◼️ Jason Undead is an artist out of the Carolinas whose influences range from Robert Crumb to Frank Frazetta. His work is comprised of odes to musicians, filmmakers, actors, pop icons and artists like Doja Cat, Queens of the Stone Age, Rob Zombie, Killer Mike, Tom Waits and Elvira. Jason uses 228's in a variety of different ways that really stick out as masterful pieces of pen and ink, so naturally we had to ask him a few questions:
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@JasonUndead ◼️ WWW.JASONUNDEAD.COM ◼️
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◼️1. What got you into 228's?
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I was getting some stencils up in 2015/16 and noticed a trashcan completely bombed by a writer in the area (MOPE) and I was impressed by the idea / coverage he got. I had seen 228s before but never used for full coverage like that. So I copped some at my local post office and quickly realized how versatile these little canvases actually are. Haven't lost interest in them since.
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◼️2. That 6 by 2 228 that you did is epic, how long did that take you to put together and what was the inspiration behind it?
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I did a 6 Foot by 2 Foot Nude pin-up for my friend I Will Not's Sticker Expo in DC one year. I didn't tell him what I was doing, just that I was going all out. It took several nights. One night of weaving the 228s together to make the canvas. Several to draw her, and another night to cut her out / to shape. I wanted to see how big I could go. Make one life size and then send her off to the sticker show.
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◼️4. What was art like for you growing up?
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From 3rd grade I wanted to draw comic books. I just copied panels and covers until I slowly got a feel of my own style, but even now I'm still chasing / biting my favorite artist like Art Adams, Dave Stevens, Geof Darrow, R. Crumb, Frank Frazetta, etc.
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◼️5. On your bad days how do you stay motivated?
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Draw. Draw every day. Even if for 5 minutes. Even if you hate the end result. I always quote my TCF Brother Dr. Nothing (NADA) who has a piece that states "This is my therapy". Drawing is my therapy. Getting up is my therapy. Both will always help me get out of a funk.
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◼️6. Are there any tools or art supplies that you use today that you wish you knew about or had when you first started?
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Not really. My supplies are cheap. 228s are free. I use cheap dollar store mechanical pencils and sharpies and ink pens.
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◼️ To learn more about Jason or to purchase/commission works visit his website or Instagram profile:
⚜️ Her is a graffiti writer that started tagging in high school. In 2017 she apprenticed under Norm at Loveletters as an aspiring tattooist. Today she is a successful tattoo artist that is well known within her community as hardworking, humble and talented. This new year along with several other tattoo artists she helped open a new tattoo shop on the outskirts of downtown Los Angeles called Artifacts Studio. She expressed that it is important to learn the rules in this culture and to develop your own style over time and to remember that life outside of graffiti is just as important as getting up⚜️
⚜️ Pyro discovered graffiti in the 80's and was drawn to the placasos and block letters that permeated throughout Los Angeles, even then he understood that they came from violence. In 81 through 82 his parents took him to New York where he witnessed some legendary graffiti writing and had the opportunity to walk a whole car, he even sat next to some of the greats who likely bombed some of those cars. This was just the beginning though he didn't fully understand it at the time, but it captured his fascination. When he got home, he started painting his own pieces, it started with block letters and graffiti backgrounds, elements like shine and sparkle⚜️
