For the past few months I’ve been taking pictures for my buddy, Matt. He customizes tons of vinyl toys and needs pictures for his store. As a “thank you” for all the pictures I’ve taken, he made me this little “Honey Dunny.” It looks awesome. Thanks Matt!

Yesterday I made three pizzas, some (non-traditional) cannolis and watched the Godfather Part I on Bluray. Just wanted to share some pictures… (I barely got any shots at all. We were so eager to eat, I had to rush Ha!)

First Pie: fresh mozzerella, ricotta, spinach, broccoli, loads of garlic

Second Pie: home-made bruschetta, fresh mozzerella, basil

Third Pie: marinara (made with sausage), sausage, fresh mozzerella, basil

Dessert: cannoli shell is a pizzelle turned into a tube, and the ricotta filling is lightened with whipped cream. Inspiration from Nick’s Pizza in Queens

Another year, another Dunny Series. That reminds me – I need to update my vinyl collection list. I have… so many… it’s… obscene. I love Dunnys the most. Whenever a new series comes around, it’s like Christmas. Opening all those tiny boxes, not knowing what’s inside, fun little toys with great designs. It’s really exhilarating. And the toys always look different in person. Always. So this afternoon around 12:45PM at Kidrobot NY, I grabbed a case of the new Fatale Series. With the purchase of a case, they were giving away a free limited edition colorway of the KLOR Dunny.

Obviously I assumed it to be sold out by the time I got there, and sure enough when I asked about it, they were. Then just as I was finishing up my transaction, another associate comes from the back room and gives me the toy. She said “Someone reserved this but they don’t need it anymore.” Well, hallelujah for that. Great altruist toy sellers.

I get back to the office and a buddy of mine was dying to open up a few. So I let him open up a couple. Eventually he convinced me to open up the whole case right then and there. Now, he customizes toys and appreciates them, but he’s not into the whole “collecting” aspect. Though he had to admit, it was pretty great opening up all those Dunny boxes. He says I’ll always have to buy them at the store so we can open them up together. HA!

Well, I got nearly the whole set, grabbed one I was missing on the bay, and a the rest from a retailer I know well. Peter, you’re a great guy.

So besides the Baroness Chase, I’ve got the whole set now. But…I always get the whole set… watch out Baroness Dunny…

Amazing illustration by Aaron Scamihorn, RONLEWHORN. I’m really loving his style. He even made the simple Cargo container look hot with his monocratic thumbnails. Great work, check it out.

Retro. Modern. Sexy. Smooth. Those “Os!” I can’t expect more out of this. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to grab it like letters were going out of style. Created by Christian Schwartz 2009  - Commissioned by Chris Martinez at T, the New York Times Sunday style magazine. Available from Commercial Type or from Village. #getitnow

Commissioned Mini Munny for Southside Slim. I was experimenting with the larger Sharpie Paint Markers I have. They definitely feel nicer than the Extra Fine Tip. The paint flow is much more even and there is less clogging/drying – but it’s frustrating that I can’t achieve fine detail. I still have a few more brands of paint marker to try though, so we’ll see. (SIDENOTE: I despise DECO COLOR paint markers even more than before. After clear coating my R50 Munny, the marker seemed to be “sealed” – no longer sticky. Well, several weeks later, the paint has seeped through and is stick once more. I gave it two more coats of clear coat tonight, almost ruining the toy when handling. Gross.)

I’ve also got a Green “Letters” Mini Munny in the works for him as well. I’m trying to get some more foam letters though, so it might be a week or two. Stay Tuned.

When I made my first Munny a bunch of people asked if he was for sale. He may not have been but this little guy is. If you’re interested check him out at the store! And hey, if you miss out, I may be able to make you one of your own. Just ask. Check him out at the Honey Design Store – i’m a design whore.

The digital age is upon us (ahem) and publishing is becoming more expensive. In this struggling economy, ad sales are down and it’s proved too much for publishers to withstand.

Gourmet Magazine (after 70 years), I.D. Magazine (after 55 years), Jane Magazine, and a slew of others have all folded. Why buy a magazine when you can get all of the content online for free? And not have to deal with disposal/recycling/waste buildup? (I myself I have over a years worth of Bon Appétit sitting right next to me.) New content can be pushed daily, or even up-to-the-minute. Overhead costs are lower. It’s just too hard to compete with.

OK, so magazines will eventually become extinct. It makes sense. But what about books? Good question. Well, I think books are a different animal. I think their content and motives are quite contrasting. You can have a book for twenty years, as they were designed to be read and referenced and passed on to the next. Magazines are more ephemeral, pushing new content – the newer, the latest, the current, the better. Sure you may find something to hold on to, but generally, I don’t think that’s the motive.

I’m not the avid reader, so you won’t find tons of New York Times Bestsellers on my shelves, but I do have quite a number of design/art books – a handful of which I keep referencing over and over.

I browse tons of design portals daily and gather a lot of resources for reference, inspiration, and such. I have it all organized by type, date, etc. It’s great. But there’s something about having an object in front of you, and making a direct physical connection with it. Sometimes it’s easier to just turn pages of a book – put it down, pick it up, flip through some more. It just feels good. I don’t think books will disappear for a long time… at least not from my shelves.

Books I can’t live without:

Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth

I can read this graphic novel 800 times and still discover nuances new to my eyes. I think I love anything Chris Ware does. I have tons of his other books and I can never get enough of his crazy stream of consciousness.

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Los Logos Series

I love this series for one simple reason. Tons of great logos. And that’s it. Just pages, upon pages of awesome logos you can flip through in seconds. Tons of ‘em. Yes.

Los Logos | Dos Logos | Tres Logos | Los Logos 4

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ABC 3D

You can’t really recreate the mood of this book. Sure you can make a nice 3D motion graphics piece but it won’t feel the same. You can’t interact with it in the same way. Also, check the YouTube Video.

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Mutabor Iconography

The language of imagery. These books are more about communicating through icon imagery, rather than just “a book of logos and icons.” Sure that is/can be a part of this, but the books are really about reducing imagery for universal comprehension. Very interesting and always a part of a designer’s life.

Lingua Graphica |  Lingua Universalis

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Pixar: At the Museum of Modern Art

The Pixar exhibit in 2006 at the MoMA was brilliant. I’ll never forget it. This book brings me back to those moments. Those maquettes, the sketches, the paintings, color studies… It just created a beautiful atmosphere. All of it. The book is a compendium of artwork, not just a book about animated 3D movies.

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Sagmeister: Made You Look

I remember in college I’d borrow this from anyone who had it. It was just so raw and vivid and different. It still feels refreshing to look at, even after all this time. I never actually owned this book until recently (it’s been out of print for years). I was walking in SoHo and passed a street vender. I looked down at his stack of books and continued to walk on by. Not more than five steps later I paused, walked back,and looked down at the pile again. There it was… Made Me Look.

Now that I’m on the “custom vinyl toy creation” bandwagon, I really wanted to test out some paint markers, so I made this little guy. And… I really hate paint markers. I tried two different types:

Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Markers: I feel like even with an Extra Fine Point, the tip is still too large. The paint flow was alright, a bit bumpy on the Munny’s surface though. I didn’t have the precession I would have wanted.  It’s just really frustrating when I can’t achieve the kind of precision and detail I would like. Also a bit annoying was the fact the tip dried out pretty quickly, and I had to start the flow again on a test sheet. The paint dried well on the toy and it didn’t run, thankfully. After spraying with some Krylon Satin Finish clear coat, the colors did not run and felt a little more stable. I mean, they are pretty decent markers. I’d use them again if I had to but for small detailed areas I feel I can do better with a brush. (We’ll see. Perhaps I’ll get used to them…)  I’m definitely going to try the larger tips for different kids of designs.

Decocolor Paint Markers: Sharpie did not have the color selection I wanted in their Extra Fine Tips, so I went with another brand. These markers are horrible. First, I had problems achieving an even flow of paint. The marker was shaken well, as per instructions, but the paint would not flow evenly. It took forever for me to get a consistent bead of paint. Also, the tip came right out of the marker. Paint was leaking everywhere. It was a mess. After battling for several minutes and despite my frustration, I decided to still try the marker on the Munny. It was a hot mess. The paint was all blotchy and sticky and the tip was getting all gunked up. I had a rough time… but that’s not even the worst part. After about 7 hours the paint did not “dry.” It was very tacky and would smudge easily. Thankfully I had a plastic eraser that removed the smudges. And even better, the clear coat sealed in paint and allowed the toy to be handled. I definitely would not recommend these markers for this project. I don’t think I will ever be using the again.

Even though the process was horendous, and, I still think the Munny looks pretty good. I like the design, so I may even try it again using different techniques.

I’ve seen some amazing crayon art before. Herb Williams has definitely created some of the best. I love the way he includes the wrappers for texture and color. Brilliant.

UPDATE: I neglected to mention if you’re in the NYC area, definitely check out his show at Rare Gallery I’m definitely going to hit it up:

Open until January 16

547 W 27 Street | No. 514
New York New York 10001

Hours: Wednesday to Saturday 11am – 6pm

Check his artist statement to get a little background on him:

Crayons are a gateway drug.  To most adults, the sight and smell of crayons produce specific memories of childhood. The twist in the road to nostalgia is the creation of a new object, from a medium in which it was not intended.  This element of unexpected interaction and play had me at hello.

I am one of the only independent buyers in the world who maintains an account with Crayola.  Because I am in pursuit of larger ideas, the playful aspect of my medium is integral to the works of art I’m creating. I can subversively insert a concept that may bloom well after the initial recognition of the form as a familiar children’s implement. To create my work I need to produce sculpture on a grand scale (which takes thousands and thousands of crayons), so I order each color individually packed (3000 to a case) and cut the sticks down to the length I need.  I then bond the paper—not the wax—to a form I have carved or cast, completely enveloping the form.

I am interested in identifying iconic objects that society perceives to fit one role and then reintroducing them in different subtexts. Intriguing questions arise when an object associated with childhood, such as a crayon, is used to address issues dealing with more adult matters, such as sexuality, religion, and social hierarchy. The sculptures are childlike in their curious approach to the object as icon, but beguiling and satisfying to me in the use of pure color as form.  Larger room installations also add the element of playing to the olfactory sense, as the scent of the wax completely saturates the environment.  I hope that this body of work is my most successful in adding to the greater visual dialogue of original art.  My intent is to continue to seriously create art that looks at itself unseriously.

- From Herb Williams Art