Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Red Queen & White Rabbit - Final pics & process...

The Red Queen: 1500$ sold
The White Rabbit: 2,000$ sold

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Ok! Now that my migraine is over...
Here's my Final toy turns!
I'm really happy with how they came out, and all the hard work I put into them really paid off...
Thank you to everyone for saying such great things about the pieces!


Here's a fun article from Tomopop I came across about them.

-Thank you for the love!-

_______________

Here's a tad about the process of making these lil' suckers...

The Vinylmation toys they sent me...
Chop chop! -magic sculpt to the rescue....

Cut brass for her staff & sculpting the crown....
(Most of the pieces on both the rabbit & the Queen were sculpted by hand)


Time to spray 'er down...why hello Radio!



-n' paintin' bonanza...

Placing the cards is like building a pirate ship in a bottle!


Yes...! The light works...

The Queen gives her wink of approval...

A Huge Thank you to Jo, her new mom.
(you out there Jo? drop me a line! I need to sign the bottom for you when I visit-I was so tired from my all-nighter my mooshy brain forgot! info@missmindy.com)



MR. RABBIT.
wish I had more process pics, but here's a few-

ready to Flock.

Thanks to Stephen Chiodo who taught me to "flock" ;)


and to my husband- and crazy good artist/miniature & mad scientist extrodinaire who engineered the bunny's insides!


I sculpted Alice the size of the tip of my pinky...geees.

And here we have a headless bunny. Yep! Rick put his lighting switch in his head.
(!! To whom bought him.. we have extra batteries for you, email me so I can send them to you! :)

detail.work work work...



4am Sat. morning... Finito!


-mm

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Friday, August 19, 2011

Miss Mindy's Wonderland at Disney's D23....






I'm excited to be apart of the
D23 Event -at The Anaheim Convention Center
this Weekend!!
My latest Disney Vinylmation custom will be on Display at the Vinylmation booth.


I'll be there from 11am on. . . .Saturday the 20th




I'll be doing a big post about the process to make these two next week...
They are the most complex art toys I've ever made!
A Huge thank you to my husband Rick O'Brien for engineering the gears on the White Rabbit,
The amount of miniature gear work- and tiny painted pieces, sculpting, & experimentation- was such an incredible challenge.. but I learned tons!

Keep an eye out for more Miss Mindy Vinlymation 'One of a Kinds'...
Room for one More - Haunted Florida.


-mm

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Oh July.....filled to the gills!

First Things first!
Comic-con Signing: Come and play with me n' the gang at
'The Color Ink Book' ... BOOTH # 5569

Saturday


12pm – 1pm: Miss Mindy
1pm – 2pm: Luke Chueh
2pm – 3pm:
Brandi Milne

I'll bring my red pencil.


Next Up!
Here's a new show my sister and I are in- A bunch of super artists have painted wooden custom toys inspired by the shape of The Washburn Brothers "Rayola" character... very fun! I hope you'll join us at the opening: WWA gallery- July 29th!

Next Next Up!



Strychnin Gallery
Germany
group show
'Etiquette' & Keep a Breast foundation benefit "bust"
Opens August 12th



Fun Up!
HERE.

My latest Sketch Theatre: inspired by my newest art piece for Europe...
"Mild Mannered"
"Young Ladies should always preserve a modest demeanor in dancing, for it throws around them a halo of light & purity..."
excerpt from : Daisy Eyebrights Manual of Etiquette & good breeding-1884




________________

Book In!
Wow, This volume 1 of sketch theatre is amazing!
I was just blown away by the talent these folks have...
and chock full of 'em too!


Both My husband Rick O'Brien & I are in it! awww...







So stop on by the BabyTattoo Books/Sketch Theatre booth--
new location: booth # 4712

*Who knows, maybe my sweet Ricky-dee and I will be sketchin' away!
(I'll 'tweet' le times---oooh-so modern!)

-MM

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

Whisked Away....

Sorry for the non-blog updates-- My Facebook & Twitter seem to be getting more of the love lately.


Surprise! My lil' gal sold in 30 seconds!
Yeehaw!
Keep an eye out for more customs this year.... same bat place, same bat channel.. hmmm what'll they be?



A Special Thanks to my pal Brandy Trigueros for her excellent Photography skills!
Visit her brand-new site to see what she's up to! CottonCandyCatWalk.com


Finished up an amazing new 'Saddlemate-Spring Rider' for the Super Awesome Couple of Duirwaigh Studios
-
Angi Sullins & Silas Toball... Wonderful creators of Inspiration!

Here's their Mousey, Zeus-- readying to board Southwest.. bring your Air mask!


Home at Last--- in Lovely Taos... "The Fun House" of Duirwaigh.
I don't think I've ever had art pieces this happy in their new home--- seeing them get there safely was a big load off, and the look on Angi & Silas' faces when the boxes were opened--- was insanely electric.
I needed a cigarette after...

So off to paint a Jalopy and name her Moxie...

-Till my next visit -
:)
____________________

AND NEXT UP!
drum roll.......

I was chosen to teach a wonderful Artist retreat up in Washington Next April!



What is this cool art thing?

Artfest takes Place at Fort Worden, WA
March 28th - April 1st
2011
It's Workshops, It's a retreat, It awesome artsy-ness- all weekend long!


The workshop I will teach on Sat & Sunday is a full day, 6 hour sessions (with a 90 minute lunch break.) They're designed to provide not only several techniques learned throughout the day but time enough to actually work on what has been learned so that it can sink in and a nice chunk in the middle of the day to renew yourself.

The teachers come from all over the United States, Canada & Australia and represent some of the best in their fields.


See these links for sign up & more information:


INFO
SIGN UP


I've heard it sells out quite quickly-- so be on yer toes!

_____________________

And Last but CERTAINLY not least...

My Mom's Huge art show this Saturday!
Please Join us..

June 4 - July 3, 2011
Opening Reception:
June 11, 2011 from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm




Linda Johnstone Allen & Toros Tngrian will demonstrating various ceramic techniques using a potter's wheel and incorporating slab work, press blocks, mixed media, handbuilding and mask making.

Artist Demonstration
June 26, 2011 from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

___________

Love to you..
MM

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Disney Vinylmation Process/signing May 21st!

Welcome to my Giant Toy Post!
I'm excited to announce....



The 9″ Pirates of the Caribbean inspired
Vinylmation Release & Signing
Saturday, May 21, 2011
2pm – 5pm


D Street, Downtown Disney® District, Disneyland® Resort
Miss Mindy, Javier Soto and Scott Tolleson



will be on hand for a special appearance and signing of their custom Vinylmation™ figures themed to Pirates of the Caribbean. more info to come on the Vinylmation site!

and on the Disneyland site


I hope you'll join me in unveiling this little original Vinylmation -entitled 'Cutie Pirate'



My pal Brandy Trigueros was kind enough to take some stellar shots of the little lass...


Thank you Brandola!
As you can see, she LOVES her bubble gum- and is in mid-blow- ;)

I've had a lot of people ask me about my process lately,
and where my ideas come from...
I honestly adore circus motifs- and when I was asked to do my take on 'the Pirates of the Carribean'- I rolled with my love for color, and bizarro-fun girliness to the extreme. Who said stripes and dots don't mix? Pleather? you bet. You should see her Pirate ship.
She maybe cute, this little firecracker...but she's one tough cookie!
(More stories on how she got that peg-leg later..;)
----------------

OK Toys... Lets get going!
My first Toy was 'Dink' made by Mindstyle toys
This little vinyl beauty sure was a sell out!

also on my 'toy plate of the past'.. was this 'Custom Stitch',
which was shown all over the world....( one of my favorites)

Kokeshi Dolls also became a part of the Miss Mindy steady diet of Toy making....
From Gallery Subtext, to The Japanese American museum in Los Angeles.
entitled: 'Chicken Boyfriend'


Commissions have always been a sweet treat, because you never know what form you

may be painting next. (Keeps you nimble!)


______________________
PROCESS



How do you begin?



I'm always finding out about new ways to modify


and create..but this time around, here's how she came to be:


-------------------


Blank. - better get to work....sketch a tad on it-


These suckers get oily, so I scrub my down really well...



Little bathtime and dry- & she's ready to go



Better look at my sketch and modify..Chop Chop!
Off goes the nose and foot. sorry pal.



Next up--Magic Sculpt till my hearts content- I sanded the figure to give it some grit -and
then added my shapes...Poofy sleeves, little bird, peg leg -
bubble, new arm to hold gum wrapper...etc.
( next time I'll get a clear bubble! - not enough time to figure that out- this time around)


Wet sanding takes forever! used about 10 different #'s of grit to smooth her out...



Once sandings done-- It's time to prime.





And paint...(finally)

Figure 3D elements









She's coming along..Trying to make it look the concept sketch as much as possible..



Then, the box last minute..Painted white and gloss on flat black,


Cutie Pirate approved of her new home...









Her Mother is so Proud..



I hope you enjoyed seeing my process for this particular toy...
She now has her own personality and story- and is ready for her big Disney Debut.


Hope to see you Saturday!


-mm