Daddy Otis’s “Free Hugs!” I hope you said that in your best monster voice, because I always do. (Credit: @knowatx)
Austin mural artists continue to inspire us with their creativity and massive pieces of art. At the recent ReCreate event, the final spray-out day at HOPE Outdoor Gallery, 50 artists painted every inch of wall space there. Hundreds of people came out to watch, admire, photograph, and say goodbye to HOPE’s famous location.
Mural artist Kimie Flores often returns to mythical themes (Credit: Kimie Flores)
All of the artists in this fourth installation of my mural artist series have painted at HOPE, meeting mentors, friends, and fans along the way. My own reaction to their murals is visceral, a punch to the gut, but in a good way.
I’ve asked all of the artists in my series the same five questions. I’ve retained the bulk of their responses, though I’ve edited a bit for style and length.
➡ Catch up: Austin Mural Artists Reveal Origins and Inspiration, Part 1
➡ Catch up: Austin Mural Artists Reveal Origins and Inspiration, Part 2
➡ Catch up: Austin Mural Artists Reveal Origins and Inspiration, Part 3
Kimie Flores
Kimie Flores works on a lively sea creature at Lustre Pearl East (Credit: Joleen Jernigan)
Austinot: How did you get started in such a large medium, and what is the advantage/reward of painting such large pieces?
Flores: I’ve painted large since before high school, but the largest was SXSW 2015 with SprATX and Pow Wow Hawaii. Mouf, now a good friend, chose me to assist him with his whale mural, which transitioned me into painting walls. The plus side of working big is it has more of an impact on the viewer experience, as opposed to a smaller, intimate piece.
Kimie Flores attacks a gigantic blank wall armed with nothing but spray paint, a step ladder, and her imagination (Credit: Kimie Flores)
Austinot: Why do you believe Austin is a good/supportive city for street art/murals?
Flores: With the popularity of Austin within the last decade, music has taken a strange direction. Since the music portion of Austin has become more exclusive, it has allowed the art scene to prosper. This in turn establishes a larger community base for artist and art appreciators.
Austinot: Could you describe one of your favorite experiences painting a piece?
Flores: I enjoy all of my paintings, but the camaraderie between us artists is the best part. It’s never a dull moment when you group a bunch of like-minded individuals together for several hours. Chilling and painting with my friends are some of the best memories I have.
Austinot: What inspires you to paint?
Flores: I’ve been fine art painting for about 10 years now and drawing for 12, so it’s my lifestyle. I dedicated myself to being an artist a long time ago. If it were taken away, there wouldn’t be much left but a hollow shell of a person. It’s just what I do and who I am.
Austinot: What/who in Austin do you admire or gain inspiration from?
Flores: I’m a huge fan of Mez Data. I remember seeing one of his paintings a few years back. I was totally amazed. His technique was beyond masterful, and his work has this elegance that I still find myself attracted to. The way he perceives his figures is incredible. They all hold a certain appreciation for light and color, and the attention to detail is exceptional.
Daddy Otis
One of Daddy Otis’s popular, recurring characters is this adorable Kraken (Credit: @knowatx)
Daddy Otis hit the Austin scene running, jumping into the ATX Free Art Friday rhythm almost right away. Before long, he started painting some of the most photographed pieces around Austin: large, friendly creatures who welcome visitors with heaps of personality and style.
Austinot: How did you get started painting in such a large medium, and what is the advantage/reward of painting such large pieces?
Bob Wallace, AKA Daddy Otis, poses with his piece during ReCreate 2016 (Credit: @storyoftheeye)
Otis: As a kid, I did a few small-scale graffiti pieces in my hometown. After moving here and my first visit to HOPE Outdoor Gallery during ReCreate 2014, I was chomping at the bit to try large scale murals.
The fact that folks could paint graffiti without the worry of getting a costly ticket, and in front of people who actually enjoyed watching the process, made attempting large artistic feats a huge draw. So I started small, got better at can control, and understanding the medium. Then I started tackling bigger pieces.
Austinot Why do you believe Austin is a good/supportive city for street art/murals?
Otis: Austin is pretty dang supportive of all types of arts, not just street art and murals. Austin has an independent, nonconformist attitude in general, being an oasis of free thought surrounded by the rest of Texas. The more visual representations of said “free thinking” we have in our community, the more apt we are to keep that vibe going…and I’m all for that!
Austinot: Could you describe one of your favorite experiences painting a piece?
Otis: Well, I’d like to say something about one of my own pieces, but the reality is, I’ve had the best time throwing up “Live A Great Story” reminders at HOPE. Folks gravitate to that message (as I do) and love to share pics of it on social media.
As the concept for the piece isn’t mine, I always try and make it clear that I paint them, but owe all credit to Live A Great Story for the inspiration and design. The best experience I’ve had painting a reminder was when Zach, the founder, came to HOPE with his family to help paint a large-scale one, and then offered folks Sharpie markers to sign their name, write a message, and generally make their mark within the Live a Great Story circle design. In the end, it was covered in small-scale writings, only visible from up close. It was pretty special.
Daddy Otis throws up another Live a Great Story piece, a message that resonates with many (Credit: @knowatx)
That and the few times I’ve had the opportunity to do a late night sesh with a group of folks in areas that weren’t so legal… that adrenaline and camaraderie, though!
If you see a pink elephant with a heart-shaped nose, then you’ve found Daddy Otis’s work at Jerry’s Artarama (Credit: @artwalkaustin)
Austinot: What inspires you to paint?
Otis: For a while it was my kids, wanting them to see me as super cool dad. But as they grow older, they’re starting to realize I’m just a dork who’s an artist at his core.
Now I am inspired by the fact that when I paint something at HOPE, I get to be the one inspiring others. Even when I’m not painting, I’m trying to talk folks into going and giving it a shot…”Hell! It’s legal, so what’s to lose!”
I feel that graffiti and street art are our way to take back some of the visual landscape normally sold to the highest bidder. We as “street artists” owe it to the future to keep the tradition and right of free speech going strong.
Austinot: What/who in Austin do you admire or gain inspiration from?
Otis: I attribute almost all my street art aspirations to the folks at SprATX. Their involvement in the ATX Free Art Friday scene here sparked a drive in me previously only stoked by game projects that I’d worked on.
Because of SprATX, I had my first chainsaw-carved pieces in a local show and realized the pleasure of showing and creating live art for an audience. The folks at HOPE Outdoor Gallery deserve some credit, as well. Without that place, I might never have tried painting large-scale pieces.
Carmen Rangel, AKA Carmen la Artista
Carmen Rangel’s art livens up this Good Pop public art piece (Credit: Carmen Rangel)
Austinot: How did you get started painting in such a large medium, and what is the advantage/reward of painting such large pieces?
Rangel: I started painting almost 10 years ago, just playing around. I slowly started painting on larger canvases, and once I started, I was hooked. There’s something special about large brush strokes; they just feel so free and organic.
I would say that the most rewarding thing about painting large pieces for me would be the feeling of relief I get once it’s done, as I stand back and look at it, thinking “I, a small, 5-foot-tall female, did that!” It’s cool to see how art can change the environment it’s in, and how it brings people together.
Austinot: Why do you believe Austin is a good/supportive city for street art/murals?
Rangel: Austin is a great city for art, especially public art, because who doesn’t love a little color in their environment? Austin’s as unique as the artists living and working here. Although Austin is a small city with a lot of artists, making it a challenging space, it’s proven to be very supportive. I feel blessed to have so many people supporting and encouraging my art career.
Austinot: Could you describe one of your favorite experiences painting a piece?
Rangel: A few years ago, my friends decided to paint their apartment. After putting down the base coat, they chickened out and forced me to. I went over not knowing what to expect.The dining room had a fresh coat of red paint, a makeshift curtain up blocking the space from the rest of the apartment, and a record player.
I was told, “Since you’re always looking for walls to paint, here you go, and you can’t leave the room until you’re done.” I was excited, while feeling pressure. It ended up being one of the best experiences because I had a large wall to do whatever I wanted.
Carmen Rangel’s psychedelic smoothie brightens Juiceland’s wall (Credit: Carmen Rangel)
I had absolutely no plan established throughout the entire mural; I was just painting to paint, and experimenting. It took me almost two weeks, but this experience reassured me that I was capable of tackling large spaces. I was in school, and this piece brought some happiness in life, in such a time of stress. I looked forward to stopping by there every day to paint for a few hours.
My friends loved the mural so much, they didn’t even bother painting it over before moving out, which ended up costing them $100 out of the deposit. But the complex referred to it as an “art mural” and not graffiti, so yay!
Austinot: What inspires you to paint?
Rangel: The desire to create is what really motivates me to challenge myself in my painting. Most of my work is influenced by food, culture, nature, and womanhood. The beauty I find in those elements just inspires me to paint and explore their qualities, while placing an emphasis on super bright colors with a dash of Latin influences.
Mural artist Carmen Rangel is inspired by food and womanhood (Credit: Carmen Rangel)
Austinot: What/who in Austin do you admire or gain inspiration from?
Rangel: I have a crush on food and nature, so I would say those inspire me most and give me life! I admire that Austin is so supportive of anything LOCAL, from veggies to coffee to art.
Carmen will be participating in West Austin Studio Tour in May 2018 (location to be determined).
Art Lives Here
Each time I speak to one of our Austin mural artists, glimpse street art, or watch a massive event like ReCreate, I become a total fan-girl. Judging from my local Instagram feed, I’m not alone in this admiration! I’m grateful these talented artists give of themselves to brighten our city.
@theAustinot wants to know:
Which Austin mural artist would you like to see included in this series?
Very cool piece, Joleen.