Interview with Ghost

Ghost is a well known graffiti artist in Bay Area. I had the pleasure of following him around one late Monday night.

Why Monday?
It's the easiest night because most people go to bed early on Monday night.

I dressed in all black so we would not get caught and I noticed you are wearing a white t-shirt. What's up with that?
Ha, ha. It's not that serious.

Why graffiti?
Why not? It's like instant gratification, Abstract art, you know. Everyone will drive past and see my work. For most artist that kind of exposure never happens. Plus, I love spray paint. it has to the hardest paint to use. It's always a challenge.

What is your work about?
Social injustice for latinos.

What is your process?
I have drawn out the idea on paper. Basic ideas. make decisions on the colors that will be used. Buy spray paint. Finally, I locate the spot. This can take a long time since it has feel right to me. Any space will not work for me. I want impact. Shock and awe.

Ever been arrested?
yeah, right after I turned 18. What a nightmare. 300 hours of community service cleaning graffiti. Some of it needed to be removed.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Maybe I will make a living as an artist like Keith Harring. Right now I am an economics major at UC Berkeley so you never know what the future holds.

So, who taught you graffiti art?
I taught myself.

I have difficulty working with spray paint, you know avoiding the dripping.
There is a certain distance you have to have between you and the wall, a light hand on the can.

Any advice for your fellow artists?
Embrace the thrill.

At the end of the interview I saw Ghost in action. It was pure Abstract Expressionism. It was beautiful to watch.

Interview with G.G

G.G is a graphic designer for a long list of book publishers. She started this line of work after graduating with a BFA degree and needing money to pay her student loans. But, what she really enjoys is painting. One of her favorite things about her work is making her own paint from oil and pigment She only works in oil and will not use plastic like arcrylic paints. She is a realist painter so the only pattern is that she typically works with a single person a urban setting kind of like Edward Hopper in New York City with the balls of Marilyn Minter.
Her process involves bloking out spaces, then an under painting and the painstaking process to make something not real very much alive. G.G paints in enamel so there is a glossy finish to it. Very slick and modern realism.
"The worst thing that happened to me as an artist was art school - being forced to paint things that you have no interest in and take classes you have no interest in. I feel I would be a more diverse artist, but in school I was stuck in my major"
G.G's advice to a struggling young artist "just keep making art even if feel blocked. Every day get in studio and do somthing artistic"
G.G has no promotional materials because she paints for herself friends

Self Promotion

I passed out 3 flyers advertising the artshow that is to happen tomorrow.

Flyer one went in local pizza shop that has a community board . It went ok. I ended up talking to owner about my work and being a painter. He in turn talked to me about his drawings. He offered me a slice of pizza and a Snapple - so I spoke with him for quite a while and had a great lunch.

Flyer 2 is on the community board at the coffee shop by my house. I had to squeeze it on there because their were so many others. But, I feel like it stood out. I placed it at eye level so it could be seen. It was an uneventful visit, however, I did have a good iced coffee.

Flyer 3 I handed one to a friend (and coworker) which was a big deal for me. My two worlds of work and my Art do not cross paths that often. But, I was glad to give it to her and quite proud of my work.