Art of Bruce Whistlecraft

Organic Chemist by trade Archibald Schpoon enjoyed cookery as a hobby.
Upon a chance meeting with Joshua Hipplethwaite he began experimenting with confectionary and soon it became a driving passion.
He delved into the conundrum of complex and unusual ingredient combinations and the unexpected effects that they could have on some types of Mechtorians.
Ever pushing and blurring the boundaries of what was possible within the fields of exquisite delicacies and recreational pharmaceuticals.

Vinyl, Acrylic, Epoxy Resin. Polymer Clay, Lead, Rubber, Found Objects.

For Monsters & Misfits II.
Opening 13th April at Kusakabe Folk Museum, Takayama, Japan.

Click on the images to enlargenize!

Joshua Hipplethwaite
Confectioner and innovator, Joshua is the creator of the renown Ee-by-Gum, chewing candy.
This popular delicacy has an odd intoxicating effect on steam driven Mechtorians, but is repugnant to those who are spring wound.
One of the fastest selling sweets in history, it’s long term effects are unknown and its prohibition has been called for in some quarters.
Though he does not partake himself Joshua wised to dispense his product as far as possible.
To this end he rebuilt his own body so he could crank out the candy wherever he travelled.
First one is free! And they always come back for more.

Styrene, Vinyl, Epoxy Resin, Polymer Clay, Lead, ABS, Glass, Silicone Rubber, Copper, Aluminium, Found Objects.

For Monsters & Misfits II.
Opening 13th April at Kusakabe Folk Museum, Takayama, Japan.

Click on the images to enlargenize!

Candy Cane Wrangler.. A Candy Factory Minion for the Monsters and Misfits II show.
With Kathie Olivas, Brandt Peters, Chris Ryniak and Amanda Spayd.
April 13th, Japan
Kusakabe Folk Museum, Takayama, Japan.

I dont usually show work in progress but I thought this was an interesting looking snap. It says a lot without really giving too much away.
One of my pieces for the upcoming Monsters and Misfits II show in Japan in April.

The weekend of the 5th/6th November was spent in (abnormally) not-so-sunny California. A mere 14 hours plane ride for this pasty English fellow.
The reason for the trip? The annual gathering of the art-toy clans at the premier geek event that is Designer Con..

This was my second year in attendence so I had some idea what to expect.
Though the hall at the Pasadena convention centre had now changed to their main room and the booth numbers swelled by about 30%. It was a bigger, brighter and ballsier show that any other in it’s previous five year run.

I was stationed this year at the Circus Posterus booth with fellow collective artists Kathie Olivas, Brandt Peters, Chris Ryniak and Amanda Spayd.
(I didnt get much chance to grab photos of my own so I have scalped these off the web. Thanks to Shinji, Brad and George and those others who took them).

This was me and Amanda behind out booth, showing off our Japanese cookies. A lovely gift from awesome collector, store owner and all round splendid fellow Shinji Nakako.
Most of the day was spent vending out megre wares to the friendly masses and doodling endless monsters and robots for anyone who wanted them. The one at the top of this page was a rare collaborative sketch between Amanda and myself for some lucky chap who seemed jolly pleased with it.

Me and Chris Ryniak were also interviewed in a live web streamed chat show type escapade by the Super Sucklord. You can view the whole 6 hour talkathon via the Toy Break Ustream channel (click on the “LIVE” link ) or just watch our part here (it’s around the 2h30 mark). Kathie and Brandt also made it to the couch very near the end of the day.

My “Nocturnal” Humphrey Mooncalf figure was released as a con exclusive by 3D Retro. And I sat for a while at their booth signing them for people who purchased.
I am sure they will have any remaining stock available online in the next few days.

The event also saw the quiet unveiling of my latest production toy venture.
Chester Runcorn is a new 6″ figure to be released by Kuso Vinyl mid next year. They sneekily has secreted one of the prototypes in their display cabinet and we waited to see if anyone would notice. Indeed they did, very quickly!  I was fielding questions about the new arrival all day whilst I believe the poor Kuso booth staff had to fend off offer to purchase the prototype for hours upon end..

And just like that it was all over.
A very fast day indeed, probably amplified by a somewhat jet-lagged brain no doubt. I got to do one full curcuit of the hall this year. Which was 50% more than last year and even picked up a few presents.

If you love toys of the odd handmade or small run veriety. Or designer vinyl and underground art, I can recommend Designer Con as a cracking day out.. The door price is a fraction of SDCC, for a far superior, friendlier and more relaxed convention.
Ayleen and Ben hosted a splendid show this year and I hope to be back in the near future.

The next day was spent wandering the streets of DisneyLand in the rain and sampling its dubious wares with the Circus Posterus crew and some lovely members of the Sideshow Forum there…. I will let the photos speak for themselves..

The “Nocturnal” edition Mooncalf will be available from 3D Retro at Designer Con this Satruday in Pasadena.
The black, grey and GLOW-IN-THE-DARK fellow is limited to 100 pieces… Get them signed my me too as I will be at the show on the Circus Posterus stand…….

I dont usually post work-in-progress photos.
But this was a funny little moment which needed sharing……..

Arbuthnot Wince  – The Poisoner –

It was originally supposed that Mechtorians could not be harmed by the effects of poison due to their mechanical nature. However Arbuthnot accidentally discovered the unusual side effects from application of small amounts of toxic venom distilled from the spittle of his pet, an indigenous beast he called Rupture. He discovered that his unsuspecting fellow robots could indeed be paralysed for prolonged periods of time. So like the state of death was this paralysis that he was concerned his victims would be buried or dismantled in error. He continues to research and stockpile poisons for his own entertainment. One day he may even use them…

Customised Lizzy & Junior figure by Brandt Peters and Kathie Olivas, Circus Posterus.
Polyester, Epoxy, ABS, Vinyl, Glass, Lead, Gold, RoseWood, Copper, Found Objects.
26.5″ tall

From my solo show opening at Ik’sentrik in Bath on the 1st April.

Look who just arrived in the studio………….