Sparky Firepants Inspires Kids Through Skateboard Painting at the Sandy Family Fun Festival

Aug. 5, 2011 - PRLog -- Sparky Firepants is bringing his art out of the studio to show kids how skateboard decks are designed and painted up close.

Local Sandy artist David Billings, also known as Sparky Firepants, will be painting boards throughout the day in his booth at the Sandy Family Fun Festival. Billings creates custom and one-of-a-kind skateboard decks through his studio, Sparky Firepants Images.

“Skateboards have evolved the same as art and pop culture. Those one-color molded plastic toys just don’t cut it anymore,” says Billings. “Skaters have more choices now and they want their boards to reflect their individualism.”

Starting with a skateboard “blank” made of 7-ply Canadian maple, Billings uses mixed media to paint his unique, sometimes off-the-wall designs right on the board.

Billings explains, “Mostly I use special water-based paint pens to illustrate the designs. They’re easily portable and don’t make a big mess. This way I can set up at an event like the Family Fun Festival and show people exactly how it’s done.”

Billings hopes to inspire kids to get creative themselves. “I love to talk about what I do and show how I do it,” he says. “Maybe one of these kids will see that having a career as an artist is possible. Even if they just want to create their own boards, they’ll be able to see what materials they need to get started.”

Sparky Firepants will also hand out free stickers and have skate-themed t-shirts for sale at discounted prices exclusively for festival visitors.

The Sandy Family Fun Festival is a small, local festival in its second year. To learn more about the festival, visit the City of Sandy website: www.ci.sandy.or.us

Sparky Firepants one-of-a-kind skateboard designs are currently available online at http://skateandshirt.com.

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Sparky Firepants creates custom illustration and licenses art to be used on gifts, textiles, apparel, toys, and greetings.