This burly bambino is Blamoville’s best break dancer. Word on the street is that during a dance battle in the midst of the Greatest Storm of the Century there was a white out and Bruno landed himself a gold tooth. Naturally, winter became his favorite season. He enjoys building snowmen and sippin’ on hot toddies in his free time.
Blamo Toys has released limited edition Bruno - Black and Cream Version, a 9-inch tall piece made from cream sheep fur and suar wood. His hand carved skull head and hands feature inlaid brass, and the figure sports a brass tooth. You can currently pick up this super limited edition piece for $429.00.
Blamo Toys is taking orders for a few new creations from artist Spencer Hanson. The Chimeras feature a ceramic head that's been handmade by Hansen. Each body is hand carved from Suar wood at the Blamo workshop and customized with a palm fiber wrapped sculpted head. They stand approximately 7.5 inches tall and come in a hand-made box. The limited edition Owl, Bat, Bunny, and Bird sell for $450.00 each.
Also, the Saber is made from high quality leather and a hand cast brass face. Featuring a hand printed box, the art figure is available for $285.00.
The Magic Sky Wizards are a limited edition custom collaboration between Bunnie Reiss and Blamo. This special edition is limited to six individually hand carved and hand painted Minkys. Each Minky is hand carved from Suar wood at the Blamo workshop and customized by Bunny Reiss. The pieces stand approximately 8 inches tall and come in a screen printed box. You can pick up the remaining one-offs for $300.00 each.
Mikie Graham is taking part in the 5th annual Blamo Toys Custom Show happening this weekend in Aspen, Colorado at The BLK MKT pop up. For The Minky Show, Mikie created The Lost Blamonaut. If you're interested in Mikie's Minky custom, or any of the 30+ incredible customs from the show, check out Blamotoys.com.
"After crash landing on an unknown planet the "Lost Blamonaut" ejected from his space ship to wander the barren alien terrain alone. Sliding back his protective face shield to get a better look at his trusty "Guide to the Known Blamoverse," he realizes too late that he may have done so prematurely..."
Birdman is the newest release from Blamo Toys. Hand carved from Monkey Pod Wood and standing approximately 9" tall, he comes in a hand-made box. The figure is available to purchase for $160.00.
Birdman may have been mocked by the Jays when he was younger, but now even the eagles admire him for flying higher and faster than anyone else in Blamoville. He's the only one to nearly collide with Sputnik Jr. as it fell from orbit and although his sonic booms cause quite a commotion when the dinner bell rings, he is never late for dessert. In his spare time, Birdman lifeguards at the Kalamazoo from his perch high up in the cumulus clouds. Quite the catch, this one.
Blamo has unleashed another character on the residents of Blamoville. Minky is hand carved from Monkey Pod Wood and stands approximately 7.5" tall. He comes in a hand-made box and can be yours for $95.00.
Colonel Stache O’Hair is the newest resident to land in Blamoville. The handmade figure features a hand-carved teak head and gloves with a hand-dyed canvas body featuring leather detailing. There are also brass inlaid teak moon boots and a blown glass bulb helmet.
Colonel Stache O’Hair, commander of the Bristle Brigade and a specialist in the sculpting and shaping of spacial hair is currently residing in Blamoville with old friends, Major Marz and Captain Nit Noi. In his free time, Colonel Stache can be found teaching air guitar and scuba diving.
Hawk Billy is a collaboration between Blamo and Aleph Geddis. This 7" tall figure is a limited edition of 20 pieces. Hawk Billy is made from hand carved Suar wood and then fitted with wings and a removable brass hawk mask. You can pick one up now for $165.00.
The following comes to you straight from Mikie Graham, who has created one of the more complex customs we've come across:
For the past 5 years I have had the pleasure of helping to curate the Blamo Toys Custom Show, as well as being able to contribute a piece of my own to the event. This year being our 5th anniversary, I wanted to do something special, so I requested one of Blamo's 32" solid wood Mega Billy figures to work with.
Chopping my figure in half, I went to work hand carving out the interior of this massive wooden toy, a process that took nearly 3 days. Once I had created a hollow shell of the figure, I chopped out and mounted Billy's face pieces back onto the figure with brass hinges, allowing them to flap open and display the interior.
Now came the hard part, creating a mechanism within the figure that would allow the user to change the interior scene with the pull of a chain. Two grueling weeks of trial and error later I had created what you see here, Billy the Automaton.
The concept is simple:
1: Pull down on the Life or Death charm hanging on the outside of the figure to determine Billys fate.
2: Pull the charm between Billys legs to view your choice within.
3: Pull the Hug charm on Billys head to close up the device and reset for next use.
Life vs Death at the pull of a chain, like magic!
To create this illusion I used a rotating platform built within the mega Billy figure. This platform has two distinct sides. The LIFE side has a regluar 8" wooden Billy figure cut and mounted to it. The DEATH side has part of a real rabbit skeleton mounted to it.
Using precisely placed eye hooks and some strong brass chain, I was able to create a pulley system within the figure that would allow the user to operate Billy with the use of 2 external chains.
To light the interior scene a friend helped me mount two LED bulbs within the figure wired to a replaceable battery and a specially programed circuit that allows the the lights to illuminate only when Billys doors are opened, and to turn off and save battery power once the doors have been closed fully.
The entire figure is mounted to a stable antique wooden base and can be easily opened for repair using the two latches on Billys back.
This was by far my most in-depth custom of the year (possibly ever) and it taught me a great deal, including a very deep respect for the old automaton makers who created much more complicated "robot's" then mine, hundreds of years before me and without the help of modern luxury like the hardware store.
If you're interested in Billy the Automaton, he is still available through Toy Art Galleryhere for $2,500.00. The other 90+ custom Billy's will be up in TAG's Gallery through January 4th 2014.
Toy Art Gallery proudly presents Blamo Toy’s 5th Annual Custom Show featuring Billy. Blamo is celebrating 5 years of annual custom shows, with over 100 international artists participating. There will also be a sampling of 25-inch tall Big Billy customs and a special run of Mummy Billys from Blamo’s Spencer Hansen and Shayne Martea.
The opening reception will take place on Saturday, December 14th 2013 from 7PM to 10PM.
The Blamo Toys Billy Custom Show features the following artists:
Aeron Alfrey, Ajee, Alexis Mixter, Amanda Louise Spayd, Anthony Ausgang, Artmymind, Ardi Hermawan, BenchūK, Beau Blanche, Betso, Brad Isdrab, Brendan Nathaniel, Brent Nolasco, Chauskoskis, Chris Ryniak, Cortlan Robertson, Cris Rose, Daniel Goffin, David Flores, Dax Savage, Dean Goelz, DeeTen, Doktor A, Dril One, Dustin Blanche, Emilio Garcia, Evan Sugarman, FFInc., Flawtoys, Francesco De Molfetta, Frank Kozik, Gary Ham, Germs, Hans Haveron, Hans Walør, Heather Hansen, Hints and Spices, Hugh Rose, Ian Ziobrowski, iROC, Jan Calleja, Jan Hilmer, Jay222, Jermaine Rogers, Jessicka Addams, JFury, Jocelyn Marsh, John Park, Jon-Paul Kaiser, Josh Herbolsheimer, Josh Mayhem, Julie West, Katie Weselby, Kevin Titzer, KMNDZ, Leah Minium, Leecifer, Leesasaur, Leighton Kelly, Lucien Shapiro, Marco Mejia, Martin Hsu, Martin Ontiveros, Matt Dangler, Mike Slobot, Mikie Graham, Miss Monster, Moe & Sean, Monstrehero, Nathan Hamill, Naomi Samara, Nebulon5, Nice Collective, Otto Bjornik, Obscure, Paolo Petrangeli, Podgy Panda, Reactor 88, RSINart, Rudy Fig, Scott Tolleson, Scott Wilkowski, Sean Christopher, Sekure D, Shayne Martea, Shira Loa, Shwa Keirstead, Skinner, Southerndrawl, Spanky Stokes, Spencer Hansen, Super Cooper, T. Cowdin, Tan-Ki, TaskOne, The Pizz, The Soft Museum, UNKL Brand, valleyDweller, We Kill You, Zieromuko, and more
The Blamo Toys BILLY Custom Group Show runs through January 5th 2014.
TAG | Toy Art Gallery
7571 Melrose Ave.
Hollywood, CA 90046
