I’m truly honored that I got to paint one of the 100 Herky Statues for Iowa City’s Herky On Parade 3 organized by Think Iowa City! My Herky is Lucha-Mania Herky dressed in his Mexican wrestler mask and championship belt.
Lucha-Mania Herky, Herky on Parade III statue by artist Jonathan Sims, sponsored by Think Iowa City is seen on the streets, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. PHOTO CREDIT: Joseph Cress/Think Iowa City
360 degree turnaround gif of Lucha Mania Herky.
This was my first time painting a three dimensional statue of this scale. It was a fun and challenging process. I spent a lot of time climbing up and down a step ladder and sitting on a gardening seat to paint all of Herky’s various angles. I enjoyed pushing the cartoony aspects of the painting and adding little details like the metallic gold championship belt and the Iowa flag tag on the back of his singlet.
Time-lapse gif of my Herky painting process. I painted Herky in my temporary painting studio at ReUnion Brewery’s Juice Factory brewing facility.
Lucha-Mania Herky, Herky on Parade III statue, is seen photographed in studio, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Coralville, Iowa. PHOTO CREDIT: Joseph Cress/Think Iowa City