Jul 22, 2009
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.
Jun 30, 2009
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!
Jun 23, 2009
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
May 04, 2009
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.
Apr 21, 2009
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.
Jan 04, 2009
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.
Dec 14, 2008
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.
Aug 30, 2008
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.
Aug 07, 2008
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.
Jul 28, 2008
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?”.
Jun 30, 2008
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).
Jun 01, 2008
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.
May 24, 2008
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.
Dec 18, 2007
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.
Mar 03, 2007
Jeremyville Sessions
From Jeremyville, the author of Vinyl Will Kill, comes Jeremyville Sessions focusing on the central role of collaborations in contemporary design work. Published by IdNPRO, this hard-cover volume details over 300 collaborations between Jeremyville and a distinguished group of international artis and designers including Devilrobots, Gary Baseman, Jon Burgerman and scores more on a variety of projects including apparel, toys and more. Packaged with ta fold-out poster, die-cut stickers, and a DVD with a variety of multimedia goodness, Jeremyville Sessions is loaded wih extras.
