This way to adventure!

Chris Ryniak was born in 1976 in the suburbs of Detroit. He spent his childhood basking in the warm glow of Saturday morning cartoons and flipping over rocks in search of insects, reptiles and ghosts. A graduate and former instructor of the Ringling School of Art and Design, He is now a painter and sculptor of all manner of critters. Chris’ work has been exhibited in galleries throughout the US including Miami, LA, New York City as well as Hamburg and Rome. His paintings have also been published in numerous books and periodicals in the States as well as in Europe and Singapore. Chris resides in a coastal Ohio Dutch Colonial with his wife, two children, dog, cat and menagerie of taxidermied animals. Sadly, no ghosts as of yet. Graphite is a versatile and widely used medium in art, primarily known for its soft, smooth texture and the ability to create fine details, shading, and gradients. It comes in the form of pencils or sticks, with varying degrees of hardness, ranging from very soft (6B, 8B) to very hard (H, 2H). The softness or hardness of the graphite determines the darkness or lightness of the marks it produces. When used in drawing, graphite allows artists to achieve a range of effects, from precise, sharp lines to soft, velvety shading. It is often favored for its ability to create tonal depth and realistic textures, making it a popular choice for portraiture, still life, and landscape drawing. Its subtlety and versatility also make it ideal for sketching and underpainting for larger works. Rotofugi Designer Toy Store & Gallery, established in July 2004, is located on the border of Chicago's Lincoln Park and Lakeview neighborhoods in a beautiful vintage building. Since opening, Rotofugi has grown to become one of the world's premier sellers of designer toys from artists all over the world. Rotofugi features a diverse selection of vinyl figures, capsule toys, plush and more from both eastern and western designers. The adjoining Rotofugi Gallery features monthly art exhibits by a range of both local and nationally known artists. Beginning in late 2007 Rotofugi partnered with Chicago based product development specialist Squibbles Ink to begin producing artist-designed figures by the talented designers located in their home town. Click here for more information on Squibbles Ink + Rotofugi projects. Rotofugi is owned and operated by husband and wife duo Kirby and Whitney Kerr. You can find the couple in and around the store on most days. They love to talk about toys and art.