Written by This doodlewash is of another building in the Kansas City Crossroads district that was quite red and had some graffiti on the side. That’s my way of getting around the fact that I forgot to even determine what this building was. I’m a crappy tour guide. I’m so easily distracted.
There’s a lot of commissioned graffiti in the urban core and some just added by bored or inspired artists who occupy buildings in neighborhoods like this. There is also thug graffiti and I’m not sure which kind this is actually, so apologies in advance if it is and you actually speak thug graffiti and see something obscene. (But if that’s the case, please sign up to be a Guest Doodlewasher immediately as I simply have to hear your story!)
This was another fast sketch at 10 minutes, but the doodlewash took another 35 for a grand total of 45 minutes. Saying 10 minute sketch, however true, makes me sound far more impressive than I actually am. For this one I used M. Graham paints in Cobalt Blue (with a touch of Cobalt Teal), Pyrrol Red, Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Azo Green, Sap Green, Dioxazine Purple, Ultramarine Blue, Raw Umber, Quinacridone Rust, and Neutral Tint.
I’ve always been fascinated with graffiti but it’s not something I’ve ever wanted to try creating. Barring the illegal aspect, it’s just not a form of communication I’ve thought to use. But some graffiti artists, like Bansky, shake us out of the norm and give us new ways to view our world while we’re standing in it. Not behind a computer screen or phone. Tagging is a bit like blog posting, only it’s on a building and experienced live.
Don’t worry… I’m not running off to doodlewash a building! Mostly because watercolor isn’t a suitable medium for tagging. And if you’d like to see what was just to the right of this building, tune in on Sunday to see Philippe’s Second Look. Sketching the same thing together was so fun the last time (here and here) we figured we try it again!
I love this Charlie – the graffiti looks so REAL! This is really terrific work!!! Glad you’re enjoying your MG paint too!
Awww thank you friend!! ❤️😃 I secretly do want to try it so that’s probably why. And the paints are so awesome! I can believe how much I love them!
YAY!!! :DDD
You are always impressive, my friend, no matter how long you take to do a doodlewash! And you’re a tour guide to beauty, not just a namer or things/buildings. 😉
I loves me some Teresa! ❤️😃Thank you for saying that friend. I guess I did just promise to show you Kansas City and not always a full show and tell. 😉 I am easily amused so who knows, could be a penny on a KC sidewalk next. (Just kidding…I’m not that lucky)
I’ll bet you can doodlewash a nifty penny! 😉 I would enjoy anything you paint, even a penny on the sidewalk! And you *are* lucky…you’re married to a great guy and you got a cool new job!!
Oh yeah! You’re right friend! Thanks!! 😃❤️Who needs a damn penny when you have all that! 😉
You are a rich man, my dear Charlie! x
Marvellous execution as ever, Charlie! That red is naughty, especially with those additions to it.
I like the idea of parallels between graffiti and blogging; so right! I too am often intrigued by it and its motivation (most of the time!) but I don’t think I’ve fully comprehended the similarities what they’re doing has to what we’re doing right now. Great insight.
Thank you so much Jacob!! Naughty red is so much easier to remember than Pyroll, I should call it that from now on. 😉 And yes, see? We’re all cyber graffiti artists! Which is super cool, so we should also adopt hipster beards and man buns to celebrate. 😎
Quite we are… haven’t you seen that jaywalks place? Eyesore!! (or should it be e-sore…?) The council needs to go and paint over that, quick-smart! 😉
Hahaha!! Sigh! I guess you’re right – we’d surely be breaking all kinds of laws if we didn’t adopt these looks. I already have a hipster beard (apparently), so at least I’m sort of doing it properly…
Show off…you’re probably already working on the man bun too 😎
(Dies laughing) Oh, most definitely – I can see it *totally* suiting me, duuude.
Excellent! It’s settled then! Send pics when you’re done. 😉
Pictures…? Oh! Is that the time? Is it really gone 2:30 in the morning? It jolly well is, you know! I have to go to sleep, what a shame! 😉
Haha, thanks for the laughs – cheerio!
You’re quite welcome friend! Sleep well! 😉
I like the red too. Air of danger! Very urban feel. (K.)
Hehe..this alley did have an air of danger Kerfe! Glad you feel I captured it! 😃😉
Gorgeous! I love the boldness! I think graffiti art is amazing!
Thanks Kari!! I love it too! There’s some really stunning examples here, but I’m not a good enough artist yet to recreate them! Hehe😊
I’ll add my congratulations on a fine piece. Great work. N.
Why thank you Nina! 😊 I appreciate your support! Wait…that sounds like I’m running for public office. Ewwww… let’s just say, thanks friend!! ❤️
Very nice! I was just shooting photos of an art alley in Rapid City, South Dakota. They can be very groovy places. And chaotic. I like your drawing and your commentary is always fun to ready. Way to go!
Awesome and thanks!! I knew we were kindred spirits, Kirk! 😉 the chaos is kind of the fun part!
Charlie, if you are interested, here are a few raw photos of the art alley I visited in Rapid City, South Dakota: https://www.flickr.com/photos/39073960@N03/albums/72157658405632500
I AM interested!! Those are sooo cool!! Thanks for sharing Kirk!! 😃
Now, forgetting all about the graffiti, I have to say my funny bone is being tickled so badly right now…here it comes — love that blue and white thing in the middle above the building; it looks like an eye to me, keeping a watchout! LOL-ly. Now that I’ve let that out, I like this doodlewash, so much richness in the colours and detail too. I like it!
Thanks Janina!! ❤️😃 It IS an eye! Hehe…actually it looks just like that and that’s one of the reasons that drew me to this view. It’s some kind of rooftop structure leading to a garden with an unfortunate choice of window shape! Lol Glad you saw it too! 😉
Beautiful sketch, love that you made the graffiti look so good. ;D Your renderings are always great, it feels like we are standing there…looking at a wall of graffiti…with a distracted, albeit charming, tour guide….um, where was the coffee shop again? I will meet you there. 😀
Thank you friend!! 😃❤️ I always appreciate your kind words! When you’re looking at the graffiti, the coffee shop is immediately on your right across the street. I went there to find you!! Where were you!! 😥hehe
Awesome job! And fun story. 🎨
Thanks Jodi! We’ll tag a wall together when you come visit me. Bring the cookies!! ❤️😃
deal!!!
Art of graffiti – that’s like a poem in a poem. Very cool
Thanks Cynthia! That’s an awesome way to think of it. You just made this piece really cool!! 😎
When I saw this image on Instagram it jumped off the screen at me, it’s so bold! Now seeing it in a larger format I love it even more and I really loved it before. I don’t know if it’s the red or the graffiti or blue sky or the angle of the building or the high wires or maybe it’s a combo platter of all of these things. It’s wonderful and bold. I think it’s a perfect addition to your KC tour! I look forward to seeing Philippe’s second look!
Thanks so much Cathe! ❤️😃I really enjoyed painting this one because it forced me to go bolder with all the colors. I liked the effect! I think I might try to find more punchy things to paint! 😉
Hyperventilating! That is SWEET. Dude, that’s like some serious artwork there.
Awww thanks Naomi!! 😊 I’m really glad you like this one!! 😃
Wow, I just saw this and am really impressed!!! Didn´t have time to read because I really have to go to bed now, but this doodlewash is awesome!!!
Thanks Ann!! The doodlewash is what counts!! Glad you like it! No idea what I rambled about this one anyway now! 😉Sleep well! ❤️