You Power in Japan has just launched their Fall catalogue this week. They have selected images from the Animal Kings, Kid Zoo and Modern Ark collections to create photo frames, photo albums, blackboards, wall art and cute little glass plates. Thanks to my agent, SCT, for being the matchmaker!
Once again, Ritzenhoff gave me a bear project. This time the brief was to customize a ceramic piggybank in the shape of a bear. I chose several approaches and this cool urban girl was picked. She’s dressed in jeans and a hoodie covered with hearts. All the Teddybanks come in this very fancy gift box that turns like a carousel to open. In the background you can see one of the eggcups (a robot) and a teacup (with bees) that I also designed for Ritzenhoff in the past.
I don’t smoke but I do like cigar boxes, labels and Ritzenhoff ashtrays. The challenge for me was to come up with an animal character that expressed masculinity, elegance and not be too cute. The black bear is native to our Canadian forests (I tried a fox as well) and dressing him up in a tuxedo gives him that classy look. The golden cigar (yup, it is printed in gold) makes the image rich and luxurious. This is a second ashtray design that I did that has been produced by Ritzenhoff, the first one being a Churchill-like smoking bulldog. You don’t smoke either? Well, this makes a great tray for pocket change and keys.
The graphic design at the lower right was another idea that I had submitted at the same time as the bear.
Adzif has just introduced their new line of writable wall applications. Made of vinyl with a rugged surface, you can write temporary messages on them with ordinary chalk. Above and below are four of a dozen animal designs that I have created for Adzif. The photo of my studio is from a shoot that was used to illustrate an article on back-to-school supplies and study spaces for kids. It seems the space could easily be transformed into a children’s playground though the kids better not touch my Mao Dunny or my Tintin rocket (on the shelves in the background) or any other of my toys.
