Nov 14 2016

Designer Con 2016

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Once again it’s time to head to sunny Pasadena for Designer Con, the largest “Art-Toy” and “Art Collectibles” show in the USA. This year there will be over 350 vendors and 150 artists at the show.

I will be there again on booth number 114 right inside the main door of the Ballroom (the same place as last year). This year I will have some unique custom toys available, an expanded range of Copper Creeps, prints, pins and a selection of Mechtorian toys and merchandise.

Please do drop buy and say hello. I will be happy to sign and doodle for you in you bring something along.

This is a two day event on November the 19th and 20th.
Tickets and a helpful interactive floor-plan are available now on their website.
http://www.designercon.com/

I will also be part of their exciting Pin Scavenger Hunt. Visit the six booths involved and purchase a pin from each booth to get the FREE Designer Con pin at the end. Only 100 of each pin are available so don’t hang about.
So yes, this does mean a new Mechtorian pin. (see picture below.)

pinhunt

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Nov 17 2015

Mechanics of Life (The Artist’s Daily Struggle with Self Motivation )

Luke Chueh and Doktor A Bear art toy with Munky King
Mechanics of Life ( The Artist’s Daily Struggle with Self Motivation )
A new collaborative small run Art Multiple with Luke Chueh and Munky King.

Luke Chueh and Doktor A Bear art toy with Munky King

Designer Con at the Pasadena Convention Centre on the 21st & 22nd of November will see the launch of the new collaborative art toy from Munky King toys. Created by Doktor A using Luke Chueh’s vinyl Bear figure.
The edition of 50 pieces (25 will be available at Designer Con with the remainder available direct from Munky King soon afterwards) shows the internal mechanism of the sad bear. Required to wind his heart daily.
The 8″ tall figure features a hand cast, polished “cold cast” resin internal pieces, resin chest door and winding key, combined with original vinyl toy parts. The figure comes boxed with a wall background display piece.
Signed and numbered by the artists.

Drop by the Munky King booth (435) at designercon to get yours. $250 each.

Luke Chueh and Doktor A Bear art toy with Munky King Luke Chueh and Doktor A Bear art toy with Munky King  Luke Chueh and Doktor A Bear art toy with Munky King Luke Chueh and Doktor A Bear art toy with Munky King Luke Chueh and Doktor A Bear art toy with Munky King Luke Chueh and Doktor A Bear art toy with Munky King Luke Chueh and Doktor A Bear art toy with Munky King


Nov 8 2015

Designer Con Exclusive release

Todd Morden Resin Mechtorian robot figure by Doktor A. Bruce Whistlecraft for Designer Con 2015.

Designer Con Exclusive Todd Morden.
A hand painted edition of 10 pieces will be available from my booth (114) on the 21st and 22nd of November for $100 each.
This 3″ tall resin figure is painted to the same standard as my larger Mechtorian artworks, and each one comes with a winding key.

Todd Morden Resin Mechtorian robot figure by Doktor A. Bruce Whistlecraft for Designer Con 2015.

Todd Morden Resin Mechtorian robot figure by Doktor A. Bruce Whistlecraft for Designer Con 2015.  Todd Morden Resin Mechtorian robot figure by Doktor A. Bruce Whistlecraft for Designer Con 2015. Todd Morden Resin Mechtorian robot figure by Doktor A. Bruce Whistlecraft for Designer Con 2015. Todd Morden Resin Mechtorian robot figure by Doktor A. Bruce Whistlecraft for Designer Con 2015. Todd Morden Resin Mechtorian robot figure by Doktor A. Bruce Whistlecraft for Designer Con 2015. Todd Morden Resin Mechtorian robot figure by Doktor A. Bruce Whistlecraft for Designer Con 2015.


Nov 3 2015

Introducing Todd Morden

Todd Morden Mechtorian resin figure by Doktor A Bruce Whistlecraft

Todd grew up in the shadow of his popular sister Heb.
Some people called him odd. But really he is simply unique.
Artistic, quirky, friendly and mostly Vegan.
He dwells in a lovely valley and quietly effects the world.

This new Mini Mechtorian 3″ tall resin figure will debut at Designer Con in Pasadena on the21st & 22nd of November..
Sculpted by Doktor A and handmade in England Todd comes in three “Coldcast” metal editions of 100 pieces, Pewter, Brass and Verdigris.
Only 10 of each will be available at Designer Con for $45 each.

Todd Morden Mechtorian resin figure by Doktor A Bruce Whistlecraft Todd Morden Mechtorian resin figure by Doktor A Bruce Whistlecraft Todd Morden Mechtorian resin figure by Doktor A Bruce Whistlecraft


Oct 30 2015

Designer Con time….

Designer Con 2015 Toy convention

Only 22 days till Designer Con 2015.
I will be there for my fifth time vending all sorts of lovely retrobotic stuff for your delight and amusement.
This year I am super easy to find. Booth number 114, right inside the main door in the ballroom.
So come on and say hello. I am happy to sign and sketch for you and just natter.
Exclusives news coming very very soon.

Designer Con 2015 Toy convention Map


Nov 3 2014

New Rombus Edition at Designer Con

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Introducing Colonel Rombus “Pewter” edition.

Launching at Designer Con comes a new edition of the popular Colonel Rombus character.

Each 6” tall “Coldcast” Pewter figure has “Bronze” inset gear details, a inset glass eye lens and a real metal Brass winding key.
Sculpted by Doktor A and hand cast and antiqued in England by Baroque Designs.

Within the edition run there are randomly hidden a handful of “Chase” versions of the Colonel. Where the regular version has a green eye, the chase versions have a purple eye.

The edition is of only 25 pieces.
The first 15 will be available from the Doktor’s booth ( 416 ) at Designer Con. With the remaining amount available from his online store a little later. (When he gets back to the UK)

£90 / $150 each

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Nov 1 2014

Designer Con Next Weekend

I will be heading out to LA for Designer Con at the Pasadena Convention Centre on the 8th and 9th of November.
Its an epic two day convention featuring all things designer and art toy related
Come find me at Booth 414 in the smaller hall, right next to the awesome Chet Zar.
I will have exclusive pieces, APs, toys, prints and original artworks available.

 

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Click the map to enlargen..

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Nov 1 2014

Designer Con Print

 

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An exclusive mini print of “Sebastian Whittler” will be available from my booth at Designer Con on the 8th -9th of November at the Pasadena convention centre.
Pop on down to booth number 416 to pick up one of only 25 signed and numbered prints of this Toy making Retrobot.
6″ x 8″ (image size 4.5″ x 7″ ) $15 each.. Signed and Numbered by Doktor A.

 

Renown throughout the land for their marvellous toys, Sebastian is one half of the famous Whittler brothers.
He works miniature mechanical miracles with whatever comes to hand. Creating curious characters and fantastical clockwork facies for the discerning collector.
He has the sense when he works that he is breathing a little bit of his soul into each of his creations.

An odd idea as they are, after all only clockwork.
Toy clockwork.
Not real living clockwork like himself.

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Nov 6 2013

JarJar Death………

I dont usually do works based on existing characters. But was asked to take part in a fun little art show to take place this coming weekend in Pasadena.

 

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DKE Toys presents “The 99 Deaths of Jar Jar” A two day only group art show exclusively at Designer Con 2013 Saturday, November 9 & Sunday, November 10,  9am – 5pm
Pasadena Convention Center, 300 East Green Street, Pasadena CA 91101

A group art show featuring 99 artists. Each artist was asked to submit a black and white, pen and ink illustration on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper and chose one way to maim, torture, and/or kill our least favorite Gungan.

Participating Artists Include:
64 Colors – A Little Stranger – Doktor A. – akirophoto – Ardabus Rubber – Asaad – Atila – Jason Atomic – Super Cooper Berella – Bigfoot – Joemm Blanche of CBNC – Botsch – Jon Burgerman – Candy – Nate Carle – Luke Chueh – Nicholas Dewey – Luis Diaz – Mike Egan – Dez Einswell – Brent Engstrom – Gus Fink – Frédéric Fleury – Brian Flynn – Steve (Go Hero) Forde – Free Humanity – Renee French – Gregg Gibbs – Darren Goldman – Dan Goodsell – Grenadier Stinny – James Hakola – Gary Ham – Nathan Hamill – Joshua Herbolsheimer – Jesse Hernandez – Francisco Herrera – Kerry Horvath – I Heart Guts – Jay222 – Jeremyville – JSalvador – kaNO – KiLL! – Sun-Min Kim + David Horvath – Scott Kinnebrew – Jim Koch – Frank Kozik – Wade Lageose – L’amour Supreme – Leecifer – LiLJAPAN – Abe Lincoln Jr. – Andy Linke – Jerome Lu – Madtwiinz – Jim Mahfood aka Food One – Man One – Manly Art – Randy Martinez – Mauricio Tubesteak – El Maz – MCA – William Luke Miller – Miso – Nate Mitchell Squid Kids Ink – Nick the Ring – Brent Nolasco – Mitch O’Connell – Odio – olive47 – Jordan Owen – Virva Peikko – Ritzy Periwinkle – The Pizz – Playful Gorilla – PodgyPanda – Poulin Eurlegg – Dave Pressler – Ted Rall – Rob Reger –   Renone – Jermaine Rogers – D. Ross “scribe” – Johnny Ryan – Phil Ryan – Dave Savage – Nick Sawyers – SERBAN – Skinner – Bwana Spoons – Scott Tolleson – Triclops Studio – Tracy Tubera – twerps! – Gustavo Alberto Garcia Vaca – valleyDweller – Denise Vasquez – Scott Wilkowski – Neil Winn – David Zajdman

Jar Jar Binks was contacted for comment about the event and noted about the show, “Why meesa so hated?”

This art show is not sponsored or endorsed by Lucasfilm, and has no relationship with them in any way.

Jar Jar Binks and all related intellectual property is copyright and/or registered to Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved. But who would really want to own the rights to Jar Jar anyway.

Rumor has it that there may or may not be a corresponding collectable program (er.. crappy zine.. er..something) but that remains to be seen. Show up for more details…

Images will be posted here  http://www.flickr.com/photos/dketoys/sets/72157635662424295/

 

DKE TOYS: Dov Kelemer & Sarah Jo Marks are Co-Founders of DKE Toys, the largest independent wholesale distributor of designer toys, limited edition art objects, collectibles, and gifts in the world exclusively representing hundreds of artists, designers, and boutique manufacturers. DKE also curates art shows, writes books, appraises and buys collections and toy closeouts of all shapes and sizes. www.dketoys.com

DESIGNER CON is an art and design convention that smashes together collectible toys and designer apparel with urban, underground and pop art. www.designercon.com

 


Nov 19 2011

L.A. Trip part 2

A week ago I got back from L.A.
Other than Designer Con and Toy Break I spent a couple of days catching up with friends and seeing some of the sights.

Spectral Motion

My uber talented friend Neil Winn was able to arrange a little trip to Spectral Motion, a creature effects studio who he works with sometimes. So he, I and other multi talented friend George Gaspar Paid a short visit.
Spectral Motion have done some of my favorite creature character work in recent years so it was an exciting place to look around for me.


We were not allowed to look around the whole facility due to secret “Pacific Rim” work taking place in some of the workshops, but I did get to see their foyer and the machine shop. The foyer is a mini museum of films they have worked on. The first thing that greets you is the full sized Sammael from Hellboy. This thing is HUGE. The photos done really show its scale. But my respect for Brian Steel has gone up massively since seeing it. To ware a suit that bulky for any length of time, let alone perform in it is a truly awesome feat.


Hellboy Mecha Glove and Neil WinnThis is me and Neil with the portal opening glove which Rasputin uses at the start of Hellboy. It is a stunning piece of work. Up close you can see all sorts of mechanical and surreal gizmos which never read on the screen. For example :

 


Some of the glass vials have mummified frogs in them. And there is a scorpion under a mechanised hatch on the back of the hand.. You cant see these details from a couple of feet away let alone in the movie.

Hellboy Mecha glove
Note the swastika on the gauge!

Also from Hellboy they had on show maquettes of Behemoth and the Ogdru Jahad and the animated Russian corpse. Astonishing works all.

spectral motion

hellboy movie corpse puppet

In the Machine shop we were greeted by some familiar faces.
spectral motion studio

Johann, Mr. Wink and the Angel of Death from Hellboy II stand upon a shelf overlooking the large very well equipped room. The detail in these figures was stunning and the physicality of them was very visceral. They really are like people not things such is the level of craftsmanship employed in their design and production. It’s hard to explain what meeting these beings in the flesh is like over seeing them in photos or in the films.

Angel of Death Hellboy 2

The grass wolf creature in the middle is from “Lady in the Water”. Not a film I am familiar with but since the trip one I want to see as soon as possible.

We were also treated to an impromptu demonstration of some amazing anamatronic pieces and had a poke about a preternaturally clean foam casting room. The whole place was amazing and I envied the people who get to work their magic there. Everyone was extreamly friendly and went out of their way to show this pasty faced English no-body a splendid time.


George and Neil with the Angel of Death.

Oh and if you haven’t seen “Don’t be afraid of the dark” yet.. Close your eyes now…….

tooth fairy

After the Spectral Motion visit we drove out to the home and studio of a favourite artist of mine.

Chet Zar

Chet Zar has been at the top of my favourite artist list since the moment I first discovered his work. His creature designs are among the most unique and inspired creations ever rendered. His paintings are masterful and his sculptural work is then best in the business. I was a little nervous about meeting him.
But as is always the way with awesome artists (in my experience anyway) he is the most wonderful, grounded and easy going fellow you could wish to meet.
We got some splendid pizza in a little place by his studio and talked about the art scene, tattoo conventions and general this and that. He was kind enough to add a sketch to my compendium of monsters (along side Neil’s ) and we planned a little project for next year.

His studio was a delightful tangle of creative chaos. Piles of old projects and part finished sculpts and a large current piece which had amusingly been partially eaten by his dog during the night… It was great to see some of his larger paintings and some truly wonderful works by his immensely talented father.
I am lucky enough to own a couple of small painting by Chet, but had never seen any of his larger pieces.

It was a very pleasant end to my short American adventure.

After dropping Chet off we headed out to the airport for my not so short flight back to rainy Blighty.