There are only 1 of 500 of these rare Kid Robot Dunny's by Mad, that were given away at Kidrobot stores with the purchase of clothing.  Can you get one?  Nah, it's too late.  They sold out basically instantly, but it's a definite rare Kid Robot collectible you'll want to put on your ever growing list of toys to collect.  With great style and fun from leading urban artist MAD L, it is one of those toys to save for if you can find it.  I really like the pink on white.  It's a nice different style and change from the same old.
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Been a long time since I did a custom Kid Robot Munny for the collection.  Here is a shot of what I'm working on.  His name is Ramses.  I did him because I love Rams.  They are one of my favorite animals so I wanted to immortalize one in Urban Vinyl Toy Greatness.  So here is, sculpted, but not painted.

Here's what I did to make him, for the legs and arms I used my pasta roller to flatten the Sculpey clay.  I then used a wire tool that is shaped like a triangle to make the ridges.  I then simply wrapped the clay around the legs and arms.  After that I smoothed out the clay with water and a knitting needle.

The head was the most involved part.  I drilled 5 holes with my dremel tool, one for each ear, one for each horn, and one for the snout.  I inserted a small piece of wire to act as an armature and hold each appendage in place.  I used super glue to lock it in place.  For the ears and snout I simply sculpted them from their.

For the horns I used wire to make the curved shape continually checking to make sure they were symmetrical as possible.  I then added tinfoil to flesh it out.  This took the longest, because you have to get each side of equal thickness and length which can be tricky.  I actually had to do the horns twice, because I couldn't get them just how I wanted.

Once I was satisfied I added a thin layer around the tin foil, leaving about an inch of wire to stick into the munny's skull to anchor the horns.  I baked it.  Then I added another layer but instead of being round I made flat pieces to give the more angular look of the horns.  If you look at ram horns they are not round, they have three-four flat planes that intersect giving them almost a twisted triangle look.  To add the texture I used a very small knitting needle and rubbed different sections that mark the growth of the horns, and then added random nicks and scrapes to give it a real look to it.

After baking I super glued the horns to the head, and wrapped another layer around the horns, and baked again.

Now ready for paint.  Don't know when that will happen because I am not a good painter!  If anyone wants to help out....

Fugitive Toys isn't the biggest designer vinyl art store online, but they have been around for a while and have supported the independent artist toy market for some time.  You'll see their ads posted on some of the big blogs such as Vinyl Pulse and PlasticandPlush.  You may have even bought from them.  I never have, but I've heard good things about them.

So, you want the ultimate toy collection?  Buy a whole store.  I found it for sale on a popular website marketplace called Sitepoint(don't worry, I'm not getting ideas.  DesignerVinyl.net is in it for the long haul).  Right now it's listed at $23,500, or you can buy it now for $40k.  Go to Sitepoint to check it out.

If you want to combine your passion for toys into a true full fledged business this is your chance to do it.

Here's a signature image I saw on the Kidrobot forums that made me laugh.  I believe it's a concept, because it says "It's only a matter of time".  I wouldn't be surprised either, and hey I might even pick them up.  Or maybe they'll be included in my happy meal? Sweet.  Spotted on user Mistuh_T's signature.

Well a little bit late posting showing off what I got for Christmas.  I am a big robot toy collector and when I saw this little guy I had to have him.  But not only is he a toy, he's a real robot.

His name is i-sobot, he's only 6 inches tall, and is touted as the Guiness Book of World Records smallest humanoid robot.  I guess that's recently been taken away by a little robot called the BeRobot, but still this guy is great.  With tons of articulation, 17 servos, rc and voice control, and some limited program functions I've had a great time with him, and he just looks great sitting with all my other designer vinyl toys.  Also, for being so technologically advanced, he's way cheap.  2007 he cost $300, I got him for $75 plus free shipping(well for free if you consider Santa gave him to me)!

Do you think he's too geeky?  I mean he's not consider an art toy which is far from geekery, but I think he's a great little work of art, plus I can pose him and he'll stay in position.

Anyway, enough of my dork toy.  Robots are awesome and should rule the world.

Tomy i-Sobot Remote Control RC Humanoid Robot NEW White    US $198.00

REMOTE CONTROL FOR i-SOBOT/ISOBOT ROBOT, 2007 TOMY!    US $9.99

NEW Tomy i-Sobot REMOTE CONTROL RC HUMANOID ROBOT Black    US $199.98

It's a rare treat to see a 20 inch custom dunny.  To be honest this is one of the only ones I have seen.  This guy was made for the Dunny Show and originally was being sold for $4800.  But right now you can pick him up for $1750.  This is a real great piece with attention to detail and no expenses spared.  I wish there were some larger pictures to show.

Here's some more info from the current owner:

The Dunny is in mint condition and has been stored in a smoke free house out of direct sunlight. I am the original owner and bought it at The Dunny Show Cph.

The Dunny is called “Back in 5 minutes” and it’s designed by the Award-winning Art director Claus Due. He’s the proud owner of Designbolaget that works within the areas of identities, art, music and fashion.

To peep the deets check him out here.

Here's a great Iron Man Custom Munny for only $65 (or best offer).  It looks really great except I'm not sure why he was painted hot pink. Here's what the artist has to say about the process of making it:

Sharpie Paint Markers and Acryllic paints were used. Unlike most designs, done with Sharpie Permanent Markers or other mediums, these designs will last for a long time.

I really wish the dunny was for sale as well, because he looks even better.  But either way its still a fun custom for a reasonably price.  If you are interested pick him up here.

Found this great custom 6 inch vinyl MAD L toy by Zdenek55.  What attracts me to the toy is its really expressive face and the base paint job(not the inkwork) that makes for a nice textured look that almost makes it look like its madde out of wood rather than plastic.

The artist has been featured at The Don O'Melveny Gallery In Los Angeles (2006), and at The THINKSPACE Gallery (2007), Phantom Gallery (2007), The Sundance Film Festival, The L.A. Biscuit Lofts Art Show (2007), Monkeyhouse Toys (2007, 2008) Gallery Hangar 1018 (2007), AlphaCult (2007) and APW NYC (2008), Gnosis Gallery (2008).

Check this great piece out here.  You can pick him up for $75 if you are quick.

I recently received an email from ConceptArt.org about an act in congress that has failed passing several times but may be gaining momentum for 2009.  It's called the Orphan Works Act, and what it does is essentially allows non-profit organizations to use other people's creative works without permission if they can not find the creator of the works.

Sound harmless?

I would say that this could be a dangerous law if enacted.  Yes, it says for not for profit organizations, but it leaves the door open for corporations to push the law further in the future so they could use it.

Another scary rumor of the act is that it essentially makes it so that every piece of artwork, doodle, writing, or intellectual property you own has to be registered with the trademark office or it can be used by others.

I read the law proposal at thomas.gov(click for a direct link), and I didn't really see a clear cut statement that proves this rumor, but there is enough gray there that a good lawyer may be able to use it to his advantage in court if needed.  It also leaves the above mentioned theory of corporations trying to muscle in on your creative work.

In a new age where so much property(web pages, images, designs, scripts, programs) are available for free it has become more important to know our rights and know licenses such as the creative commons license and the GNU Public license, and how it can affect us.  For example, recently a girl sued a giant corporation because they used her photo that they found on FLICKR.  By not using the right kind of license on her photo it allowed for free use of the photo for commercial gain, and unfortunately, technically the corporation is not liable because that photo's license said they could use it for their own use.

So what are your thoughts on this bill?  I feel that it is an unnecessary bill, that not for profit organizations do not need to take creative work even if they can't find the original creator, and it leaves too much in the open to exploit the little guy.  So read the bill, and make your own conclusions, be informed and let your public representatives know that you do not support the bill if that is the case.

For a little after holidays gift, BIC Plastics has decided to give free shipping on all toys in their store for the month of January.  BIC Plastics includes great work from Marka27, MAD, and KaNo, so check it out and save some bones.

VIA: PlasticandPlush.com