TOLEDO, Ohio — A popular Toledo artist is using his mural painting skills to brighten up the Zamboni used by Metroparks Toledo and put smiles on the faces of winter park goers.
The alliteratively named Toledo artist Tony Touch, who is also a well-respected tattoo artist in town, showed off the project on Sunday.
The ice resurfacer is used at the Glass City Metroparks’ ice ribbon, to keep the surface running smooth and looking good for all the winter revelers at the popular east Toledo riverside park.
He says he’s always wanted to paint a Zamboni and jumped at the chance.
“It truly is an honor. The parks have been a part of our family, and we utilize the parks just about every week, and to be part of The Ribbon here, I mean it's just a fun place to hang out with the family, and it's so fun to watch the kids' faces light up when your art rolls by,” said Touch.
And what was Touch’s subject?
A painting of one of Metroparks Toledo’s mascots – Boggs the Leopard Frog.
“They gave me a lot of artistic freedom on this, so they said, "What's your interpretation of Boggs?" Their mascot. I drew up Boggs ice skating, so that way from a small distance, it looks like a giant frog is ice skating on The Ribbon, and it’s sure to get a smile on anyone,” said Touch.
It wasn’t a simple proposition either.
Touch says the job took days to complete.
“They were a little surprised to see me with a belt sander the second day that they actually had ownership of it, but we had to sand it down, prime it, and then paint it, and it took about a good four or five days, but you can't deny the results,” said Touch.
Touch’s colorful murals can be found all over the city (and beyond), at schools, community centers, diners, bars, and many other public and private locations.
You can follow Tony Touch and check out hundreds of his signature artworks going back over a decade on his Instagram account here.
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