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Friday, August 12, 2011
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Skoff
Story: Skoff
Ximena N. Quan Kiu
Patrick Skoff, signs one of his finished pieces in his Glen Ellyn studio Tuesday, March 2, 2010. He has chosen to have his signature take the look of a shark. Photograph by Ximena N. Quan Kiu
Story: Skoff
Two years ago pieces of art began popping up, on the streets of Chicago. At first people looked and kept walking. Eventually, someone would pick up the artwork-and that was always the intention of Patrick Skoff, the artist who leaves free artwork for people to find.
“I like giving away my art for free because it should be accessible to everyone…I’ve never tried to get my work into a gallery and I don’t want to, because people shouldn’t have to feel that they need to ‘get it’…it’s about having and enjoying it.” This unpretentious type of mentality fits with Skoff’s personality. He paints while top 40 station, 103.5 Kiss FM blares in the background and even lets me choose the color palette for a piece that was commissioned by a Southside café. A year ago he began working with Sam Brown, 20, who acts as co-artist and partner; “she keeps me relevant” he says. He does not fit into the stereotypical mold of ‘artist,’ and that is mirrored by the way he which he distributes it.
With the rise of social media, Skoff is now able to more effectively communicate his idea of providing everyone with free art by conducting hunts in where people search for his paintings based on pictures sent from his Twitter account; his Facebook account is used to provide a diary account of what he is working on and past accomplishments. Both have served to not only create publicity for him but to also connect him with people willing to pay for his work.
Nowadays, Skoff is able to support himself solely through painting. A year ago he was able to quit his landscaping day-job to focus solely on painting. That does not mean that he is able to paint all day long, carefree. In order to make ends meets Skoff rents out his house while he lives in the garage. He does however realize how ‘fortunate [he] is to have done things [his] way and have things work out.’ Because of that, he intends to take his idea of providing free art for all-far beyond Chicago.
Skoff explains that he wants to begin a cross country trip in where he leaves his artwork all over the US. “I have people as far as New Hampshire asking me when I’m going to do one of my Twitter hunts out there…I want to take the van and drive all across the US providing people with free art.”
His work and concept is gaining momentum. The last two months he has seen his work appear in Shedd Aquarium’s Art Sharks, the Chicago Tribune and earlier in the week he filmed a segment for WTTW. And whereas before his artwork use to sit waiting for someone to come, now people come sprinting up and arguments have occurred over who gets to take the art home.
Now that his hunts in Chicago are getting so big, he cannot even drive his own car because people follow him. Perhaps he should take that as an indication that it is time to take the hunts nationwide. Skoff seems confident that this too will work out. He reasons that “people aren’t buying what I’m selling-they’re buying what I’m doing.”
“I like giving away my art for free because it should be accessible to everyone…I’ve never tried to get my work into a gallery and I don’t want to, because people shouldn’t have to feel that they need to ‘get it’…it’s about having and enjoying it.” This unpretentious type of mentality fits with Skoff’s personality. He paints while top 40 station, 103.5 Kiss FM blares in the background and even lets me choose the color palette for a piece that was commissioned by a Southside café. A year ago he began working with Sam Brown, 20, who acts as co-artist and partner; “she keeps me relevant” he says. He does not fit into the stereotypical mold of ‘artist,’ and that is mirrored by the way he which he distributes it.
With the rise of social media, Skoff is now able to more effectively communicate his idea of providing everyone with free art by conducting hunts in where people search for his paintings based on pictures sent from his Twitter account; his Facebook account is used to provide a diary account of what he is working on and past accomplishments. Both have served to not only create publicity for him but to also connect him with people willing to pay for his work.
Nowadays, Skoff is able to support himself solely through painting. A year ago he was able to quit his landscaping day-job to focus solely on painting. That does not mean that he is able to paint all day long, carefree. In order to make ends meets Skoff rents out his house while he lives in the garage. He does however realize how ‘fortunate [he] is to have done things [his] way and have things work out.’ Because of that, he intends to take his idea of providing free art for all-far beyond Chicago.
Skoff explains that he wants to begin a cross country trip in where he leaves his artwork all over the US. “I have people as far as New Hampshire asking me when I’m going to do one of my Twitter hunts out there…I want to take the van and drive all across the US providing people with free art.”
His work and concept is gaining momentum. The last two months he has seen his work appear in Shedd Aquarium’s Art Sharks, the Chicago Tribune and earlier in the week he filmed a segment for WTTW. And whereas before his artwork use to sit waiting for someone to come, now people come sprinting up and arguments have occurred over who gets to take the art home.
Now that his hunts in Chicago are getting so big, he cannot even drive his own car because people follow him. Perhaps he should take that as an indication that it is time to take the hunts nationwide. Skoff seems confident that this too will work out. He reasons that “people aren’t buying what I’m selling-they’re buying what I’m doing.”
Story: Skoff
Patrick Skoff’s studio in Glen Ellyn, IL is located in his garage, a few feet away from his bedroom. “I get up and work for a set amount of time…I try to treat this like any other job.” On the unlikely day that he is unaccompanied by Sam Brown, he always relies on his dog Mighty Mouse to keep him company. The space is spacious and chilly on March 2, 2010 and not one inch is left untouched from paint. Photograph by Ximena N. Quan Kiu
Story: Skoff
A vital key to Skoff’s success is staying connected to those interested in his work via social networking sites Facebook and Twitter. Immediately after he finishes a painting, he photographs it and posts it to the ‘For Sale’ section of his Facebook page. He also keeps both pages up so he can immediately answer inquiries into his work. This painting was started and completed Tuesday, March 2, 2010. Photograph by Ximena N. Quan Kiu
Story: Skoff
Patrick Skoff, waits as Sam Brown, 20, tweets a picture of their first hidden piece of the day on Sunday, March 16, 2010. Hunts take place once a month and exact locations are not given-simply hints and a picture. This one included the text ‘Major General John A Logan’ with its twitpic. Photograph by Ximena N. Quan Kiu
Story: Skoff
In the beginning, Skoff would use the van (top) to transport his artwork during hunts. The van has become synonymous with Skoff and what he is doing, that he can no longer use the van because people simply follow him around. What people look for now are a guy, and a girl with bright blond hair and neon clothing. Here Skoff and Brown try to act like they are enjoying the Sunday afternoon in Grant Park, March 16, 2010 after having spotted ‘Trailblazer.’ “This woman in a trailblazer follows us and brings all her kids every time we have a hunt,” says Sam. Photograph by Ximena N. Quan Kiu
Story: Skoff
Skoff and Brown laugh at the fact that even before they have sent out a picture with their location at the Tiffany Gardens in Grant Park on Sunday, March 16, 2010, they have been spotted and people are already running towards them (Top). Olivia Antosz, 19, the winner of the last painting, embraces her boyfriend as two disappointed men who sprinted to try to get the last painting, look on. Photograph by Ximena N. Quan Kiu
Story: Skoff
Brown and Skoff walk across Grant Park as they head home from Sunday’s, March 16, 2010 hunt. Even though the pair hit snags during their hunts, such as Twitter timing out, people following them, and people who get angry for not winning; at the end of the day they are content with what they are doing and they enjoy it. “Everyone should have the opportunity to have and enjoy artwork,” says Skoff. Photograph by Ximena N. Quan Kiu
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