Pink Ghost – Chubby Book Series 3 (09.16)

 

Pink Ghost are proud to present to you their all new Artist Chubby Book Series 3, which features cover artwork by Kukula, Danny Brito, and Allison Cole. Each 6”x"6”x2” Chubby Book includes 10 Artist postcards within the 250 pages (100 lined + 150 sketch pages), which you can use for notes, journal entries, and sketches. You will find these available beginning on Friday, September 16th through Pink Ghost or other Chubby Book Retailers for $21.95.

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Medicom Toy Manual 2

To celebrate their 15th Anniversary, Medicom is about to release ‘Toy Manual 2’, a retrospective of their toy mastery.  This is a follow-up to the OG Toy Manual from 2010.  It *appears* that Toy Manual 2 includes an exclusive ‘Multi-Color Be@rbrick’.  Toy Manual 2 drops in late for July for ~ $48.  Interestingly, Medicom also released a Be@rbrick Book to go along with the first Toy Manual.  Perhaps there’s a Be@brick Book 2 in the works as well.  If you don’t read Japanese, your best bet for Toy Manual # 2 may be Otacute  as it’s geared towards English speaking collectors. [Image: Otacute]

Seen: Brian McCarty 'Art Toys' Signing

Brian McCarty signed his Art Toys photo book @ La Luz on Thursday evening. In addition to the book, Brian offered a few select prints from the book.

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Brian McCarty: Art-Toys Signing @ La Luz De Jesus (9.9)

Toy photographer extraordinaire Brian McCarty will be signing his new Art-Toys book (Baby Tattoo) on Thursday, September 9th @ La Luz De Jesus from 6-9 PM.  The book documents McCarty’s body of work capturing the essence of toys (designer, mainstream and otherwise) through over 100 full-color toy portraits as well his recollection of the shoots.   Come on out, meet the man behind the lens and pick-up a signed copy.

La Luz De Jesus Gallery
4633 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Martin Hsu -- ‘Multigrain’ Book Signing @ GR2 (8.29)

 

Martin Hsu will be at Giant Robot 2 on Sunday August 29th 2010 (3-5 PM) in support of his new fine art book, Multigrain. Limited to 500 copies, the 58-page hardcover book collects his favorite paintings from the past few years.  Printed by a small mom and pop press in Taiwan, the new volume looks to be a great addition to any art library or coffee table.

Giant Robot 2
2026 Sawtelle Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
310.445.9276

Brian McCarty – “Art-Toys” Signing and Release @ SDCC

 

Look up “Toy Photography” in an encyclopedia  and I’m pretty sure you’ll see a picture of Brian McCarty.  Brian takes amazing photos of toys in physical environments that capture and bring out their essence and personalities.  After a long development period, Brian’s new ‘Art-Toys’ hardcover (240 pgs) from Baby Tattoo books collects his sweet toy photos as well as the process that goes into transporting the viewer into the toy’s world.

In addition to the standard edition ($40), there’s also a very nice special edition ($95).  The special edition comes with a swanky clear slip-cover, a title-free cover (very cool) and the title page is signed by a large number of the artists whose toys are featured in the book. 

I recently had the pleasure of dropping by the Switcheroo Workshop for a mass signing of the Special Edition with several artists including Bob Dob, Gary Baseman, Mark Ryden, Amanda Visell, Scott Tolleson, Yoskay Yamamoto, Luke Chueh, Greg ‘Craola’ Simkins, and Craig Anthony Perkins to name a few.   Spread across several stations, each artist made their way through signing all 600 SE books. 

When you look through the photos of the signing, you’ll no doubt notice the books with doodles on the covers.  These are the artist-customized ‘misfit’ copies.   Basically a small percentage of the 600 Special Edition books have covers that were damaged in shipping.  When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, and when life mars the cover of an awesome art book, you cover the defects with what else, more awesome art!   Where do you get the misfit copies ?  At SDCC in the Baby Tattoo booth (#) Another thing you’ll likely notice is the couple of books that  have serious doodling on the title page.  Consider it an amazing bonus for a few lucky collectors.

Speaking of SDCC, Brian will be signing ‘Art-Toys’ throughout the convention.  Here’s the full run-down:

Baby Tattoo Books (booth #601) - Wednesday @ 5pm, Friday @ 1pm, and Saturday @ 1pm

Hi Fructose  (booth #4939) - Thursday @ 4pm, Sunday @ Noon

In addition to the two booths above, books will also be available at  STRANGEco (booth #4629) in limited quantities.

 

 

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Paul Budnitz – I Am Plastic, Too

While I Am Plastic, Kidrobot’s first collected book about designer vinyl took some heat from some collectors it was noteworthy in part because of the broad scope of toys selected – not just western but also a nice mix of eastern figures.  So we’ve been curious about the anticipated follow-up titled – I Am Plastic, Too. Kidrobot front man Paul Budnitz recently revealed this image from the book (cover? or just promo?) featuring a Thomas Han 8” Painkiller Dunny.

The book is subtitled – “the next generation of designer toys” which we assume means it features toys since the publication of the first book (late ‘06).  This one is chock full of photos/illustrations – 1000 or so.   As for a shipping date for this one?  Budnitz leaves it as ‘fall’ while the publisher Abrams  indicates October 1st, 2010. The 368 page hardcover volume is available for pre-order now and has a suggested retail of $45 (Amazon is cheaper, of course).

DGPH – Journey to Molestown @ Gallery 1988 SF (4.1)

Argentinian design house DGPH (Martin Lowenstein, Diego Vaisberg, and Andres Vaisber) will open their Journey to Molestown exhibition @ Gallery 1988 SF this Thursday, April 1st (7-10 PM).  This is essentially two shows in one – one wall DGPH will be showing roughly 90 pieces of varying sizes.  The other wall will feature one-off prints from DGPH’s extremely cool ARK Project book  which collects the work of 210 international artists, each contributing an image of a different animal native to their country/region. Proceeds from the sales of these prints will be donated to the World Wildlife Fund.

Gallery 1988 San Francisco
1173 Sutter St. (at Polk)
San Francisco, CA 94109
415.409.1376

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Buff Monster – Life is Sweet Signing in SF (12.19)

Buff Monster will be signing his ‘Life is Sweet’ art book @ Giant Robot SF this Saturday, December 19th from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.  Published by MINDstyle, the book features nearly every aspect of Buff’s art career from his wheat pasting days to his gallery work and his art toy releases.

GRSF
618 Shrader St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
415.876.grsft

Michael Lau x MINDstyle – Gardener Tenth Book

MINDstyle has just posted a behind-the-scenes look at the printing of Michael Lau’s new Gardener Tenth Book chronicling a decade of vinyl artistry.  From behind-the-scenes material to a photographic collection detailing the preeminent Gardener series, this volume will prove to be  a must have for experienced collectors as well as those looking to learn more about the godfather of urban vinyl.

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Buff Monster -- Life is Sweet @ SDCC

MINDstyle will release Buff Monster's all-encompassing Life is Sweet art book at their SDCC booth.  We had the chance to check out a printer's proof of Buff's first book and as we flipped through kept thinking wow... everything is in here.  If you're a die-hard Buff Monster fan or simply curious about his work, this is a must.  From his street art beginnings, to his gallery fine art, right on through his numerous art toys, it's all in there.  Studio shots? Yes.  Art WIP shots? Yes.  Proto and unmade toy shots?  Yup.  Toyography ? Yup.

Very well done and packed with great pics (full disclosure -- some are from a toy blog that you know).  In all seriousness and ignoring our blushing vanity, Life is Sweet at $24.95 for 144 8" x 10" loaded pages is worth a long look. 

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Gama-Go x Joe Ledbetter T-Shirt Revealed (07.02)

Gama-Go revealed images of the T-shirt that will be released during Joe Ledbetter’s “Creatures of Habit” book signing that we last mentioned here. These limited edition t-shirts will be available this Thursday, July 2nd at the Gama-Go shop in SF just for the special event. The signing will take place from 5:30-8:30 PM. Both book and T-shirt will be sold together for only $30, which is an amazing deal!

Joe Ledbetter – Creatures of Habbit Book Signing in SF (7.2)

Joe Ledbetter will make the short trek to San Francisco for a special signing of his recently released Creatures of Habit art book, published by Last Gasp,  on Thursday, July 2nd 2009 (5:30 – 8:30 PM) @ the Gama-Go store.  While the book is very cool, it’s just part of the draw.  There will be a new Gama-Go x Joe Ledbetter limited-edition Tee as well as a few new original paintings. So if you’re in SF – start your Independence weekend early with JLed @ Gama-Go.

Gama-Go
335 8th Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

Sneak Preview of Joe Ledbetter’s Creatures of Habit

Joe Ledbetter just posted a sneak preview of his first art book, Creatures of Habit, published by Last Gasp.  The book is in transit from China and should be available shortly.  The hardcover volume features 168 full-color pages chronicling Joe’s paintings through the end of 2008.  Priced at a very reasonable $19.95, this volume should prove to be an excellent showcase of the work  and characters that brought Ledbetter to the forefront of the lowbrow art scene.  Hit Joe’s blog over at Dailydujour for the preview.

Urban Paper Book Launch / Show @ Mobius (5.2.09)

 

Located in LA’s Koreatown, Möbius will host the launch party show for the Urban Paper book edited by Matt Hawkins  as well as a paper art toy show featuring one-off works on  Saturday, May 2nd starting at 7PM.  The book offers 25  ready to cut and build paper toys from a who’s who of paper artists including Shin Tanaka, Kenn Munk, Sjors Trimbach, Matt Hawkins and more.  The volume includes  artist interviews and toy specific building instructions.

Möbius
3300 W. 6th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90020
tel: 213-385-9200

Bwana Spoons – ‘Welcome to Forest Island’ Book

You’ve collected his paintings and his toys, you’ll soon have the chance to add his colorful chaos to your bookshelf.  Welcome to Forest Island, his first art book, is a tour of Bwana’s magical Forest Island featuring 144 full-color pages (9.5” x 6”).  The hardcover volume will drop in June from Top Shelf Productions.  You can preorder it now  direct from Bwana’s web shop for $30 (+ s/h).

It will also be available on Bwana’s WTF summer tour with stops in London, Paris, New York, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego.  It will also be a numerous retail shops as well.

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MCA – Simian Nation Book

Toy2R has just released MCA’s Simian Nation full-color book documenting the evolution of the artist’s signature character, Evil Ape.  MCA created Evil Ape in 2001 as a reaction to the demonizing of Paul Reubens (Pee Wee Herman) in the media.  Evil Ape was born from Reubens’s mugshot and fleshed out with sarcastic additions including demon horns and the ‘evil’ label below the character.   The book features a visual history of the character including Vinyl Figures, Qees, Sculptures, Street Art and Fashion.  Look for it at your favorite designer toy retailer.

Lost Constellations: The Art Of Tara McPherson Pre-Order

Available now for Pre-Order through Dark Horse Comics here is the new art book by Tara McPherson entitled Lost Constellations: The Art Of Tara McPherson. Hard covered bound with 112 pages of elegant colored visuals which represents some of the finest art of Tara McPherson. To be released in April 1st, 2009 you can get yours now for $18.36 when it is originally $22.95.

Loss, love, and loneliness. Altered forms and transfigured ideas. Power and vulnerability. Parallel universes of the heart and mind. Space and time. In a few brief years, the stunning visual oeuvre of Tara McPherson has grown and evolved at thrilling speed. Expanding beyond the limits of rock poster art into the worlds of commercial illustration and fine art, her paintings, drawings, toys, sculptures, and installations have pushed her influence and authority across the breadth of creative expression and helped redefine the boundaries of pop surrealism. Lost Constellations: The Art of Tara McPherson Volume 2 is the compelling road map to the artist's most recent and ambitious journeys in paint, pencil, and sculpture.

Joe Ledbetter’s Sketchbook - Chase Print Offer Ending

We first brought you news about Joe Ledbetter’s  upcoming Sketchbook earlier this month.  We’re back to remind you that the special pre-order deal which gives you a chance to receive one of 100 hand silk-screened prints (below)  randomly inserted into pre-ordered sketchbooks is about to expire.   If you want in on the deal, pre-order it for $25 (+shipping) from Nerdcore, the fine folks publishing this tome, before September 1st.  Tick tock.

Joe Ledbetter Sketchbook

 

Nerdcore (the geniuses who bring you the red hot calendars) is launching their new series of artist sketchbooks.  Each collected sketchbook will bring you a raw look at an artist’s creative process.    We’re stoked to bring you a first look at the very first sketchbook by  none other than Joe Ledbetter.   Each page of this sketchbook is a near perfect copy of a page (warts and all -- smudges, finger prints, ink splatters) from one of the numerous books  Joe used to document his creative ideas and whatever else was on his mind over the past six years.  A wide variety of material is presented including  rough painting compositions, mockups for vinyl toys, illustration concepts, to-do lists, random phone numbers and more.

Joe Ledbetter’s Sketchbook is currently available for pre-order at Nerdcore and will ship in October of 2008 for $25 (+ shipping).   The  eco-friendly hardcover volume measures  7.25 x 10 inches and features 184 pages loaded with hundreds of sketches printed on 100% recycled paper.  As a bonus 100 hand silk-screened, signed and numbered 6 x 8” prints will be randomly inserted into books pre-ordered by September 1st.   For more info check out the official fact sheet.

After the jump – a first look at the sketchbook.

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Art-Toys by Brian McCarty

After years of creating amazing and memorable photographs of art toys, Brian McCarty’s work will be collected and celebrated in book form.  Art-Toys coming from Baby Tattoo will be must a must-have when it drops in ‘09.  We’re excited about this one – will be a great volume for the coffee table.  It’s bound to be  a great answer to people who ask “vinyl toys?”.

Wonder Women of America from Amos Toys

 

What did you do at SDCC last year?  We’re guessing you bought lots of cool vinyl and spent more money than you care to admit.  Russell Waterman and Ruth Wiggins photographed  as many women cosplayers as possible and the result is Wonder Women of America – a new book from Amos Toys.  The volume features 180 pictures of more than one hundred characters – many with accompanying quotes on the motivation for cosplaying.   Fittingly, the book will be released at this year’s SDCC @ the STRANGEco booth (#4629).

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Mr. Clement Graphic Novel: Waiting Room

Mr. Clement, the creator of Lapin, the ever-so cute bunny creature has a new graphic novel+DVD. Personally hand-bound  by Mr. Clement, Waiting Room is filled with 148 pages of pencil drawings about love, waiting and a room. There are currently only 10 made so far and are available via Mr. Clement’s online store for £70.

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Hi-Fructose Collected Edition Box Set

Coming late summer 2008 from Last Gasp is the Hi-Fructose Collected Edition Box Set, where you will find a reprint of the best from the first four volumes of Hi-Fructose in one 250 page hardcover edition. Packaged in a "candy box" you will also find 5  embossed color prints by Greg "Craola" Simkins, Mars-1, Dave Cooper, Travis Louie, and Joe Ledbetter. Limited to 3000 copies, the set will also include a few DIY projects.  If you missed the issues the first time around, make sure you get your hands on this  box set. It looks like this deluxe box set will be followed by a standalone book version.

Ron English - Abject Expressionism

Best known for his powerfully subversive liberation of commercial billboards, Ron English combines  sharp social commentary with a high level of technical skill to produce arresting work on nearly all levels. He's also created several art toys including Big Yang and the Yang Bangers, MC Supersize, and Cathy Cowgirl.

The new Abject Expressionism book  is the first comprehensive look at his 20 year career from staged photography to neo-Surrealist oil paintings to street art.  Designed by Attaboy, the 208 page hardcover volume features a foreword by Morgan Spurlock ("Supersize Me") and is published by Last Gasp. Abject Expressionism is now available for online ordering from Yumfactory and will soon  be available through retailers.