20 Questions with EL TORO

all photos courtesy of: EL TORO

P.P: How long have you been doing street art?
E.T: I’ve been drawing all my life, but started writing graffiti in 2001 and started drawing EL TORO in 2003.

P.P: How did you come up with EL TORO?
E.T: I needed a mark to stand out in the city, and I always drew characters as a kid. It was a natural progression to do something I was already familiar with, but also apply it to the graffiti mentality. I needed a mark that would be easily replicated quickly and also serve as a logo. EL TORO is similar to Mickey Mouse: you can just see the silhouette of Micky Mouse and still know that’s him. It’s like that when you see an EL TORO sticker from afar.

P.P: What drew you to street art in Philadelphia?
E.T: Just the positive responses I began to see and take notice from my peers. I had an “I love you, I hate you” article in the City Paper about EL TORO basically saying that she loved seeing my stickers on her walk to work and it brightens up her day. If i knew i affected her this much, there’s gotta be more of them out there.

photos from: eltoro215.blogspot.com

P.P: When I did street art a few years ago your crew was a pretty intimidating force that no one messed with. What is your opinion on street art crews in Philly?
E.T: There wasnt an official crew back then. Bob [Bob Will Reign] and I were just really tight and we’re good painting partners. We felt like when people are disrespecting the scene and our art we had to step in and put a stop to it.

P.P How: has your art evolved over the years?
E.T: My style keeps evolving because I love experimenting with different styles of painting and drawing. I feel like alot of artists have a “look” that sells them, but I feel like I don’t want to pigeonhole myself in the way I approach my art. I’m always trying to learn more. That why I picked the name False Idle for my website since I try to always change and never turn stale.

P.P: What is the most difficult part of street art?
E.T: To me it is the balance between the artsy side, like painting canvases, and also keeping your presence known on the street.

EL TORO Collab with UWP

P.P :Who are some of your favorite artists?
E.T: I love all kinds of artists: Bob Will Reign, UnderWaterPirates, Ticky, Question Josh, Flying Fortress, Robots Will Kill, 14Bolt, Amanda Visell, Joe LedBetter, Mike Giant, The whole MSK/AWR squad, Angry Woebots, The Killer Gerbil, Ben Balistreri, Chris Battle, Jesse Hernandez.. man i can go on forever.

P.P: Favorite musicians?
E.T: I think music influences me: MF DOOM, Wu-Tang Clan (RIP ODB), Jay-Z, NERD and, my new love, DUB STEP music.

P.P: What is your favorite medium to work with?
E.T: My favorite mediums currently are acrylics and spray paint. I am trying to get into 3D, like toys and sculptures, but its really a big learning curve for me.

P.P: Where is the craziest place EL TORO has appeared?
E.T: The craziest place was in the 2009 movie called Armored. My friend 14bolt from LA had an opportunity to put stickers on this kid’s door for the movie, and my sticker totally appeared for a good five to ten seconds on the big screen.

photos from: eltoro215.blogspot.com

P.P: How do you think the Friends with Benefits show three weeks ago went?
E.T: The show was a great experience and totally caught me off guard with the response of the public. The people in attendance totally showed respect and support for the culture. A lot of paintings got sold that night, and it was great to work with such talented artists for the event. I couldn’t have asked for more.

P.P: How does Philadelphia street art compare to other cities you’ve worked in?
E.T: The Philly sticker scene is very unique compared to any other cities out there. Most if not all sticker artists in Philly focus on developing one character that they are known for. Most cities have other street artists that also do letters, paste-ups, installs, of all different types of subjects.

P.P: If you could do street art in any other city, where would it be?
E.T: I’d love to do street art in Europe or Australia. I heard Madrid is an absolute playground for street art, and also Amsterdam. Australia seems to tolerate street art more and they really have great upcoming artists that are blowing up and pushing the envelope of creativity in the culture. I also heard parts of Canada are dope because they regulate side alleys for street art.

P.P: How do you think you came to be such a strong force in Philadelphia?
E.T: I made it a point in the beginning to interact with new artists in Philly. If you were putting up stickers, I wanted to meet you. With more and more people getting into it, it just became harder to keep up with the abundance of new people currently getting into the scene. I have such a personal attachment to the Philadelphia sticker scene because I feel like I really helped it grow to where it is and how it’s recognized now. I want people to think EL TORO when they think Philly. I also wanted to make myself accessible to the young bucks, too, and help mentor them and make them better artists. Like KRS-ONE said “the fifth element of hip-hop is knowledge and passing that knowledge down to the younger generation.”

P.P: Where do you see your future heading in art?
E.T: I’m still hoping to get a vinyl toy made of my character one day. I would love to do 3D and functional items.

P.P: Do you have any more shows or other big plans in the near future?
E.T: There are a couple groups shows brewing up for summer. I do have another solo show with Abakus. We collaborated for their first solo show and it was a blast. We are hoping recreate that 100 times better and bigger this year.

P.P: You’ve taken your street art inside. How has that changed you since then?
E.T: I’ve remained indoors because I don’t like paying court fees and lawyers. It really forced me to grow as an artist and get my art career in check. I feel like I literally paid my dues on and off the street.

P.P: Who are some of Philly’s artists that you mesh well with?
E.T: I love working with Bob Will Reign, Under Water Pirates, & and Ticky in Philly. The Friends With Benefits show was so much fun to work with and it’s always easier to work with like-minded individuals who also don’t mind putting a lot of work in something we all believe in. We actually just formed a collective called “The Sticky Bandits” that’s made up of me, Bob Will Reign, UnderWaterPirates, Ticky and Question Josh in LA. We are planning big things for the future.

Lovin' 215 and EL TORO

P.P: If someone gave you one million dollars tomorrow what would you do with it?
E.T: One million dollars won’t really buy you much these days, but I would totally buy property and build a gallery, store, studio and living space. I would love to have an opportunity to renovate an old factory, but also new modern space would be rad too. I always wanted a retail/gallery space to showcase my friend’s art work and promote the culture more. It definitely needs a studio that’s hooked up with all crazy tools, so me and my friends can have a place to build and create our wildest dreams.

P.P: What advice would you give a person looking to start out in street art?
E.T: Learn the rules of graffiti first. That would give you an understanding on the world you’re about to get sucked into. Develop your idea first on paper; don’t put it on a sticker and go out stickering. Make sure that’s the best you can do at that time and put out quality rather than quantity. Have fun with it.

To get some official EL TORO art of your own, check out here or here.

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20 Questions with CZRVII

I remember first meeting CZRVII a couple of years ago while he was airbrushing on South Street. He is by far one of the most talented artists I’ve seen in Philadelphia, and as you can tell, a pretty interesting guy. Check out his thoughts on everything from art to the economy here!

P.P: What was your inspiration behind CZRVII?
CZRVII: “The inspiration behind my name started back in high school. I think we were learning about how Julius Caesar conquered the Roman Empire, and America looked like a pretty fucked up empire that I wanted to conquer. So I changed the ‘S’ to ‘Z’, switched a few letters up and that became CAEZAR. CZRVII is just the ‘on the run’, quick version of my tag.

P.P: What got you involved with street art and graffiti in Philadelphia?
CZRVII: “I started doing graffiti because it was something that always intrigued me. I figured out that spray paint and walls were easily accessible. You could ride over the Philly bridges and every rooftop would have massive pieces on them. I always wondered how they got up there without getting caught. Eventually I started figuring it out myself. My friends and I would full-out ninja, with grappeling hooks, rope and crates of paint.

P.P: Favorite movie of all time?
CZRVII: “ ‘Beetlejuice!’ And it keeps getting better every time I see it!”

P.P: What is your favorite medium to work with?

CSRVII: “Airbrush, spray paint, oil paints, pain markers and, of course, the ever-faithful Bic pen.”

P.P: Where is the craziest place CZRVII has appeared?
CZRVII: “I’d say the craziest place I’ve see my artwork was in the video game ‘Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3’, in the background of Chad Muska’s skate video part. I chilled with that dude quite a bit when I lived in L.A. and he let me paint in the Shorty’s warehouse one night when we were all wasted. I did a R.I.P. piece for a friend, J.R. Neves, that died last year and I just saw that piece in Thrasher magazine. It was also in Jay-Z’s new video ‘Young Forever’.”

P.P: One of my personal favorite Philly questions, Pat’s or Geno’s?
CSVRII: “Real Steak. Pat’s Wit’.” [I have to agree 100%]

P.P: Where is your favorite place to go in Philly?
CZRVII: “FDR Skatepark hands down. It’s a slice of full-fledged anarchy in the city that we’ve put out blood, sweat and ankles into for years. When they paint the park they always go around my artwork. And I really respect that, the locals look out for me a lot. I always help the park out any way I can.”

P.P: What sorts of things inspire you?
CZRVII: “All sorts of people and things inspire me. Mostly people that are in my life and supportive of everything I do creatively, especially friends and family.”

P.P: Describe an average day in your life.
CZRVII: “Well, lately since I just lost my job to this bullshit economy, it’s wake and bake, coffee, orange juice and cigs. Than whatever art project I have planned for the day, my only source of income right now, guitar and computer, then some Hulu and cookies. Turn over, and repeat.”

P.P: What is one thing in your life you can’t live a day without?

CZRVII: “My heart?”

P.P: Describe the Philly street art community in your own words.
CZRVII: “Philly has a street art culture that is just unlike anywhere else I’ve ever been. People really take new meaning to ‘stay the fuck up’ around here. You can’t fuck with East Coast kids because we always do it gnarlier, harder, and scarier than anywhere else.”

P.P: Have you ever gotten caught?
CZRVII: “I’ve been chased tons of times. Yelled at, threatened, but I’ve really been arrested once when I was under 18. I had to repaint the garage door I hit after my art teacher bailed me out. The craziest time was when I was on trains in New Jersey painting drunk as hell. The trains started moving while I was in between them and I hit my head so hard it knocked me out. That was a crazy fucking night. I could have easily fallen off the grates while I was passed out and been crushed under the train.”

P.P: What would you do if you got caught in Philly?
CZRVII: “If it’s not too late, run like hell. Or, if not, be as cooperative as hell. Philly cops are trigger happy, and I’ll be damned if I’m getting shot for running from my artwork.”

P.P: Who is your favorite artist?
CZRVII: “One of the most influential artists to me has always been DaVinci. I have a lot of really old books on him. Also, Alex Grey and VanGogh have always been huge inspirations too.”

P.P: How many tattoos do you have?
CZRVII: “Seven.”

P.P: What would you do with 1 million dollars?
CZRVII: “Truthfully? Not much. A million bucks won’t get you shit these days. Maybe pay some advance rent and hospital bills, then buy whatever expensive art supplies I might need in the next year to make more money to pay rent again. Maybe light my cig with a hundred dollar bill. I’ve always wanted to do that. Then give the rest to my little sister.”

P.P: Favorite band?
CZRVII: “Being a Jersey born kid, the Bouncing Souls have always been my favorite.”

P.P: What is your idea of CZRVII’s personality like?
CZRVII: “Very open-minded, optimistic and sometimes completely dark and alone in a world of closed curtains and minds.

P.P: Where do you see your art going in the future?
CZRVII: “I’ve been airbrushing for ten years now and I’m getting into the automotive side of it. Recently I’ve been doing a lot of murals, t-shirts designs, album covers, concert flyers, all sorts of things. As for my future it looks like a lot of hard work up ahead and some even harder times, but who knows? Maybe in 100 years someone will actually know I was.”

P.P: Where do you see street art going in the future?
CZRVII: “As long as people keep documenting the artwork and supporting our underground culture, street art will always have a future.”

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An Interview with Tick Tock

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ticktock2006/

I caught up with my long-time friend, and the person who got me into street art so many years ago, Tick Tock, to talk about street art in Philly these days.

Painted Philly: What drew you to street art in Philly?

Tick Tock: “In art class, they fill your mind with rules and guidelines and force you to mimic past artists. I’m not saying that the past artists are not incredible, because they were. I’m saying that I could not stand that most art education is trying to teach a proper way to make art. There are no boundaries, the world is literally your canvas. Who says the back of stop signs need to be a blank sheet of metal? Who wants to look at that?

P.P: What made you decide to draw Tick Tock? Why Ticky/Tick Tock?

T.T: “My favorite thing in the world is small, goofy critters. When I started sketching out characters they all had the big bug-eyed look and some rodent teeth. There is definitely a bit of myself in them, considering they appear highly caffeinated, a bit strange, and slightly off mentally. I went with the name ‘Tick Tock’ originally because my brother (Under Water Pirates) and I used to speed-draw random things. Whenever he finished first he would taunt me with ‘tick tock, tick tock’ noises. It was actually friends and supporters in Philly who started referring to them as ‘Tickies’ for multiples, and then it just stuck. People started calling me ‘Ticky’.”

Courtesy: Tick Tock

P.P: Where else in the world has Ticky appeared ? I’m proud to say I helped bring Ticky to the United Kingdom a few years ago.

T.T: “Ticky has appeared all across the U.S. Many friends are to be thanked for that; I doubt there is an U.S. state lacking a colored rodent sticker. Ticky art has been displayed in shows in New York, Philadelphia, Miami, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, Dublin, London, and various cities in the U.K. There have also been photos of some loose stickers in South America, China, Switzerland, New Guinnea, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Panama, Germany, and France.”

P.P: What else is there to street art besides stickers and newspaper boxes? What else should people look for in Philadelphia?

T.T: “Newspaper bins, signs, poles, doors, the ground, water pipes, subway signs, railings, there is no limit. If you are a fan of the art you see on the street, keep an eye out for fliers and posters. Chances are, those artists are exactly that: artists. Although the illegal form of art seems to be the major form of display, we do frequently have shows in galleries scattered from Old City to South Philly. Keeps your eyes peeled, kids.”

P.P: What types of media do you use for your street art?

T.T: “My paper shall remain secret. Sticky paper is obviously the best; if the back is sticky, I’ll use it. Wood and particle board are always great for a quick install. There is really no limit; you could paint a piece of cardboard and leave it on the sidewalk for someone to find and take home. I’m not big on spray paint in the street, but on canvas I really like Montana Gold. Its very easy to go over with other media, whereas other spray paints become tacky and resistant to ink.”

P.P: Who inspires you?

T.T: “I could rattle off some of the great names of street art that you probably are familiar with if you are reading this, but im going to be honest and hopefully not disappointing. My brother is my biggest inspiration. He got me into art in general. He himself is one of the best street artists in the world in my opinion. He is always encouraging me and inspiring me to do my best and if it werent for him I would not have improved as much as I feel that I have. He is the reason Ticky exists and he is the reason it will always exist.”

P.P: Have you ever gotten caught?

Courtesy: Tick Tock

T.T: “No.”

P.P: What does it take to be a good street artist in Philadelphia?

T.T: “You have to go into it knowing the risks, knowing what you are getting into and doing and most importantly, you have to have the right motive. It’s not a hobby, it’s a lifestyle. Success comes with determination and the right motives. If you want to send a message, get your point across, change your surroundings and hopefully spark a sense of creativity in the world, then yeah, kill it! If you are trying for success you are in the wrong feild.”

P.P: Where do you see your work, and Philadelphia street art in general, going in the future?

T.T: “Philly street art has suffered a huge decrease. Either the P.P.D. (Philadelphia Police Department) is doing their job well, or the ones who were hobbying for temporary popularity have finally died off. Philadelphia can add as many new cops on foot as they want, they can buff everything, but street art is never going to stop. It’s a movement, it’s a fixture in creative society. Art is art; it’s in our nature to express ourselves and nobody will take that away. It’s just inhumane. Hopefully Ticky will continue to inspire people and, hopefully, I would like to send ticky in the direction of toys. I think it suits them.”

Wanna see how she does it? Check out this tasty morsel!

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