Over at funkofunatic.com’s forums we noticed a poster named Capt Hook who had the above picture on several of his posts. It looks like this is the full set of Series 5 (including a 3rd Monsters University figure). They also think these will be out by May 28th.
Which piece do you like the most? Brave looks great. And you can’t look at these without talking about the Rocketeer! What do you think?
On March 8th, the Oz: The Great and Powerful Vinylmation sets will be released at both D-Streets and online. What better way to celebrate then to have the artist of the series, Ron Cohee, sign them! He will be at D-Street Orlando from 5-7 on March 8th.
Artist signings are always a great chance to meet and briefly chat with your favorite artists. We have always enjoyed our time at these events, so you should check them out. Even if you aren’t getting a piece signed it is nice to wish the artist thanks for all the joy they bring to us.
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Ep. 108 Argyle This week we talk about the upcoming Vinylmation High School series. We also discuss Funko Disney Pop! and other Disney vinyl collectibles. We tell you how you can get a Mobil Trading Box tee shirt. And of course have the up to date release and events calendar. |
Two more pieces from custom artist Aaralyn showed up on the internet this week. We spoke to her about her first two gray scale projects. Plus, check out a contest she’s running for the next two days.
“I’ve always said that I love doing commissions because many push my boundaries and help me grow as an artist. My latest two commissions included aspects I have never done before, which was quite exciting.
The first custom is 3″ Weird Girl with a Junior Mr. Whiskers from the movie Frankenweenie, done in the style of Tim Burton. The two figures also include Mr. Whiskers’ psychic gift from the litter box.
Before this commission, I had never painted a custom in gray-scale, or used shading in a custom. This project was also the first time I’ve painted a junior, which was an interesting challenge on the small mold. While this project was very different from my normal style, I enjoyed it immensely and hope to continue to experiment with different styles in the future.
The second commission I have recently completed is a 3″ Steamboat Willie with a sculpted accessory hat also done in gray-scale. The hardest part of this custom was the sculpting of his hat. While I have done quite a few Mickey designs, it was fun to do an older design of the character.
I have also painted a vinylmation pin which features my Lovestruck Mickey design and am giving it away on my Facebook page! The giveaway end Monday, February 11, 2013 at 9 pm CST. Thanks for reading and good luck!
For more information my work:
“Like” my art page on Facebook for customs, giveaways and more at facebook.com/artworksbyaaralyn
Follow my on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest: @ArtistAaralyn
Visit my website for customs, Disney photography and more at artworksbyaaralyn.com“
Thanks Aaralyn! We look forward to seeing more from your in the future.
We can expect the 5th installment of Funko’s line of Disney Pop! vinyl figures in early 2013. The lineup was revealed late last year as follows:
Recently, Vinylmation World uncovered some neat Disney vinyl figures that made their debut in Mexico. The series is called “Disney Shorts” and appears to be an open window Mickey shaped vinyl figure series.
They are limited to 1000 of each figures and are only available in Mexico as of now. You can find out more at the Disney Shorts Facebook page or go read the Vinylmation World article for details about the product.
The Disney Collections page has posted updated information about the 2013 Easter Bunny figure designed by Billy Davis. Originally set for February 22nd at D-Streets, the date has been changed to March 1st. However, the original February 22nd date should see the online release of the 3″ figure.
But that is not the only update… although the Vinylmation Events page still shows a $14.95 price tag, the Collections page now shows a $16.95 price tag.
With the watering down and even disappearance of the trading boxes at the Disney parks, many collectors are taking action. Once such collector is Jared Plew. He and his family are Walt Disney World Annual Passholders from South Carolina. They enjoy weekend visits to WDW where they trade Vinylmation and would like to enhance the experience by connecting members of the community in a unique way.
Destination Vinylmation: How did you come up with the idea for these Mobil Mystery Box trading shirts?
Jared Plew: A couple of weeks ago my family and I were at the Magic Kingdom and I was hitting all the trading boxes. After a full day in the park I had only found clearance vinyls in the boxes. There had to be people like me in the park who were buying currently active series and trying to complete a set right? I was trying to complete a Classics set but was hesitant to trade them because I knew I wasn’t going to get the same quality vinyl back. I’m sure this has probably been a thought a lot of traders have had. So I tried to come up with a way to let everyone in the park know I was looking to trade. This shirt was my answer. Why not cut out the middle man and make the trades we all really want? Now that I’m learning the trading boxes are going to start to disappear the shirt seems like an even better idea. We need to evolve the way we trade if we are going to keep the in-park trading community strong.
Jared has started a kick starter page to fund the printing, packing and shipping of the shirts: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1195411827/vinylmation-mobile-mystery-box-shirt
A word from Jared off the Kickstarter website:
“Help me fund this project so we can keep Vinylmation trading alive at Disney parks. Wear one of these dapper shirts to let other traders know you’re looking to trade. For a small donation of $15 you can own one of these stylish shirts. I know what you’re thinking ONLY $15? That’s right, only $15. That $15 will go to help pay for printing, packing, and shipping fees. So don’t miss out! Donate now….and I’ll see you in the parks.”
Jared needs your help to get these shirts made. According to the Kickstarter website, “This project will only be funded if at least $500 is pledged by Saturday Mar 9, 10:12pm EST.”
The minimum donation is $1. However, if you donate $15 you will get your choice of one S, M, L, XL, XXL or XXXL Mobil Mystery Box tee shirt when they get made. Please note, that the way Kickstarter works, is that you will not actually be charged until the project is fully funded.
Destination Vinylmation: What is your background in art?
Karen Turner: I have always been interested in art. As a child I took classes in drawing, painting with watercolors, and painting with acrylics. I was in art in high school and majored in art in college for a while. I then changed my major to history, but art still remained important to me. After working as an office manager for several years I came back to art and opened an online shop selling my work. In the end I just kept coming back to my love for creating and painting.
DV: What other non vinyl things have you done?
KT: Lots!! I paint ceramics, create trinket and treasure boxes, make jewelry, create decorative pieces for the holidays (not just Christmas, but Easter, Valentine’s, Halloween…) As you can see in my shop – custom Vinylmation make up one section, but there are lots of other sections as well – I like doing lots of different things – nothing ever gets dull or flat that way – everything remains fun and challenging for me!!
DV: What’s your favorite Disney designed vinyl?
KT: Just one? That’s too hard!! My favorites that I have are: It’s a Small World 3″ from Park 3, Squares from Urban 4, Mardi Gras, and Love 9″ from Urban 6. My favorites from the ones I don’t own (yet) are Magical Stars from Park 1, It’s a Small World 9″ from Park 1, Teacups from Park 1, Birds on a Wire, Red Scream, Railroad from Park 9, Skyway from Park 9, Living with the Land from, and the Gumball Ear hat set. I’m not really good at narrowing things down!!
DV: What inspired this Bedazzled line of customs?
KT: In November I was at the Magic Kingdom for my birthday (and to check out the new Fantasyland), and was looking at the different figurines in the glass shop on Main Street that are jeweled with crystals and I thought I Vinylmation covered with crystals would be really awesome, so I decided to give it a try.
DV: What was the most difficult part of making these?
KT: I used the new mold for these, which made it a lot easier because of the smoothness of the surface – no buttons of noses to work around. For the Miss Mouse figurines I used Minnie’s Fly Girls from the Park Series #11, which gave me the bow on her head. The hardest part was just getting the crystals to fit in everywhere – not having any open spots that were too small for a crystal but too big to leave blank. I quickly realized that I had to work quickly so if I needed to move some crystals I could before the glue dried. Working quickly doesn’t mean these were quick to make though. These were the most time consuming customs I have made yet, but I am super pleased with how they turned out – I think I am going to have to make one for myself, since these are for my shop!!
DV: What do you think about the upcoming Minnie platform?
KT: I can’t wait for it!! When I saw it Mickey’s Circus I was so excited – all sorts of ideas were going through my head on what I could do with that mold. I have all sorts of things planned to do with those as soon as I can get my hands on them. Having a Minnie mold just furthers the idea of what Vinylmation started out as to me – whatever design I put on a Vinylmation, it comes back to the fact that I am putting it on Mickey Mouse – Mickey (and soon Minnie) are at the heart of it all – which is like what Walt Disney said – “It all started with a mouse.” That mouse is still at the heart of all things Disney, and I try to keep that idea in mind when creating my custom Vinylmation.
DV: Where can people find out more about your and your artwork?
KT: You can see all of my work at my shop www.flightsoffancydesign.etsy.com and even more photos on my Facebook Fan Page Flights of Fancy Design. I am delighted to take custom orders as well. My email is flightsoffancydesigns@gmail.com.
I have lots of new ideas I am working on for custom Vinylmation – right now my work table has five Vinylmation that are in various stages of creation. I have a 9″ Custom in mind that I think is really going to be spectacular – as soon as I finish it I will share it with you. So, there will be lots of new things coming in the next few months – and I am super excited about it all!!
Destination Vinylmation: What is the Spellbound set?
Celeste: The Spellbound series is a magical based theme consisting of magic users and mystical creatures. It includes Genie, Merlin, Malecifent, Evil Queen, two versions of Tinker Bell, Blue Fairy, Chernabog, Mushu, Figment, Old Hag, Ursula and the Cheshire cat.
DV: How did you choose the characters to include in this set?
Celeste: It actually was a difficult and involving process to choose who will be included in the set. There are alot of great magical characters out there and I wished I could of made them all, but after weeks of figuring it all out I choose the ones I thought would best balance out the set.
DV: Half the figures in the set are female characters. Many times, when an artist attempts to translate the female form onto the Mickey platform, it comes across as “chubby”. Yours seem perfect. Can you share some tips for other custom artists? Is it all about proportion? Placement?
Celeste: Female characters are always tough to design on the mold itself. But you are correct, for me personally it is about proportion and placement of facial features and if the character has hair it does help out in the design of it all. I personally think they are always going to be slight chubby regardless of how you design them but a little pudginess adds a cute factor into it so I have no complaints about it lol.
DV: How will this series be sold?
Celeste: The Spellbound Series will go live this Friday Feb. 8th at 8pm (PST) It will be sold as individual blind boxes. The series includes 12 figures and 1 variant which will be a total of 13 figures. Each blind box is priced at $70 shipped in the U.S only. There will be a limit of 1 per person. You will be able to purchase them on my website here.
You can always check out more pics of them and other customs on my Facebook page.
