With a trusty pack of 64 colors, Eastside artist and designer Tony Whlgn crafted the art for the new Crayola Detrola.
The Crayola Detrola by Shinola is a tribute to the emerging artist in all of us.
From crayons to pencils, finger paints to markers—especially the washable kind—nothing gives wings to imagination like quite like a pack of Crayola colors.
To create one-of-a-kind artwork for the Crayola Detrola packaging, Shinola partnered with Antonio “Tony Whlgn” (Hoo-li-gan) Robinson. Born and raised in eastside Detroit, Tony is a multimedia visual artist who has never stopped coloring on the walls.
“Art is the number one constant in my life,”
“Art is the number one constant in my life,” Whlgn explained on a recent trip to his Detroit studio. As a self-described art-school dropout turned creative entrepreneur, he pursued his passion from New York to California and from the fashion scene to the music scene. Keen eyes will recognize his signature style from community revitalization murals and thoughtful, intentional partnerships with brands like Vans.
In 2009, Tony and friends co-founded Detroit art and design firm the Whlgn®—We, Humans, Love to Give & Nurture. Part think tank, part art collective, the Whlgn® provides resources to Detroit youth so they can bridge the gap between their passions and their net worth. Through mentorship, inspiration, and exposure, the Whlgn® encourages sustainable creative entrepreneurial careers.
THE MANTRA IS SIMPLE:
We do what we love, because we love what we do.
It’s a philosophy Whlgn’s mother planted in him from a young age, supporting and nurturing
his gifts. His life’s work is now dedicated to unleashing imagination in others. And now that
Whlgn is a father himself, it’s a message that’s truly come full circle.
Crayola sent Whlgn a package of all the art supplies he and his son would need to create
together. While his young son Cain is still getting the hang of crayon-hand coordination, it
came rushing back with ease to Whlgn.
“As I played with the crayons and colored pencils, some of the techniques I had—even as a
kid—came back to me,” he mused.
“I would lay down a color in crayon, flake a little off, put some pencil down on top to give it a little shine.”
The result is a vibrant, energetic piece of art inspired by his family and friends. Catch the
pink alligator, a B.I.G. nod to Detroit—and an imaginative representation of fatherhood in
the A.
Catch the original artwork on the packaging of the Crayola Detrola, now available.
And keep up with Tony and the Whlgn® crew at toneytonytone.com and on Instagram.
Official Licensed Product © 2021 Crayola