Bearlee "The Broken Champ" MIX&Match

Self-produced art toys are designer collectibles created and manufactured independently by the artist or small teams without the backing of a large toy company or mass-market brand. These toys are often highly personal, artistic expressions and are usually made in limited runs. Key Characteristics include independent creation where the artist is in control of the entire process from concept, sculpting, and painting to production and packaging. These are usually made in small batches, often 10–100 pieces, which adds to their rarity, made using materials like resin, sofubi (Japanese soft vinyl), or 3D-printed components. I am an Artist based out of Chicago, IL. I’ve been illustrating, painting, and doing anything and everything art for the past 7 years. I’ve done various works from t-shirt design to logos to illustrating books to commission pieces. For the past year, I’ve gotten the most exposure for my custom work on vinyl toys. My work has been featured on multiple website and online forums as well as in print. Mid 2009 I developed a character named “Jonny Hancock” based on one of Chicago’s greatest buildings. Jonny Hancock is currently selling at Rotofugi, a designer toy store in Chicago. One of my latest custom designer toys was just featured on Kid Robot’s blog -The Kronikle. I like just to BE CREATIVE.