(Published March 2, 2008)–INDIANAPOLIS — Making a paper snowflake is one of many routine projects in elementary school art class. But Ryan Hoffar has taken the form to a whole new level.

The Plainfield native and professional graphics designer makes “flakes” of such conspicuous intricacy that many people are quickly taking notice. Hoffar’s first studio exhibit started recently at Altered Image Tattoo and Piercing, 10030 E. U.S. 36, Avon, and lasts through March 19.

“I believe that Ryan has a unique angle towards his art,” said Mark Farley, who schedules art shows for Altered Image. He invited Hoffar to showcase there after seeing his profile on the website www.indyarts.org. “He’s the only person that I know who does the type of work that he does and he seems enthusiastic about it.

Farley said he’d like to see Hoffar collaborate with a silk-screen printer, a custom motorcycle painter, or maybe even someone who does light shows in the music business.

“I think that the results would be phenomenal,” he said.

Hoffar doesn’t have any unique insight on how he developed his craft.

“I didn’t learn it anywhere other than what everybody else did in kindergarten,” said Hoffar, who now resides on Indianapolis’ west side. “You know how it went. You were given scissors and told to fold a piece of paper and start cutting. The only thing I do differently is I ditched the scissors and started using a razor blade so I could make cleaner cuts.”

The results are often designs of a labyrinthine nature — be it mirroring images or curlicue patterns. An easier one, with a frame, can take Hoffar up to an hour to do. Something more complex, up to two hours.

It’s not a skill Hoffar nurtured throughout his childhood. As an undergraduate at Marian College, he made a few flakes for his future wife. He had others stashed away. Last year the Arts Council of Indianapolis petitioned local artists to submit works that could be displayed in the windows of vacant buildings — a beautification effort. There were 40 people who submitted art. Only four were chosen, including Hoffar.

“I wanted a way to showcase what I had already done,” he said. “I thought this would make a great outlet.”

Initially he didn’t have enough flakes, so Hoffar hunkered down and started churning out new ones. He currently has 60-some of them on display on the east side of the Chase Tower in downtown Indianapolis.

Others quickly caught on to Hoffar’s unusual gift. A member of the Naptown Roller Girls’ fan club, Hoffar created a flake inspired by the roller derby team. It was forwarded to the Roller Girls after he showed it to others in the fan club. It subsequently was shown in a Naptown-inspired exhibit at Big Car Gallery.

Hoffar also gave several custom flakes as Christmas gifts this past year, including people’s names in cursive and a rosary for his mother. A friend created a website for Hoffar to capitalize on his upstart talents. Hoffar now works under the name Mister Flakes.

“That came out of desperation,” he said. “I needed a name for the website because it was coming out in conjunction with the window display. I wanted something fairly silly because I don’t take what I do too seriously.”

Hoffar doesn’t spend much time on his craft, usually only when someone requests a custom flake.

“Most of my orders are still local,” he said. “If it got any bigger I’d probably be overloaded.”

While Hoffar will incorporate petitioned elements into his flakes, he likes it better when he starts cutting with no idea what he wants it to be.

“I can’t explain what I feel when I first unfold it,” Hoffar said. “I like the perfect symmetry to it — something marrying something else. I think that’s what a lot of people like about it.”

Wade Coggeshall writes for the Hendricks County Flyer in Avon, Ind.