Author: richcihlar

  • Revisiting a Decade of Stencils

    Revisiting a Decade of Stencils

    Recently, I’ve been digging back through the countless stencils I’ve drawn and hand-cut over the last 10+ years. From portraits to birds to all kinds of pop art imagery, I realized many of these stencils were only ever painted once, usually for a live event or a custom piece. It hit me that I was missing an opportunity to share more of the process and let people see how my work comes together.

    So, I started repainting them.

    Each week I’ve been recreating these stencil pieces and posting the time-lapse videos to my YouTube and social media channels. It’s been a fun way to revisit older ideas while also showing how the layering works, something that’s hard to fully appreciate when you only see the finished piece.

    Most of the surfaces I paint on are the same boxes my spray paint arrives in, Montana 94 boxes, but I’m not limited to those. I’m always on the lookout for interesting surfaces. Sometimes it’s the color palette of the cardboard, sometimes the typography printed on it, and sometimes it’s simply the shape. I especially love irregular edges, flaps, and tabs that naturally come with reclaimed boxes.

    The stencil layers themselves can vary quite a bit. Some pieces are built with as few as five layers, while others can reach twenty or more. My earlier works tended to be simpler, but over time the process has evolved. I wouldn’t necessarily say more complicated, just more interesting to me.

    pigeon painting on reclaimed box
    pitbull dog on sprite pop box
    statue of liberty on PBR box with godzilla

    Along with sharing these short videos, I’ve also been building up my online shop, where many of these works are now available. If something catches your eye, go treat yourself to something nice.

    I also couldn’t have done this without the design and life coaching help from Alramzi Creations and Ali. If you ever need help with design, websites, or coding, definitely check him out. Plus, he’s just a cool guy.

    As for this current time-lapse project, I’ve been releasing about three videos a week featuring stencils from across the years. At this pace, I’m pretty sure I could keep this going for a few years without running out of material (That’s not a joke.  I have a lot!)

    If you’re into spray paint, stencils, or printmaking processes, follow along on my YouTube channel or social media. And let me know what you think.

  • Don’t Panic! It’s only a Mural

    Don’t Panic! It’s only a Mural

    The chance to work on this mural came after a talk with one of the producers at Fox 8. I had just done my first interview on New Day Cleveland, when they mentioned my art would fit nicely in the loading dock between studios. I knew exactly what I had to do.

    Don’t Panic is the moniker Bob Peck and I use when we join forces. We’re both Cleveland mural artists, and we wanted to give Fox 8 a Cleveland flavored mural they wouldn’t forget! Watch as abstract graffiti collides with precision stencils in this two-day mural montage. The result? a bold Guardian of Transportation Boulevard and a vintage TV set featuring the classic WJW Eight logo. From behind-the-scenes interviews with Fox 8 anchors to unexpected mishaps, long hours, laughs, and that satisfying final reveal, this video captures the entire journey.

    Tune in, get inspired, and don’t panic… it’s only art!

    Check out what Fox 8 had to say.

  • Rags to R!ches

    Rags to R!ches

    This past Friday, I had the pleasure of visiting the Diane Kidd Gallery at Tiffin University for the opening reception of my solo exhibition, Rags to R!ches. And wow, what a night!

    The concept behind Rags to R!ches plays on both my process and my name. I often work with found objects and discarded materials, things like cardboard boxes, bottle caps, and wine corks, and transform them into something new. That’s the “Rags” part. The “R!ches” part comes from my own name, R!ch, and the old saying rags to riches. It’s about reimagining what’s been tossed aside and giving it new life (with a little style and spray paint, of course).

    The show looked beautiful, and I have to give a shout-out to the folks who put it together. The gallery team, led by Joe and his crew, did a fantastic job curating the space and making everyone feel welcome. There was even a fancy spread of light appetizers and refreshments, because who doesn’t love art with snacks?

    After settling in, I was introduced to the guests and asked to say a few words about my work. No problem there, I’m a social butterfly! The audience asked great questions about my techniques and the relationship between my images and the text I use. I could tell people were really engaged, which always makes talking about my art even more rewarding.

    One of my favorite parts of the evening was chatting one-on-one afterward, especially with the students and young artists who came through. They reminded me of my own early days, full of ideas, ambition, and not quite aware of the bumps waiting out there in the real world. I hope something I said stuck with them in a positive way, maybe gave them a little motivation to keep pushing forward.

    All in all, it was a wonderful evening. I made some new friends, had some great conversations, and left feeling incredibly grateful. Huge thanks again to Joe and everyone at the Diane Kidd Gallery for the warm welcome and the flawless event.

    If you haven’t been to the gallery yet, go check it out! Whether you’re an artist, an art lover, or just curious, it’s absolutely worth the visit.

  • Pez Dispensers, Pop Culture, and Skateboards: My Latest Street Art Mashup

    Pez Dispensers, Pop Culture, and Skateboards: My Latest Street Art Mashup

    What do you get when you mix a stack of used skateboards, a handful of Pez dispensers, and a bucketload of street art swagger? You get my latest creations for the Street Heart Jam at Graffiti Heart—three one-of-a-kind, candy-fueled skateboard artworks that bring old decks back to life.

    These aren’t just pretty boards for the wall—they’re relics of street culture getting a second shot at glory. I’ve painted a lot of Pez dispensers in my career, but there’s something about them that always pulls me back in. The crisp design. The satisfying click of the head flip. The unapologetic nod to pop culture. And, of course, the sugar rush of that tiny brick of candy that takes you straight back to childhood.

    The Process

    For this project, I started by cutting and painting handmade stencils on thin paper. Then I die-cut the designs, applied them directly to the skateboards, and worked them into the surface with a little sandpaper love. I topped them off with bold vinyl graphics—more pop culture icons to add extra layers of nostalgia and visual punch.

    The Result

    The result? Three new street art pieces that pay homage to retro candy culture and skate life:

    • Mario – The ultimate video game hero, pixel-perfect for your inner 8-bit kid.
    • Skull – Because street art needs a little edge.
    • Creature from the Black Lagoon – Classic monster vibes in full color.

    These are the first in what’s going to be a whole army of Pez Dispenser paintings on all kinds of surfaces—skateboards, found objects, maybe even a few surprises.

    So whether you’re into street art, skate culture, pop art, or you just want to relive your candy-fueled childhood, keep your eyes peeled. There’s plenty more where this came from.

  • Back at the Lakewood Arts Festival—15 Years Later!

    Back at the Lakewood Arts Festival—15 Years Later!

    Well… that was a blast! I just wrapped up the Lakewood Arts Festival, and wow—what a reunion. It’s been about 15 years since I last set up a booth there, and let me tell you, the wait was worth it.

    The day couldn’t have been more perfect—blue skies, sunshine, and a comfortable 75 degrees. I caught up with old friends, made plenty of new ones, and soaked in all the positive vibes. Honestly, it was exactly the kind of energy boost I needed, and now I’m feeling fired up to apply for even more shows next year.

    My work is always evolving—different styles, new mediums—but this time I showcased something close to my heart: stencils and spray paint on reclaimed Montana 94 boxes. It’s always fun to watch people realize they’re literally looking at the packaging my spray paint comes in. (Yes, the art is painted on the boxes that once held the paint I used to make the art—full circle!)

    I heard so many great comments throughout the day—every single one encouraging. I love when people stop to ask, “What’s with the box?” and I get to share that little backstory.

    All in all, it was a day filled with art, laughter, sunshine, and pure inspiration. Huge thanks to the Lakewood Arts Festival for putting on such a stellar event. You can bet I’ll be throwing my hat in the ring again next year.

    Lakewood arts festival booth spray paint and stencil art
  • Are You a Square?

    Are You a Square?

    I’ve been getting back in to production mode and this batch of work is part of that new year push.  My daughter Lacy and I were invited to participate in the upcoming “Square” show at the Sandusky Cultural Center.  We collaborated on 12 pieces for this exhibit.  They feature Albert Einstein, The Fonz, and a cat.  They were painted in CYMK colors (or primary with black and white).

    Why The Fonz, Einstien and a cat you ask?  Well…. In typical “Dad joke” manner, the pieces are titled: Fonzie is not a Square, Albert is Square’d, and Four Fe-lines make a Square.  They are puns within the context of the format theme of the show. (I thought it was funny!) They each measure 12 x 12 inches and are gallery wrapped canvas’.

    I enjoy collaborating on works with other artists, and my daughter is no exception.  The show opens on Jan 8th at the Sandusky Cultural Center.  We hope to see you there.

    Fonzie paintings by Rich Cihlar
    cat paintings by Rich Cihlar
    Albert einstein paintings by Rich Cihlar

  • Thinking Outside of the Box, Literally.

    Thinking Outside of the Box, Literally.

    Hey all! It’s time for a new website and some new work.  So here you go! I’ve been working alongside the Hive Design Group (hivedesigngrp.com) to help rebuild my website and create a new online store for my art work.  Shout out to Oliver who has been stellar and instrumental in this process.  He’s been picking up everything I’ve been laying down and making it stick!  I hope you like what you see!

    I’ve also been laying out some new work.  My latest works have been stencils on upcycled card board boxes, specifically Montana spray paint boxes.  These are the boxes that my spray paint cans come in. Why throw them out? (says the artist hoarder in me). I love the fallouts, handle holes, and tears on the boxes.  I’ve always found it’s easier to start a piece of art on a surface that already had a former life: as to existing text, surface blemishes, or other images left behind.  I then make my work/image play or interact with those found images or make my color pallets align with them.  I think of it as a contemporary collage or another form of mixed media.

    I’ve been pulling a few different color pallets with each of my stencils.  This one was painted in rainbow progression.  Even the hair is a dark burgundy purple color, although it appears black in the photo.  Other variations of this image can be found in my gallery or store.  Does one color pallet connect with you better?  I’d love to know which one and why.

    These works will be available soon in person at E11even 2 Gallery (e11even2.com) and in my online store.