Skate to Create: October 2010

October's "Skate to Create" class started with nothing more than blank boards and the artists' ideas. In three 1.5 -hour sessions, we took it from idea to drawing to stencil and ended up with a personalized deck ready to skate. Check out the pics below:

Selecting the perfect color scheme is always important.

The background for the boards accents the main designs.

Gussie cut stencils using his name and a self-made logo to create a personal reflection of himself in his board.

Jasper was inspired by the bomber art in World War II and succeeds in capturing an intimidating and fierce battle face. (on the deck, not Jasper...)

Daisy took her love for pandas to a new level with this 2-layer stencil.

PONSHOP offers classes in Ceramics, Mixed Media, Street Art, Architecture, and Skateboard Design for children as well as adults. Our classes run throughout the month and into the winter. For a current class schedule, Click Here.

November 5, 2010: Stencil Kit Release Party

For November's First Friday event on November 5th, PONSHOP's "Do-It-Yourself" Stencil Kit was released to the public. Throughout the night, PONSHOP co-owner Gabriel Pons performed demonstrations where he cut stencils from the kit...

He showed the proper way to cut out stencil designs using razor blades...

...and did some spray painting on the Public Wall in the garden.

Of course, Pons got some help from past students who have taken the PONSHOP "Street Art" classes, some even brought original designs of their own.

By the end of the event, the entire board was covered. Here are some close ups:

The span of the mural wall incorporated a collaboration of designs that speaks to the diversity of Street Art. Thanks to all those that participated.

To try these designs yourself and gain a basic knowledge of stenciling, our Stencil Kit is on sale for $25. This includes six different designs for a total of ten stencils with difficulty levels ranging from beginner to intermediate. Available exclusively at PONSHOP (718 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA).

November First Friday: Stencil Release Party

Nov. 5 2010: We are celebrating November’s First Friday event with the release of the the PONSHOP Stencil Kit I’ve been working on over the past couple months. This “Do It Yourself” book includes six original graphic designs - ten stencils all together ranging from “beginner” to “expert.” Stemming from the excitement over our “Street Art” class exercises, the stencil kit acts as an extension of the course as well as a first-time tutorial for beginners.

I’ll be giving a live demonstration throughout the evening, cutting stencils from the kit and spray painting samples for the crowd. We will also open up the Public Wall in the garden of the PONSHOP that evening and encourage all you stencil artists to stop in and hit up the wall with your own favorite stencils - BYOP means bring your own paint and creativity...

We invite any of you to the public wall of our shop where you can stencil, paint, and draw. Guests have an exclusive evening to participate with their own of spray paint, markers, stickers, wheat paste and more.

In the gallery, featured artists for November include Joshua Barber (mixed media), Rob Landeck (mixed media), Ginger Huebner (mixed media), Adam Desio (acrylic and photography), Reuben Strangelove (illuminated media), and Jeremy Gann (mixed media) as well as Scarlett’s most recent ceramic creations. We are also excited to premiere local artist Bill Harris’s exclusive series of block prints.

PONSHOP Sketchbooks

For those who keep sketchbooks (and all you young artists better have a sketchbook!), we've got the perfect addition to your arsenal: PONSHOP sketchbooks include original stenciled designs on hand stitched books: (25) 7.75" x 5.5" sheets with cover. $25 each.

Each book is signed, titled and numbered by artist Gabriel Pons. Come by the shop and check 'em out!

Skate to Create: September 2010

September's Skate to Create students managed to get their work done ahead of schedule, which earned them some time on the public wall in the backyard. In three 1.5 hour sessions, they designed their deck graphics, cut stencils, and sprayed their boards. Good work gentlemen, below are some pics:

Hunter (above) got a shot at some freehand spray painting while Tyler (below) hit up the wall with markers...

Check out Tyler's "monster" deck (above).

Hunter cut up one intricate stencil and used it twice for a drop shadow effect.

PONSHOP offers classes in Ceramics, Mixed Media, Street Art, Architecture, and Skateboard Design for children as well as Ceramics and Drawing for adults. Our classes run throughout the summer and through the fall. For a current class schedule, Click Here.

Intro To Street Art: August 2010

This was Ingrid's first time designing and cutting a stencil. In this 3-session workshop, she chose her favorite sketch and transformed it into a 24"x24" spray paint piece. Nice work!

Ingrid cut three separate stencils to create her final composition.

PONSHOP offers classes in Ceramics, Mixed Media, Street Art, Architecture, and Skateboard Design for children as well as Ceramics and Drawing for adults. Our classes run throughout the summer and through the fall. For a current class schedule, Click Here.

Skate to Create: August 2010

The month of August brought in a new crop of students for "Skate to Create" Within three 1.5-hour sessions, we went from sketch to stencil to spray paint.

The majority of work was at the drawing table, where the students drew full scale

graphics that were then turned into stencils.

Here's the final line up. Nice work boys - now go skate!

PONSHOP offers classes in Ceramics, Mixed Media, Street Art, Architecture, and Skateboard Design for children as well as Ceramics and Drawing for adults. Our classes run throughout the summer and through the fall. For a current class schedule, Click Here.

Intro To Street Art: July 2010

July's heat ushered in a new crop of students for the "Intro To Street Art" workshop. These students worked on a 24"x24" panel using spray paint and stencils. Below are some pictures taken throughout the three 1.5 hour sessions.
Students had an opportunity to experiment with spray paint on scrap pieces of wood before committing to their panels. Perri (right) made a set of letter stencils to achieve a multi-colored design.

Below are their final pieces - good work kids!

PONSHOP offers classes in Ceramics, Mixed Media, Street Art, Architecture, and Skateboard Design for children as well as Ceramics and Drawing for adults. Our classes run throughout the summer and through the fall. For a current class schedule, Click Here.

Adult Street Art: June 2010

My man Seth brought his 'A' Game as well as his outgoing enthusiasm to his project. Using two stencils and plenty of spray paint, he brought his "Totally Meat" creation to life. Check the progress:

Seth had to break from his habits as an illustrator to adapt to using spray paint. But once he got the feel for it, it was on...

The painting was done on an old wooden countertop that was approximately four feet wide. Good Job!

Intro To Street Art: June 2010

I was really proud of my "Intro to Street Art" students in June. They worked hard to achieve their designs.

Check 'em out below:

PONSHOP offers classes in Ceramics, Mixed Media, Street Art, Architecture, and Skateboard Design for children as well as Ceramics and Drawing for adults. Our classes run throughout the summer and through the fall. For a current class schedule, Click Here.

Street Art Workshop: May 2010

May's "Intro to Street Art" students, Noah and Rickey, jumped right into their projects by practicing their lettering on a small scale then mocking up their boards with a couple passes of spray paint. Noah (pictured below) used freehand and stencil techniques to complete his composition.

Rickey (above) experimented with a variety of different colors before finalizing his "Rico" piece.
He also used paint pens to give an outline to his letters. Below is a pic of his original mock up.

detail w/classic crown motif

PONSHOP offers classes in Ceramics, Mixed Media, Street Art, Architecture, and Skateboard Design for children as well as Ceramics and Drawing for adults. Our classes run throughout the summer. For a current class schedule, Click Here.

Skate to Create: April 2010

Spring ushered in another motivated crop of students for the PONSHOP Skate to Create class. Students Savant and Megan got creative, worked hard, and most of all had fun during this workshop. Below are some pics from April's class. Good work ladies...

After a debriefing on the history of skateboard graphics as well as showing students some examples, students got right to work sketching up their designs.

From sketches, we "translate" their designs into stencils, so that they can articulate (and hopefully repeat) their graphic.

Savant cut up this intricate pattern with a drippy form for her deck.

Megan's skate deck mixed up several layers of tiger stripes for a 3-D effect.

We continue to teach classes to both children and adults in Ceramics, Mixed Media, Skateboard Design, Architecture and more. For a current PONSHOP class schedule , Click Here.

Street Art Workshops: April 2010

April 2010 ushered in my first students at our new space at 712 Caroline Street. I had the pleasure of teaching two returning students who were more than eager to break the studio in with some spray paint action. Below are some highlights from their sessions. Nice work guys!

Nick loves skateboarding and The Misfits, so he decided to kick out a skull theme on his board.

Finn (above) is a frequent PONSHOP student. This time around he brought along a side project of his own: a custom made helmet inspired by the XBox games he's into. I helped Finn prepare and prime the helmet so that he can apply his own stencil designs.

Finn also likes to draw quirky characters like the "Afrobot" above. Take Saturday Night Fever and mash it up with Lost in Space and this is what you get...

PONSHOP offers classes in Ceramics, Mixed Media, Street Art, Architecture, and Skateboard Design for children as well as Ceramics and Drawing for adults. Our classes run throughout the summer. For a current class schedule, Click Here.

Intro To Street Art: March 2010

March 2010: My "Intro To Street Art" student needed very little introduction to using wheat paste collage, markers, and spray paint to create her own 2-foot by 4-foot masterpiece. Savant a.k.a "Sam" (16 yrs) not only had an opportunity to use new tools and media to express herself, she also got some tips on practicing her lettering, cutting stencil patterns and using spray paint. Check the images below to track her creative process:

After covering her board with collage materials found in comic books and magazines, Savant drew and cut a 4-foot long pattern to be used for the first layer of spray paint.

Once she sprayed her background and "Sam" Stencil, she returned to the painting with a thick marker to highlight elements in the collage.

Her stencil "signature" turned out quite well considering we had to spray it in 35 degree weather...Good Job!

Gabriel Pons holds art workshops for children and adults monthly. For a current listing of PONSHOP classes, Click Here.

"I Believe in Mr. Grieves"

"Neptune's Daughter", mixed media on wood, 18"x14.5", SOLD

February, 2010. Scarlett heard this report that our music tastes are most acute and malleable up until we're 20 years old. If that's the case, then I'll be listening to the Pixies when I'm eighty years old. Th above painting was inspired by a Pixies song - the lyrics go: "...what's that floating in the water oh neptune's only daughter i believe in mr. grieves"

"Neptune's Daughter" is on exhibit this month at Art First Gallery (824 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA) as part of the themed "Portraits" show. Check out this all member exhibit. Opening Reception is Friday, February 5, from 6-9pm.

Gallery Hours: 11-7pm Mon-Thurs, 11-9pm Fri-Sat, 12-7pm Sunday

Latest Painting: "Hush"

"Hush", Collage, Acrylic, Spray Paint on Wood, 18"x24" $475.

"Hush" (detail)

I'm excited to announce that "Hush" will be part of a juried exhibition at LibertyTown Arts Workshop during the month of October. About Face: Portraits In All Media will feature works from artists in the region in a variety of media. Check it out:

About Face: Portraits In All Media October 2- November 1, 2009
LibertyTown Arts Workshop, 916 Liberty Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Opening Reception: Friday October 2, 6-9pm

Intro to Street Art: September 2009

I had the pleasure of working with Simon throughout the month - facilitating him in the art of spray paint and stencil-making. Originally, he was one of my "Adult Drawing" students, but on his own initiative - he came to me with some sketches and an idea, and we took it from there. Below is a detail of his Oarfish painting. Congratulations Simon!

For a current PONSHOP class schedule, click here. Classes in Street Art, Skateboard Design, and more are held every month.

Bells of Doom....

"Masked Villain", Collage, Acrylic, Spray Paint on Wood, 24"x24" $375.

September 2009: This is the latest piece up at Spaghetti Project (1025 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg,VA). For those that are fans of the Metal Face Doom - enjoy and "remember ALL CAPS when you spell my man's name..."

Intro to Street Art: August 2009

My "Street Art" student, Hunter, gave it his all last month - ripping out an arsenal of stencils to construct his painting. From sketch, to stencil, to spray paint, he got the job done. Below are more progress pics...

Hunter used a modular brick pattern to array on his board during the second session.

Cutting stencils (above) can be the most painstaking, but he pushed through right on schedule.
Hunter's "Phoenix" graphic pays tribute to his local soccer team.

Detail (click to enlarge)

Skate to Create: July 2009

Usually a kid's first skateboard is some water-logged Nash handed down by an older brother - this is not the case here. Chris's first deck features his own signature character as well as my classic "Maiden Mono" lettering for his griptape art. Chris picked up the rules for stencils quickly and proceeded to make a 4-stencil composition ready to ride. Good Work - Now Go Shred!

Details (click image to enlarge)

For a current PONSHOP Class Schedule, Click Here