If you’ve been waffling on making the move from collectible vinyl toys to collectible metal toys, here’s an incentive: FullyVisual, the one-man metal-casting operation of Jamie Mathis is having a sale. Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. EST today, select figures will be discounted by up to 50%. FullyVisual has meticulously replicated signature characters by Frank Kozik, Buff Monster, Joe Ledbetter, Huck Gee, Gary Baseman and Luke Chueh, all with the artists’ input. The original figures were sold in editions of 99 silver with one randomly packed gold. Recently, FullyVisual kicked off a new range of mini-figures in silver, gold, nickel and black copper with a series by Amanda Visell.

Has the current state of the economy got you down? If so, there is one thing that universally brings nothing but pure joy to everyone — clowns. Luckily, Corey Helford Gallery in Los Angeles is debuting an new exhibit on November 15th (running through November 29) titled “CLOWNS!” The show features reinterpreted works inspired by the classic American clown painting. The show will feature an unprecedented lineup of artists including Gary Baseman, Shag, Tokidoki, Colin Christian, Dave Kinsey, Chris Anthony, Natalia Fabia, Buff Monster, Joe Ledbetter, Audrey Kawasaki, and many more. Also, Corey Helford Gallery teamed up with London’s StolenSpace Gallery to feature some of the U.K.’s hottest new artists, including D*Face, Chloe Early, Word To Mother, and Will Barras. Do you think this is funny … does it amuse you? Well it should.

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If you’ve got, say, $1,500 lying around and count artists Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup, Frank Kozik and Jeff Soto amongst your heroes, you’re probably already registered for this weekend’s Baby Tattooville gathering happening in Riverside, California. Around 100 diehard fans with golden tickets are paying for the super-rare opportunity to hobnob with a dozen artists including the aforementioned heavyweights and if it’ll be anything like I’m imagining, a lot of people will be walking around in wet pants from all that excitement. The registration fee covers hotel fare, workshops, seminars, socials, demos and the best goodie bag in the world, stuffed with exclusive everything: a Luke Chueh original drawing (he’ll take requests), signed and numbered prints, a giclee featuring attending artists, books by Mark Murphy and a gazillion other covetable pieces and merchandise. Together, those are probably worth more than the entry fee itself. There are still spaces left, so register soon if you want to claim a spot.

Sao Paulo’s equivalent to Kid Robot is Plastik, which houses a toy heaven for adults. Besides being ground zero for the toys we’ve come to adore and obsess over (plus a few more not known outside the country yet), the store also has as a gallery space located on the second floor that’s accessed by a perilous, winding staircase. The Munny Exhibit just opened here, and as the namesake implies, it stars Kid Robot’s customizable Munny figure. The store distributed three dozen Munnys to Brazilian tastemakers – fashion designers, graffiti artists, art directors, DJs, illustrators, just to name a few – and gave them free reign to do whatever they wanted with their doll. The whole crazy lot is now on display. Gary Baseman, who was just in town last week, kicked off the opening. Check out more photos from the exhibit after the jump…

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BA-Reps, an illustration agency based in New York launched a limited edition collection of designer toys last week by artist Tristan Eaton, Gary Baseman, Stephen Bliss, Dave Needham, and Andrew Rae. This collection is an addition to the popular Thundermutt Series and is particularly special in that each of the 100 figurines have an added bonus, a hand made or hand painted object that has been inserted into the hollow heads of each little figure. One artist stuffed their Thundermutt's noggin' with hand painted bottle caps, another with hand painted peanuts, one set even includes glass vials of captured rain water straight from the NYC skies! This, the 14th series in the Thundermutt lineage should prove to be of the most detailed and personal, if not the most unique, sets of toys ever crafted by Thunderdog Studios Inc. The project will be released in two waves, the first was September 29th at Neo Studios NYC (628 Broadway, between Houston and Bleeker), and you can look for the second release in February 2007. Only 50 pieces will be available to the public with the remaining being reserved for the Mutt Club. Full flyer after the jump!

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