I did these paintings to trade for some amazing tattoo work I received on the television series “Tattoo Wars”. I was the fortunate victim of these two tattoo overlords. I was elated during the forty hours of consecutive tattooing, excluding my swollen, football sized hand. The show aired on TLC network about a year ago. Unfortunately the network took all footage off the internet, so I have no link or footage of the drilling sessions.

These two paintings are a product of my friendship and admiration for Aaron and Guy. These artists are considered the best and their work speaks for itself. The intensity of these paintings are a reflection of their own personal traits. They are painted a certain way because of their energy and personality as well as an interpretation on their styles. I hope that makes some sense, but when you look at the paintings you can gauge your own reactions. I see the interaction between myself and these epic tattooers as a small bridge between the graffiti and tattoo worlds.

These two paintings are part of a triptych. The third is with the ever prolific and my good friend Grime in SF. Maybe one day I’ll get all three of the paintings together for an instillation. I’m always glad to be a human canvas for such talent.

Painting for Aaron Cain

Painting for Guy Aitchison

Painting for Grime

www.aaroncain.com/

www.hyperspacestudios.com/

www.grimemonster.com/tattoos.html

This poor guy was freezing so he made himself a fire with what ever was near him on the street, trash, newspaper, etc. Drunk as hell, all he saying was “Beer, Beer!”, sounded more like a chirp. He sort of reminded me of a little boy, mischievous yet simply cold. Then some touchy neighborhood asshole calls the police. From around the corner the fire trucks come, lights and sirens blazing. They jump out, yell at him for a minute, stomp out his measly fire, and move on, leaving him alone cold and quiet.

Another of my photographs. This is my native Los Angelino friend. He’s been creepin around at night, but I don’t mind and it seems the street cats don’t either.

EWOK

KRUSH

RISK

RETNA & THE MAC

REVOK

REYES

SEVER

DAME

KOFIE

REVOK

AUGOR

TACKZ

TWENTY – SIX:
New Works by RISK
December 13 – December 20, 2008

Opening Reception:
Saturday December 13
7-11pm
Track 16 Gallery
2525 Michigan Ave., C-1
Santa Monica, CA 90404

In a career spanning twenty-six years, graffiti artist RISK has impacted the evolution of street writing as an artform in Los Angeles and worldwide. RISK pushed the limits further than then any LA graffiti writer had ever gone before by bombing – what would later be referred to in the graffiti world as a ‘heaven’ – on freeway overpasses and other highly visible spots throughout the city gaining major notoriety for his unique style. At the peak of his career he took graffiti from the streets and into the gallery with the launch of the Third Rail series of art shows; he later parlayed the Third Rail brand into the first authentic line of graffiti-inspired clothing.

In describing this exhibition, RISK states:

Twenty-Six is a collection of letters that I painted as if I were painting on the streets, using what paint and materials I had in my studio, while making sure they all had the movement and the energy of good old school graffiti. It is a celebration of where I’m at today and where I have come from. Twenty-six letters of the alphabet, twenty-six years; I can’t think of a better way to define myself and my view of graffiti art.

Contemplating the arc of his career, RISK attributes his success to something deep inside him. “I think I was the first to do a lot of stuff because I was competitive. I always wanted to take things one step further.”

For more event information, please visit the Track 16 website at www.track16.com
For all press inquiries or photography, please contact info@delarosapr.com.