Pretty In Plastic Blog!

Skinner x Toy Prince on Vinyl Pulse

Oct 14, 2011

Fresh from Vinyl Pulse press- NYCC Flash : Skinner's Custom 'Toy Prince'

Skinner spent part of Friday dropping paint and skill on one of the new resin Toy Prince figures from Pete Fowler and Cherry Vinyl. See it at the Clutter booth.

Straight from the Pretty In Plastic workshop...

No sleep till..... NYCC

It is with pleasure and pride that I introduce to you our amazing crew here at the Pretty In Plastic factory of Awesome! We have a great and talented team here and are happy to debut a variety of their own creations at NYCC and more at D-Con! We have been taking time out of every week (more like - working overtime) to work on these amazing creations... and we hope to continue this. So without further adieu... I present to you...

Enjoy! Yours truly, Julie B.

KATE CHILKO - Danceurs Illogiques

Kate Chilko is a Brooklyn based life-form who heartily struggles with
the task of writing brief biographical summations. Born in West
Virginia, she studied Creative Writing while nestled in the lukewarm
bosom of Sarah Lawrence College. She is one of an unknown number of
persons who accidentally cultivated a career in the visual arts by
failing at a career in writing. Working in the commercial toy world
for more than eight years, she's had her hands on all the big names in
the pre-school crowd: Spongebob, Spiderman, Ernie and Bert and the
incomparable Dora the Explorer.
For the past two years she has worked on a wide variety of creative
pursuits as a painter, sculptor and designer. On more than one
occasion, she helped produce garbage cans for the King of Saudi
Arabia.
In the fall of 2011, she will dip her first toe into the designer toy
pond, and with great anticipation will watch for any perceptible
ripples.

Each piece is meticulously hand painted and comes with a beautiful collectors case and signed print. NYCC edition is limited to 8 pieces - 110/each

Stay tuned for more from KATE CHILKO!

CHIE -

"トケルウサギ "　 (tokeru-usagi)

CHIE(pronunciation is "chee-a") was reared in Tokyo, Japan.

She holds a masters degree in sculpture from Tokyo University of the Arts.

After graduating Chie worked in the product industry in Tokyo

over 6 years as a 3D modeling and 3D scanning artist.

This professional experience, creating actual three-dimensional

models from 3D software, has influenced her current work

where she creates sculpture, not only by hand, but with

computer 3D software.

She is based on Los Angeles.

This is the first toy which is designed and modeled by her in USA.

This toy called "トケルウサギ" means melting rabbit.

This "Melting" series express what changes happen when

melting a shape = could equal a body/mind transformation.

Avail. at booth 589 - 40/each
NYCC edition is limited to 6 pieces of each color - white and mint

"トケルウサギ "　 (tokeru-usagi)

Comes with it's own custom Carry tote!

CARRIE KRUGER - Deep Sea Creep

Carrie Kruger has a Fine Arts in Design degree and
recently moved from Lawrence, Kansas to Los Angeles, California.
She hopes to artistically figure herself out in this new life venue.
Carrie Kruger thought herself a space alien until the age of 10
and since then has been searching for answers.

"I am just trying to make sense of this world."

I cherish every encounter, everything i step in,
everything i dream about.

To me; it is all I have that makes
me physically here on this planet.
The things i tend to construct are
conglomerates of things i encounter,
step in and dream about.

She lived in the deep
Like some sorta creep
You may think "Oh me...Oh my!"
But she was just trying to say "Hi."

"Its hard to make a friend
when your smile looks like the end."

Deep Sea Creep is delicately custom made with controllable LED lighting and comes in a beautiful glass bowl.

Avail. for pre-orders - 95/each

ELLIOT JACKSON - Knuckle Biters

Elliot is an LA based fine artist and has made pieces for Kanye West and Jeff Koons, to name a few. He is hitting the art toy scene with flying colors and we are honored to be working with him.

Elliot Jackson is an in-house sculptor/designer at Pretty In Plastic. He resides in Los Angeles by way of Minnesota. He is presenting a ring series which are sculpted by him and hand cast in small batches.

KNUCKLE BITERS SERIES - 20/each

More pictures and NYCC updates coming...

Thank You :)

NYCC News - SPECIAL EDITION GRENADE BUNNY RELEASE

SPECIAL EDITION
GRENADE BUNNY RELEASE
Lucky Bunny x Hold Up Art x Pretty In Plastic

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Los Angeles, CA - October 12th, 2011 - Following the success of his early 2010 original Grenade Bunny collectible toy release, designer/artist Rich DeSimone will be launching his new limited, Special Edition Grenade Bunny that boasts a hand painted rust finish. This project is a collaboration between Lucky Bunny Visual Communications, Hold Up Art, and Pretty In Plastic.

The new release is hand painted and naturally oxidized to create a rusted look and will be same dimensions and weight as the original collectible toy (approx. 4.25" x 6"). Only 20 pieces will be released in this unique finish, and will retail for $200. The Special Edition will also come beautifully packaged in a hand made wooden grenade crate.

(Original Grenade Bunny Released in 2010)

The Pre-Sale for the collectible toy will occur simultaneously at the Pretty in Plastic BOOTH #589 at New York Comic Con 2011 (October 13th-16th, 2011), as well as online through Hold Up Art (www.holdupart.com). If you are interested in pre-ordering the limited Special Edition Grenade Bunny please email info@holdupart.com.

About Rich DeSimone:

Torn, disused billboards, distressed industrial objects, street posters, and everyday uses of graphics, logos, and letterforms fuel constant idea generation for Rich DeSimone. Ideas come 24-7. They roll around in his mind, combine, and are tossed out and re-imagined. A few percolate to the outside where they become art prints, works on panel, and posters.

Middle-class Italian altar boys from Boston don’t usually see a clear-cut path to creative freedom. Rich’s upbringing, typically strict for the area, saw him looking more deeply into simple objects than other kids did. Church was a drag sometimes, but he found some interesting images there, from little dove drawings and typography on the psalm book to the priests’ robes and the graphic power of the cross. It wasn’t zealousness he found in Catholicism, but a first inkling that he would make art.

After spending time at the Art Institute of Boston, Rich took a spin through the advertising world, where he created icons to assist a religion of a very different kind. Turns in Atlanta and Minneapolis, and always back to Boston in between, gave him insight into the ad world. From huge, stifling agencies to smaller, edgier ones. Wherever he was, the ad business was full of egotism and limitation, though, and Rich wanted to realize his ideas without having them diluted. Today, he’s shaken free of the ad race and runs his own art and screen printing business, Lucky Bunny Visual Communications, out of Los Angeles, California. In his workspace he gets complete control over the process, and the satisfaction of a hands-on craft. His work is often simple and purely graphic, with a tongue-in-cheek slyness that belies a deeper conceptual background. The idea of duplicity and expendability—of printing multiples that end up scattered and potentially thrown away—is key. It’s branding, only with cleaner goals.

There’s no smoke and mirrors, no smug secret, to what Rich does: it’s just a million ideas, combined, altered, thrown out, and executed with a little humor and cunning.

The Lucky Bunny name, by the way, comes from his pet rabbit, who coincidentally is adorable yet destructive, smart and sensitive.

Lucky Bunny Website: http://www.luckybunny.net

Facebook Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/LuckyBunnyArt

Twitter page: http://www.twitter.com/luckybunnyrich

If you are interested in PreSale of the Special Edition Grenade Bunny please email info@holdupart.com or check out www.holdupart.com

NYCC Schedule!

Lots happening at NYCC - Pretty In Plastic and Lulubell have teamed up - booth 589 - lots of goodies from all our brands, including the sweetest collab - Cherry Vinyl!

More info on direct from Pretty In Plastic Releases coming soon....

Schedule - Booth 589

Thursday/Preview night:

Paul Kaiju - 4pm exclusive Seagools, Boss Carrions & a few other surprises
Grody Shogun release & signing - 5-6pm - special G.S. mash-ups

Friday:

Skinner signing & release - 12noon - 1pm - HP Bogs & MVH Ollie's
Grody Shogun - 3-4pm - special G.S. mash-ups

Saturday -
Tara McPherson x Cherry Vinyl exclusive resin George - release & signing - 12 noon- 1pm
Mutant Vinyl Hardcore - release & signing - 3-4pm - Ollie & other surprises
Nathan Jurevicius exclusive AKIS resin release - 5pm
Femke x Cherry Vinyl exclusive le Chat!

ALL days - goodies from Lulubell, Lulubell Japan, Grody Shogun, Velocitron & Pretty in Plastic!

Also, Make your own Monster - design your very own Monster on paper, drop it off at the booth, and Grody Shogun will make a custom Monster upon his return to Japan! Only $35 each... print out attached form and bring to NYCC, or color at the booth all days!

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After-Con Events :

The Toy Prince x Cherry Vinyl x Grody Shogun x Pretty In Plasit x Clutter Exclusive

all together now...feel the love...

Lulubell and Friends

One Night Toy Party!-October 15th, 2011

Join us for a very special one night event with Lulubell and friends, featuring exclusive Cotton Candy Machine colorway releases from Lulubell, Lulubell Japan, Cherry Vinyl & Grody Shogun. Artists include: Skinner, Paul Kaiju, Jon Knox, Stephane Blanchet, Grody Shogun, Velocitron & more!

We will also be celebrating the release of Tara McPherson's 'George' resin figure by Cherry Vinyl in a super limited edition of 6 turquoise.

Cherry Vinyl is comprised of a small team of international dreamers with a huge passion for art, fun and all things awesome. Their roots and resources span the globe: from the beaches of LA, through the sunny Sonoran Desert of Arizona, over to the busy streets of the Big Apple, across the oceans to Europe and landing in the heart of Japan. By combining their existing strengths in artist outreach, sculpting, design, the highly detailed Japanese manufacturing & painting processes, creative and passionate marketing, and close customer contact, Pretty in Plastic & Lulubell Toys join forces to form “Cherry Vinyl”, an innovative joint creative entity with a focus on artist designed vinyl in a sofubi medium. They intend to take all the best ingredients that exist in the vinyl world today, add a big scoop of innovation, stir in a ton of whimsy and fun, and what they hand back to the vinyl community will be decadent creations for them to sink their teeth into, savor, and most of all enjoy!

Toy Party October 15th
7 to 11pm

235 South 1st Street (between Roebling and Havemeyer)
Brooklyn, NYC 11211
718.387.3844

http://www.thecottoncandymachine.com/
Hope to see everyone there!

The Toy Prince x Cherry Vinyl x Pretty In Plastic x Grody Shogun x Clutter Exclusive

All forces collide to create the TOY PRINCE limited edition custom series... soon to be released in VINYL by CherryVinyl! Designed by Pete Fowler...made by Pretty In Plastic and Cherry Vinyl...painted by Grody Shogun and brought to you by Clutter... yaddayaddayadda....

From ClutterMagazine.com :)
October 10, 2011 - by Josh

We are really really excited to announce that we will be unveiling 25 limited edition hand made and hand painted Toy Princes!

Designed by Pete Fowler and based on the dazzling golden “Toy King” trophy exclusively for winners of the The Designer Toy Awards, this vinyl version pays homage to the award but is not an exact replica. This loving executed artisan toy by Julie B of Cherry Vinyl is an NYCC limited edition run of just 25!

File 4052

The Limited Edition Toy Prince will be released Thursday night at Concrete Bar, just blocks away from the Javits Convention Center, on Thursday, October 13th at 7pm. The soiree is open to the public and the first 25 to walk through the door will receive an exclusive Clutter gift bag!

Event Details:

The Toy Prince x Cultyard Party

7pm

Concrete Bar

324 W.37th St.

Between 8th and 9th avenues

Femke Hiemstra x Cherry Vinyl - Interview with Femke

FEMKE HIEMSTRA for CHERRY VINYL

Interview by Giorgia Mannucci - Art Gallery and Institution consultant, and Art and Toy design addicionado

Painter, illustrator and collector of flea market treasures, the Dutch artist Femke Hiemstra is ready to present her first vinyl toy in collaboration with the fantastic Cherry Vinyl.

Considered one of the most interesting Pop Surrealist made in Europe, Femke Hiemstra's artworks are populated by anthropomorphic animals and supernatural creatures that look like they've just landed from a Grimm Brothers' fairy tale to take part to the Halloween party.
A wondeful mixture of magic, cuteness, creepy and an astonishing technique, the observer can't help but become kidnapped inside her intriguing stories painted on such unique and appropriately wonderful surfaces as vintage book covers, candy tin boxes or stoops.
The arrival of such terrific new character as Le Chat Domestique inside the toy scene, can't be but acclaimed by collectors and lovers.
Proost!

1) Femke you are an internationally famous artist from Holland. Your artworks highly sought after, with a long waiting list (and I know because I tried many times!). Can you please introduce yourself?

I'm a former illustrator who kind of rolled into making art. I used to make painted illustrations but at one point went along with the digital revolution and switched to making Photoshop coloured work. But I found the constant staring at a monitor not very pleasant so I went back to painting again, but this time only for the fun of it. I put those works online and they got noticed up by a gallery and they offered me a spot in a show and so the ball started rolling. At one point I could not combine Illustration with art anymore so I decided to go solely for the latter. And here I am!

2) Most of your paintings are book covers of invented novels with a terrific narrative power: an entire surrealist fairy tale described in one single picture. Do you use to create an entire story, with characters and a plot, when you are sketching a new piece or art? Or is mostly a matter of great composition?

What I paint is a scene from a story, not a complete story nor just a composition.

3) Le Chat is your first vinyl toy, inspired by your painting Le Chat Domestique. Do you follow the toys scene? Which are you favorite artists or vinyl toys?

I must admit that I hardly follow the toy scene. When seeing a cool vinyl toy I'm usually able to recognize the work of the artist but I really can't tell you any names. But I do like characters a lot and collect them as well, but mostly the more awkward looking, unfamiliar stuff that you can find on fleamarkets or in antique shops.

4) If so, what is the story behind Le Chat Domestique, and why did you choose among all your incredible cast of figures to introduce yourself in the art toys scene with this character?

Luke of Lulubell was the one who invited me to make this toy. He made me curious and I said yes to the invitation. Le Chat was picked out to be "vinylized" since the cat has a great personality, that would be strong enough to stand on his own in a 3D world.

5) I know that you love cats, is our Le Chat inspired by one of yours?

There's always a bit of Noodles in all my cat characters, but this one was inspired by a dog. An Afghan hound, to be more precise. I saw one in my neighborhood and watched his long wavy hair. It made me think about people 'molding' animals into a shape that we think as beautiful and it made me think about Persian cats as well. (Although there's a lot to be said about the human influence on animal looks, it's not exactly what I wanted to get into). An image of a cat with long hair appeared before my minds eye. Sitting straight, and a bit grumpy looking, in contrast with it's elegant filaments as if it was unhappy with his own appearance. 'Le Chat Domestique' or 'The Domestic Cat', a surreal portrait of a house cat was born.

6) I know that you love to wander in flea markets all over the world and you can boast an incredible collection of vintage toys and mascots, postcards, matchboxes and more. Which are your favorite treasures in your Wunderkammer?

I have so many favorites! I do like my little plastic polar bear on ski's as much as I like this set of cheaply made, pipe smoking Easter bunnies or this set of fluffy ducks with guitars and silly hats. They all have personality.

7) Which one of your creature you think would be a good companion for Le Chat?

Another animal could work or perhaps a snowmen or something dead-ish, skeleton-like. But let's bring Le Chat into the world first, shall we?

8) You are a Dutch artist from Amsterdam, but you’re art is very well known in America as well. Are most of your collectors are European or Americans?

I think it's a 50/50 mix that leans a bit more to the US side since I show there the most.

9) Your works are always a composition of figures and lettering, in English, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, French, Dutch and many others. How do you choose with language would fit for a specific artworks?

I first come up with a title, than translate it in various languages and than see what feels/fits best.

Thank You for your time Femke!

Le Chat - coming soon from Cherry Vinyl - sculpted by Pretty In Plastic - stay tuned for release here and at Lulubell Toys

More pictures below of Femke's visit to Pretty In Plastic Studios - pulled a hot le chat AP right off the press for her!