ummmm.......THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
over 7 years ago – Mon, Oct 03, 2016 at 02:14:53 PM

WOW! That was intense! I will shoot a little thank you video as soon as I am not so wigged out but I did just want to give a quick thanks first. 

To be honest, I thought that we would hit the initial $15,555 goal by then end of the campaign and if we were lucky, a little more. I really had NO IDEA it would blow up like that. 

I really can't thank you all enough. I hope that the free shirts and oil sketches help do that for people who donated to the appropriate tiers....and the show, of course! That's the coolest part- you all came together to give everybody who can make it to Copro on Oct 15th an amazing FREE interactive art show! You are my heroes!

I will give more info and thanks in my update video but for now, please accept my heartfelt thank yous to each and every person who supported this project. 

THANK YOU!!!!

OK, I am going to try and take a nap.

Chet

"What's next, what's the score...?"
over 7 years ago – Mon, Oct 03, 2016 at 02:14:50 PM

We are moving right along, with barely two weeks to finalize a host of items in preparation for the Solo Show at Copro Gallery, October 15th, 2016! Chet has disappeared into his "painting cave" to lay down final touches on the masterpieces (updated images below), and I am juggling the "Kickstarter clean-up". First and foremost I would like to once again THANK YOU all for both your support, and your patience! While Kickstarter campaigns are exciting and fun, they can also be a bit tiresome, with all the advertising and marketing flooding the feed, so thank you again for sharing the project, and putting up with an endless barrage of DY5TOPIA ads! 

We will be focusing exclusively on preparing for the DY5TOPIA Solo Show for the next two weeks, but shortly thereafter look in your email inboxes for a "BackerKit" communication. For those who are new to the Kickstarter process, and/or the reward fulfillment side of things, Chet and I have begun using BackerKit. This interface allows us to efficiently handle reward fulfillment, confirming add-on rewards, and provide opportunities for new add-on's. One feature, for those who purchased add-on's, is the Backer Kit "credit": you will see the additional amount that you included for your add-on as a credit, and will be allowed to use the "virtual shop" to either confirm your existing add-on, or change your mind and purchase something else. This was a huge success on the last Kickstarter, and believe it will be this round too! 

In addition to add-on opportunities, BackerKit will also allow us to send you surveys (much like Kickstarter) where you will provide accurate shipping information, sizing information and much more. I will update all Backers here before sending anything from BackerKit, but please remember to keep a look out! 

We are super excited about the DY5TOPIA Solo Show, and will now turn our collective attention to making it worthy of YOU - the Zarmy, without whom it would not have happened!!!

$55,555 Stretch in 5 Days!!!
over 7 years ago – Sat, Sep 24, 2016 at 11:54:17 AM

DY5TOPIA only has 5 days left, so if we can stretch the campaign to $55,555 ALL Backers, "Gas Mask" ($25) reward tier and up, will receive a FREE "Monochromatic Oil Sketch"! 

We both recognize that reaching $55,555 in 5 days is a tall order, which is precisely why Chet is busting out the big guns! Chet has never offered a series of Monochromatic Oil Sketches before, and as it stands with no new Backers he would have to produce 110! This will be no small task, especially because we expect some late joiners. Nevertheless, Chet is committed to doing as many of these Monochromatic Oil Sketches as he must, in order to make the DY5TOPIA Solo Show as amazing as it can be! 

A little art history, as explained by Chet himself, 

"A monochromatic oil sketch is basically in between a thumbnail pencil sketch and an oil study. The monochromatic oil sketch is about finding out the values, which means the different shades of darks and lights, so color is not considered at this stage. These will be painted on 5x7" panel, just like I do with my color studies. They are kind of a "pre study" painting without the color.". 

Chet also took time recently to discuss both the Field Guide and the Solo Show with Zarmy member Andrew Hawkins, for Fandom! This exciting interview will give you even greater insight into what the DY5TOPIA Solo Show entails: DY5TOPIA Fandom Interview

In addition, we are posting two new rewards: the DY5TOPIA Magnet for $15 (Title: "The Bat Escapes"), and a mystery item from Chet's studio for $50 (Title: "?"). The DY5TOPIA Magnet is based on the frame-corner design, which will be on all of the DY5TOPIA Solo Show paintings. The mystery item will be something Chet has chosen from the numerous curiosities in his studio. If you would like to "add-on" the "The Bat Escapes" or "?", just message us; similarly if you would like a custom tier, we can create one for you! Last but not least, "One Eyed Jack 2" (oil study) has become available once again, just in case you are interested! 

Please help us share the short link for the last 5 days: http://kck.st/2bR42Gx and together we can push DY5TOPIA to $55,555, unlocking the Monochromatic Oil Sketch to "Gas Mask" and up!!!

Thank you all for your support, and Long Live the Zarmy! 

Preview of DY5TOPIA Props & How Add-On's Work
over 7 years ago – Wed, Sep 21, 2016 at 10:30:18 PM

Chet recently received some excited progress pictures of props for the DY5TOPIA Solo Show at Copro Gallery, October 15th, 2016! Amazing work is being perpetrated by a host of incredible artist and professionals at Figment Foundry, including the talents of Lee Shamel, James and Tayler Brown, Ben Schwenk, Stephanie Bartlowe and Hope Erickson! Below you can take a sneak peek at what will prove to be a groundbreaking Dark Art installation and exhibition! 

I also wanted to take a moment to explain how "add-on's" work. When you remain at the same reward tier, but "manage your pledge" and "increase your pledge", you can include other reward items. For instance, if you wanted to pledge at the "Gas Mask" tier ($25, DY5TOPIA t-shirt) but also wanted to get "The Bat Escapes" ($15, Magnet), you would stay at Gas mask, and increase your pledge by $15. You would be pledging $40, for a $25 reward tier. Later, once the project is complete and we begin sending surveys to Backers through BackerKit, you will have an opportunity to confirm your add-on selection and/or change your add-on selection. We will remind you around the time we sends the surveys, because you will see a "credit" which will be applied to your chosen add-on. If you have any questions, or would like a custom tier built, feel free to message us!

We are nearly complete, with only 70 hours left and still more than $10K to reach the $55,555 stretch goal, unlocking the "Monochromatic Oil Sketch" to all Backers $25 and up! Please help spread the word, and long live the Zarmy! http://kck.st/2bR42Gx

Add-On Items
over 7 years ago – Tue, Sep 20, 2016 at 04:31:45 PM

Quick tidbit of info: if you would like to add an item on to your existing reward tier, remain at the same tier, use the "manage my pledge" option, and increase your pledge "amount" by the appropriate number.

If you are unsure of how much to increase by, message us and we will assist! Thank you for your support; we are getting closer to the stretch goal already!