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BIO: ''This is not a job... this is a verdict'' The Driving Force: I am passionate about exploring human emotion, flaw, and behavior. This is the driving force behind most of my artwork. Love, human shortcomings and frailties, disappointment, vice, accountability, sin, repentance, regret, grief, denial, hope, etc, are the most inspiring subjects I know of. Emotion is something we all have in common. Emotions can get broken... just like any other part of us. Creation: Most of the Broken Toyland characters came to life in the 90's and early 00's. A lot of it started with two ongoing series (at that time), which were: Broken Toys, and Weeds. But the former is the one that brought it all to life. Most of my creations have to do with my love of the past: vintage toys, discarded and weathered items, old cartoons and such. Memories... Shortly thereafter, came the rag dolls (around 2000). Patchwork bunnies and others. And I called them, 'Broken Toys'. Broken Toyland is comprised of many endearing characters. While Bunny very often has a smoke or a drink (or both) in hand, this is not what's being promoted. There's much more going on than what might be assumed at first glance. I rarely do this anymore. But when I do, there's a good reason. Personally, I do not smoke or drink (I dislike both). The anesthetics symbolize something else: Weakness, flaw, mortality, neglect, loneliness, apathy, misdirection, being invisible, being an outcast, etc, are what's being symbolized and/or portrayed. I have a lot of empathy for the characters and feel drawn to keep recreating them over and over. And I will. I suppose I identify with them all too well, as would many. But never fear... there is a spark of hope, as well. Sometimes it's obvious. Sometimes not. But it's always there. That's one reason I like to use glitter in my art. It represents the spark of hope, to me. Inspiration: 1920's - 1950's celluloid, tin and plush toys, as well as cartoons and comics from the era... old folk art, especially, are great inspiration. I absolutly love this stuff. A simpler time with great music. When certain things weren't as important as they are today, and life was a lot slower. I sometimes wish I were alive in that era. It just seemed like there was more 'real' in reality. But though my artwork stems from a love and studying of those cartoons, toys and all types of folk art, my art dolls are not for little kids. My artwork is for adult children (aren't we all? whether we admit it or not). The backgrounds in old comics and cartoons are amazing. There is order in the chaos of drips, scrapes, splatters, layers and whatever else they wanted to do to create an effect unlike any other. I try to emulate something like that because it's just so cool, impactful and interesting. In a chaotic sorta way. Even in more recent cartoons like Ren and Stimpy, you'll see this type of thing still being done. The name, Broken Toys, was inspired by the book, The Velveteen Rabbit. Read it if you haven't. It's beautiful. In early 2000, the Broken Toys ragdolls were born. They are still evolving and I'm still producing them quite often. I love collecting antique buttons and other such items to use in the creation. So if you have old items like that you do not want, I'm taking donations lol. Sentimental, Old and Unwanted (can you relate? I sure can.): Old photographs are something very dear to me. I've always felt a bit of heartbreak when I see discarded old black and white photos... moments in people's lives. Why are they unwanted anymore? So I collect them, looking at them every so often as if they're from my own past. But it's kind of like walking around a graveyard. It's nice, actually, trying to imagine what kind of lives they led, what kind of people they were... if they were happy. Did they find love? Were they loved for who they were or were they alone? etc. You can usually never tell just from a pose. But the eyes hold something. And sometimes you can see it. Once in awhile, I'll use one of those photos in my art, freeing it from it's paper border to start a new life in Broken Toyland. Way Back: I have been drawing since I was able (2-3 years old). I have dabbled in just about every medium since. I prefer a combination of acrlyic and multimedia on whatever I have access to. I love doing my Broken Toys (ragdolls), too. Always have. For some reason, making ragdolls is my great esacpe. The Verdict: A long time ago, Broken Toyland officially became more than a direction, and more of a universe. This is precisely what you will find here at my website. It has literally overtaken my life. It's my career. My job. My 'verdict'. The universe of Broken Toyland is on the inside of this broken artist. But there's a crack in everything... that's how the light gets in. Creating isn't an option. It's a drive... a need. A habit I'm actually thankful for. Both a blessing, and at times, a curse. I cannot live without it. Now: I currently reside in rural north central New Mexico, after living almost my entire life in southern California. I also lived a few years in Poland. I usually keep to myself, stay home, hang out with Jaxx (my dog), cook, garden, do art and play world of warcraft (solid, since March 2010 lol). Those things are my therapy. Not much excitement, but I like it like that. Been looking to get myself out of New Mexico, for awhile... But now, more than ever. Might be out of my grasp at this point. We'll see how it goes. God willing, He'll make a way. Life can be so beautiful, if you know how to look at it the right way. That can be a real challenge, when you have severe PTSD. So my focus is on how to be thankful and truly grateful for what I have. Even if that isn't much. I thank God every single morning for waking me up to have another day to try. Sometimes it feels like a miracle. Thank YOU: To all the people who have purchased and who continue to purchase my artwork, I am very grateful for you and your support. A very special THANK YOU to my patreon supporters. Without you, I may have sank. You are genuinely appreciated. Thank you so much! Amo a mis amigos. Mis hermanas y hermanos. Recordar siempre. ...v |