STEVE BALKIN runs a toystore/gallery/studio at his Madison Avenue Shop, BURLINGTON ANTIQUE TOYS - tel: 1-212-861-9708. its a little bit hidden away in the back of a bookstore. The shop specializes in antique toy soldiers. Oct 5, 2005

STEVE BALKIN - 2 of his paintings behind him. In 1963 he was in a group show at the famous BETTY PARSONS GALLERY called - "THE TOY SHOW". BURLINGTON ANTIQUE TOYS. Oct 5, 2005

Steve maintains a studio painting desk in a corner of the shop - where he paints when he isn't busy. He sells his paintings from his shop/gallery, the price range is about $2,000 - $4,000. Oct 5, 2005

rows of glass cases housing military figures line the walls. his paintings line the bookcase counters. Oct 5, 2005

a different view inside STEVE BALKIN'S - BURLINGTON ANTIQUE TOYS, Oct 5, 2005

this is a recent painting. Steve paints in the shop at the 'studio' desk. The paintings show a great love for the French Post Impressionist masters: Cezanne, Matisse & Gauguin. He uses acrylic paint. Oct 5, 2005

One of Steve's more interesting claims to fame is that he was an early ANDY WARHOL 'factory' movie star - being one of the young artworld scenesters featured in the 1962 "The 12 MOST BEAUTIFUL BOYS IN MANHATTAN". Oct 5, 2005

Steve Balkin first crossed paths with Andy Warhol, in 1959 when Andy was still doing shoe illustrations and decorating store windows. The first exchange was at the local painters hang-out at the time, the now legendary - CEDAR BAR. Andy was there with an equally young - HENRY GELDZAHLER - when they all just struck up a conversation over drinks. The CEDAR BAR was located at University, bet 8th & 9th Streets, Oct 5, 2005

this is an early painting, from 1964. ...we loved it when Steve told us that .. back in the day he used to put up flyers for a house band - the Andy Warhol house band - THE VELVET UNDERGROUND, fronted by legendary LOU REED, Oct 5, 2005

'The Trio' - 2005. Another claim to fame Steve is justifiably proud of - his 1964-65 role, as DIRECTOR, of the WORLD THEATER COMPANY, which under his tenure, produced shows by legendary FLUXXUS performers: ANDY WARHOL, YOKO ONO, AL HANSEN (BECK's grandfather), ALLISON KNOWLES & DICK HIGGINS. The World Theater Company operated out of the famous CAFE GO GO, on Bleeker St, in the West Village. Oct 5, 2005

'By The Sea' - 2004. Steve has been painting for 45 years. He graduated from Pratt with a BFA in 1964. Before that, he attended the Art Students League, 1959-61. Before that, interestingly, he attended the Pratt Institute of Architecture. Oct 5, 2005

'Verge' - 2005. Steve Balkin had a one man show at EDWARD THORP GALLERY in 1982, and also, at CONDESO/LAWLER in 1987. Another interesting tangent in Steve's artworld connections - when he was in his 30's - he lived in the same Upper East Side apartment building that COLIN de LAND - the legendary founder of AMERICAN FINE ARTS CO. - grew up in. Colin was a teenager, at the time - in the late 70's. Oct 5, 2005

Steve Balkin - at 2. Though not quite as early as this, Steve has black & white photos, he took, - of Colin de Land when he was just starting to make his mark on the art scene, and also has early photos of his Andy Warhol factory days ... "somewhere" (!). Oct 5, 2005

Steve Balkin - age 20. This was about the time he first meet Warhol - Steve was studying architecture at the Pratt Institute of Architecture, in Brooklyn, at the time. Steve keeps a few archival photos displayed in his shop. Oct 5, 2005

Steve Balkin - self portrait - 1964. Oct 5, 2005

Steve Balkin, just at the left, photographed this past Christmas 2005, with a happy customer. As a child, Steve had a military soldier collection. He started the shop in the early 80's, his early childhood hobby evolving into a serious field of study. The ship is a WWI replica made in 1994, by a German company. It is tin, the price - $1,200. Burlington Antique Toys, NYC, Oct 5, 2005

toy soldiers arrayed in their boxes, Burlington Antique Toys, Oct 5, 2005

Maori Warriors, lead, pre WWII, they were made by the Imperial Toy Co. (All the toy soldiers in the shop are hand painted.) Burlington Antique Toys, Oct 5, 2005

Abbyssian Warriors, Britains Co., lead, from the 1930's. Burlington Antique Toys, Oct 5, 2005

WWII nurses in India, lead figures, made by Nostalgia Toy Co., Burlington Antique Toys, Oct 5, 2005

a little further down the shelf, WWII nurses in India, Nostalgia Toy Co., Burlington Antique Toys, Oct 5, 2005

Artillary Caisson - 1898, lead, made by Algeyer Toy Co., Burlington Antique Toys, Oct 5, 2005

from the same series, a supply wagon. made in 1898, Algeyer Toy Co., these 2 pieces were priced at $600 for the set. Burlington Antique Toys, Oct 5, 2005

marching Zulus, Steadfast Toy Co., Burlington Antique Toys, Oct 5, 2005

Swiss mercanaries, St. George Cross Toy Co., Burlington Antique Toys, Oct 5, 2005

Austrian & French Medieval banners - St. Petersburg Collection, made in Russia, contemporary, about $300 - $500 a piece, Burlington Antique Toys, Oct 5, 2005

more Medieval figures at battle - St Petersburg Collection, Burlington Antique Toys, Oct 5, 2005

check out the detail on those tiny hand painted banners - Medieval warriors at battle - St. Petersburg Collection, Burlington Antique Toys, Oct 5, 2005

Polish Hussars, with religious icon banners, riding off to battle on horses, St. Petersburg Collection, contemporary lead figures, about $600 a piece, Burlington Antique Toys, Oct 5, 2005

Medieval fighting knights. St. Petersburg Collection, Burlington Antique Toys, Oct 5, 2005

Russian Orthodox Religious icon banner, St. Petersburg Collection, Burlington Antique Toys, Oct 5, 2005

not much bigger than 2 postage stamps, Russian Religious icon banner, St Petersburg Collection, Burlington Antique Toys, Oct 5, 2005

Steve Balkin, 'The Embrace', 2003 - photo courtesy: Burlington Gallery, 1082 Madison Ave, NYC

Steve Balkin, 'The Dance', 2002 - photo courtesy: Burlington Gallery, NYC

Steve Balkin, 'The Proposal', 2002 - photo courtesy: Burlington Gallery, NYC

Steve Balkin, 'The Bathers', 2002 - photo courtesy: Burlington Gallery, NYC

Steve Balkin, 'The Idyll', 2003 - photo courtesy: Burlington Gallery, NYC