Designer. Fabricator. Problem Solver.
Ian Paul Black
My mission is to do the work I love. I'm fortunate to spend every day living my mission.
"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." - Scott Adams
What I Do
I think, tinker, build, design, create, shape, mold, paint, and fabricate.
Achieving unexpected results, whether I'm wielding a welder or a sewing needle.
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Seussical the Musical: Set Design & Fabrication
Fabrication, Set / Stage
Seussical the Musical: Set Design & Fabrication
Full set design for Seussical the Musical — hand-built truffula trees, Whoville arch, swirled floors, and rainbow backdrop for theatre-in-the-round.
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Steampunk Pistol Prop
Fabrication, Props / Gadgets
Steampunk Pistol Prop
Custom steampunk pistol — modified toy gun with weathered brass finish, pressure gauge, and Victorian-industrial detailing.
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Oscar the Grouch Halloween Costume
Costume Design, Fabrication
Oscar the Grouch Halloween Costume
Custom Oscar the Grouch costume with functional wearable trash can — foam, fabric, and attitude.
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College Mascot Costumes: FAMU & Bethune-Cookman
Costume Design, Fabrication
College Mascot Costumes: FAMU & Bethune-Cookman
Custom mascot costumes for FAMU Rattler and Bethune-Cookman Wildcat — sculpted foam heads, hand-painted detail, built to perform.
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Shredder Costume: Duct Tape, Foam & Fabric
Costume Design, Fabrication
Shredder Costume: Duct Tape, Foam & Fabric
Custom Shredder costume from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, built entirely from duct tape, foam, and fabric. Full helmet with face plate, shoulder armor with blade details, gauntlet claws, belt, and cape. Proving that great fabrication doesn’t need expensive materials — just creativity and skill.
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Southernmost Point Buoy Replica
Fabrication, Props / Gadgets
Southernmost Point Buoy Replica
Replica of the famous Southernmost Point buoy marker from Key West, Florida. Built from scratch — shaped and assembled the structure, then hand-painted with all the iconic detail including the distance markers and color bands.
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Mario & Luigi Costumes
Costume Design, Fabrication
Mario & Luigi Costumes
Full-size Mario and Luigi costumes built from scratch. Sculpted oversized character heads with hand-painted detail, complete with overalls, gloves, and all the signature elements. A multi-material build combining foam sculpting, fabric work, and painting.
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July 4th Custom Bicycle
Customization, Fabrication
July 4th Custom Bicycle
Custom-fabricated patriotic bicycle for a July 4th celebration. Chopper-style extended frame with star cutout, welded and painted in red, white, and blue. A fun showcase of metal fabrication skills outside the theatre.
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TARDIS Prop Build
Fabrication, Props / Gadgets
TARDIS Prop Build
Custom-built TARDIS prop for a Doctor Who themed production. Built from scratch in the shop — raw wood frame construction, then painted in the iconic TARDIS blue with “POLICE PUBLIC CALL BOX” signage and illuminated window panels.
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Log Cabin Set: Weekend Comedy
Fabrication, Set / Stage
Log Cabin Set: Weekend Comedy
Full log cabin set built for “Weekend Comedy” at the Alhambra Theatre — a production that starred Cindy Williams of Laverne & Shirley fame. Photo: Jacksonville Daily Record The massive stone fireplace was hand-carved from insulation foam — every single brick shaped individually to create the river rock effect. The cabin walls are luan cut…
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The Cheshire Cat
Costume Design, Fabrication
The Cheshire Cat
I created this custom halloween costume for my brother. Built over a store bought inflatable costume, everything from the tail to the whiskers was made custom. LEDs illuminate his teeth, the fan keeps your body cool in this amazingly cool costume!
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Theatre Set for Social Security
Fabrication, Set / Stage
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Set Design: I Ought to Be In Pictures
Set / Stage
Set Design: I Ought to Be In Pictures
Designed to look like a living room then transition to a rock and roll show.
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The Altima Truck
Fabrication, Upholstery
The Altima Truck
Over the years, I have performed many customizations to many different types of vehicles.
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Biplane for The Drowsy Chaperone
Fabrication, Props / Gadgets, Set / Stage
Biplane for The Drowsy Chaperone
Custom built and hand painted biplane. Designed to withstand the weight of the entire cast, yet be light enough to maneuver onto the stage. Work in Progress Before the paint went on — the raw build in the workshop, showing the full scale of the structure.
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Theatre Set: Pump Boys & Dinettes
Fabrication, Set / Stage
Theatre Set: Pump Boys & Dinettes
This set was designed to look like a 50’s diner. Custom fabricated the hand rails. Scale Model Detailed scale model built to plan the full set — complete with checkered floor, road markings, gas pumps, and the Double Cup Diner signage. Full Build on Stage The finished set on stage — gas station with Standard Oil…
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Let's Work Together
If you're looking for stage or set design, fabrication, or have another project I can help with, contact me and let's discuss.
Technical Background
Gathering experience and expertise from technical trades, I bring it all together in every creative project I complete.
Creatively Inclined
I've spent my whole life dismantling the world around me so I could figure out how it works, improve it, or repair it.
Dedicated Creator
Years of experience with creative projects means I can work within budget, time, space and other constraints.
My Stats
Testimonials