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Upcoming events
Open Studio: Sol Ben and Parrish Monk Studio #7
Modern mixed media art from Parrish Monk in
Studio #7 at Gallery on First
Join us every third Saturday of the month from
6-9pm for Open Studio at the Gallery on First
Monk Made LLC launch
Monk Made LLC
Monk Made encompasses the artworks and creations of Parrish Monk Arts, ManHandled Jewelry, and 11:11 Art and Design under one roof
Gallery on first upcoming events
Gallery on first upcoming events
June 21, 2025,
Opening Studio Night
Saturday 6PM – 9PM
July 12, 2025
Christmas in July
all day in downtown Sanford Florida and at Gallery on First
211 East First Street
Sanford, Fl 32771
My Background
My Inspiration
My Background
I am not sure what box I would fit into. I am an artist and artisan who is not married to one style, one medium, or a singular theme. I am not wired that way. I have always been creative. However, I am what many would consider a late bloomer. While I have taken a few art course in middle school up to college, I am largely a self-taught a
I am not sure what box I would fit into. I am an artist and artisan who is not married to one style, one medium, or a singular theme. I am not wired that way. I have always been creative. However, I am what many would consider a late bloomer. While I have taken a few art course in middle school up to college, I am largely a self-taught artist and artisan.
I have been a gallery owner, gallery artist, and a working and vending artist since 11/2011. I have accepted the label as a mixed-media artist to make things easier for the media, jurors, and the general public. I was called "one of the best emerging artist" in Central Florida and a "modern black artist" by some local media outlets. The labels... The small box... I am simply a creative enjoying this gift in this life, while I am able to. With over 627 sales of original art across the globe, it has been a great experience so far.
However, I have kept my day job. Why? Because I am passionate about equitable access to a quality education. I am also an adult educator with a background in teaching non-traditional adult learners on a collegiate level. I have taught, and currently teach, business management, HRM, developmental math, finite math, psychology, entrepreneurship and much more.
While I have an MBA in HR and my Doctorate is in Education Leadership, I added a BFA in Graphic and Web Design to my resume. Soon, my wild, wide-swinging, winding pathway will make perfect sense. Stayed tuned as I chase my dreams of being a graphic novelists, curriculum designer, and children's book author.
My Medium
My Inspiration
My Background
I use many different mediums, such as acrylics, old sheet music, impasto, pen, pastels, clay, metal, resin and wood. I only sell original art. My top selling art is hard to identify. There seems to be a lot of people that get my weirdness and unconventional approach to how my creativity manifest itself. For me, contrary to the recommende
I use many different mediums, such as acrylics, old sheet music, impasto, pen, pastels, clay, metal, resin and wood. I only sell original art. My top selling art is hard to identify. There seems to be a lot of people that get my weirdness and unconventional approach to how my creativity manifest itself. For me, contrary to the recommended best practices, working in a single medium or a singular style is restrictive to my artistic process and goes against my creative nature. I am just not wired that way; and I am not blaming my ADHD. While I may consider myself as a visual artist or a mixed-media artist and even an artisan, artisan or crafter; my mentor told me that I can be whatever I want.
My work is often made of various mixed media (a lot of which is upcycled) and often incorporates things like: heavy textures; varied bodies and types of paint; old sheet music from the early 1900's; resin; and metallic paints. Each idea manifests in its own individual style and in its own way. Therefore, I unapologetically and authentically, do not fit comfortably into any box or under any one label. Not yet any way.
My Inspiration
My Inspiration
My Inspiration
I have always been creative. I am inspired by the world around me including nature, politics, spirituality, and even other artists and artisans. However, I am not sure if this is normal, but my brain is constantly coming up with new ideas. Many of my pieces are purely created as a derivative of my imagination and not directly influenced
I have always been creative. I am inspired by the world around me including nature, politics, spirituality, and even other artists and artisans. However, I am not sure if this is normal, but my brain is constantly coming up with new ideas. Many of my pieces are purely created as a derivative of my imagination and not directly influenced by external sources; this makes my work unique and also justifies why, up to this point in my career, do not make any copies or prints of my work. This may be a bad business decision bot it is what it is. I love to push the boundaries, break rules, experiment and learn from my mistakes. I learn more from these experiences when I just go with flow and am intentionally present in the moment.