The 3 Biggest Lies About Gunpowder Art!

I hope your weekend is going great!

I want to share some lies about gunpowder art.  This is what I wish I had known when starting out 10 years ago.

Lie #1.  More gunpowder means better art!

More gunpowder means fun art. Not fine art.  The explosions are larger.  People cheer.  But more gunpowder does not make the art better.  Artworks start on fire.  They char too much.  It is difficult to control.  In my mind fine is better. Simple is more.

Lie #2.  Working with gunpowder will make you a better artist!

Sorry, that is just not true.  Anyone can light a fuse and blow up a canvas or a panel or a piece of paper. But to get some meaning into it.  Some life.  Some emotion.  Something that makes viewers react.  That is hard.

Lie #3.  Doing gunpowder art is limiting!

No way.  There are so many gunpowder grades and types.  From cannon to super fine powders. From slow burning to fast and hot.  You can mix and match.  Plus, there are a million ways to mix in various types of fuses. Super slow to hyper fast.  And they come in many different gauges. Then there are many different substrates, paints, and techniques to apply.

Each piece you create is totally unique.

So find inspiration.  Study.  Try many things.  Don't limit yourself.

The whole world is your Blast Factory!

Boom!

Stick Vega is the American Gunpowder Artist, former CEO, and author of LESS KILLING. Stick currently lives and creates explosive pop art at The Blast Factory in Madison, Wisconsin. Not limited to one medium, he works in gunpowder drawings and paintings, photography, digital art and writing. Please follow Stick on Facebook and/or Twitter.