Chris Ryniak

Chris Ryniak’s Wonderful Watercolors

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This is easily the coolest thing happening on Instagram right now. A couple weeks ago, Chris Ryniak (@chrisryniak) dusted off his old watercolor kit and took it for a spin with his critters, just for fun. Well ermgahgerd. These things have pretty much set the interwebs ablaze and just when you think they can’t get any better, well, there’s tomorrow’s entry.

“I had been thinking about getting back into it for a few months since I really started ramping up the daily scribbles,” Chris writes. “I haven’t been painting as much these days and wanted to see if I could do something that was a little more immediate than acrylic.”

We’re glad you did. And the plus? Due to the overwhelming response, we WILL see these for sale in the future (unlike his daily scribbles) — so hold tight!

New Prints from Teodoru Badiu for Le Carnaval @ Artoyz

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In anticipation of Le Carnaval des Spectres, Vienna-based CP artist Teodoru Badiu has revealed a pair of slick new fine art prints that will release as part of the exhibition next month. Featuring fan favourites Half Life and Mr. Bones, each 11″x17″ print is on natural white matte, ultra smooth paper. Each is an open edition and comes signed and numbered by Teo. They’ll be available in-store and online through Artoyz.

Say Cheese! A WIP from CMR for Lucha Libre! @ Rotofugi 10.5

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Chris absolutely nailed his critters for Monsters & Misfits II and he doesn’t look to have lost any momentum with yet another original figure in the works, this one a Luchador for The Beast Brothers’ Lucha Libre! group exhibition opening at Rotofugi Oct. 5th. This guy is certainly not shy of showing off his gap-toothed grin!

Really looking forward to seeing this sculpt finished —  not only to quell my curiosity of what lurks beyond the frame, but he looks to be a fair-sized figure. Scale is always hard to determine in photos, but the pic below suggests there’s a pair of arms jutting out the front on the body, reminiscent of this guy (aka my absolute ALL TIME favourite CMR sculpt EVAR). … More visual stimuli soon!

Lucha Libre! runs opens Oct. 5th through the 28th at Rotofugi Gallery in Chicago. Participating artists also include The Beast Brothers, Angry Woebots, Brandt Peters and Kathie Olivas, BurunDANGA, Eric Merrill, Huck Gee, Jime Litwalk, Joe Capobianco, J*RYU, Junko Mizuno, Kronk, Michael Motorcycle, Patrick Cornolo, Phil Young, Sara Antoinette Martin, Scribe & Alisa, Mr. Shane Jessup, Shawnimals, Sket One, Sourbones, TADO, and Tim Tsui.

 

CMR’s Spectres Come Out to Play at Le Carnaval

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Chris Ryniak has been plugging away in the Monster Dungeon crafting some incredible pieces for Le Carnaval des Spectres next month and these two are just too much. Dubbed ‘Spectres’ (official Bumblefubblerpufflelumpkin name to come), these figures are sculpted entirely from the ground-up, as we saw with the impressive foil armature from last month.

While the photo of the first Spectre suggests he’s escaping his skeletal confines, this little heartbreaker seems to be missing his dentures. D’aww. (And we thought we didn’t have to worry about such things on the other side.)

Le Carnaval des Spectres is a Circus Posterus group exhibition featuring new works from Chris Ryniak, Kathie Olivas, Brandt Peters, Travis Louie, Amanda Louise Spayd and Teodoru Badiu. It’s the collective’s first-ever European showing and runs from Sept. 13th through Oct. 20th at Artoyz Paris.

 

More Spookies from CMR for Le Carnaval, 9.13

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Let’s keep the Carnaval caravan rolling, shall we? Next up: two ghostly little guys from Chris Ryniak — an original sculpt up top (this one KILLS me, SO cute) and a grey Bubblegut perched in a cubby below. I’m not sure if it’s the Instagram filter or the paint Chris used, but Bubblegut’s eyes seem to have a gorgeous, black/silver pearlescence to them, which really pops against his flat grey body (I’m not sure if the figure is done, mind you).

Both of these pieces will be up for ogling at Le Carnaval des Spectres at Artoyz Paris, opening Sept. 13th. Brandt Peters, Kathie Olivas, Travis Louie, Amanda Louise Spayd and Teodoru Badiu will also be exhibiting new works.

Mandi’s Critters Prepare for the Carnaval

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For Le Carnaval des Spectres, Amanda Louise Spayd will have an assortment of her signature dumpy dudes, likely of various sizes, shapes and smiles. She’s kept mum over progress pics so far, but recently dropped these two hypnotic little faces. Totally digging the soul-sucking eyes.

One of the perks of Mandi recently acquiring an iPhone is that she’s on Instagram (@amandalouisespayd). Instagram means delicious, visual stimuli: we get a daily dose of Mandi’s discerning, rustic-antiquey-freaky taste, and also further insight into her artistic process, which we rarely, if ever, see. Look, Ma! It’s Easy-Bake!

The below image has got to be one of my favourite progress pics from her. And not because it reminds me of cut Pillsbury cookies from the tube, but I had no idea that this is how it all starts. They’re so … flat! Ya learn something new every day.

More eye candy to come!

Le Carnaval des Spectres opens Sept. 13 through Oct. 20th at Artoyz Shop + Galerie in Paris, France.

Orange Triple Crown Monster Dropping this Weekend @ Triple Crown of YoYo Chicago!

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The annual Triple Crown of YoYo is blowing through the windy city this weekend and in celebration of the event, TCY, in collaboration with Rotofugi and Squibbles Ink., will debut the first painted colourway of the event’s handsome mascot, the Triple Crown Monster, this Saturday, July 28th!

Designed by Chris Ryniak and sculpted by Shinbone Creative’s Scott Wetterscheider, the trophy/toy hybrid stands 7 inches tall and, with that solid gorilla stance, an impressive 8 inches wide. The orange beastlie will be available at the YoYo Expert table for $100 + tax. He’s a run of only 50 pieces.  Some will be reserved for the World YoYo contest in Orlando in August and any runaways will be sold by Triple Crown, so keep tabs on their news page.

Unpainted orange versions of the figure will also be offered at the YoYo Expert table for $80 + tax. Any leftovers of the naked mascot will be available via Rotofugi on Monday, July 30th.

ALSO! Be sure to pop by Rotofugi after the event Saturday for Triple Crown’s official after party from 6pm to 8pm. There will be snacks and drinks and a ton of YoYo fun with some of the country’s best players.

[via Rotofugi]

Chris Ryniak’s Spooky Leftovers for Le Carnaval, 9.13

Now isn’t this cool. Over the years we’ve seen Chris Ryniak tackle many a monster; we’ve seen his interpretation of Rayolas, of Stitches and of Buff Monsters. He’s even taken on YHWH. But it wasn’t until last year’s Late Season at Stranger Factory that I saw my first 100% genuine Chris Ryniak ghost.

This was really interesting to me. Up until then, I’ve always viewed Chris’ creatures as being very real, substantial, living creatures. They leave foot prints and trails of slobber, scavenge your crumbs and roam the wooded areas. But then I saw this and it changed everything:

This is Ryniak’s ‘How It’s Made’. It’s a ghost-type creature eating candy corn … and, uh, producing recycled leaf matter :)

I was instantly wowed when I saw this as it was the first time I had seen the tangible and phantasmal collide in Chris’ universe.

Fast forward to now and he teases this on Instagram (@chrisryniak), calling it “spooky leftovers”:

It’s armature, yes. But look at the sketch. “Spooky leftovers”? Sounds like a ghost with an appetite. Which would certainly fit Chris’ MO, not to mention that Le Carnaval des Spectres is creeping up real fast. Eeeee!

With themes centred around ghosts, spirits and early American spiritualism, the CP gang is sure to pull out all of their best tricks for this one. They live for this. And let’s be honest: we’re due for a good haunt.

Le Carnaval des Spectres is a Circus Posterus group exhibition featuring new works from Brandt Peters, Kathie Olivas, Travis Louie, Chris Ryniak, Amanda Louise Spayd and Teodoru Badiu.  The event opens Sept. 13th at Artoyz Shop + Galerie in Paris, France.

Zombambies & Skelve Masks from KO & BP for Paris 9.13

And the instagram teasers continue with two killer snaps from Brandt Peters and Kathie Olivas for Paris’ Le Carnaval des Spectres. First up: a herd of Phantom Zombambies! You all probably remember these debuting at Monsters & Misfits II as a series of three berry-rific customs. Well now the Zombs return in all their guts and g(l)ory as an edition. The first batch will drop at Le Carnaval, followed by the usual forum blitz and so on.

And check these out! The wall-mounted Skelve mask has seriously leveled up with the addition of niblet teeth, long noses, evil grins, etc. Some even have filled in eyes — take a look at the one in the second row, far right. It looks like metal pieces are embedded in the sockets with epoxy resin. Freaking crazy! … More to come from everyone soon!

Le Carnaval des Spectres is a Circus Posterus group exhibition featuring new works from Brandt Peters, Kathie Olivas, Travis Louie, Chris Ryniak, Amanda Louise Spayd and Teodoru Badiu.  The event kicks off Sept. 13th at Artoyz Shop + Galerie in Paris, France.