Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Design by Humans submission

A new submission to Design by Humans, my Luchadore ...


Design by Humans give winning submissions up to a whopping $3,500 plus residuals - daddy need a new pair of shoes, so please vote!

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Clown Lounge inspires some good ol' fashioned vectoring!

My good friend Jen, of thickblackoutline fame, whipped up this little gem after reading The Clown Lounge...

Storytime #01 - The Clown Lounge

Shane’s life was at a crossroads. Both ways led to a dead end.

It was always this way. His childhood was so dull there were never any Kodak moments. His adolescence was mainly consumed by masturbation and acne. Then came his adulthood – full of masturbation and acne-scars.

Shane was a man of habit. On a usual evening, after work, he would wander down to the local pub for just two watered down Sherries.

Alas, this was not a usual day, because just before the entry to his local, stood a hitherto non-existent, ornate door that was slightly ajar.

Shane had walked this route thousands of times and was sure that he had never seen it before. His interest aroused, he slowly opened the mysterious door and walked down some creaky steps. As he walked, the volume of sounds from below increased.

Finally reaching the bottom of the staircase, Shane found himself standing by a long bar. He was surrounded by people who were dressed up as if they were clowns in a circus. Oversized shoes and red noses were de rigueur.

“Like a carnival,” thought our hapless protagonist. “What is this place?”

“Drink you fool,” bellowed a rotund man. On his naked, pink body were a few discreetly adhered pink pompoms. His face was covered in poorly applied clown make-up; as he talked puffs of white dust shot from the corner of his lips, and chunks of make-up broke away, revealing yet more underneath.

The corpulent clown turned toward Shane and said, “Want to see a trick?”

Shane nodded in assent.

From under a pompom, the clown pulled out his make-up covered penis. As he pulled it out, it kept unraveling like an endless multi-coloured ribbon.

Repulsed as Shane was by the procession of the clown’s phallic magic trick, he was nonetheless compelled to watch as the fleshy mound grew and grew, consuming not only its owner but also the whole eastern corner of the bar.

“Show-off,” stated an attractive female clown whose clown’s suit snugly fit her trim clown body. She was different to the other clowns. Her painted face was smoother, almost natural and glowing. As she gracefully puffed on a cigar, her fuzzy green hair seductively bobbed to the rhythm of her inhalations and exhalations.

“Who are you?” Shane stuttered.

“I’m Queen of the Clowns. Welcome to my circus.”

To verify her royalty, the Queen rummaged in the left nostril of her bulbous red nose with her finger and thumb. She began to pull at something. There was a glint of gold. She pulled and pulled, revealing more bullion. With both hands she pulled harder revealing a long strand of gold. With a loud ‘boing’ it popped into the shape of a crown, encrusted with large ruby clown noses.

Proudly she popped it onto her head. With a flick of her hand, a nose encrusted scepter appeared. With a wiggle of her body an elaborate, multi-coloured, nose-motifed robe wrapped around her.

She was the Queen of Clowns, and Shane was her willing subject.

“Come with me,” she beckoned with her large puffy, purple-gloved clown hands. With her beauty and inexplicable clown coercion she drew him towards a dark corner of the cavernous bar. She pointed towards a hole in the wall down near the floor. With his head sunk into several centimeters of age-old, alcohol-soaked grime, he peered through the looking hole.

Shane saw himself leading an army of clowns, all helmeted with camouflaged clown hair, green silk army fatigues and large red clown army issued boots.

The artillery consisted of large clowns with buckets; the contents of which were a mystery.

The signal corps wore large pants with phones connected to a hidden source within their pockets. Hundreds of them emerged from one small, garishly painted car.

The air force clowns wore blue silk fatigues, extended their arms out and made plane noises as they whizzed around the army’s perimeter.

There Shane stood on the hill. One puffy-gloved hand placed steadfastly on his heart, reminiscent of that other amusingly attired master of strategy. He was the general of Clown Queen’s army. He was, at last, somebody.

Across from the Clown’s army loomed their mortal enemy – the Ring Leader. An evil, but well dressed man, who the clowns rebelled against long ago. With his whip and a sneer he forced his minion to attack.

First the poodles on unicycles, hungry for clown blood, furiously pumped at their pedals.

Then the lions roared at the scent of clown blood.

Trapeze artists, which were all forced to watch anti-clown videos produced by the Ringmaster’s propaganda department, swung into action.

Finally, the human-cannonballs rained death on their clown foes.

The clown troops bravely charged the Ringmaster’s formidable henchmen. However, their cream pies, confetti and expanding phalli were no match against the Ringmaster’s brute force.

Dead clowns littered the battlefield.

That was the day laughter died.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Buyers DoWear #1 - Happy Customers

One of the biggest buzzes you get as a designer is seeing your work about town. Imagine my glee, when people not only wear my tees, but are also kind enough to send photos of them wearing said tees. Such as these beauties ...

RGB


Baby 'bot

Big Fat Robot with victim

Monday, December 3, 2007

3 more tees

A few more of my tees available at my chums at Red Bubble.

Robot Rodriguez - he's one angry hombre, especially with those pesky, ray-gun toting, flying penis cacti swarming around him.

A little Devil.

For my Dad, an avid Melbourne Demons fan.

More Dunnies






My Dunny addiction continues unabated, with the addition of these 3" little creatures. They are all from Dalek's ARTIST SERIES 1.

Blog redesigned

I have whipped up some changes to my blog. It now more closely reflects the web site I'm building to sell my tshirts ... www.bigfatrobot.com, which will be unleashed in a few weeks.

Friday, November 30, 2007

Blog redesign

In the process of fiddling with the CSS for the blog, hence its current ugliness. Will fix in a jiffy

Movember 07

The boys with the bushes are back in town ...

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Some new Tshirts

My vector mill has been churning out some well stroked characters of late...


Find more here ...

Designer Toy Collectors: We're everywhere!

Stumbled upon this short little teaser for an upcoming documentary, by Daniel Zana, about the addictive world of vinyl toy collecting. The doc will feature some big names like Tara McPherson, Dalek, Ron English and Tim Biskup.

Friday, October 26, 2007

More Dunnies!

I'm now the proud owner of 3 more Dunnies from Series 4...


Here's a tasty 3" beast from Twelve Car Pileup.


Everybody needs a Dunny with open wounds, especially if it was painted by one of my faves, Gary Baseman.


Finally, who could say no to a skeleton bedecked with bling? Not I, especially this little gem from Mad.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Latest tiny vinyl masterpieces

I carefully unwrapped a few "blind assortment" gems from my chums at Kid Robot recently.
The first little piggy is this golden beauty, "Have a nice day" Smorkin Labbit (Series 3) hewn from the genius that is Frank Kozik. These labbits are multiplying like, well..., labbits, and I intend to get into the action! (the buying of labbits, not the breeding)

The next toy is the soaringly good, and avian-inspired, Dunny (Series 4) from Joe Ledbetter. These dunnies should not be mistaken for the Australian slang for toilet; they are actually a collection of vinyl masterpieces designed by some of the best artists sloshing about at the moment.

I liked it so much, I ordered another 3 Dunnies straight away (knowing my luck, the blindly chosen morsels will all be exactly the same ... ebay, here I come.)
Finally there was a beautifully moulded creation from the Scary Girl - City Folk series by Australia’s own Nathan Jurevicius. I got "The Poet", a regular ath the Yellow Onion Bar, shes' a ponderer of life's numerous unanswered questions.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Musings on Japan #5 : Gaijin desu

This next installment of my musings on Japan was inspired by a recent incident in my sleepy hometown of Adelaide.

I was happily walking down one of our main drags, when a pair of Neanderthalian louts made some unsavoury remarks to two young Asian girls just in front of me. I’m a fairly large sort, who is easily angered by xenophobic rantings, and decided to bellow a few words that you wouldn’t hear on Sesame Street.

These brave blokes buggered off, with a few mutterings back at me, delivered from a distance.

The girls were obviously shaken up by the boys’ babblings, but they didn’t seem too surprised by it. They shrugged it off and said, in lovely Adelaidean accents, “it happens all the time.”

It got me thinking about what I would do if I had to face constant racial vilification from those who think they are better than me because of colour/creed/nationality.

Then I realised that, to a very, very small degree, I experienced something similar in Japan...

Non- Japanese people hear the word “Gaijin” a lot. An indirect translation is "foreigner". This is what is meant by the majority who say it, and what is printed on the registered alien cards that all working non-nationals must carry. It is considered a benign word, a word with no hidden agenda, a statement of fact.

However, the direct translation means "outside person". It is this connotation, the reference to otherness and not belonging, that I occasionally endured.

Usually it was late at night, when some disgruntled salary-man, fuelled on sake, would feel compelled to direct their chagrin at me or any other foreigner that happened to be in sight.

It never amounted to anything more than a murmured "gaijin" or, what I have phrased, the "lip smack of hate". This was an unusual tut sound they made to express the horror of my existence.

As an example, there was a train line that I had to catch at least 4 days a week called the Mita line, or "the tuttin' train", as I liked to call it. The line seemed to cater to very old and very bitter men. They never failed to greet me with a lip smackin' symphony.

These small incidents never fazed me, afterall, Japan is an amazing place. I miss it every day that I’m away from it. I love its mixture of the new and old.

However, it is because of this mixture that one senses Japan as a nation still very much in search of its identity, with a dialectical battle between homogeneity and diversity being waged to determine just what it means to be Japanese in a global age.

There is a pervasive perception of Japan as a monocultural, ethnically pure society; an idea still widely circulated within Japanese society. Within this framework, comes the quagmire of the gaijin question. As Japan's foreign population increases, so, in equal measure, do proud assertions of its ethnic purity.

I believe it was understandable for me to think of myself as a perpetual outsider, who will only be accepted as "gaijin-san". I was only there for a relatively short time, but even if I was born and raised and married and had children there, my eyes are green and my skin is white, so I felt that I would forever be considered as foreign.

Despite this, my personal experience of Japan was generally an incredibly positive one. The vast majority of the Japanese I met were generous and genuinely interested in the World around them. They were also incredibly patient with my mangling of their language and frequent etiquette faux pas. Quite frankly, I'm addicted to the place!

Moral of this story is – let’s all just get along people!

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Singing and dancing talent in one scrummy package ...

Mexican Wrestling Mania

October is Mexican Wrestling month here at the 'bot!

May all your Christmases be full of tequila-fueled Mexican wrestlers and guitar playing cactus angels … mmm tequila fuel.

Feliz Navidad is Spanish for Merry Christmas.

Everybody needs a tequila-fueled Mexican wrestler and guitar playing cactus angels to make their special day just that little more special … mmm tequila fuel.

Feliz Cumpleaños is Spanish for Happy Birthday


Lucha Libre (which translates literally as Free Wrestling or Free Fighting) is a term used in Mexico and other Spanish-speaking areas to refer to all forms of professional wrestling.

This little guy is based on The Blue Demon, a late master of the genre.

... mmm, tequilla fuel!

Goodies available here...

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Bubble Rock - Squeezebox Hero available on tee

Here's the finished Piano Accordion-wielding robot, ready for fashionistas ...

Get your very own tee from here ...

More prints by Brian Taylor and Kathie Olivias

Just a couple more little limited edition prints (in card form) to adorn my future walls...
From Letter Pressed's Artist Series #7, Candykiller was designed by Brian Taylor, and are limited to 500. Brian Taylor is an artist and graphic designer best known for his short film "Rustboy" and now Candykiller series. For more info on Brian check out www.xl5design.com.

This is the second collab between Kathie Olivias and Letterpressed, and are also limited to 500. Kathie Olivas is a multi-media artist who resides in Tampa, FL. For more info on Kathy check out www.miserychildren.com.

Thankyou to my friends at Robio in Melbourne, who always send me their goodness safe, sound and in perfect condition!

Sunday, September 30, 2007

BubbleRock

I'm part of a wonderful collaboration of vector artistes, creating a band of characters ... here's my little fellow, he still needs a lick of paint and a few kinks knocked out, but he'll be ready to rock very soon!

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Adios by Tokidoki

On the most recent company junket to LA, I was lucky enough to get this little gem, straight from the lovely bowels of Kidrobot ...



Apparently, ADIOS spent 500 years in fire and brimstone before the devil discovered his good-natured ways and kicked him out of hell. Too mischievous for heaven, Adios was condemned to live forever on earth, in his modern grave-loft with his girlfriend Ciao Ciao and their cat Skeletrino. Together, Adios and Ciao Ciao wander the world, sharing with others how to make the most out of this life... sounds exactly like my life!

Prints by Brian Taylor and Kathie Olivias

I'm approaching that horribly grown-up day ... when I hand over ownership of my soul and life-long earning potential to the horned demon that is Beelze-bank, for a small hovel situated somewhere inconvenient.

Consequently, I've decided to treat myself, before my art buying funds dwindle forever, with some signed limited edition prints that are good enough to eat!

Here are a couple ...
Candykiller by Brian Taylor
Candykiller Coney by Brian Taylor

Squid Baby by Kathie Olivias

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Favourite Bushisms #4

They misunderestimated me.
--George w. Bush

Bentonville, AR
11/06/2000

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Robot noir featured in Red Bubble

My chum, and fantastic artist, Tamara (tambatoys) chastised me recently for my blogging tardiness. I blame work, and it's ability to suck the minutes from my day!

Anyhoo, here's an entry ...

The lovely folk at Red Bubble have been gracious enough to feature my "Robot - noir style" in their clothing newsletter thingy...

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Favourite Bushisms #3

"It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it."

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

New tees

Big Fat Robot with victim

The Japanese writing is suppose to mean “Big Fat Robot”. However, my translation skills are extremely rusty, so for all those Nipponphiles out there, please tell me if my hanes and ten tens are where they should be.

Actually, I don’t mind if it’s horribly wrong, afterall there is a huge market in Japan for meaningless English phrases (go to http://www.engrish.com/ for many hilarious examples). So it should work the other way with equally amusing results. In fact, I remember seeing a GI type wandering around Roppongi with a tshirt written in Japanese kanji, it said “baka gaijin” (idiot foreigner). Not sure if it was an ironic statement on his behalf, or he just thought the letters looked pretty.

Print / card versions coming soon.

Betty Trooper
For us nerds with tatts.
Print/card versions coming soon.

See more here ... Red Bubble

Monday, June 25, 2007

New tee, print and cards

The vector mill has been busy of late - a new tee, greeting card and print are available from Red Bubble.

The following is based on Captain Kirk and his fleeting love for Vina, a green-tinged lady. It's the perfect gift for that special person and/or thing in your life.



Friday, June 22, 2007

Angsty poetry #5: The world is my oyster

For all those who have been jilted …

The world is my oyster

The world is my oyster, baby
But you ain’t no pearl
A rock maybe
A stone lady
Nothin’ like a diamond
Nothin’ like a pearl

The world is my smorgasbord, baby
But you ain’t no oyster
A sausage roll maybe
A party pie lady
Nothin’ like a oyster
Nothin’ like a pearl

The world is my art gallery, baby
But you ain’t no Leonardo da Vinci
A Leonardo Dicaprio maybe
A Ken Done lady
Nothin’ like Leonardo da Vinci
Nothin’ like a pearl

The world is my cigar-bar, baby
But you ain’t no thigh-rolled Havana
An Escort maybe
Winnie Blues lady,
Nothin’ like thigh-rolled Havanas
Nothin’ like a pearl

The world is my wine-bar, baby
But you ain’t no Dom Perignon
A West Coast Cooler maybe
A Passion Pop lady
Nothin’ like a Dom PĂ©rignon
Nothin’ like a pearl

The world is boudoir, baby
But you ain’t no Cleopatra
A Mother Theresa maybe
A Boutros Boutros Ghali lady
Nothin’ like a Cleopatra
Nothin’ like a pearl

This poem could go on forever, feel free to add to it.

For the grammar Nazis – my apologies for the double negatives and contractions peppered throughout the poem.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Koi inking #2


Only 2 more inkings to go. Next up is the wave work. And, no I don't have saggy boobies - the material of my singlet just happened to bunch up that way.

The tshirt invasion continues


My submission for the Threadless tshirt competition. The brief was to capture awkward love in tshirty form.

What’s more awkward then meeting your green girlfriend’s parents for the first time?

Based on Captain Kirk, and his fleeting passion for Vina, a green-tinged lady.

Vote
like crazy folks.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

New Ts for your viewing and purchasing pleasure

A bunch o' ts available at my RedBubble chums.

Tiki Time in Robot Town

Betty Trooper

RGB - Red (#FF0000 is computery talk for red)

RGB - Green (#00FF00 is computery talk for green)

RGB - Blue (#0000FF is computery talk for blue)

Big Fat Robot with text

Big Fat Robot without text