Jump to content

TRIALS & TRIBULATIONS OF A 10+ YEAR TOY


ERIZENO

Recommended Posts

The ZIRE show !!!

 

Well here we go, and some of you may have seen me on the boards over the past few years. I am lurking in the shadows when not posting, however that is unimportant. This site and the folks here have taught me more about the true meaning of graffiti in the relatively short time I have been on the boards than all the years I have spent putting in hard work on the streets. My history with graffiti is much different than most I would guess, but who knows. I have had an eye for this but knew little about why I liked what I saw/or drew for that matter. Here is a current sketch for something to look at: one of the first with a new more open-minded approach to seeking my style. It was very loose in pencil then a touch of markers. The next, all black lines were done in one free flowing shot, then colored, no pencil sketch, exercise, exercise… work that mind. Scanner was too small so its split. I know you can look past that.

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_098.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_106.jpg'> http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_107.jpg'>

We are taking a trip through my history to give you a clue how toy someone can be, yet still have some stuff look like stereotypical graffiti. Enough like it to sell it to an un-trained eye anyway, as i was able to do several times. Plus I still have all this old stuff so why not share it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This forum is supported by the 12ozProphet Shop, so go buy a shirt and help support!
This forum is brought to you by the 12ozProphet Shop.
This forum is brought to you by the 12oz Shop.

Dipping into that history I started to notice writing in my city around 7th or 8th grade, one of the first two writers in my city was a guy in my neighborhood who I used to skate with. I called him by his street name in very un-cool ways cuz I was a dumb kid, and could only see it as a nick name not a hidden alias. Years went by and I took note of some writing …but not much. One day in high school a friend came over after kicking it with a new crowd and said “Grab some markers, and come on.” That was it man, it’s been all over since. So after a few weeks of writing on everything, we formed our first crew and started to draw anything to mimic what we saw around town, or remembered seeing in movies or anyplace else. The crew was called SSP. (we were wearing lots of sesame street t-shirts at the time [late ‘91]) so it was SEASAME STREET POSSE. It only existed from January to March of ’92. Here is the work from that time:

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_009.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_099.jpg'>

We realized how dumb sounding the crew name was and found tagging to be a very popular thing at the time, getting much media coverage and many new kids to come into the game. Most of these people couldn’t do anything but bad handstyles much less a piece. We tried to just piece and be a bit different from the crowd. I still had no info on the history from NY, or anywhere past very local at this point. We got together a few heads who felt the same and created IBM . (Independent Bombing Madness) during the time this crew existed I got my little fingers on a copy of Spraycan Art, and got to start biting to learn more. Here is some work from this period:

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_100.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_101.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_011.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_102.jpg'>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_104.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_010.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_105.jpg'>

The next big change came with some friends being lost and new ones gained, we also learned of IBM from NY and decided it was time for a change again. This one is funny too … it was the early 90’s (latest 92) most guys if any had just their left ear pierced and it was considered gay to have one in your right ear. Well we were over that myth and a few of us had hoops in each ear. So the new crew name was PC (Pirate Crew, or the more graffiti sounding ... Persistent Criminals) the cofounder and myself decided we wanted to change our names too, he went with ME , I chose MOLE, so we told the rest of the crew their names had to start with M and end with E, all I can say now is what the fuck ….but oh well, teens will be teens !!! here is my PC work.

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_108.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_109.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_110.jpg'>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_111.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_112.jpg'>

The bulk of PC didn’t get into this the way myself and the cofounder were. They for the most part stopped writing. The two of us were over the PC thing and wanted a bit more local fame by being in with a bigger crew. We worked a job with the head of a crew we wanted in and we busted our asses to make it all happen and join up. The other crew would put us down if we picked up new names and stared over with the new names. We had no issue and got put down … within a short time a good chunk of the founding members bailed and went different ways. Leaving the head and a few stragglers plus us new additions … not too long before we were 2nd and 3rd best in the crew. This crew was called MR or MRK (Mass Retardation, before we joined, Mark & Run, right when we came on and Most Rotten Klowns to this day if anyone was still putting it up) I expanded my use of tools and understanding of this art quite a bit in this time. Here is some examples of work at this point:

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_113.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_118.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_114.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_115.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_116.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_119.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_001.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_014.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_120.jpg'> http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_121.jpg'>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_122.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_123.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_124.jpg'>

I was busted twice (in under a month)… My mom wouldn’t allow me to see my writing friends as well the courts said I couldn’t either. Well being the good suburban kid I was I followed that closely. Not too long before I was all alone in my desire to write, buying mags at tower and piecing on paper all the time. I got much better in making my stuff look like most of the rest of the graffiti world, but still I lack in originality and imagination. As well I was fronting on style … as I could make something look good even if its structure was poor, and had no flow, but bet your ass it looked like graffiti. I was very timid to write again after all my legal shit, so all work for a bit was on paper. Here is a sample of that work:

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_125.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_126.jpg'>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Propaganda

What kind of style are you searching for? One that can make you more content with your work and all. I feel you have a handy down style of bringing old rock hard letters like that pharacide. Also your characters must truly mean something. It all comes down about how you are as a person. I've been writing for three years going on four. I still suck horribly but I love it. LOL. Sad yes but I came from days where I didn't know how to draw myself dude. I think you remeber my first couple post of sketches. I even suck worse before I discover 120z. No style, no artistic skill, no meaning. I Think you need meaning before jumping into the writing scene. Without that, it can make artwork very dull and unpleasant to look at. I remeber you months ago giving me advice and I heeded them and that probably help me along the way. Other writers from New England "Massacre" help me too. I would say tho def, the writer Lesn had a big help with me with style and meaning. Along with correct structure with letters.

 

Old Steez

http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00330246f00000013.jpg'>

http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00330246f00000011.jpg'>

http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00330246f00000020.jpg'>

 

Ha Im a dork :rolleyes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_143.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_144.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_145.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_023.jpg'>

Not too long before I lost touch with the last few people I shared this with I started taking lots of art classes at the Jr. college near me, every rule I was taught only added frustration to the times I wanted to let loose and be free. I did find that I love the feel of a paintbrush in my hand, but past the painting most of the art worlds theory, and rules only hindered me … I went into a depression and huge slump. Every time I wanted to break free of these bonds I put on myself it was back to graffiti. Since I was trying to leave that behind me it only depressed me further. A seemingly endless cycle … here is stuff from the slump:

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_026.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_027.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_146.jpg'>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/th_for12oz_147.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_148.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_149.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_150.jpg'>

Some time went by, I was not spending time with the same group of “adults” I had been spending my time with. I found a new girlfriend who opened me up to the world(that’s another long story). With this new perspective I went back into my knowledge of art history and my personal theory on it and what it means, and tried to see how I felt about it. It turns out I think graffiti is the most open, free (minded & spirited), expressive art that is being produced today. I love graffiti, it is a part of me whether or not I want it to be. I started a new blackbook and even with being a good member of the 9-5 working class, I make time to express myself through this art.

First two tries with paint again.

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_151.jpg'>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

NOT BAD.

 

i think some of your work is very good, i like the characters the most... i also think that you have no self confidence what so ever.. maybe if you hadn't conformed at such an early age your style would be different and you wouldnt have to come here and feel sorry for yourself..i dont know man, i would have rather seen a thread of your work in chronological order with out the sob story...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

play with everything you got combine what you have,practice every idea you get. just don't ask others for advice if you want your own style, originality is the best style...and originality is the best way to make a name for yourself, positive on not...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I personally like this thread, the pictures along with your story of trying to find your own style.

 

BUT ...you are way too deep man which is okay artists usually are

real artists atleast.

 

I just think it might be what is making your work suffer in quality

I like your work, you seem unhappy with it though.

But from what i read it does sound like you maybe seriously depressed(maybe im wrong) and i doubt its because you cant think of an original style for your graffiti because that would be rediculous.

 

anyway, you should worry less about finding that certain style your looking for and just put your emotions on paper, you seem to have many(emotions)

 

Graffiti should be fun more than anything else

I usually express my feelings through other types of art, which by the way nobody seems to understand but do enjoy to look at.

 

Every person on earth is unique, and if you can just express your induviduality through your art, it will be ORIGINAL in itself, there is no other option

 

amen

 

Hope that i have helped

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i keep hitting submit when im not ready ... oh well ... rolling on

 

i was very excited with the letters here and decided to make them my first try at a full painitng experience.

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_030.jpg'>

 

this next one is i think one of the times i have closest to my deal. its from the berd stuff above when i started with a messy background then laid the letters over that.

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_034.jpg'>

 

becomming frustrated with 3D i tried to include one 3d letter with some old school letters.

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_074.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_032.jpg'>

at this point i was on 12oz quite often and starting to see why my work wasnt looking up to par with where i felt i should be with the time i had put in. i tried a few new thoughs.

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_033.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_055.jpg'>

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_056.jpg'>

this was drawn then coloerd much later. drawn while we were camping in the pouring raing and had been eating pain killers and smoking much grass. i think it shows or i wouldnt have added it.

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/1003/whome949/for12oz_077.jpg'>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...