Heavy Heart

Born in northern Illinois, Daniel Elson has made props and animatronics for spook houses and theme parks, co-starred on a reality television series for history channel about torture, and sold the rights to his likeness to Cartoon Network. Clients include Disney, Playboy, The Tonight Show, Rockstar Energy Drink and "Screech" from Saved by the Bell. He now exhibits "fine art" internationally and works limited hours in Columbus College of Art and Design's basement. His paintings and sculptures can be found in the private collections of Kevin Smith, Pete Wentz, and Ashlee Simpson. 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.