Austin Mural Artists Reveal Origins and Inspiration, Part 2

Austin’s artists impress us with their creativity and love for our city. Week after week, month after month, they’re out there, combining designs and colors that make us do a double-take.

Whether to express their own creative vision or fulfill a commission, Austin artists take to the streets to paint something that speaks to someone. To connect, perhaps. To inspire, surely, even if unintentionally. Or because they are unable not to paint, sketch, put their ideas out into the world.

Without Further Ado

In Part 2 of my series on Austin mural artists, I must mention SprATX, the artists’ collective that originally led me down the rabbit hole into the city’s urban art scene. Each artist featured in this portion of my series is associated with SprATX on some level.

I’m asking all of the artists in my series the same five questions, and including the bulk of their answers for you to read. Having access to their own words adds a bit extra to their stories.

Mouf

Mouf is one of the founders of SprATX, and a largely visible and prolific mural artist in Austin’s urban art scene. He’s mentored and supported many of the city’s younger artists, while traveling internationally to spray paint his art.

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

Mouf: In my early years, I was always interested in using spray paint to create something on any surface.  I have always considered myself creative and a little bit of a trouble maker….The way I got started was like most that are a part of the art form. Every time I was in a city, I’d notice the contrast of grey and colorless buildings, to the vibrant burst of colors in the shape of letters or characters. After seeing it so many times, it finally registered to try it. I did and haven’t looked back. The reward is by sticking with it, I’ve been able to create a decent living out of the art form I love.

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

Mouf: Austin has absolutely proved that it is a supportive city. Google SprATX.

A post shared by Joleen Jernigan (@jojoaustin) on Mar 20, 2016 at 4:25pm PDT

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

Mouf: Hard to pick just one….Some of my favorite memories would be the early morning hours on the side of main roads trying to paint a huge concrete median or walls with [Mike “Truth” Johnston] (sometimes multiple artists), and hoping the cops didn’t feel like stopping that morning.

Austinot: What inspires you to paint?

Mouf: All of the amazing artists that I’ve been able to meet on this journey.

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

Mouf: People that continue to help the community grow hold my admiration, and the people that talk shit inspire me to keep my mouth shut and crush it everyday.

Instagram

Mila Sketch

Mila Sketch’s work reminds me of steampunk, but with an added something that expands from that genre. Her work is intricate and draws observers in.

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

Mila: I was impressed by a mural culture of Austin. The diversity of an art language made me want to create a mural almost immediately when I moved to Austin….Creating an outdoor mural is a super fun process that connects to the community. I meet a lot of new people when I’m painting outdoors. Always fun to hear people’s opinions and inputs.

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

Mila: People love murals in Austin. It’s what makes our city unique. Each neighborhood has a famous mural. People…go to just take a photo in front of the mural. Street high-quality murals brighten the world and…tell a story.

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

Mila: When I painted the “Howdy Austin” mural on 6th Street and Nueces, a homeless couple with a dog approached me with a conversation. They came back every day to say hello and keep an eye on me. I shared food with them. They made me feel safe working on the busiest street of Austin for two weeks.

Austinot: What inspires you to paint?

Mila: I am a full-time artist. I love painting and cannot imagine my life outside of it. I wake up inspired every day wanting to paint something. The biggest challenge for me is not to paint, to take a day off.

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

Mila: I admire Austin Art in Public Places program. This program is unique and gives many opportunities to local artists of all mediums to express themselves.

Here’s what Mila says she has going on right now:

1. The People’s Gallery at City Hall will exhibit two of my originals on canvas, “City Heart” and “Territory Battle,” starting on Friday, Feb. 23, 2018.
2. Art For The People gallery will show two of my new originals at the gallery starting in February.
3. Creating an indoor mural for the teen room at the new Central Library.
4. Creating an indoor mural for the MaidBot company in Austin.

Instagram

Kristin Freeman Art

Kristin Freeman’s beautiful, large-scale paintings of graceful, bold women caught my eye at once. She takes a woman in an everyday scenario, and is able to bring out her unique beauty and personality.

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

Kristin: The first mural I painted was at Neon Desert Music Festival many years ago. I’ve been hooked ever since. Painting large scale requires an abundance of energy and movement unlike anything I’ve experienced; your whole body becomes one with the art. It’s a remarkable feeling to create a piece so much larger than yourself. It reminds both the artist and the viewer that anything is possible.

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

Kristin: Austin is a wonderful city for street art because it’s always seen the value in the weird and unconventional. This city was built on individuals who were brave enough to face their fears and follow the paths they were born to be on, for they trusted that their truest selves could only be found once living their passions…

The city has grown and changed, but I believe Austin has remained true to itself, ready to support its budding and professional artists. Austin has openly embraced the idea of using street art as a vehicle for unique self-expression by its own artists, which not only beautifies the city, but also keeps what is truly Austin alive.

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

Kristin: One…is painting a mural at H.O.P.E. Outdoor Gallery upon my return from a life-changing year of travel. My husband and I built a teardrop trailer and hit the open road. Eventually we made our way to the Pacific Northwest and south to San Diego, before heading overseas. Our trip ranged from camping in the woods with grizzlies, to sleeping in penthouses, to being completely and utterly broke, to housesitting in La Jolla, to getting interviewed by Drew Carey about our crazy adventure, to sleeping in a hostel in Kosovo. It was a wild year-and-a-half of travel and painting remotely…

I was so ready to return to Austin because my love for the city never waned and…I was ready to be in one place again. In Austin, I painted “Waves” at the graffiti park. I was back home again and felt more rejuvenated than ever.

Austinot: What inspires you to paint?

Kristin: I’m deeply inspired by the positive relationships in my life and travel. I enjoy nurturing existing friendships, but also meeting new people and getting to know the deepest parts of them. I consider travel to be a necessary part of my life, in order to experience different ways of living and to gain new perspective. My twenties were spent traveling to Paris since I have family there and those years have especially impacted my life and work.

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

Kristin: I admire my artist friends who are not afraid to face their fears and pursue their dreams, those who get up everyday to live their passion. Just a few of these lovely souls here in Austin are Lucas Aoki, Monica Ceniceros, Kelly Bruemmer, Whitney Turetzky, Brooke Robinson, Flip Solomon, Mike Johnston, Miles Starkey, Zuzu, Heath Speakman, Matt Magill, Erik Ross, Liza Fishbone, Blvd, Jason Eatherly, ER., Goodfield.

➡️ Keep reading: “Behind the Paint Cans: Austin Street Art”

Kristin Freeman has a solo show on Feb. 23, 2018.

Website – Instagram

ACSOblucka

A post shared by Aaron Darling (@acsoblucka) on Aug 15, 2017 at 6:24pm PDT

My love for ACSOblucka’s art goes way back to the early days of H.O.P.E. Outdoor Gallery and the recent heyday of his favorite character(s) of mine: the #Draff giraffes with heaps of attitude, an encouraging word for everyone, and always a Texas-shaped spot on their necks.

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

ACSOblucka: Being 6’2” with ADHD, it’s always been difficult for me to paint smaller things. The freedom of movement I have when painting large pieces is perfect. I started painting large early on, when a friend gave me some flat panel doors that were headed for the dumpster at a construction site. They look like perfect canvases, so I began painting large scale flowers on them, still one of my favorite things to paint.

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

ACSOblucka: Austin is a great supportive city for graffiti, street art, and murals for the same reasons I moved here. Austin loves local business and I feel like The American Dream is alive and well (here), no matter the inevitable adversity we face.

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

ACSOblucka: Years ago, I painted a large motorcycle mural with a giant black ink splash behind it downtown. It was my largest mural then. It was also freezing cold outside and sometimes rainy. I painted mostly at night, and because the brick was so porous, the paint stuck to the wall like it was a beautiful day. Despite the conditions, I enjoyed the entire experience. I met tons of interesting people, and it was covered by the news and other publications. I feel like it was a big stepping stone in the progress of my journey.

Austinot: What inspires you to paint?

ACSOblucka: God, beauty, personalities, death, life, redemption, and salvation are things I think about a lot when painting. Oh, and money inspires me to paint quite a bit as well, hehehe.

A post shared by Aaron Darling (@acsoblucka) on Aug 15, 2017 at 7:36pm PDT

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

ACSOblucka: Belief, Sloke, and Mez were some of the first artists I met in Austin who actually encouraged me. Because I was in nursing school at the time and had two new children with my wife, my schedule was very complicated. Just before I graduated I met Mike “TRUTH” Johnston, as well as Heath and Molly with SprATX. These connections were no coincidence, and I knew I would never be without the love and support of my new art family. And a huge shout out to Briks and the Blue Dozen Collective.

Website – Instagram

These four Austin mural artists represent part of the wealth of talent we have in Austin. They continue to inspire casual onlookers, other street artists, and writers like me. Keep on keeping on! Part 3 in my series will highlight even more of my favorites.

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

 

@jojoaustin wants to know:

Where is your favorite mural in Austin?