Monday, August 31, 2009

The Gallery Underground 2 year anniversary

THIS FRIDAY, Fort Collins, CO



Press release from The Gallery Underground...

Come celebrate two great years of outstanding art with us for our biggest show of 2009, First Friday, September 4th from 6-10pm. To help us mark this stupendous occasion we will be displaying guest artist Evan Levin for one night only. Evan is coming all the way from Florida to share his amazing body of work. Evan's paintings embody the original look and unique approach that has been the trademark of The Gallery Underground over the past two years.

We are brightening the place up a bit as well with a fresh coat of paint and some new lighting. You won't want to miss this show!

New work by artists - Kieth Van Eron, Andi Rose, Reindeer, Chelsea Glanz, Travis Parry, Bryan Collins, Ryan Gualaume, Forrest Gerke, Oscar Woodruff, Cody Kuehl, Rolfe Bautista, Kirsten Savage and Darren Mahuron.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Commissions for the Holidays

Summer is almost gone and the crackling of leaves will soon be heard under crisp fall air. Some of you are well aware of the upcoming season, because commissions for holiday gifts are already coming in for Christmas and even Halloween! Many are choosing to give unique and personal gifts this year, rather than heartless clutter. If you are one who is considering giving the gift of original art, and would like me to create something for you, please message me right away. As you know, there is a limited amount of time available between now and the holidays.

Even if you are just curious, it's okay to send me a message with your ideas. There is no commitment to discuss what you have in mind. However, please know that I create work in the order that deposits are made, not the order I receive messages so if you think we need to chat before you made a decision, lets get that ball rolling now!

I look forward to creating for those of you whom I have worked with in the past, and the new folks who I am meeting all the time. Thank you.

General prices:

TOYS
3" custom Dunny ~ $50
3.5" custom Teddy Troop ~ $95
4" custom Munny ~ $150
8" custom Munny ~ $350

ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS
roughly $4.5 per sq inch (ie. 8"x10" = 80sqinches = $360)

ORIGINAL PAINTINGS
roughly $5 per sq inch (ie. 8"x10" = 80sqinchs = $400)

Email me at art@bryandrinkscoffee.com

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Beast Buddies 13 through 16


My series of 100 custom Beast Buddies are going strong. Here's a montage of numbers 13 through 16 and their stories. Get your Beast Buddies at www.bryancollins.bigcartel.com or on Etsy at www.bryancollins.etsy.com while they last.

Clockwise from top left -

Zikka
There is no question as to whether or not the Zikka bird still exists, because we caught one! After we wrestled him from the mouth of a savage python, he told us he is the last of his kind, and our intervention stopped the total annihilation of the species. Once we were safely out of the jungle, the Zikka asked that we take him back with us and find him a place he can live safely and be near a good supply of peanut butter. Apparently the rest of his kind died off from a lack of nutty protein.

Zed Rebra
It is a perilous endeavor, wrangling Beast Buddies, and anything that can make our expeditions go a little smoother we will consider. While trying to track down a guide who wasn't trying to lead us to the remote clans of headhunting tribesmen, or swindling us out of every penny we had is our possession, we crossed paths with a Sherpa who had an interesting array of strange gear-packing companions. He loaned us his red zebra, aka Zed Rebra, and we headed out. Upon our return he told us that Zed had never looked so happy. He told us to keep him, and find him a good home.

Camaroon Goliath
The largest frogs know to mankind are in the Camaroon region of Africa. They are big enough to eat a fawn. It sounded like a great place to hunt for some Beast Buddies. What we were not prepared for was the undiscovered subterranean creature you see here. Lured out with some yummy bacon strips and hot jalapeno-scrambled eggs, this guy was easily caged into a Beast Buddies box and sent to his new home.

Duck Billed Wanderer
After stumbling across the completely unknown Salsa Spiro Beast Buddies in Mexico, we were back on track hunting the Duck Billed Wanderer. The locals told us the best way to find him was to leave a trail of bread crumbs. Not for us to find our way back home (seriously, we have GPS systems, you know) but so that the Wanderer would come across the trail and follow it to us. Upon luring this beast to our camp, he kept us entertained for hours with stories of his travels and silly songs that echoed an influence of Jacob Dillon and the Wallflowers. He lives free, waddling across the globe with no destination, waiting for adventure to find him. If he happens to wander out of your sight, just build a crackling campfire, whip out an acoustic guitar, and use the trick with the bread crumbs. He’ll be whistling his way back sometime.

Bryan
www.bryandrinkscoffee.com

Monday, August 17, 2009

Life Bear, and the Art of Life

Aug 29, 2009 :: Art Whino / Life With Cancer foundation
~Art of Life group show for "Life With Cancer" foundation, 5pm-9pm @ 8411 Pennell Street, Fairfax, VA 22031

This is my latest acrylic on 3.5" vinyl Teddy Troop. I created this piece specifically for the "Art of Life" benefit exhibit for Art Whino and the Life With Cancer foundation. Please call Art Whino at (301)567-8210 for availability or questions about the exhibit.

For this piece I wanted to include elements that represent life, so I chose a spring motif with the blossoming cherry tree and the birds nesting on their eggs. The paper airplane on the back is a thing I occasionally include in my work. To me it represents a child's innocence, freedom, and having a light spirit.

If you would like a custom Teddy Troop painted just for you, please email me at art@bryandrinkscoffee.com

~Bryan



Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Mutation: A Vinyl Show at Black Maria Gallery



Mutation: a vinyl show
August 15th through September 5th, 2009
Opening Reception: Saturday, 15th of August, 7:00 - 10:30pm

Los Angeles – Black Maria Gallery is proud to present “Mutation”, an exhibition featuring a selection of some of the most sought after artists in the art toy scene today, proving that vinyl is the new canvas. Participating artists include: 64 Colors, Brent Nolasco, Bryan Collins, Button Eyes, Camden Noir, Draifet, Jeremiah Ketner, Kalypzo, Kat Brunnegraff, Kendra Binney, Kill Taupe, Motorbot, Mark Basa, Nathan Hamill, Okedoki, Podgy Panda, Reactor 88, Rosie O’Donnell, Shaun Wightman, TyleR & Zombie Monkie.

Urban vinyl toys have been saturating the art scene for the past several years. Some pieces have even become part of permanent collections in museums such as MOCA and recently sold via high-end auction houses like Christie’s, commanding thousands of dollars.

A hot generation of vinyl toy artists has been steadily infiltrating the art scene with their unique visions. These designers take a common “platform” toy, and through their creative and sometimes wicked sense of imagination, transform what is ordinary into the extraordinary. These pieces mutate into a custom art object, becoming highly sought after and truly one of a kind. In the custom vinyl world, there are no limits on what can be created.

“Actress/Comedienne Rosie O’Donnell will be showing several custom Munnys with all the proceeds going to her charity, Rosie’s Broadway Kids.

http://www.rosiesbroadwaykids.org

Rosie’s Broadway Kids is an arts education organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children through the arts.
Using professional teaching artists, Rosie’s Broadway Kids offers classes in dance and music and a professional theater experience for children who might otherwise not have the opportunity. Its goal is to inspire excellence, motivate learning, uplift the human spirit, and to instill a lifelong appreciation of the arts.

“Mutation” will remain open through Saturday, September 5th, 2009.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Nebula Newborn Munny



Nebula Newborn is a 7" tall Munny I submitted to the 'Munny Grubbers' exhibit at Just Blazed in Phoenix, AZ. From Aug 9th to Aug 15th you can vote on this piece at the Delicious Drips website. PLEASE take a moment to vote for 'Nebula Newborn'. You just have to register a username so they know you are not voting more than once. Then, you hover your mouse over the thermometer on the right of the page until it lights up the 'Delicious' rating and click. That's it! Thank you all for your time.

PLEASE VOTE at http://deliciousdrips.com/submissions/submission.php?i=194