Graffiti: What It Means To Me
I was once a devoted graffiti writer. Since I was a kid, making art was a significant part of my life. I would choose to stay in and draw, over playing outside with the the neighborhood kids. In third grade, I began to sell my drawings of cars for $3. By middle school, I had been obsessed with Dragon Ball Z and Pokemon, and had a sketchbook dedicated to each series. Every page, dedicated to each character.
By my sophomore year in high school (2005), graffiti was going through a renaissance, instantly taking hold of me. I got the black books and the Prisma and Deco markers. Eventually, I turned to aerosol paint and walls. First a couple of tags, then pieces in alleyways, train yards billboards and freeways.
Driving down a freeway and seeing something you did you knew you weren't supposed to, gave me indescribable joy… and believe it or not, a sense of personal validation. Having been arrested twice, and having seen most, if not all of the walls I painted get buffed over, documenting my work (legal or illegal) became a priority. I got my first DSLR in 2007 (the Canon Rebel xti to be exact), and began to capture what I knew was not going to be around much longer.
Photography, filmmaking, and design – I cannot imagine my life without them. Each passion was crystalized for me through graffiti art. From running around the streets of Los Angeles, to photographing a wedding, filming a music video, and designing the brand identity of a city – I credit graffiti for being the seed that spurred my career.
Honestly, this isn't even half of the ruckus I caused, but... You get the point. Thanks for reading!
