan (joined wooden block construction) and the craftsmanship is stunning. First of all, I would like to say, I don't need to borrow someones child for a day to offer the robots a happy home. Find out more in this nice little post HERE.
Hey all you lowlife freaks... looking for that next shirt to strap to your back... well, just like clockwork... the minions over at La Muerta are offering up another awesome limited edition t-shirt to the masses and this go around they have teamed up Fred Caron to release yet another epic shirt design titled "La Clika"! "Grab your veladora, flick that match... read the prayer, fill in the blank: My Clicka, I ask for your permission to invoke the Holy Death: I want to humbly ask, that you break and destroy all spells and darkness that may present itself before my persona, in my home, and on my path. Holy Death, please relieve me of all envy, poverty, hate, and unemployment and I ask that you please grant me __________." Oh, and as elegant as this design is... you just gotta love the scripty noodle like lines that adorn the shirt!! This just like all of the releases from La Muerta is super limited, only 25 of these are EVER being made, and they are up for pre-order HERE right now for just $25! Don't sleep on this awesome design folks.
UK based artist Hugh Rose has been cranking out one custom after another, and he just sent word of two newly painted up pieces... both of which are looking really fresh! First up is a custom Munny titled "Diver"! Hugh mentioned that "The customer asked for something nautically-themed as he lives far away from the ocean. Fortunately I am just the man for this job as I live on a small island off the coast of France!" The piece itself is filled to the brim with textures, lines, colors, and design... and check out that ghostly skull behind the face plate... rad!!! Hugh also mentions that the commissioner also wanted the piece to include the number 8... can you spot it?
Up next is another custom Munny, but this one has a Marshall companion. Titled "Shipwreck", this set was commissioned by HeyJB from the Kidrobot message Board. Hugh goes on to explain that "He wanted a Munny version of my Navigator Dunny (posted HERE), but requested that there should be a ship being pulled down by a sea monster in the eye. He also commissioned a Marshall, and suggested that it tie in with the Munny somehow, so he became a luckless crew member of the wrecked ship on the Munny." Another stellar job by Hugh indeed... and I love how all of the figures in this set tie into one another stylistically! Unfortunately for all of us, none of these pieces are for sale, however, Hugh is open to making commissions that expand on the themes in these pieces, so you can get in touch with him via hrose6161@hotmail.co.uk if you're interested :) Oh, and be on the lookout for Series 2 of his custom "False Idols" blind box series!
You read it right folks... the UK is finally getting their our designer toy convention, and it's about time if you ask me! The talent pool runs deep over there with not only artists, but with customizers, designers, shops, and everything else that would make for a great convention! That being said three Designer Toy fans Jonjo Glynn, Ben Hart and Barry Darnell have announced the launch of the UKs first ever designer toy convention... 'ToyCon UK'. Taking place, a year from today, on Saturday, April 6th 2013 at Baden Powell house in Kensington, the event will bring together the UKs finest. Exhibitors already confirmed include: A Little Stranger, Cris Rose, Doktor A, Fugi.me, Hang Gang, Lunabee , Jon-Paul Kaiser, Matt "Lunartik" Jones, Mintyfresh, TADO, Triclops, The Tarantulas, Squink, Ume Toys, and Unbox Industries! So you may ask, how does this effect us over here, you know - across the pond... well, you have an entire year to start saving money for travel, that's how :-) and just like other conventions, they plan on having workshops, prize giveaways, live painting, show exclusives and a whole plethora of artist signings giving fans the chance to meet their favorites. If you are interested in exhibiting, you should email exhibitors@toyconuk.com for details, and if you want to stay up to date with all the happenings, follow ToyCon UK via Twitter, Facebook, and their official site! I'm really excited!!!!
It seems as though it was years ago that this interview actually happened, but Kidrobot just posted up the first part of a really cool interview with artist and customizer Huck Gee. This first part is 10min long and features a pretty indepth conversation with Huck and Wheelbarrow... so carve some time outta yer day and give it a watch... and be on the lookout for part 2 and 3 very soon!
The previously announced "The Great Escape" art show, featuring works by Andrew Bell & Kelly Denato, opens tomorrow night and we've been told that the above pictured print by Bell will be available there. No word on price or limitation, but it appears to be a five color screen print. Measuring in at 18" x 24", "You Should Come With Me!" will be a must for every Bell fan out there. If there are remaining copies, they will be available on the Stranger Factory site starting Monday.
Andrew Bell & Kelly Denato's "The Great Escape" opens on April 6th and runs through April 30th at Stranger Factory, 109 Carlisle Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106.
But where are these wonderful pieces comings from? Most will be made during live painting events at the upcoming Coachella: April 13th – Beast Brothers April 14th – Dabs and Myla April 15th – Angry Woebots April 20th – Philip Lumbang April 21st – Sket One April 22nd – Luke Chueh
Today marked the day! The previously announcedCris Rose x PodgyPanda collab. dropped and looks to be sold out everywhere. Uber-limited quantities were released, so it was a mad scramble to get one! And Rose revealed the "Chocolatier Edition" of the Ramsay design (shown above and below).
This "Chocolatier Edition" was limited to only 3 pieces worldwide and ran $190 each, as opposed to the Tangerine Orange "Edition A" which was limited to 5 pieces and cost $160 each. Both versions released simultaneously earlier in Rose's online shop.
Yes, 2bitHack finally continues his amazing TRANNYformers line by introducing the villain: Megantrann. Like the previous Optimus Prima and Ultra Wangus figures, this hand-cast and painted resin figure stands 4-inches tall and retails for $40 in the 2bitHack's online webshop.
"The heroic Autoball TrannyFormers and their courageous leader, Optimus Prima, have departed their home world to travel across the megacosm — to the planet Earth — in search of Gynergon cubes. But there's an evil new force in the universe, one willing to relentlessly pursue the Autoballs and claim the prize as their own, one not even the powerful Ultra Wangus seems capable of stopping: the evil Decepticocks, led by the maniacal Megantrann. And even when the battle is over, the galaxy-spanning adventures of the TrannyFormers will continue…"
But you know you need at least two of the TRANNYformers to have fun, making them duke it out, showing off that there is more than meets the eye.
Bubi Au Yeung & Camilo Bejarano have created the cute, asymmetrical "Bearycalm" (picture above)… and, as you can see, he's a calm little pudgy bear. The duo would like to produce Bearycalm as a limited edition vinyl figure and are seeking backers on their Kickstarter campaign to raise some funds. The 5"-tall white Bearycalm will run you $45, which isn't too bad and — I gotta say — that platform is ripe for customizers to go nuts with! Check it out!
The fun (but NSFW) Bankrupt Slut has decided to give back to the designer toy community they love so much by hosting a "Dunny Easter Day Hunt" across the streets of Los Angeles as well as online. For this scavenger hunt, 10 custom dunny figures were made and it will be absolutely free; online winners will even have shipping costs covered for them!
The hunt begins on Sunday, April 8th, but details are a bit vague at the moment… Since this was conceived as — mainly — a way to give back to the Kidrobot Forum community, the full info and details will be posted in the Kidrobot Forum's Dunny Section this weekend! Sounds like a good time to be had…
"The MonsterPants Are On!" is a weekly internet radio show hosted by James Felix McKenney. On it, McKenney chats with creative types about their process(es) and influences. This week, on Saturday, April 7th at 3PM EST, the guest will be Micronauts expert and historian Ray "Acroray" Miller, who will talk about one of the greatest lines of the 1970's and 80's: The Micronauts. The topics of discussion will range from the toys's humble Japanese Microman and Henshin Cyborg origins, the connection to the Transformers, the Marvel comics, and Micronauts in the 21st century!
"The MonsterPants Are On!" airs every Saturday at 3PM EST at cultradioagogo.com.
Coll Snowball has been working on his "Hog & The Slot" vinyl figures for 3 years now, but he's hit that wall of funding… So, like many great before him, he turned towards Crowdfunder (similar to Kickstrarter) and hopes that you'll want to throw a couple of pence his way. The rewards look sweet, everything from a signed art print through the 4" Ziptup design to the 8" Howler version and beyond. Go forth, check it out, and — if you dig it — donate! Help the man make his dreams come true!
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