LOS ANGELES — It’s time to get in the Christmas spirit and iam8bit, a shop specializing in pop culture in Echo Park, is getting ready for their 6th Annual Handmade Ornament Art Show. This is artist Dylan Tupts 4th year participating.

“I look forward to every year because it gives me a reason to get my hands dirty, you know, learn new tricks and crafts things that I'm interested in and I think other people would be interested in,” said Dylan Tupts.

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Also known as Count Dunula, Dylan is originally from Frankfort, Kentucky, but moved to Los Angeles in 2013 lured of the animation industry. He learned to get around by driving an ice cream truck. 

“Growing up, I was always really into Dragon Ball Z and then whenever I got older, I got into the Fleischer Brother films like Betty Boop and Popeye thanks to my dad. He was a big fan of those as well,” said Tupts.

 

 

You can say pop culture is in Count Dunula’s blood, so getting the chance to work with IAm8Bit is on brand. Millennials are increasingly inspired by video games, YouTube and retro animations, so having his artwork for sale at a gallery keeps Dylan moving forward. 

“I have a huge love for video games, specifically Nintendo,” said Tupts. “I remember sitting in my brother's room on a small CRTV with our Nintendo plugged up playing the original Donkey Kong, getting infuriated, losing constantly but still loving it.”

And that’s what the holidays are all about: family. Co-owner Amanda White started the handmade ornament tradition to give artists more than just an opportunity.

“This is one of our favorite ornaments this year, Baby Yoda,” pointed out Amanda White. “We love doing this show because we get to showcase so many cool artists that a lot of people don’t get to see. And we also love the idea of turning the holidays on their heads a little bit by giving unknown artists a showcase in a forum for presenting their work and kind of escaping the mass consumerism that the holidays generally present to people.”

And it’s not all about presents, is it?

“Christmas growing up for me was always, you know, the time of year that you look forward to the most,” said Tupts. “You get to spend time with your family. We would all wake up early on Christmas morning and open presents and explain why we got what gift for each person and the thought they went into it.”

Time to get started on your holiday shopping and put some thought into it.