Marks & Spencer Flip Flops customized with Mr. Upside Bold Lines

Started as a funny side project these customized Flip Flops became one the projects that doesn't seem to get finished. The left one was finished almost two years ago but instead of throwing them away I kept them but did not start painting the right one.

Untill recently. Frustrated by my tendency to quickly and passionately start projects that take forever to finisch them, I picked up the right one and started painting. The Flip Flops are made of material that is designed to absorb sweat and dirt from your feet and therefor also absorbs paint very well. That means layers. Lots of layers. Each line has been drawn at least three times before it gets white enough. And the perfectionist part of me still doesn't like the lines where the green background still shines through.

Flip flops as an art object

I like the idea of a cross-over between art and every day objects. That's why I like to customise regular objects. They are transformed into something new. Something special and unique.

Please check out more picures and specificaties of the customized Flip Flops on their product page.

Zen monk

It's fun. And doing these zen monk style activities keeps me mentally sane. My mind wanders off and cleans up all kinds of emotions and frustrations while 'painting' with the Posca paint markers.

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Custom painted skateboard deck added to the art objects collection

I have always been fascinated by the skateboard culture. However, my child hood consisted of many hours on my bike, doing cycling games in my neighbourhood trying to be the fastest. But later on I discovered the video's and magazines with skateboarders doing awesome tricks on a half pipe and cruising through the city.

Although I have never owned a skateboard myself, let alone set a foot on one, the fascination with the laid back, fun-loving lifestyle somehow never left. Therefor I have always wanted to do 'something' with a skateboard deck.

Skateboard deck 'Tilt shift'

Actually because of a rough sketch and a new yellow layer of paint on a white layer, the idea of a 'shifted' illustration came to mind. The Bold Lines on this custom painted deck seem to be way off at the bottom but as they move to the top of the skateboard, the two different layers get more aligned.

This reminded me of a learning curve. In the beginning of each new 'trick' you are trying to learn you are not aligned with your vision of what you're trying to master. But slowely, as you progress and learn, your vision and actions are getting more and more aligned. In the end, after lots of practice, your actions produce the results you have in your head (or heart). Vision and actions are aligned.

More information on this custom painted skateboard deck and other art objects can be found in the website section with the artworks.

Mr. Upside on Instagram

If you would like to see more images on 'work-in-progress--projects and art, please check out my Instagram account on www.instagram.com/mrupsideart

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