Austin Mural Artists Reveal Origins and Inspiration, Part 3

Niz incorporates images from nature into her art, like this piece with owl wings and fox head and tail

Austin’s mural art covers the city’s walls, inside and outside bars, restaurants, schools, and museums. If you’ve spent any time in Austin, then you’ve seen the colorful creations of the following three artists.

Lucas Aoki Encounters at the End of the World Mural

Lucas Aoki’s “Encounters at the End of the World” evokes a secret universe

My artistic ability peaks around Pictionary level, thus I appreciate those with talent and technique, imagination and vision, as these mural artists clearly demonstrate. In Part 3 of my series on Austin’s mural artists, Lucas Aoki, Niz, and Dave Lowell answer the same five questions, sharing their stories in their own words.

➡ Catch up: “Austin Mural Artists Reveal Origins and Inspiration, Part 1”
➡ Catch up: “Austin Mural Artists Reveal Origins and Inspiration, Part 2”

Lucas Aoki

Lucas Aoki’s “In My World” would be at home in a child’s nursery or an art gallery

Lucas Aoki’s dreamscapes are utterly compelling. His fanciful characters with frequent surreal elements seem to have leapt out of the pages of a children’s book, all carrying their own stories. Lucas Aoki is painting this month at the International Public Art Festival (IPAF) in Cape Town, South Africa.

Austinot: How did you get started painting in such a large medium, and what is the advantage/reward of painting such large pieces?

Aoki: Shortly after I started painting, I felt the need to expand and translate my visions into a bigger canvas. I saw painting murals as an inevitable transition or addition to my exploration. I’ve always been fascinated by the scale and power of murals and wanted to experience the process of doing one.

It wasn’t until then that I understood how big-scale public paintings had a different role in the environment than a painting hanging in a gallery or enclosed space. I’ve noticed that, most of the time, the process of making a mural encourages people to interact. The audience and the surroundings become curious, interested, inquisitive. It’s also a place for them to express themselves, not just to share their thoughts about the artwork, but also they open themselves with their own stories, feelings. People are supportive, engaging, and hopefully inspired.

Austinot: Why do you believe Austin is a good/supportive city for street art/murals?

Aoki: The movement has grown a lot as the city expands, and we artists have seen the evolution. Growth has inspired the city and the people in different ways, and now murals are more accepted. There’s an interest and demand for them This is also part of a global movement that has been growing in the last years.

“Symbiosis,” like much of Lucas Aoki’s work, pushes boundaries and inspires close study

Although Austin is supportive of its art community, the biggest challenge still exists. The city needs to step out of the stereotypical Austin or Texas icons towards more progressive art, free-flow art without boundaries.

Austinot: Could you describe one of your favorite experiences painting a piece?

Lucas Aoki Art for Hops for HOPE Fundraiser

Lucas Aoki painted this adorable cowpoke for the Hops for HOPE fundraiser

Aoki: One that comes clearly to mind is one day I was doing a commissioned mural by Town Lake. The weather was pleasant on a weekday afternoon, and I felt pretty focused. I stopped for a second, like a sudden realization of the moment I was living in. I was enjoying the process and felt calm, energetic, and at peace, like everything at that very moment was perfect and I was conscious of it. I felt very grateful for it.

Austinot: What inspires you to paint?

Aoki: Art, life, colors, beauty, the need to explore.

Austinot: What/who in Austin do you admire or gain inspiration from?

Aoki: The creative energy is definitely contagious. Events like the East Austin Studio Tour show the broad variety of art out there, and the beauty of all the different styles makes you want to create!

Instagram – Website

➡ Keep reading: “Everything You Don’t Know About the Best Murals in Austin”

Niz

Niz captures a familiar night view of South Congress and the Texas State Capitol

Niz’s distinctive style and color palette adorns many of the walls in our fair city. I love seeing her interesting cosmic elements and the swirly-dos on her art pieces. Niz’s next Austin mural will be at The Davis SoCo Apartments.

Austinot: How did you get started painting in such a large medium, and what is the advantage/reward of painting such large pieces?

Niz: I started painting large pieces about nine years ago in Austin. I was couch surfing without a studio or anywhere stable to paint. Until then, I almost exclusively painted skateboards and grip tape, or sprayed small scale stencils on walls or records. I met Sloke and Belief, two graffiti artists in Austin who let me paint these large cinder blocks across from what’s now Yellow Jacket Social Club.

I became addicted to the large scale public format, and my pieces got bigger and bigger. As a stencil artist, it is actually easier to paint bigger because the stencil cuts aren’t as tight…when you get bigger, it becomes trickier to stick the stencil to the wall. But overall, it’s awesome to see huge chunks of color and expression in public spaces where everyone has the opportunity to interact with your work.

Austinot: Why do you believe Austin is a good/supportive city for street art/murals?

Niz: Austin has always fostered a creative spirit and environment. Being the Live Music Capital of the World, we have established communities who’ve supported the arts for years. People are drawn to the weird artist vibe and seem to be willing to offer the support we need to survive as artists in the city. Large scale mural art is just now starting to boom as more artists move here and more opportunities are created, so it’s an exciting time for artistic growth in Austin.

Niz paints realistic likenesses of icons and others, and adds her own touches, like in this Rosa Parks piece

Austinot: Could you describe one of your favorite experiences painting a piece?

Niz: One of my favorites has to be at The Parlor Room on Rainey Street. I was thrilled to have clients who gave me so much freedom of expression. They allowed me the creative freedom to create a piece I wanted to paint, so every step of the process was awesome…my favorite colors, a good budget, a comfortable size wall, and subject matter that was inspired by what was going on in my imagination at the time. I knew it was going to be a beautiful piece and I was so happy to paint it.

Austinot: What inspires you to paint?

Niz: Everything inspires me to paint…the feelings in my heart, the color of the sky, a can of paint in my hand, a conversation, seeing a cool painting, love, anger, sadness, restlessness, energy, travel…life is inspiration.

Niz Mural LaLa Park in San Marcos, Texas

Niz’s piece in LaLa Park in San Marcos captures her signature vibe

Austinot: What/who in Austin do you admire or gain inspiration from?

Niz: I gain inspiration from the landscape-from the Greenbelt, from the urban sprawl…from the chill atmosphere that gives me the opportunity to think. I gain inspiration from the music…and from the walls, which seem to scream, “PAINT ME!”

Instagram – Website

Dave Lowell

Dave Lowell’s hyper-realistic swimming pool piece at The Westin Austin Downtown makes me long for summer

Dave Lowell crafts either hyper-realistic, deeply detailed stencil art, or simpler, tongue-in-cheek messages. Lowell has earned a dedicated fan base both here in Austin and around the country. His latest murals are at The Westin Austin Downtown and Aloft Austin Downtown hotels.

Austinot: How did you get started painting in such a large medium, and what is the advantage/reward of painting such large pieces?

Lowell: I’d done large format work at the H.O.P.E. Gallery and on the east coast before murals became popular here in Austin, so it was a natural progression to get more practice once the demand was there. It’s turned into a business for me and allows me to work creatively full-time.

Austinot: Why do you believe Austin is a good/supportive city for street art/murals?

Lowell: I’m a native, so Austin’s always seemed arty and supportive of the avant-garde. The existence of H.O.P.E. Outdoor Gallery here has been a big part of drawing new fans and artists to the genre as well.

Austinot: Could you describe one of your favorite experiences painting a piece?

Lowell: It’s always a rush to put work out there and successfully complete a project. The Ah-ha! moment when I get a good idea or concept that I know is going to make an impression is the most exciting part for me.