If you’re a professional Artist, you know the hustle doesn't stop at the wall. Moving from street-level pieces or canvas work into high-end collectible art is a move a lot of writers want to make—but small production can be a barrier, either in cost or access. we solve both issues for the artists.

Between file setups, color matching on industrial materials, packaging design, and worldwide shipping, the logistics can take over your creative energy. We want to help artists by providing access and even training to use printers and fabrication tools..

We sat down with the curator of These Are Not Toys to break down how we handle the heavy lifting, and partner with artists to turn their work into limited 1:20 scale collectibles.

Q: First off, what’s the main goal when an artist collaborates with These Are Not Toys?

A: It's pretty simple by design... we remove the technical steps so the artist can focus strictly on the craft. I’m a writer too, so I know how intimidating it can be to start the process: "what are the costs, where do i go, who do i ask?"

Since starting this project I've received everything from layered professional digital files, to analog photos scanned and submitted, no two artists have the same skills, but we can step in and level the playing field for creators no matter their technical abilities. We have the skills to take almost any file type and create professional production art ready for production.

When you work with us, you bring your style, and we worry about the logistics. together we help turn your graffiti art into high-end, gallery-grade collectible assets.

Q: How does the process start once an artist comes on board?

A: It’s very easy. You just send us the artwork—whether that’s a digital piece, a scan of a sketch, or a vector. From there, I handle all the Photoshop setup and file handling in-house.

The next time you hear from me, I’m sending you mockups on different blank container colorways so you can see your piece mapped directly onto our 1:20 scale corrugated steel frames. You pick the colorway that fits your vision best, and then we head straight to testing.

We have an Artist Contract as well, ensuring that both parties recognize our rights and limits to publish and use your art. Again, as an artist, I know how much it sucks to be exploited. We never use your art without compensation or permissions granted.

Q: Talk about the production side. How do you make sure the print actually respects the original art?

A: We treat every print with as much care as an original piece of art.

We run test prints in our shop before production and then get the artists okay to ensure the vision translates accurately. were not just mass producing a sticker and slapping it on a toy. We do archival-quality printing on a functional scale model replica. Our small runs keep the value high. For me, the fact that there are only 11 of each item made, means they're rare by default. when they're gone we wont reprint them. We don't want to water down the original, just allow it to retain legacy over time after the original is gone.

Q: How much control does the artist have over the final outcome?

A: Complete creative control—we created a template, but the artists always have final okay on the print before we move to production. for example, one of our earlier artists decided to add a character beside their piece mid production. so we went back, adjusted the art and started over...the Artist is the boss at this stage. Its important for us that the artist gets to control their IP. We provide the framework, but ultimately its up the the artist how they want their art to look.

We also encourage artists to break the standard template. If you want art printed on both sides, a full-bleed wrap that includes a background, or custom box tags like BG 183 suggested with his Nike-inspired tag, we make it happen. Before anything goes live, you also get final eyes on the product listings and ad copy. 

Q: What does the final collectible package actually look like for the market?

A: You’re getting a market-ready asset built for serious art collectors.

Each drop features a heavyweight 1:20 scale corrugated steel container with functional working doors and internal storage space. We run ultra-limited editions—capped at just 11 units worldwide. Each unit comes with a certificate of authenticity and is packaged in a custom printed display box complete with numbered edition tags. It’s a clean, industrial presentation that holds real value.

Q: What’s the bigger vision for These Are Not Toys moving forward?

A:  We’ve already been lucky enough to drop container prints with heavy hitters like Bates, along with a solid list of writers like Skam, Hope, Case, and Remio.  We want to keep expanding this roster— eventually doing classic crew drops (imagine an entire FX crew set or SUK set!! ), city-specific collections, and curated crossovers with iconic graffiti events and streetwear brands.

the final form of our vision is the make it last event. where we will host writers to paint at live events and create an experience based product for the attendees... I cant say much more yet, but its going to be epic.

Ready to Partner Up?

If you’re an established writer who is focused on your craft and ready to enter the high-end collectible market, we built this platform for you.

Hit us directly via our contact form—let’s talk about building your next legacy asset.