my favourite 'Art' artist

Take a guess who my favourite artist is?

After tonight's Copro Nason's preview on his works, it suddenly has become absolutely clear to me that he sits at the top of my favourite artists list.

I present you, Mr. Dan May.

Knowing that I currently am not able to afford his works (well, maybe the smaller paintings is possible), I shall have to keep following his works and I shall one day, make a kickstart to collecting his paintings.

The followings are his works for the upcoming Copro Nason show entitled "Kiss of Life".

"Tea for Two"

"Well of Knowledge"

And still remaining my favourite piece from him:

"A Tasty Affair"

contemplate

Absolutely pre-occupied with work. Was a little surprised to see the preview to Dok A's show in my mailbox. I wasn't expecting it.

I am thinking about picking something up. But in no rush.
I've got more things to worry about.

Brothersfree is around!

So I came across this post by ToyCyte with a real updated news on the Brothersfree trio, Winson Ma, Willian Tsang and Kenny Wong. Dated 20 May 2008, it goes:


"This coming Saturday and Sunday. Brothersfree (William Tsang, Kenny Wong and Winson Ma) will hold a charity sales session in Longham Center in Mongkok, Hong Kong. They’ll be selling their original drawings and Panda tees, plus they will draw an 8-ft. mural over the weekend. All income from this 2-day event goes to the victims in Sichuan, China."


Cheers to Jeremy of ToyCyte for relieving my worries on the whereabouts of Brothersfree.

Dr Cube is amazing!

I was absolutely stunned by this Dr. Cube piece done up by Kenny Wong. I have always been a secret admirer for Brothersfree creations, since I was pretty exposed to their pieces when I hung out with people collecting 12-inch toys, including the previous infamous Brothersworkers figures. They are simple amazing, well-thought through toys. Their works is a cross between designer figures and 12-inch figures.

My personal take is that 12-inch figures is ultimately the toys we will or rather 'should' end up still playing with, if we put into context the toy-collecting process, ie. transitional periods between toy genres, so to speak. Somehow, I foresee myself heading towards that direction. I do think this is one type of toys that is still in the shadows of others, these guys are pretty much leading the designer x 12-inch scene.

This figure being from the line of the Copperhead-18 project, you can expect there will be quite a few characters and maybe couple of variants from each. Gotta stick to either your favourite colourway OR a complete set of one colourway just so they look good clustered.

Does remind me that my very first toy show was probably this one, where the Brothersfree trio made an appearance in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This was back in December, 2004.

Now I wish I had gotten into these figures way back then.

I do wonder where the other two are, since it's solely 'Kenny's Works' now.

pick a Scavenger

Unfortunately, it is easier said than done. They will come in blind boxes. But unlike any other blind-boxed mini figures, whatever you manage to pick, it will be from the same awesome Kathie Olivas.

I was expecting to pick up the exclusive RGG colourway last week in Manchester. Sad enough, they did not make it in time. These will be absolute quality.

Apparently, the gas mask figure above will be the chase

Amanda Visell Pink Elephant 'Vampired"

I really did not expect another variant of the Elephant, by Amanda Visell. I do not particularly think I like any variant better than the other but I am, however, put off by the release of yet another colourway. Honestly, I get annoyed relatively easily with multiple colourways of a single toy sculpt. I can tolerate.... maybbbeee TWO at most. Just a personal thing.

In some way, I am partly relating this post to the most likely last variant and at the same time, the most expensive among all - the Gold Horselington by EWOK 5MH (image published by VinylPulse here). This is like the sixth in line? Geez, check out the price on that piece.

Back to the Elephant, so I did contemplate on purchasing one but ended up letting it slipped due to commitments to other purchases. In some way, I am glad. Cause now I am totally turned-off by it. Unless of course there are hordes of elephants lying around unwanted and offered cheap, I might then consider picking one up. DOESN'T MATTER the variant.

And here's No. 4!

Everyone is going haywire over Doktor A's upcoming solo show Retropolis at Rivet Gallery, particular when VinylPulse released a shot at one of his featured customs at the show. Of course, one should not expect the Dok's works are all about customs. This show is all about his artworks, hence it is unfair to think that all people want or should see are his custom skills. It is also a show to sort of premier his upcoming Mechtorians of course.

I asked him whether this is his first solo, and no, it is his second. I can't recall his first solo though. I however pleaded to him to have a solo in the UK, which I am certain will happen in the not so distant future. He replied by smiling at that request. ;)

RGG show 17 May 2008

Absolutely knackered. Just been too pre-occupied to be placing entries lately. Nevertheless, I shall sit back for a moment here and talk about what happened on that exciting day.

I do frequent Manchester quite a bit, mainly for the dim sums, really. However, after having been to Richard Goodall Gallery, little that I know there were so many amazing stores in that particular area; cool records store, Carhartt, look-alike drug stores and etc. I even came across an album by Natural Calamity (previously mentioned here) at this used-record store, but it was priced at a whopping £25! Shrugs...

So then, fuck that. I made my way to RGG and it was my first time going into that store. I've heard about it ages ago and made ONE transaction before (for the Tiger Dunny). Unfortunately, it freakin' rained all day so it absolutely washed away the thought of taking a snapshot of the store front. Despite the store's infamous prices, I must say it sure has a lot of goodies.

Right away, I recognized Anna, Teese and Shakey already inside; Kathie and Brandt sketching away while Sas and Colin chillin' at the couch. All day, people were coming and out so there wasn't really a huge crowd at any particular time. Apparently, it was the Cup's finals, so I supposed people were either home or at a pub watching tv.

It was a thrilling moment to actually meet them in person, particular Kathie. Who would have thought these big name artists would make their way to the UK. Having said that, I shall be missing out on the next RGG signings cum release of the 3-bears / dunnys. Shoot! Would have loved to meet the TADO-duo and Mr. Burgerman.

So I got my sketches from both Kathie and Brandt (see them on my flickr). Guess who popped in next? Good ol' Doktor A, and it was like the bomb yea? Two big name artists (more like five actually), Kathie Olivas and Doktor A meeting up. Basically two of my favourite artists were there, so my imaginations began to run wild. "... let's see a collaboration between these two... hm..."

Anna and I sort of introduced ourselves (though we speak to the Dok lots at the O3 forum) through our Dok A custom commissions. Bit weird, yeah I know, but trust me, it is easier to associate yourself to a piece of toy in 'our world'. And so he told me how my commissioned custom Dumb Luck gave him troubles by constantly falling over and to actually begin customizing on. Like we previously talked about in the email; both of us agreed that it is already quite a complete (maybe almost perfect) toy in itself. Bottom line is, the commission came out fantastic still.

Dok even showed us shots of the upcoming Mechtorians in his camera. They look fantastic. Only then I realized my Mr. Head was missing a turn-key. Dok went beyond by sending me a PM today to see if I needed a replacement turn-key. Luckily I found it, barely lost and forgotten in the box that it came in.

So then all of us took a break for lunch, the O3 bunch of us obviously headed over to Chinatown for some delicious dim sums. Chicken feet? Hell yeah!

We got back to the gallery and I got a KO BP collab print. Teese, Shakey and I were the only ones by then. I wouldn't have wanted to leave so soon anyway. So, imagine hanging out with five artists for a drink at a bar, then dinner over at Wagamama. Colin and Sas are absolutely fantastic people with outstanding sense of humour. Of course, with Shakey and Teese there, everything just lightens up naturally.

Cheers to Sas for the dinner treat!

I suppose with very limited shows to attend, it makes even more meaningful particularly when you get to attend one as good as this.


n i c k

Here's Romulo

I'm going mental over its colours. It's so beautiful that the colours dissolves everything else around it. Times like this I feel proud being able to pick fantastic artists for commissions.


Another addition, couple more to go and it will be time for a group shot.
Custom piece previously mentioned here.

Dok A upcoming solo

It was good seeing the Dok at the RGG show on Saturday in Manchester, particularly if you tell him you were one of the guys who commissioned him previously. He would go on and tell you the sort of trouble your piece had given him, jokingly. :)

"Your Dumb Luck keeps falling over" , "I was staring at him for quite some time to get ideas".

We were shown the Mechtorians from his camera, they look fantastic. I was thinking of enticing him to do me another custom, but I scrapped the idea knowing that he wouldn't fall for that. That was when I realized the Mr. Head I purchased did not have a turn key, as the one in the Dok's camera has. I went through the box it came in and found it lying there - forgotten. Geez...

Sneakpeak of his upcoming solo show, Retropolis

I am sure this is most likely a large version of Stephen Le Pod?

Mirrorball bear

This is one fine looking bearbrick. I had stop buying bearbricks, but I suppose one in a while is fair. Particular if it is a good design.

Bet it will be almighty expensive.

G1988 & Hot Wheels

Beautifully laid out. It was a ground-breaking show. A well-deserved toy press.

As blogged by G1988.

Doktor A solo show

Rivet Gallery sure knows which artists to feature. Doktor A is next in line scheduled for a June solo show, Retropolis. I believe this might be the Dok's first solo. As per always, there will be pieces that would be awe-inspiring, particularly to his ever-growing fans.

Strange enough, he never had a solo show in the UK yet. He should be present at this show this coming Saturday at Richard Goodall Gallery in Manchester to meet Kathie Olivas and gang.

Bumble & Tweet

Yay to yet another one of my favourite artists for her upcoming vinyl production piece! It was quite a sudden exciting news, really, as there wasn't any prior rumours about it. So it was Vinyl Pulse that announced Julie West upcoming Bumble & Tweet with the expected release in August.

Bumble

Tweet

Images courtesy of Vinyl Pulse

The article mentioned about how Julie played a vital role of playing around back and forth how the whole sculpt works. In the process integrating the design, the sculpt and the physical production process together. Hence I reckon they will be well-rounded final pieces once done.

Apparently some bits will be magnetic. Cheers for bringing the "play" aspect back to vinyl toys.

Altars

I think these sculptures by Andrew Bell are awesome. If I reside in the States, I would have definitely gotten one for my living room or even better, back garden.

They are; All Seeing (3 pieces), Skull (5 pieces) and Big Mouth (3 pieces). Hand-painted and stands 30" tall, they are available from Lulubell Toys for $1000. Can't possibly have one since it will costs me an arm to have it delivered.

Alberto Cerriteño Custom Mellow

Received a lovely surprise email over the weekend about my next completed Custom Mellow by the talented Alberto Cerriteño. It has been quite a long wait, I am glad it turns out fantastic! I can't wait to add this to my existing custom pieces. It will be awe-inspiring to see this piece in person.

Linked: Alberto Cerriteño Blog: Custom Mellow

Yoskay Yamamoto Koibito

image courtesy of VinylPulse

Yoskay Yamamoto's debut solo show revealed two colourways of his iconic fish head sculpt. While I think it is an impressive sculpt, I find it a little eerie to have it on my shelf. It's something about that part-human body bit. Very beautifully sculpted though.

This is one artist that is gradually building up a strong fanbase. Keep your eyes peeled.

Tokyoplastic Yellow Geisha

Got a hooked up with a yellow geisha from NYCC. Much appreciation to teese. Excited to add another geisha to the collection. I must say I might be a completist when it comes to Tokyoplastic releases. I resisted the giant geishas (two colourways to-date) and both the black and GID Opera Dudes. I have a feeling that I might end up purchasing the red giant geisha once I found space. And I do crave for the large Tokyoplastic prints (with the bloodied mechas) released ages ago. You don't see those often.

I would insist that the older geishas were done way better. It is a great piece of course, but I do not see the reason to re-release it in an absolutely odd colourway and slightly larger size. Can't help but to think this is just a marketing springboard for its current manufacturer for Tokyoplastic's upcoming Koguma. Just my thought.

down-graded baroness

So I was one of the 'lucky' ones to be on the list to purchase an 8" Baroness Dunny from the Kidrobot forum. Got the email, I am certain I was one of them in the first / second email. Paid up, so waited and waited. Two days ago, an email entitled "Baroness Dunny" popped into my spam mailbox. Looked at it and not surprisingly;

there was insufficient stock to go around / oversold / whatever.

So, this is the second time I got denied an 'exclusive'. First being the orange teeter months ago. Well, I got a pink teeter for free the last time and now a 3" SDCC Baroness Dunny as compensation. Should I be all smiling? Tsk... oh well, that's for being across the pond.

more SCLL

I took time to dig out the rest of Spangle Call Lilli Line's albums and considering they were released quite a while back, I did a good job locating them. I mentioned them here sometime ago and I cannot resist promoting them again since their music has gotten embedded deeply into me. Absolutely love japanese indie rock!

Their first album was released in 2001 and the breakthrough came only in their 3rd album "Nano" in 2003.

For more condensed information, refer to keikaku.net.

And a real get-to-know SCLL interview done by Japan Live here.

If you would allow me to share some of my favourites: