Monsters & Misfits

Monsters & Misfits Monday: Fledermaus, The Bat King

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IMG_6482Before Ash gets a hold of him, we are proud to show you a rare glimpse of Fledermaus, The Bat King. 

This is a special treat because Fledermaus only appears one time a year to the living during the night parade, and it just so happens that Monsters & Misfits III coincides with the much fabled parade.

Designed by Brant Peters, all 14 inches of  Fledermaus’ acrylic and resin will take flight soon, so get a good look while you can. Notice the stern look, stitched mask, and eyes oozing with darkness. Those ears can hear you lurking around. Ash, you have your work cut out for you.

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Barnabus and Baxter!

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Can you hear the retching rumblings and eviscerating squeaks coming from Carisa Swenson’s “Barnabus and Baxter“?
1236529_641030635908656_1139875755_nWe first mentioned the Siamese bilby known as Barnabus and Baxter a few weeks ago, and now we can finally show them off in all their double glory! Continuing in the curious creatures and aberrant animals mantra, Carisa has created this astounding 15.5 inch tall doll for the show in Takayama, Japan. Dressed in dark pants and a striped sweater akin to that of a few nightmares, Carisa’s sculpt is all expression and monstrous detail.

Keep an eye or two out for them when the night parade comes to Takayama, Japan starting September 13th.
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Brandt Peters’ “The Coffin Maker” for Monsters & Misfits III

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Brandt Peters is up to his wonderful tricks and treats again for Monsters & Misfits III.
IMG_6463Using his unparallelled character design skills, Brandt has done it again with “The Coffin Maker“. Similar to the fan favorite Ink Slinger, this polka dotted cephalopod isn’t around to warm your hearts or give you a tattoo because he has a slightly different and macabre back story.

“This tentacled gentleman is the builder of coffins and is responsible for keeping their inhabitants on the inside.” – Brandt Peters

Take notice, his parade ride is a coffin, and he has the tools in hand to build any of us an eternal resting place fast and permanently. Standing 9″ tall and made of acrylic, epoxy resin, found objects, the Coffin Maker will be making many new friends when he heads to Japan for Monsters & Misfits III.

Blimpington takes flight!

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Blimplington1Now, here is a feast for your eyes from Doktor A. Not a bird or a plane but Blimpington!

It looks like it is hard to keep this robot grounded because his mate is having a time corralling him back. Who can blame him with Monsters & Misfits III just over a week away. Blimpington is already floating off for the parade!

Dok A takes his trademark style to another level with this piece. Situated on a cog, Blimpignton is two figures in one containing classic rustic colors and then a splash of new vibrant ones. See if you can hold Blimpington down when Monsters & Misfits III opens September 13 in Takayama, Japan.
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The Herald of Illumination by Amanda Louise Spayd

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You have been asking for them for over a year, and don’t worry Amanda Louise Spayd has been listening. She has once again brought back the very large Dust Bunnies!
Illumination9_Lo_ResFueled with candy, coffee, and maybe a splash of something special into her coffee, Amanda has been working her fingers to adorable nubs getting ready for Monsters & Misfits III.

The requests have been flooding in, and she has paid attention to every single one of them. Standing 23 inches tall, meet “The Herald of Illumination“. Containing over 16 yards of fabric ruffles, this bat-like Dust Bunny is a culmination of many long hours for Amanda. Not just relying on her epic height, she is detailed with fully poseable arms, ears, and wings along with a flickering lantern to guide her into the night parade. Don’t be afraid, just like her friend Lydia Deetz, she is here to light the way for the creatures and ghosts of the night.
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Kathie Olivas’ “Encrusted Ash” is on the hunt.

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IMG_6003You may recognize “Ash” from the Wandering Misfits series, but Kathie Olivas has a very special “Encrusted Ash” lurking in the shadows for Monsters & Misfits III.

Unlike the wandering cousins, this Ash by Kathie is on a mission in Japan. You might be able tell by the determination in the eyes, the encrusted jewels, or even the figure on the chest that this Ash, is all business. You see, Ash is the seeker (stalker) of Fledermaus, the Bat King, who only appears to the living once a year during the night parade. Hoping only to catch a rare glimpse of Fledermaus, all 11″ of Ash’s oil, acrylic, and found objects on cast resin are already staking out a spot in Takayama, Japan for when Monsters & Misfits III opens September 13.

Keep your eyes here because we may have a rare image of Fledermaus, the Bat King next week.

Monsters & Misfits Monday: Tofu Bringer!!

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For this Monsters & Misfits Monday, we will keep it short and sweet because I want tofu now.
So for the show in Japan, Andrew Bell has created yet another amazing creature known as the
Tofu Bringer!

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Stan Manoukian’s “Freekfrak” for Monsters & Misfits III

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Freefrak1One of the additions to this year to highly anticipated Monsters & Misfits III is Paris based Circus Posterus member Stan Manoukian. Stan brings rich back story and sci-fi elements to the exhibit with his amazing creations. For this, one of Stan’s pieces known as Freekfrak is making the journey to Japan’s waters.
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Freekfrak is a highly regarded master of thieves and collectors. He is always trying to steal your little objects or just move them around so it gets you mad. The thing is, Freekfrak is so good you’ll never get the chance to catch him in the act or even see him. Even with the development of Freekfrak, you can see him conniving the entire time on what he can get his tentacle-like appendages on.
Freefrak4Watch out guys because I fear what this guy might do when the lights go out when Monsters and Misfits III opens at the Kusakabe Folk Museum September 13th to 26th in Takayama, Japan.

 

 

Ragnar update for Monsters & Misfits III

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A few weeks ago we brought you some development details out of Ragnar’s camp on a delightful creature from the sea making his way to Monsters & Misfits III. We are pleased as a sea cucumber that we got a finished image of this beast.
Ragnar finishedThe colors are extraordinary and small details on the figure really make it pop. We can’t wait to see what else Ragnar has for us and the folks in Japan.
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Bunnies on Parade – an interview with Carisa Swenson and Amanda Louise Spayd!

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Two of my favourite bunny making ladies in the world have finally done what I’ve been dying to see them to do – they’ve joined forces and created a bunny doll tour-de-force of exceptional floppy eared charm. Amanda Louise Spayd has been one of my favourite artists in the last couple years, and after discovering Carisa Swenson last year, and adding one of her gorgeously detailed dolls to my shelf, I’m starting to see the appeal in lagomorphs.

I got to ask Carisa and Amanda about their collections, and their collaboration, and other bunny related things, and they offered up a delightful romp through their shared influences and process!

CP: Tell us more about your fascination with bunnies! As a side note, I would be delighted if somehow one of you had a collection of creepy stuffed bunnies from your childhood.

Amanda: Not FROM childhood, but I do have a small collection of ratty old Easter bunnies, if you want a picture :P

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Dust Bunny, by Amanda Spayd

Carisa:
My obsession with rabbits started with Beatrix Potter’s enchanting stories and illustrations, then reinforced at my grandmother’s, as she lived in an area where rabbits would magically emerge at dusk. I could spend hours watching them.  Not only do I find hares and rabbits visually appealing, their feistiness and fleetness of foot (paws?) resonates with me.  “The Velveteen rabbit” was a favorite story of mine, but reading “Watership Down” and watching the animated film pretty much sealed it. I did have quite a collection of rabbit related trinkets and stuffed animals when young, but most are gone now. They seemed a natural subject to turn to when I began creating dolls.

Amanda:
It’s funny that I’m so smitten with bunnies, since I have never owned one.  But now that I think of it, I can definitely pinpoint some lapine influences early in my life – the first one being Watership Down. My mom was a teacher, and taught that book every year, so because it was around, I also read it pretty much every year. Also I was pretty obsessed with Jim Henson’s “Tale of the Bunny Picnic” when I was a kid. The rabbit thing sort of got revived in high school when I first saw Jan Svankmajer’s “Alice”….so, I guess i do have a fairly rabbit-heavy history. But in terms of rabbits in an artistic format, I think they’re really good as characters because so much of them can be used as expression. The bucky teeth, the ears – rabbits usually look frightened (I would too, if being someone’s dinner was always an imminent threat), and that nervousness is definitely something I use in my own work.  Also, let’s not skip over the fact that they are adorable.

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paper model by Carisa Swenson

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