Free Art!
Vibrant colors splash the stark, white canvas creating an abstract that recalls artist Jackson Pollack. Multiple colors of the sunset clash with ocean hues as shapes and streaks of color create a sense of symmetry and chaos. These acrylic paintings are the artwork of Patrick Skoff, an artist who wins the attention of many Chicagoans. Skoff, 30, releases his artistic muse in the confines of his makeshift studio located in his garage in Glen Ellen. Skoff has created a free art movement that exposes the streets of Chicago to his art and philosophy. He believes everyone should be able to hang a piece of art in their living room while recollecting the story of how that painting came to be.
The creation of each painting doesn’t always start in his studio to the beat of blaring music. On occasion he sets up shop occupying a lot of places in the Chicago area. He breaks out his heavy duty easel supporting his self-made canvases framed with 2x4s, along with a set of paints ready to fill the void of the blank canvas staring back at him.
While most paintings are abstract, portraits of President elect Barack Obama made their way into Skoff’s collection. Skoff appeared outside of the CBS 2 news studio on 22 W. Washington St. painting both presidential candidates in November. Behind the news anchors, was Skoff bundled up outside while he worked meticulously through the early onset of winter in support of the 2008 election. Before he could even finish the Obama painting, one of CBS’s own staff members bought it.
A dark, ominous rendition of Batman’s villain the Joker was painted in various spots in Chicago or Gotham City if you will. He was spotted in the Chicago Arts District in Pilsen painting the villain during the 2nd Fridays Gallery Night. Passersby struck up conversation with Skoff admiring his talent as he continued to paint in the back of his truck used for his landscaping business. The close-up of the haunting face with the Joker’s notorious white face paint and what looks like smeared red lipstick, makes you recall the famous line, “why so serious?”
Skoff grew up in Franklin Park where he attended East Leyden High School; the place where his love for art turned from hobby to hopeful career. Skoff’s art teacher Steve Lappe acted as a mentor while attending high school. Lappe took a special interest in Skoff’s enthusiasm he brought to the class unlike the other students taking art classes for an easy credit. He was genuinely interested in fine art and wanted to mold his technique as an artist.
Skoff’s developed technique as a fine artist has grown into something more than just his art. Skoff exposes the process of his final product by videotaping himself painting and posting it on YouTube or his website, skoffpaintings.com. One painting was videotaped on the roof of an old factory downtown Chicago. Skoff hurled paint from the roof down to the foot of the factory where a previously painted blue canvas laid waiting to be reckoned with. The time-lapsed video zoomed in on the canvas several stories below only revealing the variety of colors splattering against it. The only method to his madness was what colors to use and how much paint to launch off the building.
“I want to make my art have more of a meaning than just being art. I think what’s going to set me apart is the background behind my work and not the actual work, and that’s a part of what I’m trying to show. I’m trying to give people a feeling of what goes into making an art and why; instead of just the final product” says Skoff.
Skoff’s philosophy on art is just as important as the paint he brushes on a canvas. Skoff believes that life is art and everybody should have access to a quality piece of artwork. He wants people to have a story to tell about how they found it or how it was painted. This belief has created the framework for his free art movement treating the streets of Chicago as his own personal art gallery. Skoff doesn’t want to showcase his art in high-priced galleries that dig deep into the pockets of not only the art lover but the artists themselves.
“An art gallery to me is a store, like a Wal-Mart; going around you pick up what you want and then you leave. I want to make the entire city my store. I want to make random locations where you can find my art. It almost kind of cheapens it that you put it in some fancy gallery and charge a ton of money to feel better about what you’re doing,” says Skoff.
Director, owner and artist Robin Rios of 4Art Inc. in Pilsen stresses the importance for an artist to be prepared to work hard not only as an artist but on the business end of things. Rios divulged that it’s harder now more than ever to get your art in a gallery because of the economy’s current condition. As an artist and art director, Rios emphasized that any exposure an emerging artist can get is essential whether it be in an art gallery or on the street.
Skoff’s free art occupies many locations in the city. Canvases have leaned up against buildings in River North, faced the lakefront and rested in the limbs of trees. Robert Danek, a commuter from Geneva to his office in the city, noticed one of Skoff’s paintings in a tree by the train station.
“I know the artist was attempting some sort of public art display, but I proceeded to work to check the website written on the back of the painting, says Danek. At work, I confirmed that he was giving away the art, so I rushed back to the painting to claim it. Thankfully, it was still there, so I lugged it back to the office.”
Many others like Danek have stumbled upon Skoff’s art in just the same way. They not only enjoy the painting they discovered but go on his website to search for more; like an “easter egg hunt” as Skoff describes. Locals check his website once the shout out is given to those on his contact list, gearing up with maps and the provided hints to the slew of paintings sprawled out all over the city.
He loads up his truck with five or six paintings ranging from big canvases to smaller pieces ready to be released and found by an avid Skoff fan, or an unsuspecting bystander. Skoff says that they are usually found within one or two days as he receives notices from people through e-mail. Others, Skoff says, could very well be thrown into the trash and that is its fate.
Skoff also makes miniature figurines called Little Things. The Little Things are carved out of wood with little embellishments complete with a painted body and no face for expression that are left out haphazardly just like the paintings. These figurines are a metaphor Skoff creates to show how the little things are what make life worth while.
“The Little Things I leave out could be everyday things that people do or common things like little life moments that make life better,” says Skoff.
Skoff also sells the Little Things on his website but are purposefully priced at an astronomical amount so no one would buy them, but rather find them for free instead.
Skoff’s art and message have spread and affected many Chicagoans that now have one of his paintings or a Little Thing.
“I have a lovely story to tell people of how I acquired the art, and a sense of excitement and joy were given me by the artist. You can’t paint that shit. These paintings aren’t just pictures on the wall, they are unique stories that have happened to people individually,” says Chicagoan Russell Walker.
Walker found Skoff’s website before he went on a wild goose hunt for one of his paintings. He happened to stumble upon one in his own neighborhood after having a frantic conversation with the artist not knowing if he was going to spot one of the pieces before they were all snatched up by other locals.
“I think any opportunity to show your work should be graciously welcomed. As the world changes, then so does the appreciation for art, says Rios. The most important thing as an artist is to stay visible.”
Skoff is feverishly working away on a massive project before his next art hunt scheduled before Christmas. A giant Obama painting consisting of 432 1ft x1ft slabs of cardboard will be made with each one painted as a different abstract. All of the cardboard pieces will make up a mosaic of Obama measured at 18ft x 24ft. However the final mosaic will not stay together in one piece. Skoff plans to include 99 of the cardboard abstracts on his art hunt and will sell the remaining 333 pieces.
“Rather than being a sell out I’m actually selling pieces of one painting and each person is now connected because they all own an original ‘Skoff’ painting that is a small part of something bigger,” says Skoff.
Many people who have found or bought his art off of his website have never been able to put a face to the art and he would like to keep it that way.
