The Art of Sixthman
/When we're not busy planning all those LIVE LOUD moments for your vacation, a handful of us at Sixthman spend our time gettin' artsy! Check out the galleries below, created by the one and only Sixthman staff!
Name:
Kyle. @vileATL is my art account on Instagram
Job title(s):
Operations Specialist and Tour Manager
What is your art background?
Some classes in college. Culinary school (does that count?)
Describe your artistic style:
Lowbrow pop-graffiti-esque skullish stew. Spray paint and acrylics.
Where do you find inspiration?
Street art, music, tattoo culture, horror films, other artists.
Are you working on any projects currently?
I was just selected for Colony Square’s “1st Annual Festivity and Trees” project. 20 local Atlanta artists were commissioned to paint 8ft wooden trees that will be displayed at midtown’s Colony Square for the month of December.
How have you used your art skills at Sixthman?
I built the “AHOY” backsplash in the kitchen.
Free Art Friday:
Free Art Friday has played a huge role in my getting back into my art. It’s a social media driven idea where artists create something, hide it in the city, then snap a picture with the hashtag “#FAFATL”. Followers of the hashtag then run out to find the piece in a kind of scavenger hunt. Atlanta has one of the largest communities with over 55,000 posts. They’ve been hugely supportive of me and my art.
Name:
A K Mann
Job Title:
Sr. Graphic Designer
What is your art background:
I have a BFA in Illustration from VCU, and an AA in Graphic Design from The Art Institute of Washington.
Describe your artistic style:
I like to try a wide variety of mediums, depending on the project or my mood. I always come back to oils as the ultimate fine art medium. There’s just something about oil paintings that takes my breath away. My style changes depending on the medium used or project I’m working on.
Where do you find inspiration:
This is a tough one, cuz it’s hard to find if you don’t have it. Sometimes it’s the things you don’t expect to inspire you that do. The little things, or just simple emotions. I am often inspired by light (yeah yeah, I know that makes me sound like a nutty art kid). My two “landscape” paintings were inspired by how street lights paint a picture out my window every night. There’s a whole world out there but you only capture pieces of it depending on how the light is shining. It can make things bright and warm or ominous and scary. I’m also very inspired by social issues and pop culture.
Are you working on any projects currently?
I have some ideas floating around for my next project, but recent events are pulling me in another direction. I’m still in the planning stages, so it’s too soon to really talk about what exactly I’m doing.
How have you used your art skills at Sixthman?
Everyday in some fashion. A few times a year a get to incorporate my real artistic skills into a project. Those are the projects I love working on, and the ones I can really be proud of.
Name:
Jen
Job Title(s):
Creative Leader, Senior Warrior, and Partner Relations
What is your art background:
Grew up doing tons of art at home and taking art classes every summer, and always opted into the art classes in school when available. I started going to college for art (wanted to do hand-drawn animation), but the school got rid of my program mid-way through. I switched majors but still finished a minor in fine art, specializing in painting.
Describe your artistic style:
So much color. And tedious detail. I really don’t have one specific style, and I use lots of different mediums and like to try new things. (Just in the photos below, you'll see acrylic, watercolor, tissue paper and more. I've recently started playing around with solar carving... using sunlight to carve wood with a magnifying glass.) Tons of color is normally a must have, and as far as details go, I always joke that I own so many paint brushes, but I only use about 3 of them - the smallest ones.
Where do you find inspiration:
I travel a lot (mostly to nature/backcountry type places), so the locations I visit definitely inspire me. Folk art is awesome. And then I also LOVE Atlanta street art – it’s one of my favorite things about living here. Every time I drive around town, there’s new art to see. (And sometimes I even find cool stuff, due to the Free Art Friday movement Kyle mentioned.) So yeah, I’m kinda all over the place.
Are you working on any projects currently?
I have so many half-done projects, so technically yes. But nothing I’m actively going home and working on each day. I did finish up my biggest project of the year (most likely), which was a painted guitar I donated to a charity auction for Rock By The Sea . Pics of that below.
How have you used your art skills at Sixthman?
Most recently I created a few linocut designs for merchandise at our Sixthman Sessions show in Chicago this summer. Our guests could hand-press their own posters at the event, which was a really fun spin on traditional event posters. I’ve done several other things, like sketch out the initial design for our office mural using our existing cruise art, and I usually design the album art for our Sixthman Sessions albums.
Name:
Jess
Job title:
Warrior
What is your art background?
I’ve been making and creating for pretty much my entire life. I began going to art camps during my summers as a kid and as soon as I entered school, I took every art class I could. I have a Bachelors degree in visual art with a concentration in ceramics from St. Andrews University in North Carolina. After graduating I got a job as a sign artist for Trader Joes (yep, I got paid to color all day) and took a position as a resident ceramic artist at Roswell Art Center West. Since then I’ve worked as a graphic designer, a freelance chalkboard artist, and even had a stint making glass beads!
Describe your artistic style:
I love to work with bold color, patterns, and textures. No matter what medium I work in, those three things run throughout. Even though my focus was in ceramics during college, I’ve branched out a lot in recent years. I like to joke that I’m a “Jess of All Trades” without that whole “master of none” thing. Some of the mediums that I enjoy working with are traditional acrylic on canvas, acrylic on carved foam-core, watercolor, and jewelry. I’ve also been teaching myself to sew!
Where do you find inspiration?
Nature is probably my primary source of inspiration but I’m also inspired by a lot of street art and muralists around the world. My favorite artists are a husband-wife team named SupaKitch and Koralie (@realsupakitch and @realkoralie on Instagram – seriously, check them out!).
Are you working on any projects currently?
Sewing has its hooks in me right now – there’s always some new technique to learn! I started small and made cloth napkins and a duvet cover and have now worked my way up to making some of my own clothes and bags. Currently I’m making a duffel bag for a friend and a diaper bag for my nephew!
How have you used your art skills at Sixthman?
I began putting my sign-making and chalkboard skills to use by creating custom a chalkboard for each of our Sixthman Sessions performances. I also recently completed a 11x5 ft mural of Sixthman’s values in one of our conference rooms. Oh, and anytime someone wants something nicely written, I’m happy to oblige. ;)
