I have always been a tea person, so when I saw the Lunartik in a Cup of Tea figure by Matt JOnes I knew one would wiggle its way into my collection eventually. However, I thought that their colors were a bit plain, and was on the fence as to whether or not I was going to purchase one. Then I saw what people were doing with this platform — its simple design is fantastic for customizing. As luck would have it, I managed to snag this beautiful custom Lunartik by Squidnik a few weeks ago and have been drooling over it ever since it arrived at my door. The paint job is just beautiful, and the expression on his face is to die for. 

 Hit the jump to see why Squidnik is my new favorite person!

The best thing about this piece is the paint job — it is practically flawless, so much so that it looks like a production piece. Some customs are obviously hand-painted, and have at least minor flaws. Thankfully, the paint is almost perfect on this guy! There are a few bumps here and there, but they don't distract from the overall effect of the piece. He is also insanely adorable, which is always a plus. I love the balance between his curious face and the adorable grin on the cup. It keeps him from being overly cutesy while still retaining a sense of whimsy. 

Probably my favorite part of this piece is the face on the cup. The expression is so lively and energetic, and the colors work perfectly together. Brown figures often end up rather dead-looking, but the splashes of pink and white really bring this guy to life. The lines are crisp and clean, and the small details like the pink cheeks and the scalloping on the bottom of the cup really make this piece pop. The little bumps in the paint are most obvious here, but as you can see they are very small, and when he is displayed they are nearly impossible to see. And in case you were wondering why he is called "Hyper Yum Yum"...

His name is on the back of the cup, and I really couldn't think of a better title for this little guy. I wish there was a way to actually drink out of him! The hanging balloons (or whatever they may be) add a lot to the rather simple design of this figure. Again, the lines and circles here are perfectly straight and clean. The overall details are just so perfectly executed, which is especially difficult to accomplish on a hand-painted piece.

The hanging balloons extend along the side of the head as well as the cup. As you can see, the head is actually two colors, a mocha on the top and a creamier brown on the bottom. I can't help but use tasty descriptions for the colors — he really looks good enough to eat!

Because Hyper Yum Yum lives in a teacup, I thought it would be best to have him displayed in the kitchen. He seems a bit confused about how we make tea, but perhaps he is just worried that the hot water is going to be poured on him next. 

Apparently tea does not get along well with coffee. I'd side with the tea on this one — spoons can be pretty dangerous weapons if used correctly!

Dinner is served! Tea, dumplings, and cupcakes — what could be a more delicious meal?

Finally, time for cleanup! The cupcake seems to be horrified about the whole ordeal, but Yum Yum is looking pretty peaceful. Check the gallery for a few more pictures of this guy!

If you'd like a Squidnik custom of your own, there are several available over at Happypandatoys.