Gosh!
It looks like I am honoured by being nominated in several categories for Kidrobots “Robo” awards this year.
Pop art toys and pop culture type stuff.
Please drop by and vote for me or any of the other artists you think deserve it..
http://kronikle.kidrobot.com/polls-open-for-the-2009-robos/
My Lift show up against Banksy in Bristol? Blimey!
And now is the chance for you Dunny fans to let KR know how much you loved the Rupture….
When I visited the splendid Matt Jones in Manchester last week he was good enough to give me a heap of his mini sticker frames.
These have been drawn upon and I am now giving them away.
Any purchase from my online store will have one of these added as well for free.
Whilst stocks last.
Just order something from the Spookypop Shop and you will get an original hand drawn sticker too… If you are quick.
March already? Where is the year going?
-Mechtorians Competition-
To celebrate the release of the Mechtorians Series 1 mini-figures, MINDstyle and Doktor A have teamed with Vinyl Pulse to bring you a special Mechtorians Photo Competition. The winning entry will receive Doktor A’s hand-done custom Stephan PioneersPodd (9″). A Wild Wild West incarnation of the intrepid adventurer.
To enter, shoot a creative photo (scary, funny, or just plain awesome) starring one or more Mechtorian figures (series1 and/or the 9″ Stephan Le Podd). Then submit the photo to the Mechtorians Photo Competition gallery by the deadline which is Monday, April 6th 2009 @ 8 PM PDT.
Follow the link for all the info and pictures of the prize.
-Transcenders Show-
Gallery 1988 ( http://www.nineteeneightyeight.com ) in LA currently hosts a five man show featuring the works of Jason D’aquino, Scott Schindly, Jason Limon, Michael Page and Doktor A.
All the Doktor’s pieces ( a selection of 2D and 3D works) are all related to the Phenomonological Engines of Blavatski & Sons.
Some pieces are still available for purchase.
The show runs until the 27th March.
If you cant make it to the gallery in person you can see all the works online here:
http://www.transcenders88.blogspot.com/
And there is some nice coverage of the opening night show here:
All the show pieces have also now been added to Mechtorians.com
Gallery 1988 L.A.
7020 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles
CA 90038
USA
-New Online Store-
A new central sales hub for all things Doktor A is now online and ready for you perusal and patronage.
This new store will be the one stop shop for all toys, prints, original artworks and other surprises from now on. New works will be added on a regular basis so drop in now and again to keep up to date. There is already a good selection of items available and the new Mechtorians mini figures will also be listed there soon.
Don’t go to the secondary market! Buy direct from the artist. All goods can be signed or personalised on request.
http://www.spookypop.bigcartel.com
-Idiot Box Show-
Gallery 1988 in LA celebrate their 5 year anniversary with a huge group show inspired by really good really bad TV shows. 100 artists share their guilty pleasure television favorites from April 2nd to 23rd.
Opening reception is on Thursday 2nd 7 to 11pm. With all works viewable online around that time.
Doktor A has created three paintings for the show in homage to the classic 1960’s shows Lost in Space and The Addams Family.
http://www.nineteeneightyeight.com
Gallery 1988 L.A.
7020 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles
CA 90038
USA
That’s all for this month.
Thanks for your continued support.
In a manner totally stolen from EssRose. :
For a limited time I am offering an experimental commission service.
An original pencil (and or ink ) drawing (depending on what I think is most suitable) of ANY subject you want.
Delivered for $60. (£30)
Paypal only. Paid on compleation.
The drawings will all be on watercolour paper and the ink will be indian ink if used ( i may also chuck in the odd splash of acrylic paint if I feel the need…)
Each drawing will be in the 6″ x 6″ to 8″ x 8″ size range.
Basic rules…
One item/character per drawing… Aditional characters are $30 each extra (£15).
Please email me with requestes as its simpler for me to keep track of emails than replies here.
doktor (at) spookypop (dot) com
And I think I should add a rule that I wont do filth…
So no suggestions for images of famous people in uncompromising positions.
Or Furries……….you know…….up to anything unnatural.
(I am rubbish at portraiture likenesses anyway so best not go there).
Characters is one thing.. I could do you a Hellboy or a Batman or whatever but i couldnt to a recognisable Jonny Depp…
I have a new Mechtorian ink drawing in the “Get the Lead Out” show at the Black Maria Gallery in LA.
The show brings together artists from around the world in an exhibition of original pencil and ink drawings.
The sketchbook page planning behind this drawing is also available in the show.
3137 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Black Maria Gallery
Incoming Solo show…………
A primer to the world of the Mechtorians.
Paintings, Drawings, Sculptures and custom toys.
Drop me a line if you want to get on the previews list.
anyone on the list for a previous show will be on this list already.
Just a pre-note to say I am changing my mailing list over to a new server and so anyone already on the email list should get a verification request which you will have to comply with if you want to get newsletters in the future. Sorry it’s a pain but the list is just getting too large for me to handle manually any more.
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Hello and welcome to the March 2008 edition of Doktor A’s newsletter.
There has been a lot happening in the first few months of this year. And it’s all a prelude to the mountains of stuff happening later this year.
So lets get the ball rolling…….
Mechtorians ( http://www.mechtorians.com ) ( http://www.mindstyle.com )
Since the last newsletter the big news of Doktor A’s first proper production toy line has hit the interweb.
Mechtorians are Victroian-Futurist style robots from a distant neverwhen world, capturing the Doktor’s shabby rivited vintage style. Here is a little summing up of all the blogging that’s out there.
“If any art toy made a lot of noise at New York Toy Fair 2008, it was none other than MINDstyle’s Mechtorians by Doktor A. The combination of one of the leading art toy companies and one of the best toy customizers certainly has fans worldwide buzzing about the amazing series.
Here’s what we know so far… a special SDCC exclusive figure will be available at San Diego Comic Con with Series I launching this fall. The first series of six figures are window boxed with exclusives and limited color versions available from the MINDstyle premium retailers. But wait, there are rumblings of an ultra limited and exclusive advance figure available to only Art Toy Society members, and if that’s not enough… there’s even something special for only ATS premium members. Wonder what that could be? So, if you’re not already an ATS member, you still have a chance to join.”
Info about the ATS club here : http://www.1045showroom.com/ats.html
The first wave will be out toward the end of 2008. And there are lots of secret versions and other characters in the works to keep your toy collecting muscles busy over the coming years. The prototypes will be on show at the new York Comic Con ( April 18th – 20th).
Watch the websites and your favorite toy blogs for updates.
Speakerdog ( http://www.bentheillustrator.com/speakerdog_index.html )
Speakerdog is a popular print-it-yourself downloadable paper toy. Series five of the little brute has just gone live on their website for the world to enjoy and Doktor A has created one of the new designs.
So if you have a wet Sunday afternoon to fill. Drop by the website and download a little paper friend.
Upcoming shows :
Multiple Personalities Show ( http://www.liftfootwear.com )
LiFT Designer Toys, in Royal Oak, MI, will be having a group show entitled Multiple Personalities beginning March 29th. The opening reception will start at 7PM. This will be the first show at their new larger location. It’s an open platform show featuring custom toys of all sorts, skate decks, and original paintings from a number of today’s top designers and underground artists. Doktor A will have a customised Treeson and a Rupture bust sculpture available at the show.
LiFT Detroit
228 W. 4th St.
Royal Oak, MI 48067
March 29th
The Soopa Show ( http://www.esctoy.com/soopa.htm )
Concrete Jungle New York hosts a group show of customised “Soopa Coin Op Bros” toys from ESC Toys, opening April 19th. You may have read about Doktor A’s “Pac Gentleman” custom of this toy recently. Hopefully that work will be on show at the exhibition along with a new Doktor A piece ans works by other artists and designers from around the world. So if you are in town for the Comic Con get over to Concrete Jungle and check out all the video game cabinet styled goodness.
Concrete Jungle
70 – 15 Austin Street, Forest Hills
NYC 11375
April 19th
Ok folks that’s all for now. But there are lots more treats in store. Its going to be a busy year.
The previews for the Sadly Beautiful show have gone up here : http://www.flickr.com/photos/sadlybeautiful/
I have two pieces in the show and one is a sketch for a bargainous $50…
Lots of splendid stuff available..
Go spendy!
The journey of life, the interpretation of love unrequited, hope gained, hope lost. Happiness, longing, soul-searching…
Seeing the world through a child’s eyes….
Life…one chance at it, how will you choose to live?
This exciting group show will feature artists manifesting into visuals what words sometimes fail to convey. Glimpses of each artists’ own life stories are told through the magic of paper, canvas, paint, vinyl, and more….
SADLY BEAUTIFUL is being curated by Ally Takeuchi-Cipriani, and dedicated to the loving memory of ava jaymes cipriani & wesley groenewoud (better known as LIV3R)
it will feature original art on paper, vinyl, canvas, etc. items will be priced starting at $10.00, and there will be a special preview the day before the show for those who cannot attend.
The show opens on saturday, december 8th at black maria gallery in los angeles
live painting, sketching, drinks, & music by nick the ring!
featuring art by:
brent nolasco, motorbot, adrian pina, ryan crippen, bwana spoons, jon measures, phuek!, jovanne santos, lynette may, david wagner, squidnik, jennyfur, edzepln, jason jacenko, doktor a, peenloon, drilone, lou pimentel, randy kono, mr. atom, dawn lauckner, rhinomilk, jennybird, david epochalypse, marion hawkes, blinky, julie b, nathan lumm, benedict sisters, jet wrench, jenna colby, mark meyers, paul candler, renee lawter, shiro fujioka, coreroc, kid lew, lionel uhry, leecifer, nick the ring, henry lichtmann, jester, podgy panda, katherine wilson, deeann morales, agg, anna, manimal, scott cummins, bucky lastard, monica campbell, and many more….
Here is my piece for the show.
“A Letter From the Front” Painted on Remembrance day 2007.
Acrylic on wood (from the back of an old wardrobe) 4.5″ x 4.5″ (Image size.)
In an antiqued pressed Brass frame. The graphite study for the painting will also be available.
I am sad to say that for the time being Doktor A will not be accepting toy commission work. He has a large backlog of pieces to work through and feels that the long wait which new customers would be forced to endure would be unacceptable at this time. Toys and paintings will be available from time to time in shows and from the Spookypop online shop. Sorry for any disappointment this may cause. Normal service will hopefully be resumed some time in the future.
And the first of those shows is coming up very soon. Both in May and early June.. And all in the U, S of A.
If you can get along to any in person then please do and if you cant then check out the gallery’s websites for coverage.
Vinyl Elements ( http://vinyl-elements.com )
Love customs? Vinyl Pulse.com do, so they put together Vinyl Elements — a custom show featuring over 50 top-flight artists with a strong mix of international talent. The show goes opens Thursday, May 17th at Barracuda on Melrose Avenue LA, from 7 to 10pm. For ONE NIGHT ONLY!
The name of the show refers to the five elements that the ancient Chinese believed the world was created from — Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth. The works are over a large selection of toy platforms and Doktor A has created a Metal based piece through the re-working of a Touma Knucklebear figure entitled “Anubis”.
Barracuda ( http://barracudashop.com )
7600B Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA
USA
323.852.7179
Art Toy Alchemists
A group show of customised toys from around the globe. Anything goes in this the first of Artifact Unmundane’s art shows. Vinyl, plush and goodness knows what else from 50 toy mashing wizards.
Doktor A has produced a steam-punk inspired Tamo figure for the event called “The Hand Cranked Maiden”.
June 2nd, 6 to 9pm (show runs until June 17th)
Artifact Unmundane ( http://www.artifactunmundane.com )
1170 N. Richfield Rd.
Anaheim
CA 92807
USA
Cereal Killers
The Monkeyhouse Toy Gallery in L.A hosts this group art show inspired by all thing breakfast cereal related.. Artists from all over the globe present original artworks inspired by their nutritious morning repast. Doktor A. presents his unique vision of “Snap, Crackle and Pop”. Three sinister little chaps you would not want to fall out of a cereal packet.. All artworks will be available for purchase at the show and from the gallery website afterwards. The show was curated by Bil Betsovic.
Reception: June 9th – 20th (4pm – 8pm)
Monkeyhouse Toys & art gallery ( http://www.monkeyhousetoys.com )
1618 1/2 silverlake blvd.
L.A.Ca 90026
USA
Giant Zlik show coverage
The Giant Zliks show last month at My Plastic heart in new York was a huge success.
There are some pictures and write ups in these here links. Check them out if you missed it.
http://myplasticheartnyc.com/pastexhibits.html
http://lifeinabungalo.com/2007/04/21/attack-of-the-zliks/
If you want this monthly newsletter direct to your intray just eamil Doktor A at : doktor(AT)spookypop(DOT)com