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Court of the Dead

May 6, 2013

I'll Take A Boxen Of Oxen - Creo Design New Release

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Chris Dobson & Creo Design Little Ox

Chris Dobson and Creo Design launched a collaborative Little Ox design at ToyCon UK this year, and have a websale to follow it up with!


For 'Boxen of Oxen', Little Ox are live in the alto webstore here. Priced at £25GBP each and available in four mix and match colourways, each in an edition of 10.

They also have a nice selection of custom Little Ox on their webstore. I particularly like this one by Mr. Lister.

 



Hot on the hooves of their debut release, alto and Creo Design would also like to take this opportunity to unveil their forthcoming release - emerging from the deep in Summer 2013, Octovox is coming to rule the (air)waves...
 
 


Featured Product - April 6, 2013

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Dudebox Super Amazing Spectacular Collection blind box


It's as good as it sounds! A collection of designs that are all bold and brilliant.

On Scratch, Jonny Wan brings us an alternative colourway and mini version of Crackal*, Andreas Krapf has created an octopus hunter (with his catch), Drunk Park shows us his Bong Jovi and Travis Price has created an x-ray with bit of a special touch (*hint: turn out the lights). Ted has been turned into M.I.L.K. Catbot by Attaboy and Japanese artist Junichi Tsuneoka delivers in his trademark style. The Dude gets the Suki Bamboo treatment with Frosty, Chauskoskis' Big Red Dude is someone you wouldn't want to mess with, The Yok turns his graffiti style in to vinyl, as does The Dude creator Mark Gmehling with Hip Hop Attitude.
Each of these pieces is blind boxed which means we do not know what you will get and neither do you. Start your collection today. Each blind box is $9.95 in the Tenacious Toys online store.

Hit the jump for some close ups of the individual pieces.


Review Bomb Hugger By Apologies To Banksy

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Today I have for you an examination and review of one of the recent Apologies To Banksy Bomb Hugger vinyl & PVC, available from Apologies To Banksy here.
 
The company stirs a bit of controversy, as it is not an official affiliate of Banksy- of whom is explicit in his attitude towards unauthorized reproductions of his work. Apologies to Banksy seem sorry about the capitalization on his name and artwork though; they named their company after their feelings towards it. And apologize profusely on their packages and website. But they don't seem sorry enough to not endeavor to interperate and sell his ideas.
 
 
My ambition was to let a review and some research change my opinion about the companies efforts, though it has been mixed results. I'm pro-inpiration, interpretation, trans-platform engineering- these can all be very good things. Lots of our favourite artists draw from existing creative properties we know and love/critique; from Ron English to Greg Simkins. So where does the line get drawn between when we love it, or don't? Here's what I found about Bomb Hugger.
 
It came out of the box a litle dirty, which was disappointing. On close inspection, the Quality Control in the figure itself had a bit of trouble with bubbling. This piece had a crater from a popped bubble on her nose- the last place any company wants QC issues would be the figure's face, I imagine. As observed in a previous review on Tomopop, this figure has a bit of an unpleasant seam in the back where right arm joins the body. The DIY figure does come with free paint and a brush, which is a thoughtful gesture, though artists paying 20GBP+Shipping for a designer blank would not be buying it on the merits of getting these paints.
 
This image darkened to highten the contrast in the facial features.
 
 
Sometimes a controvercial idea can win us over when the quality of the product is really outstanding. I'm not left feeling this way with Bomb Hugger- for about $50USD after shipping from the UK, she might arrive dirty, may have QC issues, and wide seams. The sculpting seemed a bit challenged to me; her left arm is twice as long as her right arm, and the bomb cradles akwardly, pulling away from what should have been contact points with her face and hands.
 
 
 
In Banksy's original street artwork, her features are feminine and she makes emotive contact with the bomb she embraces. These two hallmarks of the success of the image did not appear to translate effectively in the vinyl interpretation.
 
 
 
From a customizing perspective of looking at the piece as a DIY Blank, it doesn't seem very appealing. It is hyper-literal in its figuration, which can be difficult to work interperatively with and do anything more than make variations of colourways. The bomb is a very nice size to be able to custom in interesting ways, about 3" long, and removable. Her skirt is also a smooth and easily accessable canvas to work on.
 
And we know it's not true that extremely literal bases cannot be creatively re-imagined; this Ardabus Rubber custom Kozik bust stands out in my mind as an effective abstract interpretation on an extremely literal platform.
 
 
 
 
So what could have been done differently for Bomb Hugger?
 
Bomb Hugger may have been an effective bust, which would have allowed for more elegant sculpting in the face. This was explored also by Tomopop, who reviewed Bomb Hugger alongside Apologies to Banksy's figure Rude Copper. I think there's truth in the conclusion we both arrived at though; what Bomb Hugger gained by being a full-body figure with a nicely detailed base does not seem to outweigh some of the other aesthetic challenges with working in that scale.
 
I do appreciate it takes a great deal of work to actualize and produce a figure like this. And Apologies To Banksy are trying hard to share what they feel strongly about doing; they're attending Expos and putting on a Custom Exhibition. They're even putting on a design competition where entrants have a chance to have their custom made into a production run of 250 pieces and sold. An undisclosed proceeds percentage is intended for donation an undisclosed charity. No compensation to the artist is offered, though having a design produced is pretty cool, many would say.
 
If you're a fan of Banksy's work, it might just be a really cool thing to have in your collection. It's a great invitation to submit to show custom work in London in their upcoming Exhibition. They're a young company with ambition, and deserve acknowledgement for that. And they did mention they're sorry, right?
 
 

May 5, 2013

IDDQD

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Symbiote Studios just turned GOD MODE with it's upcoming release.  Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the game's release, a 3" Symbiote space marine figure with helmet and BFG!



(Would have been really cool if this was a blindbox series with the various faces denoting health levels.)

Pre-order now here and save $5



Dia de Los Muertos Mariachi Hello Kitty custom by Matt Perez

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"Dia de los Muertos/Mariachi Hello Kitty".

The piece includes hand sculpted roses, mariachi dress details, and paint. To keep up with Obscure's work, you can friend him on Facebook (Matt Obscure Perez), follow him on Instagram (obscureakg), or contact him at Matthew@angrykoalagear.com for questions and commissions. For all of your pop culture news, including comics, toys, art, and all things geek, you can check out his website at www.angrykoalagear.com



May 4, 2013

Design a Lovely Cup of Tea

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Design a lovely “Mini Custom Cup of Tea” and have the chance of winning some tasty Lunartik treats!
The Rules:
You have until the 31st July 2013 to get an image of your perfect cuppa over to us viacompetitions@lunartik.com
You have many ways in which to enter, you can submit a drawing, painting, digital CAD drawing, a photo of a custom cuppa.
1. Download the PDF Entry Form – Download Now
2. Download the Lunartik Design Template – Download Now
3. The Deadline is the 31st July 2013
The Prizes:
There are 3 prizes up for grabs.
The winner will receive a full tray of Mini Series 2, that’s 16 Mini Teas and some signed goodies from Matt JOnes.
2 runners up will each receive a pair of signed Mini Teas of their choice.
The Judges: Matt JOnes & Doktor A
We’re looking for everything and anything, all submissions will be taken into account.
Good Luck Tea Drinkers!


Welcome to Lunartik’s Mini-Tea Tour

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An exhibition featuring over 70+ custom works of art based on Matt JOnes’ platform art toys
‘Lunartik in a Cup of Tea’. These artistic interpretations have been brewed to perfection by a fine
selection of World Artists.

Mini-Tea Tour Dates: 2013

Venue 8:
Raygun Comic Store
Opening Party: The 4th May 2013 with Matt JOnes in the house!
Date: 4th May – 30th June 2013
Address: 26 Red Lion Street, Richmond, London, TW9 1RW, United Kingdom.
Raygun Comic Store

Mini-Tea Tour History 2011/2012

Venue 1:
The Mini-Tea Tour debuted on the 6th April 2011, as part of the Pictoplasma character walk in Berlin.
It was a true success and a much loved exhibition.
Venue 2:
The tour continued on its travels around Europe and eventually arrived in the wonderful city of Vienna, where it was proudly displayed in the fashion boutique “Sixxa Store” for the entirety of
May 2011. There was a tea party and artists signing on the opening night.
Venue 3:
The Tour traveled to the UK and was featured in London’s Forbidden Planet Mega Store in August. Where we all had cake!
Venue 4:
Cambridge Art Salon – Cambridge.
Venue 5:
Forbidden Planet Store – Cambridge.
Venue 6:
Fat Buddha Store – Glasgow.
Venue 7:
The SHO Gallery & Shop – Cardiff.


Dunny in a Frame by WuzOne

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Now available...awesome piece of art by WuzOne...

8" Dunny in a Frame

Custom work on a original 8" Dunny of Kidrobot.

100% hand painted using spray paint, acrylics, markers and matt varnish.

Limited to only 1 piece. Signed and numbered.

Frame size: 11" x 8" / 21 x 30 cm. Model Ribba of Ikea.

On sale here: www.wuzone.bigcartel.com
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