For generations, toys have encouraged constructive and imaginative play in kids, positively sculpting young developing minds. Toys aren’t just fun and games for kids. They can also provide inspiration for creativity within adults. For some adults, their passion for toys has even created wonderful opportunities for obtaining professional achievements and developing successful careers.
Jane Labowitch creates wonderful, intricate drawings using the classic children’s toy the Etch A Sketch, from Ohio Art. Known as “Princess Etch A Sketch,” she has had corporations engage her for sponsored projects, draws personalized commissioned requests, and attends special events and private parties to showcase her artwork. Her art has been featured on CNN, Disney Parks Blog, and MTV.
“One of my favorite things about using Etch A Sketch as an artistic medium is the unique limitations the toy has to offer,” said Labowitch. “Everything I render is created with a single line, and there is no way to erase your mistakes without starting from scratch. It’s a simple and timeless toy, and requires no batteries or fancy bells and whistles.”
Playmobil toys have been Richard Unglik’s muse since 2000 when he first began incorporating them into playful creative photography that reproduced classic artistic masterpieces. Unglik’s photographs—which have evolved through his career to now also mimic scenes from movies and television plus other memorable pop culture and historic moments—consist only of Playmobil characters, accessories, and decors enhanced by computerized special effects. Two of his most popular photographs feature images of the cover for The Beatles’ Abby Road music album and a depiction of the destruction of the Berlin Wall. He has been featured in numerous art exhibitions that have taken place in the U.S., France, England, Germany, and Switzerland. Most recently, Unglik has been utilizing his Playmobil illustrations in books, such as Journey Around the World and Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles, hoping to make a variety of topics more interesting for children to want to read about.
Chris Steininger has a dream job working as a Master Builder for The LEGO Group, where he is employed to create awe-inspiring models and sculptures made from LEGO bricks. His accomplishments have ranged from working on the basement set used in the real life sequences of The Lego Movie to building a life-sized Star Wars X-Wing fighter that was 45 feet long from wing tip to wing tip, made from 5.3 million LEGO pieces, and weighted 22 tons. Master Builder creations can be seen at LEGO Kids Fest locations or LEGOLAND parks, as well as at various community, charitable, sports, and corporate events that the brand is partnering with or supporting.
“My favorite thing about working with LEGO is the fact that there’s endless creativity in what I do,” noted Steininger. “You can build anything you can imagine. It doesn’t matter what it is, you can always figure out a way to build it with LEGO.”
As a child, when Steininger’s father would come home from work they would regularly play with LEGO bricks together. His father, Dan, enjoyed these experiences so much he used his art background and some help from a friend to get a Master Builder job with LEGO. Steininger followed in his father’s footsteps and now they are the world’s only father-son LEGO Master Builder Team. What a great story about how enjoying childhood playtime led to the development of wonderful professional careers for both a father and son.
Jane Labowitch, Richard Unglik, and Chris Steininger demonstrate that the magic of toys doesn’t end at the conclusion of childhood. Toys can continue to provide life-long inspiration and comfort to people in a variety of ways. Has there been a special toy that has made a difference in your personal or professional life?
Tim Burns blogs about the adventure of parenting from a dad’s perspective at ageekdaddy.com.
