What I love and you should too
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 4:32PM I get a lot of criticism from folks accusing me of being Mr. Nasty and negative all the time and to be honest its baffling to me. I'm passionate about art that I love and equally passionate about art and the people surrounding it, that I love... less. Wouldn't the world be a fabulous place if everyone were as transparent about their feelings on something as completely subjective as art?
The answer is yes by the way.
So I get to play the role of the grouch and cynic and negative nancy. I'm okay with that because at least I know it's coming from an honest place and genuine love for the scene. But the perception that I hate everything and everyone leads to me continually be asked the same question: "What do you like?"
I understand the question quite well but being asked it always throws me for loop. It's as if I'm being put on the spot to justify anything negative I may have said with praise for something else. That there must be a balance. Or worse, that I'm being tested. That unless I can quickly say how much I love something that you also love my negative opinions about something else can more easily be dismissed as uninformed or stupid. But as silly as the question is, with at least the motive in which it is usually asked of me, I figured it only fair for me to as plainly as I can point out a couple of pieces that keep me interested in this art form and give me reason to be so frustrated when other, lesser, art gets equal or higher praise simply for being created at all.
Major Minnow by Scott Tolleson
This is a limited run of 10 resin figures Scott did for his Past the Cosmos show at Screaming Sky Gallery in Oregon. You cannot look at this little guy and not smile and that is what I love most about Scott's art. It isn't trying to be anything other than charming and I appreciate that. The quality of the sculpt to the clean paint and blending of colors over the body of Major Minnow is perfection. I've looked this piece over quite a bit since I was fortunate enough to snag it from the gallery and I can't find a single errant line or fudged spot anywhere. There was great care taken in putting this character together and it shows (even in my crappy pictures).
Over the last couple of years Scott has taken a distinctly family-friendly approach to his art. Moving away from the more adult oriented styling he'd mastered moving into a more character based mode. His characters are infectious and, I'm going to use this word again because it's apt, charming. Major Minow stands at the ready, batton in hand, and I watch him fully expecting to watch him start moving right in front of me.
While this piece is a standalone figure and doesn't (as far as I know, anyway) work into the character family/line of his recent Nosellots plush line, or his Uncle Argh Qee, you can tell that they do all exist in the same universe and that is a kind of universal vision we don't see enough of.
Heart Squeeze by Brian Anderson
I don't know a thing about the artist or his past work but I saw this figure on the Kid Robot forums for sale and I bought it immediately. Call me a sucker for cute and whimsical characters, because it's true, but this little guy gave me a tingle in my chest. Yes, there is a heart in there. The very simple character clutching at, jumping as if to catch his love as it drifts away, and the small soulful eyes on the expressionless face all do it for me. The figure tells a story and conveys emotion so beautifully and for the $45 this resin piece cost me, I couldn't point to single vinyl figure in my collection that comes close to making me actually feel something for anywhere near that price. It is a piece I can look at over and over and from every angle I can appreciate something different. The dynamism is exciting to see and really makes me what to see more from this artist soon.
Perhaps it says something that these pieces are both resin. Vinyl has been a great friend to me but I have noticed myself over the last few months spending more of my time learning about and looking at artists working releasing in resin than those of vinyl. There is a connection with the artist that is palpable when you buy something they mixed and poured themselves. When I feel the heft in my hand and can appreciate the different shapes, designs, and character that can be achieved with the medium it makes me doubt the longevity of vinyl going forward as more and more artists dabble in their garages and perfect their slinging skills.
So there you go; two pieces from my collection that keep me interested and in love and why the over hyped bad and boring stuff gives me such heartburn.
Reader Comments (8)
http://polyopticstoys.blogspot.com/
To me, as lovely as it is, the figure above is not a toy(slap me down now ;o)). It's the same as a Wedgewood figurine, or the like. Also, the artist still may have had nothing to do with the sculpting or casting process.
I love to own rare toys, we all do. Nothing like the buzz of knowing you scored 1 of 25 or 30. But the fact a production toy could be produced to such a small run, makes it all the more special. Other than someone knocking it up in their garage. I would only ever expect a small run from an artist making resin toys.
I'm not having a go at you, but I can't agree with your romantic notion that resin made toys/figures are some how more noble than their vinyl counterparts.
Thanks very much, and definitely stay tuned for NYCC2012!! =]
Brian
polyopticsToys.blogspot.com
It was just a dude who had picked one up at NYCC (I'm assuming) and had to sell it and sold it for what he had paid. Unfortunately it wasn't until after I bought it and received it that I looked up your site and saw you were still selling them or I would have purchased through you. He only had the one and was bummed to have to sell it. His loss was my gain. It's a piece I look at constantly and grow more and more fond of. Really amazing work. Please keep it up!
I don't mind if you had gotten it through another source, I just wanted to see the thread where it was being sold to see what was said because I am still in the excited stage, half amazed that people would pay their own money for my creations, so reading things like that is really good motivation. :) Don't go searching for it though, its ok!
Thanks again for your interest in my work,
Brian
I can't find the actual thread but the message I sent him still had a copy of it in there and all it said was the name, from NYCC, and the price. Then had one of the pics from your site (as it turns out). Words need not be said though, the figure sells itself. I was laying in bed with my girlfriend next to me and as I scrolled past it she gave out an "awwww" which was my green light to nab it up! It's always great when she appreciates a piece as much as I do. Makes spending the money a little easier and makes having it out on my shelf that much more enjoyable knowing we both get smiles out of it every time we pass by.