TTC Beard
Time for another TTC Meets! This time we meet Harlow Bear AKA Andrea Kang to ask a few questions and get the insight in to some previous work and maybe some new items… so, lets crack on with some questions shall we?
TTC: First up, tell us who you are, what you do and how folk can find you on social media…
Andrea: I’m a freelance illustrator and toy maker. I do a range of things like designing and customizing toys, illustration work and fine art commissions. You can find me on Instagram (@harlow_bear) + Twitter (@harlow_bear) or on my FB page: www.facebook.com/andreakangart
TTC: How did you first get in to working on Designer Toy platforms? What would you say was your favourite platform to work on?
Andrea: I actually started working on designer toy platforms collaboratively with artist Nathan Jurevicius under a collective we used to have called ‘Harley & Boss’. We did a few together and then I just kept at it. My favorite so far would have to be the “Bedtime Bears” that I did with artist Peter Kato. It was nice to have the opportunity to design and modify some parts of the platform itself, e.g like the head. It was fun working with Peter and also satisfying to see some of my signature bear characters transform into 3D figures.
TTC: Tell us all about how you came about to work with Peter Kato on the awesome Bedtime Bears?
Andrea: Peter and I have know each other for years now. One day we threw around the idea of possibly collaborating on a project together for NYCC 2015. Thought that
a perfect way to do that would be to create a new figure that blended his adorable Bedtime Bunnies with some of my signature bear characters.
TTC: Any other production pieces for Harlow Bear in the near future?
Andrea: Possibly a couple, but too early in the process to give any details…you’ll have to wait and see 🙂
TTC: Hey so it was great to hang out whilst The Toy Chronicle in NYC last year for NYCC and the Designer Toy Awards. We have an obvious highlight, but what was yours from that trip?
Andrea: There was a handful of them. Think out of everything, catching up with old friends and making new ones was my favorite!
TTC: What are your plans for 2016? Any shows we need to be aware of? How about a trip to London for ToyConUK?
Andrea: Lot’s of different projects planned for the year. I have a solo show coming up in June on the west coast…I also recently set up my online shop that I’ll be trying to push more, here’s the link: shop.andreakang.com Was planning on attending Pictoplasma in Berlin again as well which is always an amazing time. London would be awesome too, though not sure if I’ll make ToyConUK this year, but you never know!
Many many thanks for your time, Andrea! We love your work and appreciate you spending time to answer our questions. Hopefully we’ll get to see you again at NYCC!
Go check out Andrea on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook.
