Wednesday, November 12, 2008

A Venture Into Vinyl

I've been looking at custom vinyl toys for a while now, thinking "That looks like so much fun!" This week I needed some paint therapy & decided it was time to try a toy.

So I'd like to introduce my very first custom Dunny, "Shroomy." This little guy is 2 3/4" tall, painted with acrylics, & holding a real poppy pod, also painted with acrylics. The text collaged on the back is from a dictionary.

This was just what I needed-- a new challenge, but pure play. It was tricky painting the tight curves, & even trickier collaging on a curve. This is the first time I've tried to do that, & I'm not completely happy with the results. I'll have to explore other techniques, next time. But there will definitely be a next time-- this was too much fun!

Okay, I'm just pretending that I did this for the IF prompt, but since it's a Dunny pretending to be a mushroom, it seems appropriate enough!

SOLD!

42 comments:

Sue Choppers-Wife said...

Very appealing character! Did you use a polymer clay to make this? I had to google vinyl toys and found that usually a person sculpts a figure and then sends it off to be made into a soft vinyl toy...do you plan to do that? It's very cool as a one off piece too :)

Curious Art said...

Thanks, Sue! Your sculptures are great!

I didn't sculpt this, just did the painting/collage & added the poppy.

I know the process you're talking about, though I've never tried it. This is a different thing. Manufacturers (in this case, Kidrobot) make blank toys for customers to decorate however they like. Some get very elaborate with sculpted additions, carving &c. But this was just paint & collage.

Lisa Evans said...

These look wonderful! Love them : )

Koldo Barroso said...

This is fantastic! it's really interesting to see an adaptation of your art to a toy and you came up with something really original.

I'm very interested in knowing how this goes, are you going to get toys done?

Josh (musarter) said...

Nice idea for the Dunny. It turned out great and it sounds like it was fun to do something different.

Tina Poe said...

Very nicely done! I still have a blank one sitting around from several years back, maybe I should sketch some things out for it!

Danyell said...

WOW! Really fantastic. I've been wanting to try those for a while and I find it intimidating. Your detail is superb!

Unknown said...

oh wow!!! wonderful work...very neat style...

studio lolo said...

I'm blown away by the detail of this. You're freakin' amazing, really!!

ArtSparker said...

Maybe a mushroom dreaming it is a dunny...You really transformed the vehicle.

Anonymous said...

Awesome.

Julie Hammond said...

Wow! I love the detail and rich colors. What a cute character. I wonder what he's thinking? Anyways,... great work can't wait to see more!

Dot said...

really nicely done.
It's so fun to try new stuff, isn't it!

Anonymous said...

Oh, very well done, bravo!

aimee said...

WOW! i cannot get over the level of detail you squeezed into this... it's so precise. stunning work!

krisztina maros said...

it's amazing!!! is really your first one? just let yourself to be completely happy with this one!

Roberta said...

I just love the way your mind works.... look what you've created with a little experimentation and fun! Shroomy's awesome!

INDIGENE said...

Wow, what wonderful manic creatures!

http://indigeneartforms.blogspot.com

Heather T. said...

So cool!! Love the way you photographed it, too--so moody =)

Emily said...

Fabulous crossover! Wow!...just wow!

Sónia Cântara said...

Amazing! Wonderful first experience! Keep on going! ;-)

Digital Scott's Illustrationblog said...

This piece is totally great! I'm envious of your painting ability...a lot.

So glad I stopped by!

Anonymous said...

we've also been making and painting toys lately. we've been planning to paint munny and dunny toys but haven't gotten around to it. what we're playing around with these days are kokeshi dolls.

i've been away from the IF community for so long, i've truly missed your works of art. this looks amazing, leah!

M G said...

Wow, Shroomy is the coolest! What an original.

get zapped said...

Incredible work and so full of whimsy! You've got a great imagination and I'm not pretending at all :)

Buskitten said...

Wow! Amazing Leah, you're really talented.
Love your blog,
Best Wishes,
Liz

Anonymous said...

wow

realmente maravilloso lo que haces
realismo puro!

;)

Rob Christianson said...

Oh my, these are AWESOME! What incredible texture.

Thanks for sharing!

neilornstein said...

This piece seems to oscillate between cute and creepy. Fine stuff.

neilornstein said...

Oh and I forgot to mention that I found your Fallen piece on Drawger. Terriic!

Anonymous said...

whoa. its beautiful!

Mark Cavell said...

Just catching up with this weeks posts and WOW!
This is fantastic, an incredible piece.

Amazing work as per!

Denise Gallagher said...

This is too wonderful for words!
It seems that you had a lot of fun...
and the result is just fantastic!

Thanks so much for your kind comment!

Denise

Alex Bradbury-Wallad said...

Definitely a great piece, and a perfect start out piece. I wish that most veteran designers have as much skill as you.

Anonymous said...

This is amazing. You should do a line of toys! Much better than the dunnys that exist already.

Juan said...

Wooooow Leah!
Is absolutely amazing. Fantastic!

Isabelle said...

Hi Leah,
Fantastic creation. Your style is so distinctive, it takes a life of its own on any surface!
I have been tagged and am tagging you in return, if you are willing and able.
www.isabellegauthier.blogspot.com
for the usual rules.
Have a good day!

Cynthia DiBlasi - Fine Art said...

LOOOVE it! Your style carries through so nicely in this new medium of yours. The poppy is a really great touch as well!

I tagged you btw! Check out my blog for details.

Looking forward to your next painted/collaged toy!

C. L. DeMedeiros said...

I'll try to no mess around with your
Mushroom girl. She seams fierce
and dangerous.

I suppose special powers
like make you have wild dreams without consent

;)

juanpablito said...

I'm now your fan # 1... great work.. so beautiful!

Mary said...

This is so cool! I really like this!

Tiffany said...

Love this!!!!