Inked Up

Phew. I've been working on this piece for about five days straight. It should've been an easy task but I kept spraying over and re-working the "tattoos" until I was happy with them all.

Stormhobo, 60 x 90 cm
Enamel and marker on particleboard
Painted July 2009

Simple premise, really. The props and pose are derived from a photo of a homeless Vietnam veteran while the quotes and adornments are taken from the helmets of American G.I.'s.

Here are some detail shots:






I was toying with the idea of a graffiti-on-graffiti deal and the stormtrooper provided a clean drawing template. I guess its also a commentary on the sad state of this day and age -- we are more likely to recognise a pop culture reference than to identify significant events in our own immediate history.

I can't say I'm above this either -- when I was a kid all I wanted was a lightsaber and Marty McFly's hoverboard from "Back to the Future II".

To Buzz, Neil, and the Other Guy

An image from Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey". Also a coincidentally timed tribute to the 40th anniversary of the moon landing. I always wanted to be an astronaut.

I Can't Let You Do That, Dave, 39 x 30 cm
Enamel and marker on particle board
Painted 21.07.09

Due to the absence of proper materials (i.e. tape) I had trouble masking the top/bottom. Hence the slight overflow of white spray paint. Shame. I like how it turned out otherwise. Marker on enamel is always fun.

Canned Goods

I recently completed this piece for school; my first time using aerosol paints. Now that the semester is over and the deadline pressures have temporarily abated, I should be working on any of my long-gestating personal projects ... but I can't help myself. Spray-paint is (for me, at least) new and fun. So I'm working on a spiritual successor instead (and trying to nail some more intricate stencils).

Sneaker Bomb, 60 x 90cm
Enamel and marker on particleboard
Painted June 2009

p.s. OG Adidas Superstars are the best sneakers ever.