MM & CJM at Stranger Factory - Circus:Folke

The circus has always been an inspiration to me, maybe because I feel like I belong in one.
The gaudy glitz of it all,

the silly faces and the animals that I would love to see in my own bizarro traveling show. If I could create a circus that was miniature, and hidden in some crazy little forest, surround by cotton candy eating munchkins and pixies in killer outfits,

that would be the bees knees.

I decided to mix all my artistic 'loves' in one pot for this one ....

Inkwork, sculpture and painting. I've created some special little 'players' that have their own story to tell and show a taste of the imaginary circus in my head. It's been in there since I was kid. My sister and I would put on parades, adorn out trikes with flags, and dress up in silly outfits from 'The crazy dress up drawer.' I guess you can say I never really grew up, and am happy to share that with you.

Circus: Folke

New works by the Artist SistersMiss Mindy and CJ Metzgeropens Feb. 3rd

Fun Reception from 6pm to 9pm

----

The Stranger Factory GalleryAlbuquerque, New Mexico

http://strangerfactory.com

An amazing New Gallery founded by Kathie Olivas and Brandt Peters, amazing creators extraordinaire! Thank you for having us guys...

Press Release:
Calling all carnies: the next gig to roll into town is Circus: Folke, a two-person exhibition by California-based ‘artist sisters’ Miss Mindy and CJ Metzger. An exploration of the Circus, its characters and all associated nostalgia, Circus: Folke will undoubtedly offer us a peek into a most spectacular tent.


Both artists hail from Los Angeles. Mindy an inker, painter, illustrator and sculptor, her growing list of clients includes Warner Brothers, Hard Rock Café, Mindstyle and Nickelodeon Animation. CJ Metzger’s iconic painting, illustration, design and writing has been sought out by such brands as Neiman Marcus, Hot Topic, and the LA Times. Uniting their passion for characters and storytelling with their unique design sensibilities, the sisters create an uber-artistry that leaves a lasting impression.

We hope to see some of ya'll on Feb 3rd,

and if you can't make it out to have a few drinks, check back to see a slew of our brand new works. I have to say, I'm so excited to show you.... brand new new new!



-MM

PS- Thank you to all my recent commissions, and for your patience in completing them!
 I appreciate all the emails so much, the response has been amazing.
I'm working like a little elf, and can't wait to show you more art and toy designs!
info@missmindy.com

Custom Vinyl - Red head in toyland....

I had some really cool commissions to work on over the holidays, and would like to share one of my favorites with you...
This Art/Toy is my newest addition to my Vinlymation customs.
This Particular piece was inspired by the game 'Kingdom Hearts'- at the collectors request. So I dove into the imagery and came up with a 'Miss Mindized' version of how that world inspired me.

_________________________________________

____________________________________________________ 

______________________

PROCESS

The Art /Toy



Poor little vinyl, helpless and mangled.



be quiet lil guy.. what's that? yer mouth is filled with resin.
I know, I'm a nerd. ;)



Stages of sanding, resin re-coats, sanding..etc etc...



did I say sanding? I meant wet sanding...
and more sanding.



It gets fun when the filler primer lets loose. I finally get to see my lil' guy's character try to come out.



I get Cray-zeh with the spray paint because I'm so hardcore. I'm so hardcore, I sleep witha teddy bear.
That's right.



Modge podge is even more hardcore. But goldleaf is my vice.
I adore it, I hate it, I love it- my dog eats it by accident. Think from there. Fancy!



This part was super tricky.
I wanted the night sky to have stars- so my version of Mickey could look up into the
night sky at a glowing resin moon, AND be 3 dimensional. -ok.....And how big was the tummy space?
2.5 inches kinda--
yeah. I'm nuts,
but totally did it with some help from Ahab. He recommended metal tape to reflect, and to make a 'lightbox' of sorts- so we could make the best of the L.E.D light we put in his back.
whew. worked.
I used an L.E.D with the Red Queen toy at D23 as well.. but a night starry sky was a whole different challenge!



Painting the teenie tiny scene inside his tummy...I managed to keep ahold of my eyeballs before they fell out.

next up...

Little Creepies



The next step was to create the heartless...
So I made wire armatures and then got my 'magic sculpt' on.



Creepy little guys, but cute all the same.... I was up late--Miss bug eyes.



Filler primer. Rock!



and waa-la! lil creepies....all painted and ready.



Stars from the ceiling inside the display travel up through the crown-
This hole lets in light so the toy isn't sitting in darkness... he'd be sad.



DISPLAY CASE



First Things First, After the measurements set, the construction begins!
Thanks to Ahab's Shipyard for the awesome construction & display paint (ahem..Rick- :)
- Check out his new alias blog for all things cool -
'The Captain' will be posting amazing creations this year!



The molding is cut, lines scribed, crown melted to position.



The Front heart design get's some love now, and Ahab's extra touch...



Primed and ready to be painted after days of milling, filling & sanding.



Finishing touches, I add sky, stars & place my little creatures to 'loom' in and creep...



Green Patina for roofing... nice touch. Key's fit, all is coming along. yee-who!



The final Display!



Thanks for Stopping by-
--------Till my next one.....
-mm

Have a Happy New Year.

Love Miss Mindy

Oh Happy Day, & A Christmas video for you...

 Have a wonderful Christmas-Hanukkah-Kwanzaa-sock fest... all those lovely holidays --

n' Thank you for supporting the arts from the bottom of my heart!

CLICK HERE TO SEE MISS MINDY'S / XMAS / SKETCH THEATRE VIDEO

_______

So sorry we weren't able to have our annual Holiday party this year..
but Leanna Lin's Wonderland in Eagle Rock is carrying the latest Artist Sisters goodies for us!
We hope you'll stop on by and visit her for some last minute artsy gifts... Enjoy your time this holiday- and here's to a wonderful New year!

:)mm

Hope ya'll have a great Thanksgiving weekend...

-Love Miss Mindy's Art Studio-and the ever popular - Rick & Radio

Thank you for supporting the arts!

Art Happenin's - This Weekend!

Leanna Lin's Wonderland

 in Eagle Rock, CA presents....

'Head in the Clouds'

11/11 thru 12/31

Reception: Nov. 19th

THIS SATURDAY!

6-10pm

New artwork, prints and gifties for the holidays!

Please join us at our exclusive,

hometown outlet for 'Artist Sisters' Goodies

-ALL HOLIDAY SEASON LONG-

New Ornaments, prints and 'one of a kinds' will be 'freshened' at random- so check in often!

Click here to see what's up for grabs!

-free book set with 100$ purchase-
-Hope you'll join us!

 ______________________________________________________


THIS SUNDAY- OPEN STUDIO TOUR at MISS MINDY & RICK O'BRIEN'S!

Not to mention the Fabulous-o studios of tons of grand North East LA artists!
*also showcasing at Rick and Mindy's pad: Artist Sister, CJ Metzger & Mother, Linda Johnstone Allen

THIS SUNDAY

9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

______

INFO:

What is the Arroyo Arts Tour?

A self-guided auto tour featuring more than 100 artists in homes and studios in Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Mount Washington, and neighboring areas.

When: Sunday, Nov. 20, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Where: Tour begins at the Lummis Home,

200 E. Ave. 43, Highland Park, 90031

Cost: Tickets are $10 in advance; $15 on the day of the tour. info: (323) 850-8566. http://www.arroyoartscollective.org/

____
Hope to See you!!
-MM, R and R

Happy Halloweenie Kiddos!



HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

 love Miss Mindy's Art Studio....

Moi with Mr. Halloween himself... Stephen Chiodo



Everyone survived.

Me and my Man- sweet Ricky Dee.

-MM

Upcoming: SSG - La Luz & Leanna Lin's



'Tacky Tea'


Screaming Sky Gallery
Group ShowSUGAR and SPICE and Everything Nice

Oregon
October 27th through November 20th
______________________



'Keeping the nibbles at Bay'
La Luz 25Opening receptions: November 4 and 5, 8–11 PM



I'll be attending that weekend- I'll 'tweet' what day... :)
____________________________



Leanna Lin's Wonderland
Opening Reception: NOV. 19th 6-10pm


My sister and I will be taking over the main gallery wall
and showcasing our latest works and goodies for the season!

____________________________


-Hope to see you!
mm

PS- All artworks available through the galleries fore mentioned. Please contact them for availability! :)

Baby Tattooville 2011 - recap

 I've been lucky enough to be apart of the BabyTattooville events for 3 years now,
and each one has been so fun and Bizarre... filled to the brim with artsy fartsy goodies and activities! Even the badges have thought- this years was designed by the lovely Lola.

I honestly don't really know how to explain the event,
so here's a lil 'clip from the website: 

"Baby Tattooville provides a unique opportunity for a few enthusiastic collectors (like yourself) to spend a weekend with an all-star lineup of celebrated artists. Without the time constraints of a typical personal appearance, or the crowd control issues of a standing-room-only event, artists and collectors will have a weekend-long opportunity to discuss and explore their mutual interests. Original work will be created and celebrated around-the-clock; no one will leave empty handed. "

Being the 5 year anniversary n' all... there was quite a line-up!  Tim Biskup, Gary Baseman, SHAG, Frank Kozik, Ana Bagayan, Amy Sol, Anthony Ausgang, Gris Grimly, Yoskay Yamamoto, Ron English, Elizabeth McGrath, Johnny Ryan, KRK Ryden, Lola, Brandi Milne, Luke Chueh, Travis Louie, Van Arno, Tara McPherson, Buff Monster, Johnny KMNDZ Rodriguez, James Gurney, Bob Dob, William Stout, Jeffrey Scott, Coop, Robert  and Suzanne Williams, Daniel Peacock, James Jean, Audrey Kawasaki and Myself...

 We managed to squeeze in quite a bit of painting on the Art Jam this year.. Not too many 'art battles' happened..*cough* Ryan *cough *cough*

Throwing it back to 2009

when I first attended. I was told it's the usual practice to make the attendees/collectors somethin' special. After all, they're forkin' out some serious moo-la, so it better be thoughtful. That year was homemade suckers that almost managed to kill my sweet Ricky-dee. (Finding boiling point for 60 suckers.. well--um...sucks! ;) -AND after that...cutting out 50 large wooden hand painted Nickels ..yipes! masochist. yap! That's me.

   So This year, I made elf pasties, thinking they'd be a little easier to do, because I was going to vacuform them. ( Maybe I should learn to count as well? - X 2 honey pie!) errrr.. well? Let's just say, you learn as you go, and in the end.... I learned A LOT in short amount of time.
I've  found, that living my life as an elf, makes trial by fire not so bad. ;)

 So far folks have sent me some pretty funny pictures of them with pasties on their heads, knees, as brooches, n' shoulder pads? -ok, well whatever floats yer boat, just have fun them! ;) I was so pleased with how happy they made everybody.
You can't wear a straight face whist wearing 'Miss Mindy's' one of a kind  'Elf Pasties'.
No Sir.
I'm smiling right now.

Thank god for my families sense of humor...
100 some odd pasties later....

 So Then, Ricky dee and I got all packed up, and scooted our rears out the door..
squeakin' in a bit late.
See me behind Michael Hussar? I didn't think so. Bad kids go in the back.

 After the Artist Panel...and Captain Soto.
I ran on over to the store to drop off my one of a kind goodies..
This little original sculpture of mine got snagged up by a collector - fair and square.
good bye lil' pal.

 Speaking of square. I love Amanda. why hello!

 KRK Ryden, all alone and painting.. must have been nice, because then....

 This happens! The rush to finish before the cut off time...(cut off time?) sucks to paint in chaos..
but it's exciting!

 After the nuttiness.. down down down to the catacombs we go... to where Blacksmith Tony is banging away on various things.. helmuts, swords....

and what? Bob! You stole my brand new Xena pasties!

And more fun in the cavern with James Gurney..

You may know him by his fabulous paintings in 'Dinotopia.' Great great guy.

KMNDZ's super adorable wife Lorraine and BTV attendee and artist pal Olivier....

One of the biggest benefits for artists participating in the annual Baby Tattooville
celebration is having their work exhibited in the Riverside Art Museum for all to see even after the exclusive weekend festivities end (you have about five weeks – until Nov. 8 – to catch show).  Entering its fifth year of hosting exhibitions featuring BT artists, this collection is a retrospective of sorts that includes works from those that have had their work in the annual show in the past.



KRK...lil' me.... n' Van Arno



Way to excited Brandi Milne and  Me - we will eat your face!



look how excited uncle Bob is?
and there's Van Arno's hair again!

Yes... 

 


and look how snobby i look in this picture... geees.  Must have been the pizza &  beer.

 

Ohh! yay. Josh Agle / SHAG does some mighty fine artwork!

I totally adored what Ragnar did for, so many names to incorporate! wow.

GREAT hanging out with Tattoo artist Hannah - whiskey n' doodles in the mornin'!

My awesome Rick O'Brien-- in THE DRAWING STANCE- go git 'em stance!

One of my favorite ( and luckiest) collectors.. Katie Crabb..
the winner of my Circus Punk and original painting two years ago! DAMN GINA!

Rick worked on this painting in the room while we were down there..
ahhh... the Room smelled like oil paint, candles burnin' , booze flowin'...pals getting rowdier upstairs.
Crazy time........
 I adore the colors Rick.
You could kick my ass sideways with yer paint strokes. yap.

Finally home Radio.
-MM

_______________________
Curioser? Here's some Babytattooville FAQ's

Arrested Motion coverage

Mark Murphy's Publication for RAMuseum show