December 2009: Azo in Ukraine

If you're looking for new artists online, Streetfiles is a great resource. The website is filled to the brim with photos and members from across the globe. Today, Streetfiles member Azo checks in from Lutsk, Ukraine. While the winters bring sub-zero temperatures, I'm sure he's indoors brainstorming ideas for spring. He writes:

"I became interested in drawing on the streets about 5 or 6 years ago. Sometimes I work alone, but in recent days I`m working with other people. One of the reasons is the place where I work, because I really like abandoned houses in the countryside, uninhabited areas, districts. It's not always safe to be there alone.""I spend a lot of time experimenting with different forms, colours, proportions and their interaction with background. Thus, the concept of my works was created. It is an image of the spatial forms in the context of a plane."
"I enjoy working in places that haven't felt the presence of humans for a long time. I like ex-military units in the forest, industrial zones, ruined houses and so on."
"Crazy situations happen quite often with me. For example, we were running away from the owner of the factory, on which we had drawn. My friend was almost hit by this man on the car. Once after successful work in some house when it was dark in the streets we met a pack of wild, agressive dogs who were pretty hungry. It was scary, because we were surrounded and had to jump through the windows to survive."
"Now I am engaged in painting, mural art, also I'm preparing for the exhibition and finishing some works on the street."

Thanks, Azo! For more brilliant photos, visit his Streetfiles profile.

November 2009: Ritek1 in Ukraine

First, my pretties, I need to ask a favor. We're going to try something and see if this works. The 2010 Bloggie Awards are currently accepting nominations, and I think it would be cool if Illicit was in there. If you click on the link, you can stick us under the "art, craft, and design" heading. The nomination period ends January 12, and I would be ever so grateful if you and your friends could help us out. Now, on with the post!

This summer, I hope to get around and photograph some serious street art. With so many recent submissions from Eastern Europe, the region is definitely at the top of my list. Today, we hear from Ritek1 in Sevastopol, Ukraine. He tells us a bit about the thought process underlying his gigantic lettering. He writes:

"When I started doing graffiti is difficult to tell because I was already engaged in classical graffiti and stencils. I started doing roll-ups at the end of 2008 and I liked the originality and new forms. It was something new to me and it was interesting to me."
"I developed my style so that visually it looked very mysterious and unusual; I don't want to be the same as all the rest. I like harmony of forms and sometimes an idea for a font design comes to mind. When that happens, I try to make a sketch. It is very important to select suitable colors which will combine well. I paint my geometric fonts in two different directions. Sometimes, when I need to quickly make a stylish font, I make thinner letters. In general, I try to learn from different branches of art. It is good to be able to draw and to study it independently."
"For painting, I choose my locations very carefully. I like picturesque places that will make photos of my work look good. For this purpose it is necessary to travel and search for many such places."
"Sometimes I work alone, but we create interesting things together with KLMF. He knows how to do roll-ups correctly and both of us like the way they turn out. I am ready to paint with someone if he or she can show me something special. It's always desirable to try to mix styles and to create a whole visualization that is pleasant to look at."
"I recently finished my last project and I have many new bright ideas which I am going to realize in the near future."

Thanks, Ritek1! For more Ukrainian gems, check out his Flickr.