'Tools of the Trade' tee by Richt - available for pre-order

The London Vandal Write: '...Pre-order our latest t-shirt, “Tools Of The Trade” – designed By Bristol based graffiti writer and illustrator Richt, of WHAT crew. His design will be screen-printed by hand onto super-high quality100% cotton t-shirts.When you pre-order, not only will you be one of the very first with this t-shirt, you will get it at a discounted rate of £20 (instead of £25 when it is released to the public).

The pre-order period runs until 31st May, after which pre-orders will no longer by accepted.'

Pre-order HERE

New vinyl figure, 'The Dude' - released tomorrow (10th May) from Dudebox

Tomorrow (10th May) see's the coming of 'The Dude', a new customizable vinyl figure from London based crew Dudebox. It looks like a winner!! Check their website HERE tomorrow to bag yourself one and get busy on this new 3D canvas. 

Dudebox write: 'Presenting, The Evolution of The Dude. Get ready for launch and the landing of The Dude.'

If your in London why not attend the Dudebox launch party. Looks pretty tempting if you ask me....damn my geographic position limitations!

Coverage of Ian Francis' recent show at Lazarides Gallery (Rathbine Place), '10 000 Years From Now'

Loads more images of Ian Francis' show via Arrested Motion. I have only just learnt that Ian works/lives in Clifton, Bristol (U.K). This is awesome because thats exactly where Streets of Beige broadcast from! He lives just around the corner from S.O.B towers! We even share the same local fish & chip shop. Looks like he's just found himself a new stalker...

Show runs: 27th April 2012 - 24th May 2012 @ Lazarides Gallery, London

The U.K are getting our very own ToyCon this time next year!

Three Designer Toy fans Jonjo Glynn, Ben Hart and Barry Darnell have announced the launch of the UKs first ever designer toy convention ToyCon UK. Taking place on Saturday 6th April 2013 at Baden Powell house in Kensington the event will bring together the UKs finest Toy Artists, Customizers and Vendors in the first dedicated event of its kind in Europe.

The UKs designer toy scene has gone from strength to strength with both old and new artists gaining notoriety both here and across the pond in the more established US scene.

From established producers to talented individuals producing stunning one off artworks ToyCon UK will be a chance to see the very latest and greatest from the biggest names on the UK toy scene. As well as exhibitors there will be talks and workshops, prize giveaways, live painting, show exclusives and a whole plethora of artist signings giving fans the chance to meet their favourites.

Exhibitors already confirmed include:

A Little Stranger, Cris Rose, Doktor A, Fugi.me, Hang Gang, Lunabee, JPK, Matt Jones, Mintyfresh, TADO, Triclops, The Tarantulas, Squink, Ume Toys, Unbox Industries.

Tickets will be released soon and for all the latest information people should stay tuned to social media channels and the website

There are a limited number of booths available, anyone wanting to exhibit should email exhibitors@toyconuk.com for details.

Twitter @ToyConUK

Facebook www.facebook.com/ToyConUK

www.ToyConUK.com

VIA

Giles Walker's 'the Last Supper' opens this weekend @ Black Rat Projects, London

Giles Walker's Last Supper

'On Saturday 24^th March Black Rat will be hosting the preview of Giles Walker’s extraordinary Last Supper. A year in the making this remarkable work is a fully animated sculpture consisting of thirteen mechanical figures who interact around a table. Simultaneously humorous and frightening The Last Supper surpasses the audience’s initial interest in the robotic elements of the piece and draws us into the questions it poses and the all too human aspects it addresses. It promises to leave a lasting impression on those who have the opportunity to experience it.

The gallery will be open between 11am and 4pm on Saturday 24th March and we strongly recommend you make time to come and experience The Last Supper.The exhibition will continue for two weeks. Look forward to seeing you. 

Best wishes, BRP.'

LINK to Black Rat Projects

Antony Micallef's solo show 'A Little Piece of Me'

For those London based folk, look out for Antony Micallef's new show at The Outsiders which opens tomorrow (8th March). The show is called 'A Little Piece of Me' and will comprise of ten new examples of the London-based artist’s ongoing Head series. For those who don't know, Micallef won second place in the BP Portrait Award competition back in 2000.

Micallef writes:

“When someone buys one of my head paintings, it’s the biggest compliment of all. They don’t contain any of the distractions that my larger paintings contain. If somebody buys one, it’s not about the colour of the picture matching their designer apartment, and they’re not buying it according to the message, trend or latest fashion either. They’re buying it purely for the painting, for the marks I’ve made on the canvas. These Heads are simply about looking. It’s me, alone, with just a mirror. But the intention isn’t to make a self-portrait. Instead, it’s to capture an emotion. I look at my own head as simply a method to help find these faces from within the paper, to purge them out. I feel it’s important to paint from life while I’m creating these Heads, as it’s the only way to capture a visceral, fleeting glimpse that can be impossible to obtain from a photograph. To me, the Head studies are like pummelling a steak before you cook it. Kneading and abstracting the flesh. The end result is never known before I begin. The mark making creates the expression of the face, changing it with each stroke. I’m constantly picking up the canvas, turning it around, trying to control the drips and then throwing it down. This is a very different process from doing some of the other larger, more considered pieces that I create.”

Friday 9th of March 2012 to Saturday 28th of April 2012

VIA

Joshua Gordon of Fucknfilthy blog talks about what inspires and influences him creatively

This is a cool little video with Fucknfilthy blogger Joshua Gordon showing us what makes him tick creatively. We have been following Fucknfilthy for a while now and have even advertised on their blog. It's great to learn more about the guy behind the blog roll. I also noticed that he's doing a photo-shoot with London hip hop crew Piff Gang. (previously posted HERE).

New print by Jo Peel - 'Dallas'

Jo Peel - Dallas

62x48cm

Signed Silk Screen Print
Limited Edition of 50

£95.00

'We’re dead chuffed to get a new print from Jo Peel, she’s been busy curating and organizing The Community Kite Project this last few months http://www.kiteproject.co.uk/ (it launches on Thurs March 1^st, follow the link for further info) so we weren’t really expecting anything new on the print front for a while from Jo. However she managed to find time to print another of her wonderful drawing studies of East London, (this time it’s a street in Whitechapel). All these prints are hand finished making each one slightly unique. A must for anyone collecting Jo’s work.'