Spraypaint HQ

A while ago I moved outta my mom's house and into very own post office box. I looked for an appartment and felt God telling me to look in Grimsby. I looked and looked and didn't find anything good. I was carrying my worldly possesions in my back pack walking back to work from appartment hunting in grimsby when I happend accross a used car lot. I saw it there an old, ugly car in near good condition. I went and bought it later and named it the battle-mobile.


I slept in my car for a night but that didn't last long cuz a friend of mine Viceral (who I've painted with alot) offered me a place to stay for REALLY cheep. So I've been living at his place for a while catching up with him and painting on his walls a little (all the work in this post is Viceral's work in our appartment).




I help him out with a bit of cash, try to keep him outta trouble and give him rides in my new car and in exchange he let's me eat some of his food, sleep on his couch and give me an alternative perspective on my art and relationships when I'm in town. It's kinda a dream come true living in a run down appartment with one of your best friends who also has a intrest in God and graffiti.

Piece #24

"Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings." Hebrews 13:7-9

Piece #23

"... God's light and truth might penetrate these regions" John Simcoe the founder of London Ontario. Part of a prayer he prayed at the fonding of our city.

Piece #22

Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us. 2 Corinthians 1:9-10

Piece #21

Piece #20

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name. Philippians 2:5-9

Free Wall?

I herd about a free wall in Guelph (here) I called the police to double check before I started but they didn't know anything about it. I talked to the security gaurd and he didn't know eighther. But I had the information from the ontario legislative assembly that it was a free wall (legal to paint on). So I start painting and get half way through (left) and the security gaurd "suggests" I stop. I'm currently trying to get a hold of some public servants who know what's up with the wall but it's gotta go through all these channels and stuff first. It was good practice and kinda fun but it would have been nice to finish it... maybe after all this gets sorted out.

GG

I have been thinking too much, A year ago I set out to spread a positive message to the streets using the medium of spraypaint. I thought I was was the first to think of spreading the gospel ths way, I thought I was a pioneer, I thought it would never take off, I thought it was a dream, I thought I'd never have the courage, but I found this site called Gospel Graffiti. It was a group of hyper talented individuals who were all doing what I was currently dreaming of doing. They were my heroes, they were what I wanted to be but, I didn't have the experience or talent or fortitude to be. I copied them, I followed in thier footsteps, I knew it could be done so I went out and did it just like they were doing. I met up with some resistance, despair, and I thought "I don't belong in this world, they (GG crew) belong in this world, I'm just a wannabe and everybody knows it, who am I kidding? If I was a member of a crew like that I would have respect...". And for a while I toyed with the fantasy of joining the crew. But, I thought about it and I discovered that all my initial motives were based on the sins of prestige, pride and desires for acceptance from peers. I said to myself "forget that, I don't wanna be like that, I won't join the crew if they ask me (not that they would) 'cuz I want my life and work to be honest and humble". That's how it was until I went to California. I went there with the intention to just learn a thing or two and hone my skills. But when I got there and hung out with the guys from the crew they were all so nice, so encourageing, eager to pray for each other and help each other out. That's when I found out what being in a crew was really about. It's about family, it's about love and for the Gospel Graffiti Crew it's about church. I saw the family and felt like an adopted son that week and I wanted a piece of that love. I got annother email from Fasm tonight...

"hey man, welcome to the crew! hey can you email me with a pic of you and an email address that you want your battle36@ggcrew.com email to go to.and then when you get a chance write up a testimony and email it to me in text. we are glad to have you in!-fasm"

some of the other guys in the crew said...
"I'm down for him; dude improved really quickly and definitely has a heart for the Lord." - J1
"Hes good to go in my books"- Dyle
"I think he would be a great add"-Threat
"battle would be a great add"-Sacks
"right on write on. graffiti es por vida homie! love it and live it for Christ battle"-Cammer

GG questions

I've been talking with Fasm the leader or Gospel Graffiti Crew about becomeing a member of the crew over the last few months. I Recieved an Email from Fasm the other day with a bunch of questions. I just thought I'd show you my answers (in italics).

can you answer these questions please!
Yes


Who is God?
The creator of everything, omnipowerful, omnipresent, all seeing, everloving, righteous, begining and end, alpha omega, my provider.


Why are you on this planet?
To serve God and convince others to do the same.


What is Salvation?
Salvation is being made right through faith and accepting freedom from sins through Jesus God's son.


What dose it mean to "Give your life to God"?
Allow him to dictate every intention and will giving him authority in your life to do whatever he want's, not keeping any decitions out of his jurisdiction but giving him complete control everything from finances to friends.


Are you called to ministry?
Yes.

If so, what ministry are you involved in?
I currently work at a group home with children where I look after them and ensure they grow up to be fine men and women of God. I spraypaint biblical messages in public places.


When did you start painting?
Late October 2005


Why do you paint graffiti?
I write graffiti because God has given me a talent of art and I believe when God gives you something that can be used for him you should use it for him to praise him, to encourage believers, and show people a way to have a relationship with God. I chose the medium of graffiti because I've always had this talent but until I discovered Graffiti I always found art boring, distant, and of little impact on society. Graffiti allows me to send the messages of God to the mass public without being distant from the streets, the hudlums and homeless, people who need to hear what I'm saying, people who know they need God but don't know where to start. Art in a gallery is for one individual to own and to take it away and hide it from society in thier den or private study never to be seen again and to me it's depressing.


Do you paint illegally (anything you don't have permission to do)?
No

Your Location?
Southwestern Ontario Canada


What is your favorite Bible verse and how dose it relate to your personal testimony?
John 10:10 the devil comes only to steal kill and destroy I have come that you may have life and have it to the full. I always knew God was real and that he existed. When I was 12 I started drinking, I stole alcohol, I smoked, I made out with my friends girlfriend, and started hanging around dealers, and all the while I knew what was right but said to myself the bible doesn't REALLY say in peticular "thou shalt not make out with thine friends gal" and it doesn't say I can't drink it just says don't get drunk (but everytime I drank I got drunk). And on one such night of drinking when I was 16-17 I got alcohol poisening I threw up all over my clothes and was crawling around in my underwear in the back of the store that I worked in untill I threw up on my gitch too and finally passed out in a sleeping bag. When I woke up the next morning I was next to annother guy and for a second I couldn't remember how I got there all I remembered at the time was that I was naked in a sleeping bag with annother guy and first thing in the morning it really freaked me out. Ten minutes later I remembered that nothing had happened and that I had gotten off lucky this time. I looked back on all my alcoholism and realized that nothing good had ever come from it and that my life was all screwed up because of it. I realized then that the rules in bible aren't there to ruin my fun but are there to help me have the most fun. Have life and have it to the full. I never drank again and restored alot of relationships I had lost including my one with God.

Sketches 19

John

Flipnoe
refined
b36

anti-bombing or buffing

Well I was playing basketball with a kid I look after at the local park and we noticed how someone had graffitied on the wall near by and scince it was kinda ugly, at a childrens park, and I had some extra white paint I decided to do a public service. (Before picture to the upper left) I've done this kinda thing before but I usually reserve my buffing for satanic, or offensive graffiti. Pentagrams nazi sybols and other junk like that.


But anyhoo I handed off the can to my young protege and proceeded to teach him some of the basics of can control while cleaning up the park he plays at. I know this peticular action of buffing is not condoned by the graffiti comunity but in my defence it was just some punk kid with no style who wrote "crazy man".





I don't know about my buffing or anti-bombing. I don't think I'm doing anything wrong but when your at a wall without technical permission with a can in your hand it looks kinda bad so I have this tendancy to watch my back and look around. "Avoiding the appearance of evil" comes to mind. Is what I'm doing wrong? Is it wrong to upset satanic racist kids with spaypaint? Should I just leave it alone? Is spraypainting anything without permission wrong even if it's probibly what the owner/city wants? What do you guys think?

I think I won't do anymore anti-bombing until I get an answer that I can sleep tight with. - goodnight

Piece #19

"The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears." Psalm 18:4-6

Piece #18

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other." John 15:9-17

A day at Circle Square

I went back to Circle Square Ranch in Brantford and re-painted some of the ramps I did from last year. I did these five in a day so some of them are kinda rushed.

Sketches 18

Billy

Wyse1

Camer

Camerone

Blazefest Video

There's a movie done by Gospel Graffiti showing kinda what the whole new york trip was about. There's a good cross section of the different parts of the events. Check it out there's a few parts to it:

Blazefest New York Video Part 1

Blazefest New York Video Part 2

Piece #17

Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day." John 12:44-48

Piece #16

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

The Birth of Battle Murals

I was painting a piece (piece #15) for a business and while I was painting two middle aged men approached me and asked what I was doing, what it said, why I was doing it and if I got paid for it. I told them that the bussiness owner is just paying for the paint and that I've never gotten any money for it. He reached into his pocket and gave me a five dollar bill and said "now you've been paid for it, God put it on my heart to give you $5". That night I finished the piece and the next day I went to the business to collect the paint money. The Secratary/accountant said that she would need reciepts for the paint in order to pay me. I didn't have the recipts, I was a little frustrated and told the story to my Mom who told me if I just write up an invoice it'll be good enough for thier books, you just write your business name here and this and that. Battle Murals was born. It's just a way for me to stay responcible to the government for my taxes and possible future revenue. Yeah right, Graffiti has only financially given me an empty bank account so far. If the future is any different it'll be a miracle.

Piece #15

The text along the bottom reads: "There must be more to life. In a world filled with so much pleassure we feel so much disatisfaction. Ecc 2:1"

"I thought in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless. "Laughter," I said, "is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?" I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives. I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well—the delights of the heart of man. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless." Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

New York Trip: Day 3

Well all the events were over and by the time I woke up Fasm had left and Zion was on his way out the door. So I packed up my stuff and Tim gave me a ride to the bus station. When we got there I realized I hd left my sketch book at Tim's house and Tim has to go to work so he calls is Mom to get the book and drop it off. Tim said she'd come though and she'd be here in 15 minutes. Half an hour later the bus I was supposed to get on was loading up and she hadn't shown up yet. I released it to God and said if you don't want me to have it or if you want me to come back here to get it that's Ok. I started thinking about all my work and more importantly all the pieces other guys had done in my book that I'd never get back and that couldn't be replaced. I prayed that I'd get my book back. I'm the last in line getting on the bus and before I get on the bus I take one last look around just in case she showed up in the last 20 seconds scince the last time I checked and there she was just pulling up to the parking spot on the street. I grabbed my book and made it on the bus. After it was all finished and the whirlwind of the event and the trip subsided I felt empty as I waited on the buses and in the stations and temptation came on hard. Some things that Big City said were very applicable. I just gotta remind myself that I have the ability to be a Lying, Alcholic, Fornicator if I take the path of immediate gradification.

New York Trip: Day 2

We had a leaders meeting for the end of the week and I guess I was a leader. It was alot of fun all through the day everyone was cracking jokes and laughing it was the funniest meeting I've ever been in. In the afternoon we set up for the concert. Fasm, Zion and I turned out annother piece. It's been really cool painting with these guys over the past couple days because it's been such a colaberation you can't really pick out a part in peticular that is just one persons. For example on the last piece I layed out the backround letters, Zion and Fasm did the fill, Fasm cleaned up the letters with the outline and 3d, Fasm did the forefront script and, I cleaned up the script it was just such a team effort. All the youth showcased thier skills that they lerned through the week. After the kids were done Jaz was the finishing act while he was performing I started to tear up cuz he was talking about his life and some stuff that he went through and it reminded me of the kids I work with. We started to clean up and eventually delivered all the equipment to it's proper places then went to a late night restaraunt where more Jokes insued. Fasm laughs at anything when he gets real tired like... "Darlin' Marlins".

New York Trip: Day 1

I arrived in Schenectady (skin-neck-tad-e) New York to meet up with Fasm. I got picked up by a guy named Tim who is 6'4" plays basketball, raps and DJ's. He took me to the downtown core where there were a bunch of kids playing basketball at a youth centre. Fasm was apparently flown from California to New York to come teach the youth Graffiti skills at blazefest. It as a christian outreach through youth for christ which teaches the four elements of hip hop (MCing, Break Dancing, DJing and Graffiti) and shows the youth some christian artists who use the four elements in a positive way. Blazefest: 'cause everybody on the block needs Jesus. When I got there the forecast said rain and there was an outdoor event that night so the teachers lead the youth in a prayer to hold off the rain. Then Fasm taught a lesson about graffiti. I talked with annother writer who came from Ohio to help recently named Zion.

We packed up our stuff and did some clean up when Ray (Rayski) the leader of the told us we had to leave quick cuz Tim was in the park setting up for tonight and he got a knive pulled on him. We all ran to the cars and drove to the park. Apparently Tim had his cell phone out and a kid swiped it. And wouldn't give it back and then tried to take off on his bike then Ed (the sound guy) grabbed his back tire and the kid pulled out a knife and tried to slice at Tim and Ed. All the while through Tim is praying asking God for guidance for what to do in this situation. And suddenly he gets this idea and says to the kid "listen man, I really need my phone cuz there are numbers in it that I need. I'll give you $20 bucks if you give it back. But all I don't have any money on me, can I write you a check?" The kid agrees and gives Tim his name to write the check out to. Rayski and the rest of us show up at this point and Ray calls the cops. Tim gives them the name and the cops get the check and bring the kid back. Tim talks to the Kid in the back of the cruiser and decides to let him off the hook by not pressing charges.

That night we had two MC's perform Big City and Shine all Brightly. They both had some good things to say to the crowd while Zion and I turned out a nice piece "choosing christ is that game point" (character by fasm). After Big City and Shine talked with Fasm and I about being an artist and in ministry they had alot of applicable experiences having to do with pride, temptation, division, that I found put some things together for my graffiti ministry. While the event was wrapping up Tim was talking to one of the youth and I had a feeling that something really significant was happening. That night he prayed and asked God for a relationship with him for the first time. Everyone was really psyched after and we all prayed for him and Fasm started to tear up durring the prayer. After the night was finished Fasm talked to me about alot of the history of Gospel Graffiti and some of it's philosophy which was really cool.

Piece #14

This is it, this is it, here we go! This is what you've been waiting for. This is a picture of the entire production in Rosario mexico(that I talked about here and here). Script, Camerone, Dyle 52, Fasm, J-one, me, Ezra and Threat. It's a rough traslation from the spainsh but "Religion tries to make it's own bridge to God, Jesus is the way" Below is my part of the production.

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
2 Cor 10:3-5

New York?

When I was in california Fasm said he was going to the east coast to teach graffiti for a week and he said I could come down if I was near by. I called up Fasm and asked him about what days he was going to be there and where in New York it was going to be. I also asked him about what it takes to be in the GG crew. Hanging out with all these awesome christian guys and girls and being a part of thier family for a week has me kind of curious about the crew. I still have to find a way down and book the time off of work on short notice so I probibly can't make it.

Piece #13

"Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.") He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' " - Mark 7:18-23

Ezra, Dyle and J-one

This is the production at the writerz blok I talked about here. I couldn't get ezra's piece in the shot cuz he wasn't finished till after dark.

The week in pictures

This is Dave and Elly who gave me a ride to the airport at the begining of the trip and back at the end.

This is Keyshon who gave me new tickets at the airport when I had missed my flight and also told me about distressed passenger rates at the motel.

This is when my paint got seized at the airport. I counted them take out all but one can out of my bag. I walked down the hall knowing that they had missed a can. I prayed about it and went back and give them my last can too.

This is Sumit who I met at the airport and drew a picture for.

This is wall who I also met at the airport. He used to piece in San Diego 25 years ago.

This is a character that I did in Threat's Garage that Ezra showed me how to cut and shade on.

Piece #12

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." - Ephesians 6:12

this is the piece talked about here in day three of the mexico trip

Mexico Trip: Day 9

In the morning Threat dropped Dyle and I off in downtown San Diego. We looked at the local graffiti, went to a graffiti store, ate food, got lost, walked around, rode the trolly, got lost, rode the trolly, got lost again, walked around, took a train to Oceanside, talked about how strange america was from our home countries, tried to get any phone to work, got a haircut, saw a girl pee on the sidewalk 20 ft from a bathroom, got lost and eventually met up with Sandy who was waiting for us for a long time. It was a great adveture! His graffiti crew from New Zealand was competing that day for a world wide graff competition "write for gold". He gave up his ticket to annother guy in his crew and missed out on the finals just so he could come out and paint with the Gospel Graffiti Crew. Threat, Sandy and Dyle drove me to the airport and saw me off. I shared a room with Dyle for the last week and I'm really gonna miss him (and Threat and Sandy). I caught all my planes, slept well on the flights, got picked up at the airport, and crossed the border without complication.

Mexico Trip: Day 8

J.one left early in the morning and Dyle, Ezra and I just hung around the house sketching and doing canvases. In the evening Sacks and Rue came over and Sandy was talking about how she learned and how Threat taght her to be super clean by just painting with silver paint and one or two other colours because it has alot of overspray and it teaches you to inately paint super clean but you have to do it for 20-50 pieces without doing any colours in between. I talked to Threat about it and how they did it in the old school he said it'll help me out. So I made the commitment that after I do my production with Viceral on the Embassy that I'll do 20 pieces of silver. After, I went over to info's house and he was showing me how to do some letters and we talked about life and the church and discouragement.

Mexico Trip: Day 7

All the writer's at threats house were tired from painting so much over the last few days so we relaxed in the morning I drew in some other people's books but by the time the afternoon came we were all itching to paint again so we painted threat's "wall of fame" in his garage. Info dropped by cause he wanted to say good bye to me before I left and to tell me that I'm in his prayers. I know he's gonna be reading this but I'll say it anyways... He's a really nice guy, he's been writing for a decade or so and it was such an honor for him to come by just to see me, a new writer, and to wish me well in my graff life and to piece in my book.