SpankyStokes.com | On display at SDCC: DC Collectibles x Joe Ledbetter Reveal

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SpankyStokes.com | Designer Toy • Vinyl Toy • Art Toy Blog: On display at SDCC: DC Collectibles x Joe Ledbette...: We took a stroll down to the DC booth during SDCC just to catch a glimpse at an upcoming series of vinyl collectibles created by none other than JLED...

Jason Freeny Brick Baby by MightyJaxx Review and Unboxing Video by Nick Curtis

Big ups to my man Nick Curtis for the sweet video review of the Jason Freeny Brick Baby sculpture which we debuted for MightyJaxx at NYCC 2016! Check full video below.

We managed to score a second batch which are available as preorders on our website here. This second and final batch will ship to customers in late December. Don't miss out, people were absolutely scrambling for this piece at the show. A handful of preorders left.

Exclusive Onyx Fink Warriors - Mr. Fink x Play Dead Toys x Spanky Stokes

Designer Con 2014 is quickly approaching and exclusives are still coming out. Another Spank Stokes exclusive is from Play Dead Toys and Mr. Fink, the "Onyx" exclusive colorway of the Fink Warrior. Limited to just 20 pieces and priced at $15, these resin Fink Warriors should sellout. What's even better, is that included in the edition of 20 is a chance to score one of 4 painted versions, customized by Michael "Bubo" Reilly. So for all those attending Designer Con 2014, be sure to head on over to Booth #518 and pick up one or more of these sweet Mr. Fink "Fink Warrior" figures.

- Mark-Anthony

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Play Dead Toys x Tim Wollweber x Spanky Stokes Exclusives

Initially blogged about here, Tim Wollweber will have his Micro Monsters available at Designer Con 2014. All the Micro Monsters were expertly cast by Play Dead Toys. The "Onyx" colorway of Tim's Micro Monsters is going to be available at the Spanky Stokes Booth #518, as a Designer Con exclusive. Priced at $45 each, or $200 for a complete set of all 6 figures, these are going to be limited to just 3 pieces of each Micro Monster. Not yet pictured is the Werewolf Micro Monster.

Also available at Designer Con 2014 are the painted versions of Tim Wollweber's Micro Monsters. Here is the latest update from Tim Wollweber of 3 out of the 6 painted monsters. The remaining figures should be revealed shortly, as Play Dead Toys is working hard to get everything done. Each painted Micro Monster is priced at $80 each, with a set of all 6 figures priced at $425. Available at Tim Wollweber's Booth #901. Get tickets to Designer Con now!

- Mark-Anthony

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KMNDZ's One of One June 14 Is Taking shape

KMNDZ's first curatorial project, One of One: World's Greatest Custom Toy Show is taking shape for its June 14th opening at DA Center for the Arts. Some WIP's and completed pieces are popping up over social media and press release info facilitated by the fantastic Paris Woodward.

DrilOne

ONE OF ONE: World’s Greatest Custom Toy Show50 Artists. 1 Amazing Gallery. 1 Incredible Show.

ONE OF ONE is artist KMNDZ’s first curated show, featuring a variety of artists all sharing their interpretation of what a toy is. The vinyl platform has been gaining rapid popularity and is what inspired KMNDZ's toy theme, however participating artists will be showcasing their talents in whatever medium and scale they want.

Jill Ricci

"I don’t see a difference between painting a DIY vinyl versus painting on a canvas. In my mind the medium carries just as much weight as a traditional painting. My expression is the same regardless, as is the amount of love and care I pour into a piece. It wasn’t until last summer that I started to explore painting vinyl toys. Needless to say it’s addictive and it’s been teaching me more about light and shadow. It’s even influencing the way I think about painting on canvas. 

For ONE OF ONE I’ve brought together 50 killer people from different walks of art. Graffiti artists, vinyl artists, fine artists, and graphic artists. I wanted my first curating experience to be memorable; a show that would lend itself to being loud and fun, even including the food (if you haven’t had The Reuben Truck’s pastrami yet, you’re in for a treat).  There will be a three-piece jazz band from Guam playing some reggae music. And if all goes to plan, every wall in the dA will get some big mural love from some of the participating artists. Ultimately the thanks goes to Bunny Gunner for believing in me and approaching me with the concept. It makes sense and I didn’t see it until it was placed in front of me. The dA Center for the Arts makes for a killer venue being in a neighborhood that supports the arts, and the high ceilings will give us breathing room to flex the talent in the show.

I look forward to this exhibition, and as with all my projects, I’ll be sure to leave nothing for the swim home."

- KMNDZ

N.C. Winters

Mari Inukai

The exhibition opens June 14 at DA Center for the Arts, in Pomona CA. If you're in the area, definitely mark your calendars. Artists will be in attendance, with many amazing works to view!

April "MaloApril" Elliott

Mike Maxwell

Tasha Zimich

-Tasha Zimich

DCon Ardabus Rubber Huck Gee SkullHead Custom

 

Ardabus Rubber has been hard at work prepping for Designer Con, where he's bringing it big!

Ardabus will have 2 shelves of customs at Spankystokes Booth 201, including the custom Huck Gee Skullhead Dunny pictured above. Also at Spankystokes, be on the lookout for new large format fine art prints like "There Can Be Only One Possible Ending" inspired by Fight Club.

 

 

 

Watch for Ardabus Rubber Customs in Dragatomi Booth 300, and catch the artist at his signing at Trampt Sunday 1:30pm at Booth 601. Ardabus will also be exhibiting a piece in Trampt's Hustle & Hype.

 

Ardabus has also contributed to Color Ink Book's 99 Deaths of JarJar with his inked lineart piece "Jar9". Keep an eye on Ardabus' blog for updated customs and artworks.

 

 

 

 

 

-Tasha Zimich

 

 

DCon Rocketboy at Spankystokes

Rocketboy Ryan McClure is not making it to Designer Con this year, but, some of his artwork is. Find his pieces in Spankystokes booth 201. These little "Grumbles" are both sculpted and painted, with an accompanying 2D Mini Canvas piece.

 

 

 

-Tasha Zimich

DCon: Custom Baby Deadbeets by Eckotyper - Spankystokes Booth #201

Central California based artist Eckotyper, is going to be bringing some custom painted baby Deadbeets to Designer Con. Each baby Deadbeet has been painted by Eckotyper, in a variety of vibrant colors.

 

Limited to 21 custom painted baby Deadbeats, these little guys are going to sell blind bagged for $15 each. Word is that there is also a "chase" figure in the bunch. These baby Deadbeets, along with customs from many different artists, can be found at Spankystokes' booth, #201. Be sure to stop by Spankystokes' booth, #201, as he will have some pure awesome going on throughout the 2 days of Designer Con.

 

For all of those who are experiencing some Heisenberg withdrawal, Eckotyper might have some Heisenberg inspired Dunnys left in his online store.

- Mark-Anthony

SubUrban Vinyl Exhibition - Time To Kick Some Ass!

 

Sub-Urban Vinyl Gallery and a whole lineup of butt-kicking artists are putting on a show this Saturday, May 11! Artists had free reign to contribute what they felt inspired to offer- both 2D and 3D pieces will appear in the show, along with hand-painted customs and resin sculptures.

 

If you're in the New Jersey area, or feel like heading  in for an evening of art and wine tasting, doors open at 6pm. If you would like to see the full show preview, hit up suburbanvinyl@gmail.com Here's a preview of what we'll expect to see;

 

Jason Limon

 

Troy Martin

 

Miss Zukie

 

John Spanky Stokes

 

Tasha Zimich

 

Big G+ Android Community Giveaway is on NOW!

Easter has got to be one of my favourite holidays, because free chocolate rocks- but so do dozens of Toy, Art & Entertainment related prizes valuing thousands of dollars!

Android G+ Community member Jim Long has put together one doozy of a community event with literally dozens of prizes, together with the generous sponsorship of groups and individuals including, but not limited to, TenaciousToys.com , Spankystokes, Dragatomi, DeadZebra, VinylRiot, BAIT, dunnysforeveryone, Fuller Designs, HitMit, and many more.

Where and How?

The giveaway is going on here, with some questionnaire questions and a couple guidelines where you'll place your comment after submitting;

Please answer in an email to jfclong@gmail.com the following as feedback to DeadZebra +Andrew Bell
a. What 3” design would you love to see in a bigger format?
b. If future series were to have a set theme, such as code name desserts, monsters, ect, what would you like to see and by what artists?
c. Who are your favourite designers who have done Android Mini official and custom designs, and why?
 

Some Prizes Include 

Lucky Cat Androids from Tenacious, Jim Long, BAIT, & Shane Jessup

 

Hitoshi Mitani Customs & Mobley

1/1 Custom Stroll by John "Spanky" Stokes

 

Artist Prizepacks

Dancing Lions donated by Jim Long

 

With over 300$ in Gift Certificates, full cases of Androids, rare Series 1 collectibles, Art Supplies, one of a kind customs, and more, there's plenty of reason to hop in on getting your questionnaires submitted! Thank you to all sponsors, organizers, donators and participants. Please be sure to read the entry guidelines here, and have fun!

 

 

- Tasha Zimich

Fire Stroll by Blazon Brikhaus

Blazon Brikhaus made this 3 inch Dunny for the Stroll hype from Spankystokes (loads of artists are making art of their logo). Awesome sculpting and I love the colors!

Follow Blazon Brikhaus here:
Facebook
Store
Flickr
Twitter

 - Don P

INTERVIEW: Spanky Stokes and his Borracho de los Muertos resin figures

How can you not love this guy?

While many of us "know" Spanky Stokes already as a blogger and figurehead for all that is cool and current in designer toys, you might be surprised, as I was, to learn that John has been hard at work for quite some time producing his own resin figure: Borracho de los Muertos.  This fact sorta flew under my own radar so I thought I'd shine some light on it for anyone else that missed out:

Tenacious Toys: So Spanky, most of us know you as one of the hardest-working bloggers in the art toy world. I, for one, read your blog frequently to see what new toys are coming out. But your Borracho de los Muertos figures took me by surprise: when did you move from customizing vinyl toys to pouring your own resin?

Spanky Stokes: Awwww, thanks Benny... and I really appreciate you visiting the site on a constant basis, means the world to me. As for the leap from vinyl to resin... well it all actually started because I was asked by the folks over at Dragatomi to be a part of their "Not Vinyl" show back in May of 2010. Initially I had just customized vinyl figures up until that point, and I knew I needed to do something original for this show, and this figure was created as a way for me to get my "feet wet" with creating my own resin figure! For the longest time, I had bought and held onto an old plaster figure from a trip down to Baja California, San Felipe, Mexico... and for over 20 years I held onto that figure. It wasn't until a few years ago I wanted to try resin casting so I took that figure changed up the main characteristics like the face, hands, feet, and other little nuances then I hit up Dodgrr, a local resin legend, who helped me cast my figure. From that point on I started having fun with the new found medium that was resin, testing out dyes, mixes, clears, tints, inclusions and have released close to
30 of these figures. Now what does the name "Borracho De Los Muertos"mean??? Well, it roughly translates to "Drunk of the dead"... why the name, well he has a bottle, and he's dead :-) All other
interpretations I will leave up to the viewer.

TT: So your family goes down to Baja frequently? You must have been a young'un when you got the original figure!

SS: Yeah I was really young, and actually consider B.C. my second home. I grew up in San Diego, and seeing as we are so close to the border my parents would always bring us kids down... not just the regular trips though as my father is a huge outdoors man, and raised both my sister and I on hunting and fishing... the primary reason for traveling south of the border. Growing up my father would take us to two cabins, one was halfway between Mexicali and San Felipe, and the other was in a town on the coast called Santo Tomas... both of these places was where I learned to shoot a gun and use a fishing pole. While we were down in B.C. we would take trips to other towns/villages and that is where I
picked this original figure up, on the boardwalk in San Felipe.

(below are pics of the original figure, the cast I made, and the primed cast)

TT: That's so cool! It sounds like a lot of fun... I've never been to Baja but I've shot plenty of rifles- riflery was my varsity sport in high school!
So basically you took an existing figure and re-worked the concept to make it your own. Did you do your re-working in clay or some medium like that, in order to develop the prototype for the mold?
And did you do that carving and re-imagining of your figure with your own hands, or did Dodgrr help you out with the sculpting?

SS: Geek alert!!!! Hahaha honestly who does riflery in high school :-) Just bustin yer chops dude!!! When I reworked the actual figure into what you see now I used a 2-part resin sculpting epoxy called Magic Sculpt. That stuff is awesome to work with and unlike the typical Sculpey material where you have to bake it to cure it, Magic Sculpt firms up chemically in about 5 hours... the downside is that your working time is a little rushed so you really have to have a vision for what you are working on, and be able to execute that vision before it dries!
I also used some plastic skeleton parts that I had lying around for the hands and feet... they just so happened to fit the figures shape and size perfectly and with little modification. As for doing it myself, yes 100% of the sculpting was done by me... the reason I brought Dodgrr into the mix was for his expertise in making molds and casting!

TT: So to date you've released 30 Borrachos in various colorways. Can collectors still purchase any Borrachos anywhere?
How many different colorways have you made public?
And, do you plan on making more? What's the next step for you as an artist after you retire this sculpt?

SS: I would say around 30, give or take have been released. Either for shows, for friends, for giveaways... now that I think about it... there are probably more like 50 of em out there as I had to make a second mold because the first one bit the dust! As for purchasing them... there are none available yet, but I will have a handful available at your booth during NYCC in an exclusive blue pearlescent colorway (way to set up the plug) hahaha!
Most of the time when it comes to colorways I would just do one-offs... I think the only time I did a run of one particular color was for SDCC 2010 with my "Azul" series (below). Once these guys have run their course, I want to do another sculpt for sure, maybe a 100% original this go around instead of using a previously existing platform.

Scratch that... I do have a few available HERE at the Rendition Gallery site. 

TT: So I take it you dig resin toys! I was a vinyl-toy-only kind of collector until I met END from Argonaut Resins and saw the work he was doing. Now I can't get enough resin! Where do you see resin going as a medium in our art toy world? What are your own personal preferences in terms of what you like to collect? I know you try to support everyone in this scene, as I do, so I'm not trying to get you to pick sides. I'm just interested in what types of pieces, what genres, excite you the most. You, out of everyone I know, probably see the highest number of toys every day.

SS: What?

TT: OK, sorry buddy, let me simplify that question:
Do you ever see resin toys overtaking vinyl as a material for designer toys?
And, do you have any resin toys in your own collection?

SS: Hahaha... that's more my speed! I think resin toys will always be there alongside with vinyl toys. What a lot of people don't realize is that this has cycled before... resin kits were the jam back in the
mid- to late 1980's, where people were doing all this amazing stuff in their garages... making monsters. This died out in the late 1990's [Benny's edit: Bad Applez are resurrecting resin garage kits right now], and if are familiar with the vinyl toy 'rise' time line... this is about the same time vinyl came into the picture... so I guess what I am getting at is that there has already been an established cycle. One thing I do see happening though is a lot more creativity in the resin world, making it a totally different time for this medium. Back to the question at hand though, do I see resin taking over vinyl... no. I do however love the medium of resin and have alot of it in my collection. I own pieces from Jay222, Steven Erst, Paul Kaiju, Smash Tokyo Toys, Halfbad Toyz, Skinner, Dodgrr, Nebulon5, Chris Ryniak, October Toys... just to name a few :-)

TT: Spanky, thanks so much for taking the time for this interview! Looking forward to meeting you at the con!

SS: Yeah man, thanks for taking the time to squeeze this interview into your already crazy schedule and I can't wait to hang at the convention!