I AM GOODY Kickstarter Campaign

Candy and Nick Robertson are the wonderful artists behind Noferin, and they've just launched a new Kickstarter campaign! I AM GOODY is an inspiring concept- a well-designed, thoughtful magazine for kids ages 6-12! (Of course, I was hooked the moment I saw my favorite duo, TADO had designed the first cover!), plus there will be puzzles by Peskimo, and contributions by Andrea Kang! Lots of great people coming together on this project!

About I AM GOODY:

I AM GOODY is a quarterly magazine for girls and boys aged 6 - 12 years old that dares to be different. It is inspiring. It is beautiful. It is unique. GOODY is creating and celebrating goodness.

Let's help make this great idea a reality! Visit the I AM GOODY kickstarter HERE.

Jibibuts Artist Series

This is my favorite toy series in quite ahwile!

The cute jibibuts wooden blindbox toys from Noferin have been done up ny an array of fantastic artists! They are available now at designer toy shops!

From the press release: Noferin has invited their favourite artist friends to help bring the Jibibuts Artist Series to life! Made from birch wood - a natural, renewable resource that is both durable and biodegradable.

Featuring the exquisite talents of: Andrea Kang, Anna Chambers, Bubi Au Yeung, Buff Monster, Leo Hillier, Martin Hsu, 64 Colors, Nathan Jurevicius, Noferin, Peskimo, Squink and Tado. One random figure per blind box.

Custom Mellow by Noferin

eeeep! I love this! Noferin = amazing.

Noferin Cup & Saucer Sets

Oh man, am I ever coveting these new super cute cup & saucer sets from Noferin!

Noferin Stretched Canvas Prints

Now you can get awesome artwork by the amazing Noferin duo as a stretched canvas print! These are super affordable, and a great way to bring the lovely designs of Noferin to your walls!
Available Here.

Noferin's Red Jibibuts Print

Oh man, look at this Jibibuts print by Noferin! I love it!

Noferin's 'We Heart Wood' Custom Jibibuts Show

The preview pieces for the 'We Heart Wood' custom show, opening this weekend at Munky King, are phenomenal! Tons of TokyoBunnie favorites exhibiting in the show, including Lola, Brandi Milne, Bubi Au Yeung, APAK, Podgypanda, Meomi, Peskimo, 64 Colors, Doktor A, Kelly Vivanco, Tessar Lo, Camilla d'Errico, Julie West, Noferin, Travis Lampe, Harley + Boss (Nathan J and Andrea), Colin Johnson, Andy Heng, Jason Limon, Dan May, Jeremiah Ketner, Brian McCarty, TADO, Yoskay Yamamoto, Stella IM Hultberg.

Opening reception, TONIGHT April 8th 7pm @ Munky King Melrose

Noferin's Pecanpals Plush

I am a huge fan of Noferin, and I love both their wooden toys and their beautiful paintings. They've released a line of plush, but I like their wood toys much better. All these characters seem a little too similar- just different ears on the same bodies- and I wish they came with the accessories featured on their illustrated counterparts. I'm excited to see the Noferin empire growing though! They are awesome people and super talented artists.

Noferin's Jibibuts

I am super coveting the new wooden blindbox Jibibuts series by the wonderful Noferin. They are a breath of fresh air in the over-saturated vinyl toy market.

Noferin 'The Place we Call Home' @ CoproNason

Candy & Nicho of Noferin are pros at creating super adorable characters. I loved their last show at Copro Nason and am no less excited for 'The Place we Call Home', which opens this weekend, September 5th, and runs through September 26th.

I love the look of traditional settings interacting with Noferin's signature characters. Noferin also has a new line of wood blindbox mini figures, and a line of plush, to be released in the upcoming months.

See the full web preview of Noferin's show here.

The Kokeshi: From Folk Art to Art Toy

The Kokeshi exhibit at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles opens this weekend. The exhibition will be presented in three sections: traditional, contemporary American; and custom. Exploring the kokeshi doll from it's initial Japanese Folk art roots to it's rising popularity in today's art and toy culture, this show is filled original dolls from some amazing artists.
Some of my favorites include APAK, Amy Sol, Bubi Au Yeung, Camilla Engman, CJ Metzger, PCP, Jeremiah Ketner, Julie West, Miss Mindy, Noferin, and Tado.

It's sure to be incredible! Runs through October 4th.

Above Kokeshi dolls by APAK

Noferin's Pecan Pals Natural Wood Edition

The lovely Noferin are releasing a gorgeous natural wood edition of their pecan pals. These beauties go on sale tomorrow (May 5th) at 3 pm PDT.

These toys are limited to 300 pieces. Each piece comes with a poster, and each full set comes with a complimentary hand cut, hand pressed varnished wooden print.

Here's some info about the sustainable wood used for these toys:
Pecanpals are made from 100% sustainably harvested wood. They are made from rubber tree wood that would otherwise go to waste. Rubber trees are planted for their rubber, and after about 20 years, their rubber yields start to diminish. We use this beautiful wood, thus saving it from the fire pit.

No two Pecanpals look the same. They all have very unique markings due to the wood grain. Some are spotted, some have a marbled look, some are a mixture of the two.

More information and purchasing info is on Noferin's website, here.

Copro Nason Prints

Copro Nason Gallery hosts shows by an amazing array of artists, including some that are often featured on the TokyoBunnie blog like Noferin, Kukula, Audrey Kawasaki, Amy Sol, Joe Ledbetter and others. They have some great prints for sale in their online store right now. See some of my favorites after the jump, or check them all out on Copro Nason's site here. (Print featured above is by Thomas Han)

*UPDATE Once Again- Photobucket has flagged a painting I posted as adult content so you won't be able to see all the Kukula prints that are available- you'll have to go to Copro Nason's site to see them. Grrrr....

Copro Nason online print store

The Garden of Eye Candy

I've had to curb my art-book buying habit (several moves and flights of stairs have given my collection a residence in my studio rather than my house) but I am very tempted by 'The Garden of Eye Candy' by Ginko Press. Featuring the work of some of my favorite artists including Amy Sol, Candybird, Lisa Petrucci, Noferin, Kukula, and more, the book is 180 pages of pure beauty.

It's available through Ginko Press, or Amazon.

Noferin's Pecanpals!

The super adorable Pecanpals by Noferin will be available soon!
These toys would be an amazing addition to any collection. Not only are they handcrafted from wood, but they come in an adorable box with cute accessories. If you sign up for the Noferin mailing list, you will be able to pre-order these guys starting December 10th. (This is recommended as they are only editions of 200 per character!)
Check out more info on Noferin's website, blog, or flickr.

New Noferin prints!

Nicho and Candy of Noferin had a gorgeous baby girl last week (Poppy Periwinkle!), and to celebrate they have released two special prints!

In which summer scents fill the sky and In which friends recite their morning calls are only $30 each (plus shipping). Noferin makes beautiful quality prints - I have one and I love it!

Giant Robot Openings this weekend- LA & SF

Both GR2 in Los Angeles and GRSF in San Francisco have good shows opening this weekend!


In Los Angeles:





Masakatsu Sashie Show Opening
Under Fluorescent Light at GR2
September 20 - October 15
Reception: Saturday, September 20, 6:30 - 10:00


Giant Robot is proud to present Under Fluorescent Light, an art show featuring newwork by Masakatsu Sashie.
Masakatsu Sashie's works are often called "orb paintings" since he paints details from his youth as very detailed, compact spheres. Hailing from Kanazawa, Japan, his art captures the scope of his youthful activities and the orbs often represent memories that fade away from the world. His previous works were full of dark imagery, but his more recent pieces include vibrant, often colorful details such as vending machines, fast food signage, and videogames. He cites Mobile Suit Gundam as an influence, and enjoys art by Yukio Oscar Oiwa and Antonio Lopez Garcia. Currently, he teaches at his alma mater, Kanazawa College of Art.


Sashie got his start at Takashi Murakami's GEISAI shows in Japan. In America, he has shown at GEISAI USA at GR2 and the Giant Robot Biennale at the Japanese American National Museum. Under Fluorescent Light will be his first solo show in the United States, and will feature 2 gigantic paintings accompanied by 10 smaller pieces.




In San Francisco:




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Group Art Show Opening

mixtART at GRSF, September 20, 2008 - October 8, 2008

Giant Robot is proud to present mixtART â„¢, a group art show held in conjunction with Hands-On Mobile, Inc's release of mixtART, an application that allows independent artists to sell their original works of art as wallpapers to mobile subscribers.
Contributing Artists:
Astro
Blinky
Buff Monster
Jon Burgerman
Aden Catalani
Dave Correia
Ekundayo
Martin Hsu
Noferin
Patrick Ma
Brent McHugh
Patricio Oliver
Alex Pardee
Josh Powell
Clee Sobieski

Noferin "Paper Pushers" @ Gallery 1988

"In which we celebrate new life."


Noferin have 3 new pieces in this weekend's Paper Pushers show at Gallery 1988 in San Francisco.
They are ink on nice heavyweight cream paper... I like all 3 quite a lot! One of my most favorite things about pieces by Noferin are the titles!



In which Jac Jac finds the fungi keeper.



In which there is an unexpected dash.

Noferin : The Start or Where we Begin

We went to the Noferin show this weekend!! I was so excited to meet Nicho & Candy in person! The show was so wonderful- the paintings are so lovely in person. The colors in these works were really nice, fall colors in with colorful little Pecan, Claudius, Pandacake and the others frolicking about. There's lots of animal friends mixed into the paintings, and the characters are always having such a good time! I think I'd like to spend some time in the Noferin world!! Nicho & Candy were super awesome and now I am bummed that they live so many miles away :(


You can see the whole show on the Copro Nason site.