"Mixing the Media": June 2009

June 2009: Grace participated in the "Mixing The Media" workshop and, within 3 sessions, created some great mixed media pieces. In this class, students are encouraged to create a "landscape" of imagery with found images and text. The student then interacts with the collage using painting and drawing. Below are some images from the final class. Good Job Grace! (click images to enlarge)

Grace used magazine clippings, acrylic paint, and stencils to construct her piece.

She also did a stencil piece on wood with her favorite song lyrics written in the background.

Her Stencil was derived from a series of drawing exercises we did during the first class.

Click Here for a complete PONSHOP class schedule.

"Mortal Plush: I Am Not Your Toy" Exhibit

We're pleased to announce that Scarlett will be participating in the "Mortal Plush: I Am Not Your Toy" show at Art Whino this month. "Mortal Plush..." will include original handmade soft-sculpture works submitted by artists worldwide, each attempting to convey the variety of emotions experienced by their human creators. Below is Scarlett's submission, "You Used To Love Me".

The opening reception is Saturday, July 11 from 6-Midnight. Show runs through August 7. Art Whino Gallery, 173 Waterfront St., National Harbor, MD 20745. For more about this show, click here.

"You Used To Love Me", Scarlett Suhy-Pons, handmade plush figure, approx. 2" diam x 17" length.

Scarlett's inspiration for this piece stems from her perspective on our environment and how our industrialized civilization continues to poison the earth with its refuse. Her worm figure is derived from a sketch that she's been drawing in her sketchbooks and on various public objects since 1999.

Fred Skates Video III: Sticky Icky

StickyIckyness from Fred Slybone on Vimeo.

Ohh yes - the video is out and at Fred Skates (604 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA)
Diego and I went to the Friday Premiere at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library, good times... (more images from that weekend to come...)

The Lost City #1 - Behind the Scenes

"The Lost City #1" (detail), Mixed Media on Wood, 12"x36" $800.

July, 2009: As a follow up to the "Pagoda" Skateboard Decks I initiated in June, above is a detail of my most recent painting, "The Lost City #1". As many of my friends and colleagues already know, my background in architectural drafting and model making was how I got into making stencils in the first place. By the same token, my architecture education made me pretty obsessive when it comes down to doing this stuff (painting, drawing,etc.). Below is the completed painting (left) with a composite drawing of my stencil layers (right). Click images to enlarge.
One thing I really enjoy about turning my sketches into a mixed media painting is that I can use all of my arsenal (collage, acrylic paint, spray paint) to achieve the desired image. In a lot ways, the mixed media painting has informed me on how I can approach the stenciled deck series differently.

"The Lost City #1" will be on display at Art First Gallery for the month of July - check it!

Private Student Sessions: Mixed Media

I had the pleasure of working with David again - this time for a mixed media workshop. His patience and attention to detail allowed him to layer up this composition on canvas. Check the progress and final pics below. Congratulations David!

David "built up" his painting into a landscape, with a clear delineation between land and sky. He used magazine cut outs to show buildings and figures in space. Acrylic paint and spray paint with stencils were used as well.

Final Painting (click to enlarge)

Family Portrait with the artist...

Click Here for a complete PONSHOP class schedule.

Skate to Create: June 2009

June, 2009. the summer kicked of well with my "Skate to Create" students bringing all their excitement and enthusiasm towards designing and painting their own skateboards. Below are more pics of their work. Nice job girls! now get riding! (click images to enlarge).

Amanda used two stencils for her lettering treatment.

The students took an opportunity during their final session to practice their stencil painting on their griptape.

Sarah's design was inspired by the beach, air balloons, and of course, a love for cats...

For a current PONSHOP Class Schedule, click here.

MONO Pagoda Decks: Summer 2009

I'm cooking up new decks for this summer's skate sessions. The MONO Pagoda decks come in 7.5", 7.75" and 8.0" widths. Each deck is individually sprayed, signed and numbered and comes with griptape. Want one? hit me back with an email and $55 plus shipping or get on down to Fred Skates (604 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, Virginia). Of course, decks will soon be at the PONSHOP (916 LibertyStreet, Fredericksburg,Virginia) too...

"FRESH" Workshop: May 28, 2009

May 28, 2009: I gave a Street Art Workshop at the Torpedo Factory to wrap up the month's "FRESH" exhibition at the Target Gallery. Below is an account of how the afternoon's project went. After the workshop, I participated in a round table discussion with Cory Stowers of Words Beats & Life and fellow artist Marissa Botelho about contemporary graffiti.

9 Door panels were donated to the target gallery for the project - one side included this "Exploit" graffiti piece.The other side of the doors were tagged up - this was to be our canvas...

Moments before the workshop began: Max and Jeff help keep things running smoothly...

The content of our collage was based on the life and legacy of civil rights hero Charles Houston - represented here in a 30"x40" cardboard stencil.

Students layered the existing panels using collage images and text and applying them with wheat paste.

As the panels filled with imagery, other students cut stencils.

6 Panels were taken outdoors to be hit up with spray paint and stencils.

I gave a brief demonstration on techniques and safety tips for using spray paint.

Students then took turns applying spray paint to their stencil designs.

After the panel discussion, participants were encouraged to tag the walls outside of the gallery.

The completed mural on display (click image to enlarge).

Some details (click image to enlarge).

Special thanks to the staff at the Target Gallery and Torpedo Factory. Thanks especially to the participating students for their enthusiasm and hard work. Scarlett and I also want to thank our PONSHOP crew - Jeff Gulick and Max Harvey for their help in assisting us that day.