oritoy – Tourmaline .

2017, A Look Back

Tourmaline ., The barn went swirling up in little red pieces against the sky and the stars moved backward., 2017

Over the years my creative process has changed. As of late, I’ve been focusing on longer form photo series, as well as life outside of my artistic practice. And as I consider where I want my art to go from here, I’m reminded of pieces I’ve created in the past. Lately I’ve been enamored by my 2017 work.

You have to understand that this is not normal for me. I tend to create, be proud of what I create for a bit, then heavily dislike whatever it is for awhile. Eventually I’ll settle back into a level appreciation, but always feel like I could do better. Overall, I think this is a good creative drive, but it’s also a good feeling to legitimately feel proud of what you’ve made.

From changing my artist name, creating book covers, youtubing, being a part of gallery shows and publications, to the beginning of my vitamin deficiency struggle and pulling away from blog challenges and zine publishing, 2017 was quite the year on all sides of the spectrum.

In any case, here I present my favorite images I created in 2017, in order of creation.

Let me know what you think in a comment below. Maybe I’ll do some other look backs soon. :)

Continue reading “2017, A Look Back”

Monachopis Finale

The final installment of Monachopis is here. These are my original 10 shots made for this series. 8 of which can be found in Exclu issue 3. Because of this, if you’ve been vaguely following the story line, these are a bit out of place.

From the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, monachopis means ‘the subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place.’

You can view the rest of the series in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5.

Thank you so much for following along. You will be seeing these figures again in new work soon.

Monachopis Part 5

Hi everyone,

I’ve been working on a new series that I call ‘Monachopis.’ From the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, monachopis means ‘the subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place.’ You can read more about this series and see 8 exclusive images from the shoot in Exclu issue 3. I’ll be posting images from this series twice daily on instagram – you can follow along here.

I hope you enjoy learning a bit more about the ideas behind these images and the items within them. The images below don’t have as many story-like captions as some have in previous posts, but hopefully you’ll get the idea and further captions are to come.

**These images tell a story in a sense, so I encourage you to visit Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 before perusing the below.

Fashion Polly waterbottle, Lil Bratz pencil, Acid Rain Taste of Coffee journal, World Peacekeepers crate and building

World Peacekeepers crates, Fashion Polly bags, dollhouse can

“Over here!”

Acid Rain Demian figure (from Taste of Coffee set), off-brand plastic jeep hand weathered

Cut twigs, World Peacekeepers Military Urban Battlefield

Acid Rain Demian figure (from Taste of Coffee set)

Plastic DnD figure

3D printed chair, misc. dollhouse cans, Acid Rain King figure’s submachine gun

Acid Rain King figure, dollar store 1:18 scale kayak

early 2000s Dollar Tree dollhouse baby body, Acid Rain gas mask head, Rement Pose Skeleton child, quarter machine robot, misc. plastic doll

GI Joe 50th Anniversary Zombie Patrol

Star Wars Episode I Anakin Skywalker Tatooine figure, Maurader’s Inc. gas mask, Acid Rain King figure

GI Joe 3rd Wave Lady Jaye figure, misc. cloak, Maurader’s Inc. gas Mask, World Peacekeepers Military Urban Battlefield and crate

“Friend or foe?”

Indiana Jones Deluxe German Soldier motorcycle, GI Joe Zartan Master of Disguise

Acid Rain Bob, Demian, set and accessories (from Taste of Coffee set)

“We’ll make due boy.”

Acid Rain Bob (from Taste of Coffee set), Rement Pose Skeleton crutch, misc. dog, 3D printed furniture

Monachopis Part 4

Hi everyone,

**These images tell a story in a sense, so I encourage you to visit Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 before perusing the below.

Acid Rain Forseti Viking Shield figure

Acid Rain Demian figure (from Taste of Coffee set), World Peacekeepers Military Urban Battlefield, Squintbox candle, misc. fabric

He promised we would never starve. He never promised the food would be good.

Acid Rain Bob and Demian figures (from Taste of Coffee set), 1:24 room box kit plates and cups, weathered candle lid (table), 3D printed bunk bed, misc. fabric, shaved cork (food)

Acid Rain Bob figure and journal (from Taste of Coffee Set), Lil Bratz pencil, 3D printed bunk bed, misc. fabric

Acid Rain Bob figure (from Taste of Coffee set), Mauraders Inc. laddar, cardboard

Acid Rain Bob figure (from Taste of Coffee set), 3D printed chair and crate, misc. dollhouse accessories, Lil Bratz Locker, 1:12 scale puppy

Acid Rain Demian figure (from Taste of Coffee set), string, cut glove (gas mask), 1:12 scale puppy

World Peacekeepers Military Urban Battlefield and motorbike

1:12 scale puppy, cut glove (gas mask), Rement Pose Skeleton dog

Rement Pose Skeleton cat

Monachopis Part 3

Hi everyone,

I hope you enjoy learning a bit more about the ideas behind these images and the items within them.

**These images tell a story in a sense, so I encourage you to visit Part 1 and Part 2 before perusing the below.

What’s out here isn’t what we hoped for. The desolation spreads as far as we’ve managed to travel.

Acid Rain Bob figure (from Taste of Coffee set), World Peacekeepers Military Urban Battlefield

Barbie shovel, 3D printed crate, Lil Bratz locker, misc model barrel, basket, traffic cones, etc.

Acid Rain Demian, King and Argus figures, Mauraders Inc gas mask

Death is everywhere.

Rement Pose Skeleton Adult 2, skull bead

Acid Rain Argus figure

We find ways to spend the time.

Computer printed playing cards, 1:24 scale set cups, candle lid (table), arm of Acid Rain Demian figure (from Taste of Coffee set)

Acid Rain Argus figure, World Peacekeepers Military Urban Battlefield

Acid Rain Demian figure(from Taste of Coffee set), World Peacekeepers Military Urban Battlefield, World Peacekeepers backpack (from Military Life Camping set), Squintbox candle, misc. fabric

Acid Rain King figure

Acid Rain Demian figure(from Taste of Coffee set), World Peacekeepers Military Urban Battlefield, World Peacekeepers backpack (from Military Life Camping set), Squintbox candle, misc. fabric

Monachopis Part 2

Hi everyone,

I hope you enjoy learning a bit more about the ideas behind these images and the items within them.

**These images tell a story in a sense, so I encourage you to visit Part 1 before perusing the below.

Even leaders have to sleep sometimes. But it’s not a very restful sleep. Not here.

Acid Rain Bob figure (from a Taste of Coffee set), fabric blanket, handmade pillow, 3D printed bed

World Peacekeepers tent, Acid Rain Bob figure (from a Taste of Coffee set)

What we call home.

3D printed bunk beds, fabric blankets, Fashion Polly shoes

There are so many strange things here.

Metal DND figure

We have become friendly with those we can. But danger is always near

Plastic DND figure

A temporary shelter in the midst of exploration.

World Peacekeepers tent and fire (modified with an led light), wooden bead log, Acid Rain Bob figure (from a Taste of Coffee set)

Away.

3D printed chair and crates, dollhouse food cans

Prepared to go alone.

Acid Rain King figure, World Peacekeepers backpack and tent

We stockpile what we can.

Dollhouse food cans, 3D printed chair

What else is out there?

Acid Rain Demian figure (from a Taste of Coffee set), misc. O scale model cardboard building

Monachopis Part 1

Hi everyone,

I hope you enjoy learning a bit more about the ideas behind these images and the items within them.

Here are this week’s images and a bit about how I made them.

All outside images were shot using play sand for the terrain, printed gradient for the background and a fog machine for the atmosphere. The adult figures in all shots are from the 1:18 scale (3.75 inches tall) Acid Rain line by Kit Lau/Oritoy. The interior images, for the most part are backlit and photographed through textured transparency film. I will be sharing a behind the scenes post later on for more details on the objects within the scenes – I’ve also included some details below.

The world of Monachopis leads to a strange existance. Out of place, out of mind, we exist day by day, unsure of what is to come. This place we temporarily call home is the basement of a bombed out building.

Here a figure climbs the ladder that leads to the outdoors. Acid Rain Demian figure (from the Taste of Coffee set), Maurader’s laddar, Mega Construx chain, Lil Bratz locker.

“In a world like this, you find friends anywhere you can.”

This world is a barren wasteland, full of fog and sand for miles and miles. The air isn’t right and we have to wear gas masks to get through it. Strange creatures roam about. Most are friendly. Some are not.

Here a little girl shares her robot toy with a real robot. Hand made polymer and air dry clay large robot, quarter machine small robot, early 2000s Dollar Tree dollhouse baby body, Acid Rain gas mask head.

“Our days are numbered.”

Acid Rain bombed gas mask head.

“Over everything we swore to protect her.”

Acid Rain Argus figure, early 2000s Dollar Tree dollhouse baby body with Acid Rain gas mask head.

“Our leader. His chair. You take the good that comes.”

Acid Rain Bob figure (from the Taste of Coffee set), 3D printed arm chair & crates, Fashion Polly water bottle, dollhouse canned food.

“Don’t think about how it got here, she’ll love it now, that’s all that matters.”

Acid Rain King figure, Fashion Polly bear toy.

“And here it will stay.”

3D printed crate, Fashion Polly bear toy, Lil Bratz soccer ball, worry doll and misc dollhouse bear.

“Always by the wall. Always with that toy.”

Cardboard wall, quarter machine robot, early 2000s Dollar Tree dollhouse baby body with Acid Rain gas mask head.

“The best available.”

3D printed bunk bed, quarter machine robot, dollhouse baby mat, fabric.

“Chin up kid.”

Maurader’s gas mask, Acid Rain Demian figure (from the Taste of Coffee set), cardboard wall/sidewalk, quarter machine robot, early 2000s Dollar Tree dollhouse baby body with Acid Rain gas mask head.