Trick or Treat

Mixed media tends to refer to a work of visual art that combines various traditionally distinct visual art media. For example, a work on canvas that combines paint, ink, and collage could properly be called a "mixed media" work. When creating a painted or photographed work using mixed media it is important to choose the layers carefully and allow enough drying time between the layers to ensure the final work will have integrity. If many different media are used it is equally important to choose a sturdy foundation upon which the different layers are imposed. Many interesting effects can be achieved by using mixed media. Often, found objects are used in conjunction with traditional artist media, such as paints and graphite, to express a meaning in the everyday life. In this manner, many different elements of art become more flexible than with traditional artist media. Resin casting is a method of plastic casting where a mold is filled with a liquid synthetic resin, which then hardens. It is primarily used for small-scale production like industrial prototypes and dentistry. It can be done by amateur hobbyists with little initial investment, and has been appropriated for the production of collectible toys, models and figures, as well as small-scale jewelry production. The synthetic resin for such processes is a monomer for making a plastic thermosetting polymer. During the setting process, the liquid monomer polymerizes into the polymer, thereby hardening into a solid. Polymer clay is a versatile, synthetic modeling medium that remains soft and pliable until baked, allowing for easy shaping and creation of various crafts, jewelry, and sculptures. Zard Apuya was born-and-raised on the island of Guam and is now based in San Diego, CA. He's a designer toy artist whose creations are a delectable fusion of imagination and gastronomy. Drawing inspiration from the tantalizing world of food, Zard crafts whimsical toys that are as delicious to the eyes as they are to the imagination. From quirky food-inspired characters to iconic dishes reimagined in toy form, his work celebrates the joy of indulgence and the magic of culinary creativity. Michelle Delgado and Gino Ybarra, a wife and husband art duo. As full time artists, we specialize in various forms of designer toys, such as: customizing toys for gallery shows, making original character resin toys, and most recently, having some designs made in vinyl with several toy producers such as Strangecat Toys, Clutter Studios, and MERRY GO ROUND Toys. With strive to continue our strong focus on interacting with the toy community, and can be found often on live social platforms talking about toys, showing the painting and sculpting process, as well as selling. We are excited to be opening up a brick and mortar location in the heart of Downtown El Paso because we not only love the vast toy community, we also love our local community and want to bring the world of designer toys to them. This new chapter also means we will have dedicated gallery space to continue to host group and solo shows. Thank you all for the years of love and support, and we hope to see you in the new shop soon!