Uncanny Stencils

I'm more than just a purty face you know

2009-08-05T22:04:00.000-04:00

Hi. I just wanted to let whoever reads this know that I'm more than just a purty face, and more than just a stencil guy. I do websites too.

My most recent project has been the Garden City Downtown Development Authority's website. Take a look at it if the spirit is in you. Also, if you know anyone who needs a website done, just let me know. Email me. Call me. Send a carrier pidgeon. Smoke signals. Bottled message down a river. Bat signal. Banner behind a crop duster. Sky writer. APB. Notes under windshield wipers. Sticky notes on my back. Morse code. Bullhorn. Singing telegram. Serenade at my window in the moonlight. Write me a song, get a record deal, get that song played on the radio and I'll know what you mean as I drive down lonely roads with diamonds on my windshield. Write a message in the sand with a stick. Spray paint a dog with "I need a website" on his side and sic him on me. Carve it in a tree with a heart around it.

Whatever the method, let me know if you need a website. I need a frickin' job.

Cheers, Matt

Train Station

2009-07-30T13:03:00.000-04:00

Hello, nice people. Just wanted to show you the train station one I did last week. This is the Michigan Central Railroad station in Detroit, Michigan. It is home to vagrants, birds, rodents and whatnot, but was once a shining gem in the town that was once dubbed "Paris of the Midwest".

Michigan Central Station. Google it.

Art Festival was good!

2009-07-30T12:15:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I spent warming a chair with my butt, talking with oodles of good folks and digging the scene. The art fair went well for its first annual, and the Art Around Town people should pat themselves on the back for a job well done. There was only about twelve or so booths, but the talent they contained was aplenty. Leather art, woodburning art, great photography, jewelry, paintings and music. I don't think I saw anyone in a bad mood. I myself sold about five or six paintings; I can understand why folks weren't unleashing their folding money too easily these days. I myself made the stands which held my paintings with clothes hangers from around the house, borrowed the table, and was lucky enough to have been given access to a tent (or I would have been a little damp on Saturday morning). So it was good. Here's a picture of my inventory from Friday night:

This is of a girl from Texas. She's one of my Flickr contacts:

Albert Einstein: My buddy Suchan showed up on Sunday and purchased this one:

Dirty Harry. Yeah, I know stencilists the world abroad have seen this one done before, but I like it just the same:

This one prompted many a conversation over the weekend. Folks wanted to know who it is. Quite a few thought it was Clapton, but actually its Barry Ryan. He is an obscure sixties British pop star. I found his stuff on Youtube and it grew on me. He has since given up on being a pop star and is a photographer with some very cool work.

Blue girl on bike. My friend Michelle's husband bought this one. He's into bikes. Good man. He is the illustrated man, all tattoo'd up.

I did a couple honoring one of my favorite movies while simultaneously honoring one of my favorite books.

And of course, we mustn't forget Jack.

This was the first to sell, bought by a nice lady who I accidentally called Sir because I was talking to someone else and not paying attention. My apologies, nice lady. Won't happen again.

Our President of the United States of America.

Garden City Art Festival 2009

2009-07-19T15:55:00.000-04:00

Its art fair time kids! The first annual Garden City Art Festival will be happening at Garden City Park at Merriman and Cherry Hill. There will be cool art, music, and activities for the kids. It takes place this coming weekend, July 24, 25, 26. So come and enjoy an afternoon Under the Trees and dig the art-mosphere. (Sorry, I couldn't resist) Also, bring your wallets and be ready to unleash your folding money as I will have a table with the coolest of the cool stencil art featured on this here blog. Soon I will post pictures of everything I plan to sell there, so stay tuned. Click here for more information regarding the festival.

A very good article

2009-06-30T22:37:00.001-04:00

Just ran across a very good article on stenciling in the Toledo Blade. Here 'tis.

-Matt

Here's a coupla new ones

2009-06-25T19:11:00.000-04:00

Robert E. Lee

2009-06-24T12:34:00.000-04:00

Hello friends. Just letting you know that Encyclopedia Virginia has used my Robert E. Lee painting in their blog. Very cool. Its a very interesting site for you history enthusiasts out there. You should check it out.

Also, I'm not sure if I have mentioned this yet, but there are more stencil works on my Flickr account. Another also, if you haven't checked out my web design portfolio, do so. Your mother would approve.

--Matt, Uncannabeans Stencilationaryism

A word of thanks to Mr. Wolff

2009-06-18T22:35:00.000-04:00

The National Geographic girl has sold! Thanks to the guy who bought it, may she grace his walls in the same way she graced the cover of NG so many years ago.

--Matt, Uncannified Stencilificationator

History of Eloise, or Tribute to Eloise

2009-06-17T10:43:00.000-04:00

Hello! This painting was done by request for a fine young filmmaker named Matt Roman who is making a documentary on Eloise, Michigan. I don't believe such a film has been made before featuring this fascinating place, and I am eagerly awaiting its release. For more information regarding this disappearing historic poorhouse/asylum, go to Tales of Eloise. It is a very good, informative site with oodles of historic facts, photos, and forums all about Eloise. This painting is my tribute to Eloise. Its about 22 x 15 inches in size, and took over forty stencils to make. It led me to using acrylics, as opposed to the spray paint I usually used at the time, because it was damn cold in January and I needed to work on it indoors instead of out in the garage. I find I have better control over the outcome when I use acrylics and rollers, if I want a more crisp image. Hope you like it!

Some more for your viewing pleasure

2009-06-16T20:58:00.000-04:00

Hi! I would like to show you some more that are available for purchase. We have Sharbat Gula, which you might recognize as the National Geographic Girl. She is an Afghan girl, with beautiful green eyes. It was on the cover of National Geographic when I was a kid, an unforgettable image in my young mind at the time. When I was a kid I'd never even heard of Afghanistan, and here was this girl with green eyes. Try to picture her in a Motley Crue t-shirt in line at the Dairy Queen giggling with her girlfriends.

Next we have a fine looking lass who would be as much at home painted to the side of a WWII bomber, but here she'll have to make do with being painted on what used to be a piece of my next door neighbor's cupboard. Pink is the color of the day.

Both of these are available for purchase at my Uncanny Stencils Shop at Etsy.com and at Maxwell's Arts and Treasures for those of you located in Garden City, MI. Hope you like them.

--Matt, el Uncannio Stencilio

Very cool guy you all need to know about

2009-06-10T22:26:00.000-04:00

Thought I'd take this opportunity to tell you about a guy I've met recently, Tony Roko. He's a cool guy and a helluva painter. He does awesome murals and portraits, and has his finger on the pulse of a town that's down but not out. His art and attitude will help the phoenix rise from the ashes, reborn and recreated. Anyway, check out his very spiffy site, and find out what he's all about.

Sold my first painting!

2009-06-06T23:00:00.000-04:00

Well, I've sold my first painting. Vincent Price. I had it for sale on consignment at a local art shop, Maxwell's Arts and Treasures of Garden City, and tonight someone bought it. Feels good. Thank you to whoever bought it. That's good motivation mojo.

--Matt

check these out

2009-06-05T14:36:00.000-04:00

Hey when you get a minute you should check out my flickr. Do it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29234038@N08/

Here's another one.

2009-06-02T22:18:00.000-04:00

Here's another one. The girl is the only part I used stencils for, the rest I did with a brush. I did this one sometime in February. It's pretty.

Etsy shop now open

2009-06-01T16:10:00.000-04:00

My Etsy shop is now open. You can go to this link and buy buy buy. Thanks!
www.uncannystencils.etsy.com

Uncanny Stencils Etsy Shop, coming soon

2009-05-30T13:00:00.000-04:00

Here are a few examples of my stencil art that will be available very soon at www.etsy.com. They are all hand painted with stencils (hand cut) with acrylics on pre-owned wood. Most are about 8.5 x 11 inches in size, roughly, except for the Poe one which is done on a discarded drawer front, and the bikini girl is on what used to be a table top, about 19 x 14 inches respectively. There will be more to come. I can't help making them. Also, if you like this style of art and you are nice to me, I can be commissioned to do one just for you. Don't be scared, my prices won't put you in the poorhouse. Shoot me an email at uncannystencils@gmail.com if you want one done of your husband, wife, kids, boss, favorite complete stranger, or whoever strikes your fancy. Maybe a favorite celebrity, or the gal that works at the Secretary of State who you hate but might make a nice neighbor. Email me. We'll talk.

I will keep you posted when my store opens. It will be soon. I'm talkin' a day or two from now. Get your pocketbooks primed.

Thank you for looking!

---Matt, Uncannious Stencillious