Luke Chueh's Dissected Kickstarter FUNDED

Huge congrats to the Clutter team and to this guy right here
for a successful Kickstarter!

This KS campaign funded the creation of a 6x6x5.5 inch vinyl bear head with a cutaway to reveal a human skull.

I backed this one, I've made it no secret that Luke is one of my favorite artists.

Just wanted to give him a shout and let him know that we are overjoyed with each of his successes.

To learn more about Luke Chueh and his hard-hitting and very personal artwork, check his site here.

Luke also has a show of his painting running right now at Rotofugi. A lot of the pieces have sold, but there are still a few remaining to pick up. Check the page here.

NEW Crummy Gummy Four Faced Gummy Figure Now Available at PIQ Orlando

Artist Crummy Gummy will be reveiling his newest resin figure "The Four Faced Gummy" Crimson edition at his solo show/ signing this Saturday May 9th at PIQ in their Orlando store, located at Universal Studios Citywalk. 

His show titled "Crummy Heroes" will debut six new originals and he will be painting a Mega Munny live starting at 7pm. Only 5 FFG's will be made available at the opening and any left will be made available at PIQs website the following day.

His newest figure is said to be an alien relic of magic and mystery that can bring the ones who posses it fortune or damnation. The figure shows the four faces of Joy, Sadness, Anger and Death. They will retail for $65.

PIQ Orlando

6000 Universal Blvd #745j

Orlando, FL 32819

Phone: 407-224-2305

Now Available in the Esc-Toy Shop - Little Liberty 4 PACK

NOW AVAILABLE in the Esc-Toy Shop - Little Liberty 4 PACK

MAD Toy Design Announces New MAD*L Characters Print Series & Subscriptions

Jeremy Madl writes:

The MADL "Characters" is a series of artwork based off the many influences I grew up with.  I spent countless hours as a kid drawing my favorite heroes and villains from movies, comics, and cartoons.  This project started as a creative exercise to apply some of those different licenses to the MADL platform.  It has quickly grown into over 100 different designs and many more in the works.

With all the artwork created, I’m running limited edition 6in x 6in prints and offering them up on my store (www.madtoystore.com)  

Each print is signed & numbered (edition of 25 prints per/ design) and is released in small “Batches” weekly for only $20USD per 6x6 print (plus shipping).

For the bigger collectors, there’s also a limited print subscription being offered.  There are only 5 spots available (all prints in a subscription have matching #’s), and gets all 100 prints, 10 original sketches, and the peace of mind they won’t be missing out on anything.

Suckadelic Suckpanel Grande - Bigger IS Better

Super Sucklord has taken his Bootleg, Suckpanel and Mashup series and crammed them all together in one terrible package, the Suckpanel Grande.  Each one of these measures 14" across (heights vary slightly) and are mounted on 1/2" plywood with hanging hardware mounted on the back.  Each will be produced in editions of 10 pieces. They won't be available in the online store but you can contact those jerkbags here for info and pricing.  And as always, you're an asshole if you don't buy one.

Andrew Pawley's Galaxafreak Captain Yeah!

I'll let Andrew tell you about Captain Yeah!

Captain Yeah! is a poly-cosmic inter-dimensional hero of the highest order. Born at the creation of the multiverse he exists in all realities and all time. As a member of the Galaxafreaks he gets up to all sorts of psychedelic weirdness! Who are the Galaxafreaks? Galaxafreaks will eat your brain! Then chew it up and spit it out in a reconstructed mind-freak! Trust me, you'll feel better for it! Basically the Galaxafreaks are a bunch of friends who happen to be the size of whole galaxies. However, the whole story takes place inside the brain of a cosmic universal baby who lives inside a Higgs Boson particle. Obviously!

Couldn't have said it better myself.  Captain Yeah! is a 3 inch tall, hand cast and hand painted resin figure.  Each figure comes with a signed certificate of authenticity and a drawing of the original character.  Captain Yeah! is limited to 20 pieces.

Andrew is currently running a crowdsource funding campaign for Captain Yeah! and it's psychedelic companion comic.  You can find more info about it here.

+The Highest Fever

The Offbits: The Art of Spare Parts

The Offbits are a series of model robots made from everyday hardware, designed to allow for infinite buildability.  Nuts, bolts, screws, springs, magnets combine to create adorable little robots.

Purchasing a starter kit gets you one of four robot models.  From there, the sky's the limit.  Add bits and pieces from your toolbox, discarded devices, appliances from around the house (don't do that), the engine in your dad's truck (not an activity endorsed by Offbits) or anything laying around.  Offbits also offers extension packs.  These allow for more complex character and even vehicles!

These kits are great for kids who love to tinker and build and will no doubt spark their imaginations. The Offbits Kickstarter currently has 13 days remaining.  They've met their goal and are well on the way to hitting stretch goals.  Now is a great time to jump on board and get an Offbit.

+The Highest Fever 

  

Rocketboy Nohwitz Red Tie Tenacious Exclusive 3D Printed Figure Released at 3PM EST today

This awesome 7" Nohwitz figure by Rocketboy was printed by Bold Machines and finished/painted by Rocketboy exclusively for Tenacious Toys! There are only 5 of them in this color scheme, and they will be sold for $45 each today at 3PM EST here on our Rocketboy page. Also available at same time and place will be the DIY (blank) version for $25 (see below). DIYs come packed with randomly selected hands and teeth.

At the same time, over in Chicago, there will be a SWEET custom Nohwitz show opening at Rotofugi:

Rocketboy in collaboration with Bold Machines present:

Nowhitz All
A Group Custom Toy Show
Opening Reception on Friday, May 8, 2015, 7-10pm

It's been awhile since we hosted a custom toy show, but we couldn't possibly pass up the chance to work with Chicago-based customizer Ryan McClure (aka Rocketboy Customs) on the debut of his new 3D-printed (by Bold Machines) figure, Nowhitz.

Ryan has recruited 24 talented toy customizers to give their take on his cubicle creature (the office know-it-all that absolutely knows nothing) and we can't wait to see the results!

Participating artists include 64 Colors, Betso, Davemarkart, DrilOne, Frank Montano, Infinite Rabbits, James Fuller, JC Rivera, Jeremiah Ketner, JFury, kOmega, Malo April, Malo One, Max Bare, Mike Die, Nugglife, One-Eyed Girl, Patrick Wong, Rocketboy, Rsin, Tasha Zimich, TaskOne, Travis Lampe and Veggiesomething.

First availability of exhibit pieces will be at the gallery when we open at 11am on Friday, May 8. Gallery Previews email list members will be able to make purchases via email starting at 2PM that same day.

Exhibit continues through June 7, 2015

Erick Scarecrow's Lady Liberty to be Re-Released on ESCToy.com

Erick has been a little quiet lately. You might not notice these things, but I do. He recently moved his company ESC Toys to Las Vegas and I think that's sort of a big undertaking. Seems he hasn't released a new figure in a while, but he's finally ready to get cranking again! This is the anniversary release of the Lady Liberty figure which was released back in 2007 as a 12". Each 6.5" vinyl/PVC Lady Liberty figure comes packaged in an open box and blister tray. The products conform to ASTM-F963. For ages 15 & UP!

Retail is $25 per piece (is that a fucking typo? nope.) and the 4PACK is $85.

$25 dollars for a 6.5" toy. That's an awesome price. I think Erick moved to Vegas and fried his brain in the desert sun.


Anyway, I'm not sure when these figures will be release, but here's the link to the ESC Toys shop. There's a handy tool at the bottom of the screen on the right that allows you to get emailed when the items go up for sale. Which is fucking brilliant. I have to see if I can do that with my shop.

AVAILABLE NOW: Frank Kozik William, Henry & Reginald - Blue Sunshine Edition by Arts Unknown

The last of Frank Kozik's William, Henry & Reginald - Blue Sunshine Edition sets by Arts Unknown are up for sale on our website here on our Arts Unknown page. When AU closed up shop, we purchased the rest of these figures. The price for this figure is $39.95 each and we have very limited quantities of each color variant! We have 4 color variants of William/Henry/Reginald - Classic (white), Heart of Darkness (black), Bungle in the Jungle (green) and Blue Sunshine (orange). All Arts Unknown figures will begin shipping to customers from our warehouse on Wednesday May 6th.

Playge GASSED S005 FORT BURNOUT - JNGL edition PREORDER

PREORDER the GASSED S005 FORT BURNOUT - JNGL edition by Playge now.

6" vinyl and ABS figure with fabric clothing. Includes: Modular tactical vest with removable pouches. Machete with sheath, sM4 with removable grenade launcher and scope. 2.1 and classic arms, helmet-helmet and removable helmet. Yeah, 2 helmets. $105 and we are only getting a few! Arriving late May-ish.

PRO-TIP:

Order this item and the Terrorboys Ooze No 13 figure together (see pic to the right) and use code CLEAR200 at checkout to get 45% off the Terrorboys figure ($47.25 savings).

Who loves ya?

REVIEW: Plastik Surgery Resin Casting Handbook by Matt Lunartik Jones

I had the distinct pleasure today of reading the 20-page "Level One" Plastik Surgery handbook compiled by Matt "Lunartik" Jones. This fun, illustrated guide to beginning resin casting is available for just £12.00 ($18) on the Lunartik site here.

I'm sure Matt knew that I am a great person to review this book. I have a bit of technical knowledge and I've been selling resin toys for several years now, so I deal with the artists that cast the resin on a near-daily basis.

However, I have never actually cast any resin figures myself so some of the details are fuzzy to me, or were, till today.

Most of the artists I work with have all of this book's knowledge, plus more, in their heads, so the book might not offer many new insights to such veteran toymakers.

However, ALL resin toymakers have interested friends, kids, cousins, neighbors' kids, or colleagues who probably want to know more about what is involved in resin casting. This right here is a perfect introductory guide to the process and well worth the small amount of money. Makes a great gift for a budding artist!

The entire handbook is illustrated in Matt's clear, colorful and fun style, with handwritten text that makes it feel almost like an old-school zine, albeit a slick and well-crafted one.

I'm not going to photograph and post up every page of the entire handbook as that would defeat the purpose of this post.

However, I will go through a few key points that I liked about it:

Plastik Surgery goes through the entire process of resin toymaking from inception to delivery of the pieces to the customer, and even a bit after delivery. It's incredibly thorough for only having 20 pages. Just the right combination of text and images on each page- keeps kids and ADHD adults interested, fully describes and illustrates all the points Matt is trying to make.

Here you see all the different sections in the book:

1. Overview
2. Concept Design
3. Model Making
4. Silicone Tool Making
5. Resin Casting
6. Painting and Signing
7. Packing and Selling
8. Supplies and Notes

All of the concepts are explained carefully, even a little bit about color variants and the psychology of collecting, the importance of presentation, and several other key concepts which were surprisingly high-level, and sort of snuck in there without me noticing that they were fairly expert explanations of abstract concepts in toy making and selling.

I think one of my favorite things about this handbook is how frequently Matt suggests you stop for a nice cuppa tea. He's right- you can't rush this stuff and you might as well slow down and enjoy it.

I highly recommend this book. I learned a bunch, and I am excited that this is the "Level One" handbook because it means Matt is planning on producing a "Level Two" follow-up to cover more advanced concepts in toy production.

If you are an artist and you don't really know how to start creating resin pieces, this is definitely the right book for you. One of the most frequent emails I get goes something like this:

"Hey Benny, I'm an artist just starting out and I have this great idea and I want to turn it into a toy. Can you help me?"

Now I have a link to give to these inquiries! Pick up your own copy of Plastik Surgery here. Really, I can't think of a better vehicle to deliver this knowledge to someone. You can even get Matt to customize it with a doodle for an extra 3 quid.

- Benny Kline

AVAILABLE NOW: Frank Kozik William, Henry & Reginald - Bungle in the Jungle Edition by Arts Unknown

The last of Frank Kozik's William, Henry & Reginald - Bungle in the Jungle Edition sets by Arts Unknown are up for sale on our website here on our Arts Unknown page. When AU closed up shop, we purchased the rest of these figures. The price for this figure is $39.95 each. We have 4 color variants of William/Henry/Reginald - Classic (white), Heart of Darkness (black), Bungle in the Jungle (green) and Blue Sunshine (orange), and we have very limited quantities of each color variant! All Arts Unknown figures will begin shipping to customers from our warehouse on Wednesday May 6th.

Michael Keaton Batman and Bruce Wayne Set by Hot Toys

 I'm not gonna lie to you, I am partial to the Christian Bale Batman movies. I like the stories and the villains and the action... the way Bale speaks as Batman irritates the shit out of me, but I can deal with it because that's not a whole lot of the movies.

But a close second is the 1989 Michael Keaton Batman. Jack Nicholson as Joker might be fucking perfect casting. Anyway, Hot Toys obviously agrees that the Keaton Batman is worth producing, because here we have a 1:6-scale, two figure set of Bruce Wayne in his tux, as well as the Batman. The likeness of the head sculpt is pretty dead-on in my opinion. This set is available for $344.99 here at Sideshow, and they even offer a payment plan.