Black Drove at Mandarake's First Ever Indy Sofubi Rally

    Black Drove came from seemingly out of nowhere and has routinely held down the best curated table at every convention they've attended.  Now their reputation has grown to the point that the oundaries of the United States are not big enough to contain them.   Passports have been obtained, one of a kind figures packed, and flights booked from their first ever show in Japan.  Happening on May 5th at the legendary Mandarake as part of the first ever Indy Sofubi Rally.  You can check out the list of participating artists below and start getting jealous if you are unable to attend.

"Precarious Opposition" Print from Tara McPherson

    I would be irresponsible if I did not throw out some advice for the single dudes out there when it comes to decorating your walls.  Do it.  Put pictures on your walls from art you love or else your dating life is going to be sad.  When my wife and I first started dating my walls we as pure as the driven snow and she made sure I was aware of my lack of decorating.  I didn't see the need to at the time, but apparently that sends off some real serial killer vibes.  She worked at a frame shop and you better believe the first thing she ever gave me was framed art.  Obviously my natural charm was strong enough for her to see my bare walls as a mere invitation for much needed change, but the results could have proved disastrous.

    Now less you think hanging up the periodic table of beer or a Jimi Hendrix poster is gonna cut it, cause that might actually be worse than naked dry wall.  My favorite print that Sharon ever got me was from Tara McPherson, whose art I had just discovered at the time.  Now I am beyond thrilled to share this new print from one of my favorite artists so you can also transform your home into a gallery worthy space like I have.

    Entitled "Precarious Oppositions", this limited edition of 100 fine art prints will be available today (April 26th) beginning at noon eastern time.  Each one not only comes signed and numbered, but will also include an additional print for free for those of you that order before the week ends.

    It's not only the perfect companion piece, but a great way to start your own collection.  Or to expand on the one you already have like me.  Pick them up today by visiting http://www.thecottoncandymachine.com.  

Petunia Rotten Resin Figure from RenOne

    Some people enjoy having their caricatures drawn by artists they stumble upon in tourist destinations; preserving features exaggerated to comedic proportions by someone who's parents still owe a great debt to an art college.  They then frame it, hang it in a place that will ensure it never goes unnoticed by any and everyone that ever comes over, and then one day it is passed up by estate sale goers who are just unable to connect with how lit the summer of '89 in Cancun was.  Bummer.

  Now let me introduce you to Petunia Rotten, who wanted her portrait to be looked at as a treasure for all time.  The best way to ensure that is to get famous Garbage Pail Kids artist Mark Pingatore  to do it, and from that very piece things have gotten a whole lot more real.  Now she's about to make her debut as part of a new resin figure courtesy of RenOne that could easily be the first ever toy to guest on Jerry Springer.

   Like any girl I've ever know that looks like this, you're going to have to help put her life back together.  That's because the first offering of Ms. Rotten is garage kit style, meaning you get the pieces you need to build her from the ground up.  Then you can paint her however you want or just leave her blank cause a girl with a last name like Rotten doesn't need pomp and circumstance for everyone to know it.  Bad girls make the world go round and this one can add a dash of drama to yours when she's released on Friday, April 27th, from 2amtoys.bigcartel.com.  Each kit will retail for $45.  

Who Cares Bears Custom Show at Mothership in Philadelphia

   This past Sunday I was able to check out the "Who Cares Bears" custom show that Mothership hosted in Philadelphia.  A ton of artists were featured and they utilized the various Care Bear toys that Kidrobot has released over the last year as the basis for their work.  I was really impressed by everything I saw, especially because a lot of those artists featured were previously unknown to me. It's always nice to see fresh perspectives when it comes to art toys and not just the same reheated pop culture references (there was not one Star Wars reference to be found).  

    A few pieces from the show are still available by visiting https://mothershipgallery.com and you can see even more of my pictures at www.facebook.com/TheToyViking.   

Tarbus the Tardigrade from Doom Co Designs x Squibbles Ink

   How often do I get to write about things that are making history?  The answer is never, I literally have never written about anything of historical importance.  That all changes today though, because I am proud to present to you the first ever toy that was created in virtual reality.  That's right, this little cutie was sculpted in not the real word, somehow brought to reality, and made available for preorder starting today. Sounds like something crazy from the Matrix, and it has not been confirmed that when this dude was produced that no other virtual reality monsters escaped with it, jealous at our reality and hell bent on destroying it.  If we could go ahead and prove that is not a thing that would be great, ok.

    Doom Co Designs is responsible for traveling to digital Narnia and sculpting this dude, while Squibbles Ink produced him.  The preorder window for the only microscopic creature I would hug on a rainbow is open from today,  April 20th until April 27th.  He stands 3 and a half inches tall, is made from vinyl, and costs only $25.  Buy a ton of them and your happiness will be nearly as hard to kill as they are.

 https://www.doomcodesigns.com

Bubble Gum Pink Bake-Kujira from Candie Bolton x Toy Art Gallery

    Things don't get much more metal than the angry poltergeist of a dead whale.  It's so metal that you could make it bubble gum pink without another lick of color and it's just as metal as anything to come out of Norway in the early '90's.  Any black metal band can wear traditional corpse paint, but you should be really scared if you see one decked out like Hello Kitty because those dudes are obviously crazy and any music they make is too brutal for human ears.  Only wooly mammoths could withstand such an audio onslaught, so when the aliens come and resurrect them they will have something cool to listen to.  I hope you'll be thinking about how great this post is all day because that's my gift to you in these times of darkness.

   Candie Bolton's spooky sea mammal has risen from the deep and into our hearts many times before, but never so delicious looking.  Seriously, this version looks like you could break pieces off and enjoy a good old fashioned chew.  Toy Art Gallery will be releasing this beauty on Friday, April 20th at noon pacific time from www.toyartgallery.com.

"Petite Tales" Solo Show from Horrible Adorables at Art Star Philadelphia

    I love the work of Horrible Adorables.  How can you not when you look at their animal creations, what with their big eyes and felt layered like dragon scales.  In fact their critters are so cool that they've kinda made other animals look like they've dropped the evolutionary ball.   As if making squirrels look like they're not even trying to be cute anymore wasn't enough, now their creatures are going on epic adventures.

   Petite Tales (or Tiny Tales for those of you who treated French class as a way to meet girls and not a cultural experience) is their latest show on view right now at Art Star in Philadelphia and features their whimsical creatures living life to the fullest.  Whether meeting mermaids while on a Viking raid, or communicating with the dead in the gosh dang cutest seance you've ever seen, each display is packed full of their signature designs doing all the cool stuff you wish you could right now.  Fear not though, as you don't have to quit your job to go out and have all the fun they are, because you can bring that fun right into your own home.  All of the pieces from the show are available right now at www.artstarphilly.com and if you find yourself in the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area you should really go and see them in person.  If not, you can check out some of the pictures I took and live vicariously through the wonderment of photography.

More photos can be found at www.facebook.com/thetoyviking