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~ Michiko.com ~

BimBionic Industries - Brand building through mischievous character design
Seattle, WA

Photo Gallery

Stilettina Annika Blue Girl - this image was the subject of a controversial copyright infringement case when Camel cigarettes used it in a full-page newspaper ad campaign without permission, just momths after they were forbidden from using cartoon characters in their advertising after the Joe Camel lawsuit that resulted in the Master Settlement Agreement with several states' Attorneys General. The Blue Girl image was later redeemed through positive use in health and anti-smoking awareness campaigns such as for Seattle's Public Health Department, Honolulu's Department of Health, the American Lung Association and the Clear the Smoke campaign, culminating in a presentation at the national conference in Washington, D.C. The image is now a prominent identifier in the artists' and authors' fight against Congress's upcoming passage of the controversial and harmful Shawn Bentley "Orphan Works" bill which may be designed to strip creators of their copyrights and surreptitiously release the work of living artists into the public domain through a legal loophole. Such a bill likely violates international intellectual property treaties with other countries and would create chaos in world trade markets, yet Congress continues to consider passage of this harmful bill despite over 80 international arts and authors organizations sending in written protests of it. The passage of such a harmfully written bill (pushed hard by lobbysissts who stand to benefit from the remarketing of seized public domain original artwork and authored works) will likely put millions of small businesses out of commission at the exact time when the government is trying to stimulate the growth of small business to help rebuild the U.S. economy through this tax base. Do you enjoy owning and controlling how others use or don't use your creative work? Your writing, your drawings, your photography, your photos of your family? If suddenly your work became public domain for anyone to steal, and a new law made that legal so it is no longer stealing (yet violates international treaties the U.S. has with other countries who wish to protect their work from such theft, but once it crosses over into U.S. borders, even if by internet, such copyrights would be lost....?)...well, despite none of us wanting to get overly politically involved - phew! too busy! - doesn't this seem like one worth fighting, especially if only by helping get the word out to the press and Congress ASAP? Thank you for your help. For more information on how to oppose this bill with simple 'Click & Send' petitions that you can customize yourself (or use the provided suggested text) please get on the list at http://www.illustratorspartnership.org for regular updates when Congress goes to make its next move on considering the passage of this bill. Thank you for your interest and any assistance getting this to the news media to help spread the word about this quietly raging international controversy - thank you! "Boots" Previously seen on the cover of Ms. Sandra Ann Miller's humorous guidebook, "The Sassy Guide to Getting Over Him" available at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. (This image is part of the BimBionic ~ Perfect Girls for an Imperfect World® series of characters available for use on your t-shirts, cosmetics packaging, fashion line and events, retail products for sale) Cat (silhouette) Annika (closeup) Cowgirl - originally commissioned by PolyGram Records for their South by Southwest backstage events. Later developed into t-shirts, posters, and other product lines. Does this count towards the 15 minutes of fame? :) (Quick shot of Cowgirl as background image behind Jason Biggs in 'American Pie 2" Frankenpets® - an upcoming line of devious dolls, plush and plastic collectible figures and accessories. Prototypes in the works; seeking toy and accessories company to sponsor and launch the brand in the U.S. and overseas. Cross platform potential with animation and event tie-ins, would love to brainstorm ideas - thanks! Milan poster competition honoring Italian shoe designers. Purse made from original painting on a wood skateboard Purse made from original painting on a wood skateboard Blushing poodle BimBionic ~ Perfect Girls for an Imperfect World® (logo design) Dandelion Milan poster design (Bubblegum - Yellow Boots clothing line - large scale posters in Tokyo's Shibuya district) ThunderBetty (guerrilla sticker campaign around NYC) "99" perfume for client in Athens, Greece Wrinkled nose Sideways (Sharon with the red shoes) Skateboard deck design ("Reclining in boots") Parody tribute to sister's birthday and artist Tamara de Lempicka rolled into one. Swing - image from opening titles for Sony Pictures film 'AutoFocus' starring Greg Kinnear and Willem DaFoe Headphones/wink (Jean shorts - Yellow Boots clothing line - large scale posters in Tokyo's Shibuya district) Nurse - promo piece, cover of CafePress.com journals, t-shirts and packaging. Triangle dog Ad for Steve Madden shoes/NYC Night lights (prototypes) Lucy Falusi (Monkey grinning - t-shirt design, logo, etc.) Queenie (with crown) Laurel - handmade pillow (with help from the inkjet printer and iron-on fabric :) Long dog Cat with necklace Hovercraft 6 - character studies for a proposed Dark Horse Comic by comics author Philip Amara (author of Nevermen and Sky Ape) (Snowboarder) (Netta - t-shirt design, logo, etc.) (Unicorn in wellies - part of a mix n' match body parts book) (Pouting Deb) Kissing Fauntleroy - followup to the 'Samantha & Fauntleroy' (yawning girl with tiny man on leash) collector piece. Available on gallery prints and t-shirts, other items available through CafePress.com (open to ideas! :) Adjusting expectations in this economy... :) Geisha wig - sketchbook image Britney in "Oops!" catsuit (Part of a series of images for her concert tourbook, 2000) Gloss - inspired by Duran Duran's Medazzaland (an album I discovered years too late, but am still thrilled as heck to find it! :) Postcard book (interior art)