GraffNoir
Welcome To Graff Noir, Part 5 of 13 installments at EVL World Studio.
Graff: Graffiti expresses social and political messages and a whole genre of artistic expression is based upon spray paint graffiti styles. To some, it is an art form worthy of display in galleries and exhibitions; to others it is merely vandalism. Graffiti has evolved into a pop culture existence often related to underground hip hop.
Noir: Film noir is a cinematic term used to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as stretching from the early 1940s to the late 1950s. Many of the prototypical stories and much of the attitude of classic noir come from the school of crime fiction that came out in the U.S. during the depression.
Graff Noir: Combining the dramatic storytelling nature of the nostalgic Hollywood film poster with my iconic contemporary graffiti styles I attempt to continue my unusual journey in these 13 fictitious “coming attractions” of films that may or may not ever be made. Through the subject matter and identifiable imagery I once again ask the viewer to continue the story, in your mind.
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Love
Graff- The “love” letters here, also in my 3D style intersect each other, caress each other touch each other, they are warm and blushing in color and hopefully convey a close sexiness in their style. Noir-
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Rent Control
Graff- Using once again 2 completely different styles that completely work together is something I do often with my letters. I think it gets the viewer more involved with the styles when the viewer begins to decipher the words, the simple enticing him to the more complex. Noir-
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Too Late for Love
Graff- In this piece although I have many letter and number elements way in front I kept the style very very simple to not compete with the imagery which I wanted to convey the message stronger than the wording. Noir-
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Outcast
This 3D style is a simpler version of my normally complex, heavily shaded 3D style. Its been a personal challenge to try to accomplish the 3 dimensional aspect without shading and just using a limited palette. The outcome especially here is a completely new and hybrid style that combines original graffiti shapes from NYC 80 style, the 3D style and a new Pop style which
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Need for Speed
Graff- In the words, Need and Speed I went way back to a style before my development of the 3D style in 1993. I wanted these letters to lean dramatically to convey a linear east to west kind of motion inspired by illegal street racing, which is still hugely popular in the inner cities. There isn’t much to these
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Interacial 3some
Graff- Spelling things phonically is a common graffiti practice and I took those liberties in the word interracial, using a strong and angular simple style to contrast off the curviness of the 3some letters. Again I will defer to a simple more discreet style with my letters
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Fully Loaded
Graff- TNT fills the “loaded” piece, in graffiti the letter O can usually be replaced with any cool image the mind can come up with and here I chose the iconic lit bowling ball styled explosive to help lend a feel of danger and time running to the piece. The letters also intersect the hair
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Le Tagger
Graff- Simple flowing pop 3D letters in subtle colors, confidently remaining in the background allowing for the story to develop. These letters are so the antithesis of graffiti yet can stand alone on any wall or drawing. Noir-
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Rearview
Graff- Don’t think I cheated, I never cheat in graffiti. The letters say RearView but I drew them in mirror image, I did not flip them in photoshop, I did not retrace them backwards. I drew them as is to show that good graffiti is not only color, but balance. Balance and symmetry between letters is essential to a well flowing piece even if the letters are reversed. Noir-
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The Prison Break
Graff- Prison, simple and readable, Break, more complex and detailed. Razor wire wraps the letters. The letters mirror the razor wire, sharp edges and smooth curves. Noir-
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Hellcat Honeys
Graff- A relatively simple flowing and readable style for both Hellcat and Honey’s letters although purposely different from each other shows how 2 different styles can co-mingle quite effectively. Noir-
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Trippy, LSD
Graff- I am using a super swirly original typeface hopefully to help convey the “trippy” feeling one might have of floating (I have heard) almost outside of the body weightlessly from the use of hallucinogenic. The letters twirl and twist and float in every direction. Noir-
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Strutter
Graff- Using my completely original 3D graffiti letter style I push the letters as close to the foreground I could have here because the poses and stance of the girls makes them so empowered I knew I could be adventurous with the graffiti. I really enjoy the composition and the fact that I am still keeping the graffiti as a background element or in the idea of Noir as a title for the “film.” Noir-
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