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Mon, Dec 22, 2008
The final custoMONDAY artist of 2008 comes to us all the way from the north of France. Gaël Brienne (aka Nanan1) has created a spectacular space-age Santa Munny to highlight your holiday season. Not to get too deep, but we’re hoping that 2009 brings some serious healing to the world, and we’ve chosen this Munny as a metaphor. After spreading (virtual) peace across the planet, Nanan1’s custom Munny will fly home to one lucky reader. To win this great prize, submit a name for Santa’s spaceship by Friday, January 2nd. Nanan1 will select the winner, inscribe the chosen name (in vintage white) upon the spaceship, and send him your way. Before you jump to leaving your comment, read over this interview–ToyCyte’s first bilingual Q&A–courtesy of our resident French translation expert aka “my mom.” Check out the detail in the finish on Nanan1’s customs. Click on the links to explore artists who may be new to you. I encourage all international toy artists to get in touch and be part of custoMONDAY in 2009. Please feel free to re-post and link to this contest!
Give us a brief biography. For instance, you were born and now you make toys. What happened in between?
I have lived in Lille in the north of France since my birth, a somewhat desolate, post-industrial area, but the people here are so warm the idea of removing myself from this region never crossed my mind…My ed. until university was normal enough, I held some small jobs…at the same time, I was drawing a lot, I did water colors…I created a universe I called “the upper world” around characters which reflected my Japanese influence, it’s a collection of drawings for the young and the old…I think I will finish it someday, but right now I don’t have the time, and I think the project will turn into 3D…
Je vis à Lille dans le nord de la france depuis ma naissance, c’est une région post-industrielle un peu désolée mais les gens y sont tellement chaleureux que l’idée de m’en éloigner ne m’a jamais vraiment traversé l’esprit… J’ai eu une scolarité assez normale jusqu’à l’université, j’ai enchainé les ptits boulots… En parallèle je dessinais beaucoup, je peignais à l’aquarelle… J’ai dévelloppé un univers que j’ai appelé “the upper world” autour de personnages qui reflétaient mes influences japonaises, c’est un recueil d’illustrations destiné aux enfants et aux plus grands…
Je pense que je le terminerai un jour mais le temps me manque et je crois que le projet va évoluer vers la 3D…
How did you get into making toys?
I turned to the world of toys by chance, I used to pass a toy store near me where I would look with envy at the window saying to myself I’m just too old for this! The day I went to see the first “Customania” was a revelation to me, the idea of customizing pleased me enormously. My girlfriend offered me two baby qee to try out, and I adored them! I haven’t been able to stop!
En fait je suis arrivé dans le monde des toys un peu par hasard, je passais parfois devant cette boutique près de chez moi où ils en vendaient et je regardais la vitrine avec envie en me disant que j’étais trop vieux pour ça! Le jour où je suis allé voir le premier “Customania” ça a été une révélation pour moi, le concept de customisation me plaisait énormément… ma petite amie m’a offert deux babyquee pour essayer et j’ai tout de suite adoré ça! Depuis je n’arrête pas!
Tell us about your painting technique: How do you achieve the look of metal and rust?
The first step for me is to modify the structure of the toy, adding pieces, sculpting, cutting…painting is the most delicate stage, I often go over it many times before I get what I want…I start with a metallic grey undercoat, then I use an acrylic paint which I apply with a dry brush so that it will adhere better, this gives it the vintage effect…the rust effect I get by applying several coats of different shading according to the metal I wish to imitate…
La première étape pour moi est de modifier la structure des toys en y ajoutant des pièces, en sculptant, en découpant… la peinture est l’étape la plus délicate, je m’y reprend souvent à plusieurs fois avant d’arriver à ce que je veux… je commence par une sous-couche gris métallisée, ensuite j’utilise une peinture acrylique que j’applique à la brosse sèche pour qu’elle accroche mieux, c’est ce qui donne l’aspect vintage à la couleur… les effets de rouille je les obtiens en superposant plusieurs teintes différentes selon le métal que je veux imiter…
What is the designer toy scene like in France? What are the cool shops, galleries, etc.?
The French toy scene is in full expansion, there are many good artists who gravitate to the world of toys, we can name “steph cop” and “mist” who are two of the living gods of graffiti who have truly initiated the art toy scene in France, but there are also younger ones like Bunka and his “Chaos Monkey” or Fakir and the “lapin q-biq”. Individualization in France is largely represented by “Customania” which takes inventory of a large number of artists whose works are all beautiful…Artoyz was the only one selling these toys, but for a while now other boutiques have opened…My favorite is “Enter Your Name,” it’s near me and the owners have followed and supported my work since the beginning.
La scene française est en plein essor, il y beaucoup d’artistes de qualité qui gravitent autour de l’univers du toy, on peut citer “steph cop” et “mist” qui sont des dieux vivants du graffiti et qui ont véritablement initié la scène art toy en France, mais il y a également des plus jeunes comme Bunka et son “Chaos monkey” ou alors Fakir et le “Lapin q-biq”. La customisation en France est largement représentée par “Customania” qui recense un grand nombre d’artistes dont les productions sont plus belles les unes que les autres…
Artoyz ont longtemps été les seuls à vendre des toy, mais depuis quelques autres ont ouvert… Mon préféré s’est “Enter Your Name“, il se trouve tout prés de chez moi et les patrons suivent et soutiennent mon travail depuis mes débuts…
What toys do you collect?
Bizarrely, I don’t collect toys, I have a lot at my home, but they are only in transit, waiting for me to finish them, I like the munny for its price and the potential for work it offers me, otherwise I’m a great fan of mecha, particularly those by Kow Yokoyama…otherwise UNKLE, Mars 1, and I love Koibito by Yoskay Yamamoto…
Bizarrement je ne suis pas collectionneur de toys, j’en ai bien sûr beaucoup chez moi mais ils ne sont qu’en transit en attendant que je leur fasse une beauté… j’aime beaucoup le munny pour son prix et le potentiel de travail qu’il m’offre, sinon je suis un grand fan de mecha, particulièrement ceux de Kow Yokoyama… sinon UNKLE, Mars 1 et j’ai un coup de coeur pour le Koibito de Yoskay Yamamoto….
Want to give any shouts out to other local artists and customizers?
Certainly, there are many local artists whose work I like, I can name “Co” whose paintings impress me more and more, “Chocoklash” and “Hellofreaks” whose graphic work I adore, “Efaser” and “Lady shove“, two graphic designers/graffiti writers with talent with whom I have collaborated and “Eliz” my official photographer…
Oui bien sûr il y a beaucoup d’artistes locaux dont j’aime le travail, je peux citer “Co” dont les peintures m’impressionnent de plus en plus, “Chocoklash” et “Hellofreaks” dont j’adore les travaux de graphistes, “Efaser” et “Lady shove“, deux graffers de talents avec qui j’ai collaboré et “Eliz” ma photographe officielle…
Do you have any shows or events coming up?
Yes I’m doing my first solo custom show at Enter Your Name next February, my works will also be on sale online on the website for that date. ..I’m also doing a show in collaboration with “Co” at the Sug-art Gallery in Cannes (movie festival) from March to July 2009, I’m participating in the “Planet Bubble” show in February in Lille and my works are certainly on view with Customania at the “Handmade Custom Tour” traveling show. Some of my works will be exposed at a collective show next April in New York, but I’ll tell you more about that soon…
Oui je fais mon “First solo custom show” chez Enter Your Name en février prochain, mes oeuvres seront d’ailleurs en vente en ligne sur leur site pour l’occasion… Je fais également une exposition en collaboration avec “Co” à la gallerie Sug-art à Cannes (movie festival) de mars à juillet 2009, je participe à l’exposition “Planet Bubble” en février à Lille et mes productions sont bien sûr visibles avec Customania sur l’exposition itinérante “Handmade Custom Tour”. Certaines de mes oeuvres seront exposées lors d’une exposition collective en avril prochain à New-York mais je vous en dirai plus bientôt…
Jeremy Brautman - who has written 1965 posts on ToyCyte: Toy Culture Collected.
Jeremy Brautman joined ToyCyte in 2008 and has been writing about toy culture ever since. You can currently find him contributing to a variety of blogs, artkiving doodles at Doodlesplatter.com and cataloging artistic ephemera at ARTkivers.com.
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Clausinator 5000
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Santamobile
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:24 pm
The last Christmas of the flying rusty reindeer or The Bad Christmas of the old rusty Santa or Mecanica Santa….
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
The Christmas’ Rusty Bat-reindeer
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:37 pm
The Presentnator 2008!
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Jingle Force One
December 22nd, 2008 at 2:04 pm
nice! how about
“Seasoned Decay”
December 22nd, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Slieghship X-MAZ
December 22nd, 2008 at 2:31 pm
That’ll show me for goofin’ around in the comments! Shucks.
December 22nd, 2008 at 2:39 pm
le traîneau à ailes de mort et de jouets
December 22nd, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Enoooormissime ce custom, un peu de fun et d’originalité dans le monde merveilleux de papa Noêl….
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Rusted Wings Mobile.
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Mechasledge
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Pax Cunina. Pax being the Roman Goddess of peace, and Cunina being the Roman Protectress of infants. Given the wishes of peace at the opening of this thread, and the holiday theme, I thought it to be fitting to have the vehicle named after the goddess of peace. As for Cunina, if we are to achieve peace in the future, it will be through our children… so let them be protected, and understand the value of peace.
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Diabolical Gift Giver
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Le Père Noël est une Ordure….
December 22nd, 2008 at 5:32 pm
The SLEDgehammer
December 22nd, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Je voudrais l’appeller…
Le Noël-Oscilateur
December 22nd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Give it that old ‘vintage future’ theme.
Santa’s Sled-O-Tron 3000 v2.0
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:10 pm
The “Reined Rover”
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
found trouble as he got into debt
the loan shark made him pay
With a very bloody death
All of the other reindeer
weren’t up for the delivery;
So Santa made a new sleigh
in poor Rudolph’s memory
On the day of Christmas eve
Santa went to the grave to say:
“Rudolph, though you’ve passed away, happily,
I wish you could still guide the way for me!”
Then he came up with an plan
to make a brand new sled
A rocket-powered mobile
guided by Rudolph’s head!
The Reined Rover, they call it
made up of Rudolph’s limbs
Santa pimped his ride with
His head and Reindeer Hoof Rims!
There is no moral to this story
and I threaten to ramble and play on
If nanan1 does not give his
Custom Santa to Ieatkr4yonz :]
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Rustolph the Red Nose Reign-deer
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:28 am
The Santatator Express
December 23rd, 2008 at 7:08 am
The Hot Holiday Hovercraft!
December 23rd, 2008 at 7:10 am
“Business Time”
December 23rd, 2008 at 8:16 am
Falcor
December 23rd, 2008 at 8:19 am
Santiculator R.3.D.
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:08 am
I have never had the honor of having a clause
named after me until now, and I will gladly
honor this clause while waiting for the year 2009.
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:20 am
“Santacruzer”
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:36 am
Maerdreth Kristimo
uuh I dunno O.O
December 23rd, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Metal Prancer 3000
=]
December 24th, 2008 at 12:44 am
Chariot Fantastique
December 24th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Merry christmas!!!!
” “-MAZ
” ”
”
” ”
” “-PRESS
December 24th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
!!!!!!!
X.MAZ
X.PRESS
that’s what I wanted to say
December 24th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
“The Jeremy Brautman KICKS ASS mobile”
December 24th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
“Rudy X-251209″
December 25th, 2008 at 6:20 am
il n’y a qu’un nom qui me parrait évident pour ce magnifique custom:
Wiwichiou a munny christmas!(sur l’air bien connu!)
December 25th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Blitzenkrieg.
December 25th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Rustic Rudolph V.1.0
December 26th, 2008 at 10:47 am
“red capet”
December 26th, 2008 at 10:48 am
“red carpet”
December 26th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Don Diego de la Vega
December 26th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Hi friend i think that a good name could be:
RED SNOW 1
Let me know if you like it.
Merry Xmast and Happy new year to everybody
December 27th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Noël Rustique
December 27th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
How about “Trundholm II”
December 27th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Nez Rouge Volant
December 28th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Red Rider
December 28th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Coalbringer
December 28th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Krusty Kringle Krate
December 28th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
U.F.F.O.
(Unusually Festive Flying Object)
December 29th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Fluffy
December 29th, 2008 at 8:26 am
N.R.6K
Nez Rouge 6000
December 29th, 2008 at 10:46 am
kurisumasu Xpress
December 29th, 2008 at 10:48 am
the gritch
December 29th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Rudolph’s last Stand
December 29th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Candy Cane Chitty
December 30th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
pSycOhEllbOmbEr
December 31st, 2008 at 1:11 am
Rusty Rudolph Rocket
December 31st, 2008 at 6:39 am
Peanut.
December 31st, 2008 at 7:06 am
il est magnifique ce munny!!!Je ne sais pas si on a le droit de mettre plusieur noms mais je lui ai trouvé ceux là:
-Munny christmas fever
-dreamy munny santa
-the munny before christmas
En tous cas c’est un vrai régal pour les yeux tes customs,merci!!!!
December 31st, 2008 at 7:34 am
FLYING CHRISTMAS MUNNY SAUCER
December 31st, 2008 at 8:07 am
Ruzted B. Ellz
December 31st, 2008 at 8:35 am
Supernova Munny Sledge
December 31st, 2008 at 8:49 am
SUPER SANTA SPACECRAFT
December 31st, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Global Stealth Wagon
December 31st, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Jingle Bell Barnstormer
December 31st, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Xmas Nulli Secundus
January 1st, 2009 at 4:33 am
starship christmas
January 1st, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Spusty RaceClaus
January 1st, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Mun-Claus Voyager
January 1st, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Keep the comments coming through tomorrow (or today depending where you are), January 2nd! Some really great names for the spaceship, and also nice to see people from all over. Happy New Year…
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:22 pm
I have a few. What about:
- “Roquette Rust-ique” (Rust-ic Rocket)
- “Luge Rouge Rouillé” (Rusty Red Sled)
- “Santa’s Slay”
- “Dread My Sled”
- “One Night Flight”
January 2nd, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Xplodio!
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Hmmm, or if you want names that represent healing the world, how about:
- “Santa’s ‘Munny’ Sled” [bringing money to this horrible economy]
- “Deus ex machina” (god from the machine)
- “Obama ‘08″
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:54 pm
The Crimson Deerwing
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Supersonic Ruby Rocket
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Ho Ho Hovercraft
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Yeah I like that rusty bells one but how about:
Ruzty B. Ellz
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:50 am
“TOCKLE” and his Happy Time Machine,
or,
“TOCKLE” and his Christmas transport.
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Somebody already used “hovercraft” so let’s make it…Ho Ho Hoversleigh!
January 5th, 2009 at 10:12 am
And the winner is…ron!
X.MAZ
X.PRESS
Said Nanan1: “I like the idea of an intergalactic delivery gift service, it makes me think about “planet express” in futurama.”
Thanks everybody. Stay tuned for another custoMONDAY coming your way in just a couple hours…