Trobriand shield artwork

Build a Fierce Piece of Custom Lounge Art

Transform a black Trobriand shield blank into a bold, gallery-worthy conversation piece using a mix-and-match stencil system, chalky white pigment, and earthy red-ochre accents.

No art experience required. Guests will walk away with a finished shield designed to fit flat in a suitcase.

Presenter LuRu of the Hammerhead Hideaway
Finished Size 14" x 20" x ¼"
Time, Location & Fee Friday, June 5th
11:30am • Main Tent
$15 supply fee

What You’ll Make

Guests will use a black-primed wood shield blank as the base for a high-contrast graphic design. The black surface acts as a deep negative-space field, making the chalky white and earthy red-ochre pigments pop.

The result is a lightweight custom art piece with strong Papua New Guinea-inspired visual energy, built for display in a home bar, lounge, or tiki room.

Stencil System

The workshop uses three interchangeable stencil zones so guests can make individual design choices while staying inside the one-hour class format.

  • Top Crest: stylized eye motifs, bird wings, or cloud forms.
  • Mid-Section Split: interlocking spirals, concentric curves, or anthropomorphic lines.
  • Base Border: repeating chevrons, waves, or shark-tooth geometry.

60-Minute Class Flow

  1. Design & Layout · Minutes 0–15: Pick a shield blank and arrange stencil sets while LuRu presents background, history, and context.
  2. Base Layer · Minutes 15–35: Dry-brush the first stencil layer with red or white paint for a chalky, traditional-pigment effect.
  3. Second Layer Accents · Minutes 35–50: Add secondary stencil details or freehand accent lines in the second color.
  4. Unmask & Finish · Minutes 50–60: Reveal the design and seal it with fast-drying matte sealant for travel.

Supplies Included

Workshop materials include the black-primed shield blank, paint, brushes, plate palettes, stencils, repositionable adhesive, tape, sealer, rope, and prep materials. Guests only need to show up ready to make something.