Shawnimals
Contents
Biography
Shawn "Shawnimal" Smith was born in Joliet, IL in 1975. Back then he was interested in G.I. Joe, Kermit the Frog, drawing pictures and playing video games. In fact, he still is! He worked at Electronic Gaming Monthly magazine from 1995 - 2000 as a video game and hardware reviewer. Though he produced art during this period, he decided to leave his job and go back to school to make art full time. It was there Shawnimals were born – in a town called Normal, IL.
Shawn started Shawnimals in 2001 with wife Jennifer Brody after becoming disenchanted with the droves of sketchbooks he had lying around, with characters that may not have been used otherwise. "Why not make plush versions of these simple-shaped characters?" Shawnimals continues to grow in popularity, receiving press in Entertainment Weekly, New York Times, Chicago Sun-Times, MTV.com and many others.
He continues his studio practice, and is actively exhibiting all over the country. More than focused on being a painter, drawer, sculptor or designer, he tries simply to be as creative as possible in whatever medium he's working in, and often relies heavily on a narrative and whimsical characters.
Solo Shows
- Summer of Stealth, 2014
- Keep It Ninja 2, 2011
- Keep It Ninja, 2008
Designed Toy Releases
These are toys designed by Shawn.
- Wee Ninja
- Wee Devil
- Pocket Pork
- Moustachio
- Ninjatown
- Ninjatown Micro Plush
- Wee Sticker
- Snuggle Lumps
- Professor Fliggins
- Chicago Dog
- Plushform
Toy Series Participation
These are toys Shawn has lent his design skills to.
- 10-Doh! - 3.5" Artist Series 2, 2013
- Android - 3" "Wee Ninja", Series 4, 2013
- 10-Doh! - 3.5" Holiday Edition Ninjatown, 25 pieces, 2013
- Dunny - 3" Series 2009, 2009
Customs
These are one off toys by Shawn.
- Piece(s) for Tiny Trifecta, 2014
- Piece(s) for Tiny Trifecta, 2013
- Piece(s) for Gift Wrapped, 2013
- Piece(s) for Lucha Libre, 2012
- Piece(s) for Scary Girl - 10 Year Anniversary Exhibition, 2012
- Piece(s) for Adventure Time, 2012
- Piece(s) for Super Button Mashers, A Gamer Tribute, 2012
- "Open Wide" for Tiny Trifecta, 2012
- Plush for Stuff This! Plush Group Show, 2011
- Plush for Plush-O-Rama, 2011
- Wood Rayola - custom for Shades of Ray, 2011
- Piece(s) for Tiny Trifecta, 2011
- Plush for Stuff This! Plush Group Show, 2010/2011
- Custom for Natural Resources 3, 2010
- Yoka - 3" "Sick Monster" custom for the Custom Yoka Show, 2010
- Sketchbot - custom for the Sketchbot Custom Show V2, 2010
- Munny - Custom for the Munnyworld Toy Exhibition, 2009
- Vadar Helmet for the The Vadar Project, 2009
- Munny - custom for 30 Customs by 30 Friends, 2009
- Piece for We Need Each Other, 2008
- Plush for Stuff This! Plush Group Show, 2008
- Sharky - custom for ToyQube's 4th Anniversary Show, 2008
- House of Liu - 6" Custom, for the House of Liu Custom Show, 2008
- BUD - 9" "Diseased Tomato" for This BUD's For You, 2008
- Moneygrip - custom for the Get a Grip show, 2008
- Plush for Plush Week 2, 2007
- Vadar custom for The Vadar Project, 2007
- Zliks - 19" Totem, for the Attack of the Zliks, 2007
- Qee - 10" DIY Bart Qee for the DIY Bart Qee World Tour, 2007
- Piece for Stuffed, Plush Food Show, 2007
- Teddy Troop - 10" custom for Teddy Troop Invasion, 2006
- BUD - for The Bomb Project, 2006
- Plush for Plush Week, 2006
- Piece(s) for I am 8-Bit, 2006
- Funny Club - 4" custom for The Funny Club Show, 2005
Images
Production Pieces
Professor Fliggins’s Sausage Cadet
Dunny Series 2009
10-Doh! Holiday Ninjatown
Android Series 4
Customs
19" Totem Zliks
Munnyworld Custom
30 Customs Munny
Get a Grip Custom
Teddy Troop Custom
Yoka Custom
Diseased Tomato BUD
DIY Bart Qee
for Shades of Ray
Other Art
for Tiny Trifecta 2012
for Tiny Trifecta 2012
for Tiny Trifecta 2012
