PONSHOP will feature the work of Jack Brown’s Tattoo Revival artists Kenny Brown, Kelley Drake, Chance Kenyon, Grady Spades, and Mike Tschirn. The range of their media includes ink on paper to oil on canvas. Their latest pieces incorporate vibrant colors, surreal images, and bold lines.   Elstabo, a 2011 Urban Decay II featured artist and recent resident talent, is also contributing to the collection with his vivid and graphic paintings on canvas. The show will also include photographs of Jack Brown’s artists taken by Adam Desio.

As a child growing up in central Pennsylvania, Kenny Brown wanted to be a comic book illustrator. Later, he embarked on the path to become a tattoo artist under the tutelage of Dixon Keller. Brown has been plying his trade for nineteen years. He currently owns Jack Brown’s Tattoo Revival with fellow tattoo artist Chance Kenyon in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Brown lives with his wife and two dogs and enjoys making music and painting.

Chance Kenyon, co-owner and tattoo artist at Jack Brown’s Tattoo Revival, became interested in tattooing at age fifteen. Under the influence of his older brother Grady Spades, Scott Junkins, and current business partner Kenny Brown, Kenyon learned to tattoo. Most recently, Kenyon opened Jack Brown’s Tattoo Revival with friend and fellow tattooer Kenny Brown. Outside of the shop, Kenyon is devoted to his daughter, family, and friends.

As a young artist, Kelley Drake realized he had learned more about art from his parents, grandparents, and high school art teachers than in school at the Maryland Institute of College of Arts. After a few years, he dropped out and became the apprentice of tattoo artist Kenny Brown. Drake now tattoos for a living and has been working at Jack Brown’s for five years.

Grady Spades is the older brother of Jack Brown’s co-owner Chance Kenyon. Spades’ influence led Kenyon to pursue tattooing. He now works as a tattoo artist at Jack Brown’s Tattoo Revival.

Mike Tschirn attended Virginia Commonwealth University to study art. He later learned to tattoo and now works at Jack Brown’s Tattoo Revival. Tschirn’s tattoos generally feature bold, graphic designs. When not tattooing, Tschirn enjoys painting works that reflect his love for magical and beautiful things.

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Elstabo has earned a BFA from The Fashion Institute of Technology and since 2006 has been living in Northern Virginia working as a commercial and fine artist.  His work pulls inspiration from many genres including comic book illustrations, erotic art and fantasy.

Opening Reception:  Friday, March 2, 6-10pm

Exhibition Dates: March 2 – April 1, 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QaEnQjtMZ4

Instead of doing a last minute crawl through the shopping mall to find some cliche gift for Scarlett, I decided to go the creative route and make, to this date, the largest Valentine I could within a half hour.  Special thanks to our intern (aka Stew) for the video editing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7VEy9G81Z0

Here’s the follow up to the photos posted last month while I was working on this commissioned painting for Hartwood Presbyterian Church.  The piece, titled “Illumination” now hangs in the Fellowship Hall of the church.  Thanks Hartwood Presbyterian Church for the opportunity and thanks to my assistant, Jeff Gulick for helping me install the three panels.  Special Thanks to our Spring 2012 intern, Chris Stuart, for editing the video footage.

The “First” Friday of February marked the opening reception of PONSHOP’s second annual student show.  This year, we had a total of 23 students participating in this month-long exhibition.  In addition that evening, we hosted the Massaponax High School Art students in our studio for their NYC  fund raiser.  Students raised over $300 to put towards their  field trip to New York City this spring to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Fine Art, MoMA, and the Guggenheim Museum.  Below are some snapshots from the evening.  Thanks to all the participating PONSHOP students and their families for their involvement.

In addition to ceramic, painting, and mixed media classes taught by Scarlett and Gabriel Pons, PONSHOP will be offering new classes in jewelry design and photography this spring. Jewelry classes, taught by Leslie Brier, include a Resin Pendant class and a Salt Shaker Pendent class. Both classes will incorporate the use of upcycled materials to create unique pieces of jewelry. Photographer Stephen Graham will also be teaching two classes in digital photography for novice and advanced photography students. Check out our spring class schedule for more information.

Share the love at PONSHOP this Valentine’s season. Bring a friend to any February class and you will both receive $10 off. The classes offered are Intro to Street Art, Mixed Media, and Clay Classes for children and adults. Stop by PONSHOP today to register.

Celebrate this Valentine’s season with your sweetheart with PONSHOP’s Couples Clay Class. Together, you and your date will create kissing bowls using hand-building techniques taught by Scarlett Pons. Gift Certificates are available for the perfect Valentine’s Day date. Couples can register using our current class registration form. Please keep in mind that space is limited. Visit PONSHOP today to register.