stix and jones

I left my paint brush behind for a mouse to work as an animator, after graduating art school. For the past 16 years I have created animation for movies, commercials and video games. In January, 2007 I returned to the paint brush under the name Stix and Jones concentrating on skateboard decks and continuing my exploration of large scale cavas paintings. My work has appeared in several Los Angeles group exhibitions. I update my online art journal frequently with new work, pieces in progress, musings, inspiration, information about shows and more.

My latest obsession is with the Vanitas style and content of the 17th century Dutch painters. The Vanitas symbolize (for me) the transient nature of life. Symbolic objects such as skulls, spoiled food, a snuffed out or lit candle, fading flowers etc. illustrate the brevity of life and the inevitability of death.

What are you doing with your life? Are you making the most of your short time here? Mortality and making the most of life go hand in hand with the skater mentality. It's the same philosophy. I hope the deck series speaks to the skaters out there who knuckle down and enjoy why we are here.

If you like the decks and desire other objects in a piece made just for you, contact me. I love working with people on a piece that symbolizes a philosophy I subscribe to. There are the traditional subject matter like: skeletons, skulls, withering flowers, dead animals, ripening fruit, bubbles, maps, musical instruments, books, spectacles, time pieces, insects, snakes...etc. I encourage creativity in your choices, maybe even more modern objects?

I also love to create various things with my hands and have opened an ETSY shop to share my passion for vintage glamour, butterflies, punk rock, feathers, and sparkles. The skate decks can be purchased there along side the other pretties in the shop.

PAST GROUP EXHIBITIONS

01/2010 Cannibal Flower: Cannibal Flower: Los Angeles, CA

03/2009 Wisdom Within Us: Create Fixate: Los Angeles, CA

10/2008 Visual Amalgam: James Gray Gallery: Los Angeles, CA

EDUCATION

2008 Painting Studies, Kline Academy, Culver City, California

2007 Drawing Studies, Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art, Van Nuys, California

1994 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Atlanta College of Art, Atlanta, Georgia