Unleash the Beast

I got my printer I have wanted for about a year now. New canvas to fill with stickers, my laptop is full of stickers from Beautiful Decay, Hockey Teams, 123 Klan, West 49 and many more. some of these images might be older image but definetly gems in their own right. Sometimes you gotta go back to know where your going. I completely feel that way when it comes to my art work and where its goin today. I kinda feel like Neo from the Marix lookin for something, but cant seem to find it. This post isnt to say that I have found what I am lookin for but I am getting closer as the days go by.

I dont know why I left the sketckbook, but I keep telling myself time and time again that its time to go back, its time to go back to my roots. I always felt I had the unper hand on anyone willing to go pen for pen. almost like a pound for pound boxing match. Im going 12 rounds if Im knockin' you out.



-follow your dreams, because dreams only come true if your will to work for them.
-Smurkone

Next Generation

This image just happens to be just another small detail in the big scheme of things. I can finally hand draw something and scan it and have the same image on the computer. Im sure your not all amazed by this but i dont write this for any type of trophy or acclaimm just for the fact that I would to see myself progress and further myself for my ulimate goal. These days i have become addicted to the colour red. Hence the Red ape. This really it just an image to also so let go. Im here and Im ready. So stay tuned for more daily antics and the YES!!! the camera is on the way.

"and im back on my grind"
-Smurkone

Sick with the Pen

Haven picked up a pencil in some time for the sheer fact that I have been using my wacom tablet pen. They ideas have been coming in but not a pace I would like. Today is my birthday so I wont be spend my day on the Laptop. Just here to show ya'll what I have been working on lately and where I plan on going.

As I play "Charles Hamilton" in the background (video)...I feel like its time I start going back to my roots. using the pencil to my advantage. Like Jay-Z said "kictchen table is where I howned my skill". get ready more, greatness, for creativity, its a new year for me. Just added another notch on the age bracket. Thank God I made it thus far. This year will be epic.

..."Im not afraid of dying, Im afraid of not trying" -Jay-Z

-SMurkone 

Jigga vs Hova

I felt all my posts have just been about my art work, but at the same time that what I do, that what I live and breath, but at the same time music has played a big part of my life and I can still remember when I started listening to hiphop and actually repeating verses line for line. The main person I have followed like many other has been the one and only Jay-Z. Today I wanted to throw out the debate what Jay-Z Album holds true to real hip-hop? I have based my own opinions and I feel just because your a fan doesnt mean you have to love everything someone does. I still feel Illmatic is a better album than Reasonable Doubt, but I still love both albums. For me I caught between 3 albums:

These albuns still to this day get heavy rotation form me, just of the strength of lyrical content, I feel like these albums best depict a sign of the times. I feel like when I listen to Reasonable Doubt was a time where the 90's was dealing with the cold war with Russia and everyone believe the government had their hands dipped in everything. (they still do) The Blue Print hands down was next to Reasonable was Hova's biggest album for the mear fact he was beefin with Nas. I wont say the beef was won, but it definetly helped the success of the album and Hard Knock Life was an epic album. Last but not least Black Album was his 1st retirement and it was an star studded album how could you go wrong, every track has the potential to be a hot single as almost seem like it was. I caught between a rock and a hard place. It hard to narrow it down to one album because Im a fan. I can take something from every album and have reasons why I love them. Deep down I know which album I love the most, but its your turn....

-Can I Live

-Smurkone

The World's Not Black And White: Play With Colours

I must say the years have just being flying by, my birthday is in less than a week and it feels like yesterday I was turning 16. With age comes growth, experience, and in many cases wisdom. I cant say Im wiser than I was a year ago but I have got through many different experience. The one remaining factor has been my art work, and I must say these days I am actually proud of myself. Its been a while since I could actually say that, but it doesnt stop. The only movement is forward and that where I plan to go. Besides me playing in colour with these digital programs I oull out the sketchbook every now and again mess with real paint form time to time. The say when your a "Jack of all trades your a master of none" I look to change that, because I feel you can never master something, because any artist that thinks they have master creativity is lying to you. Money cant be my motivation, if it was all about the money I would have been done quite some time ago. Anyway Im done ranting about my passions. Check out what I have been working on:

I love what I do and thing what you do with your life is important, ecspecially if you love doing it. If you have a passion for something never let anyone tell you different. Keep you head above water and the remember. It what makes you happy not anyone else.

Peace

Smurkone

Champion vs. Champion

Have not posted some of my own work in a while and that bothers me sometimes. I feel like I have this talent but sometimes just too lazy or busy to use it. Then there are times where I lose sleep because I have to be creative. I have another digital piece Im dropping real soon think T-shirt design. I titled this Champion vs. Champion for the simple fact that the a debate broke out about who would win Ali or Iron Mike? In light of the new ongoing decision I would let the people decide. I think Ali would win because he fought against some of the hardest hitters of all-time although Tyson was a ruthless fighter he didnt use his head. Ali played with his opposition, while still having  knockout accabilities. But its your turn, you let me know who would win Ali or Tyson? "Let get ready to Rumble"

It's just one those questions where your mind runs wild and your opinion and bias play a large part. Its like asking if Lebron can surpass Jordan's fame? Is Lebron the next Jordan? so many question so many answers stay posted for more.

Ask questions, you may like the answer..
-SMURKONE

Augustine Kofie

Its funny when you seem some that inspires you or something you like you tend to cling to them in away. Not like a stocker, but more like a fan. I 1st came across Kofie from the documentary Rock Fresh, which basically interviewed a seires of about taking street art and making it a business of taking the art form learned on the street and converting it into something people can understand. Today this short video is from the creator of "The Qualities Of Life" and Kofie just lets go and lets people in. He tell the world about his inspirations and what makes him do what he does and why he does it. I find Kofie an inspiration for the fact that hes a free spirit doesnt have a strict mind set when its comes to his art, he wants to try new things and push himself in a creative manner.

TQOL "Augustine Kofie" from The Qualities of Light on Vimeo.



-A life without risks is no life at all
-Smurkone

Ideal Clothing's Spring/Summer Line: Wealth

Toronto's very own Bryan 'be' Espiritu dropped another dope lookbook for the those people who are not looking for the a-typical brand, but a brand that pushes the envelope and is inspires the young minds of today. I found about The Ideall Clothing company via @HustleGrl and her wbesite HustleGRL. Yes!! she is the creator of Drakes fan page ATF and a well known graphic designer. I have been hooked ever since, but it goes to show hard work pays off and there are other in the city (Toronto) I grew up in.  Wealth is definetly one of the more creative spring/summers lines to drop and Im sure there more to come from Bryan. Checkout his Blog: The Legends League and Twitter: @LegendsLeague

Strive for perfection

-Smurkone

I Love Art

I been a while since I posted something that I have done the last thing was the  Muhammad Ali graphic, but you cant think that I just given up keeping busy. Always working hard and trying to use my time wisely while still getting a movie in the mix. I came across this video of the boys from "HVW8". I used to always see their work but never knew who they were. UpperPlayground dropped another "Run Up" video where they have interview, but whats didnt with this one is that HVW8 is 3 guys and they said 2 heads are better than one. A 3 headed monster is definetly gigantic. Anyway I just wanted to share something that I came acorss that I enjoyed watching. Off to create more artistic damage..

-Be Well
-Smurkone

Off The Dome

Today was a good day definetly a good track from the one and only Ice Cube. Randomly my sister rarely listeing to hiphop and absolutely loves that song. Other than art music is definetly a something I take time to listen to. for the mear fact of the creation behind it. The beat, the lyrical, the content is just something that take over in my head and I zone out. I love listen to good music and doin some art work. Its an unconsciene feeling. Today I came across the La group Pac Div (Pacific Division) if you havent heard of them go out and buy a laptop with wifi so u can bum off some and look them up. I feel freestyle has to be the rawest form of the craft because its straight from the dome and when an artist is on point is poetry in motion. check out what I mean:




If you listen to music or you love the entire idea of music you should have enjoyed that, dont get me wrong its not the illest freestyle but, its about the art form not wether or not if someone can do it better. Keep doing the things you love.

-Stay up
-Smurkone

Mike Giant: Tenderloin Project

 The Tenderloin Project is an ongoing artistic endeavor focused on one of San Francisco’s most marginalized neighborhoods, The Tenderloin. Utilizing the interactive mediums of photography and film.


-Emjoy!!!



Mike Giant for The Tenderloin Project from Sean Desmond on Vimeo.
 
-Love thy nieghtbout
-Smurone

Ali: Greatest Of All Time..

Its been a while since I drop one of these, had a bit of a lifestyle change in recent months. I move to the night shift because at work that is said to be a promotion so now I live like Edward from Twilight, up at night and behind closed doors. The doors are closed for the mear fact that Im tired I just finished busting my tail at work and everyone at home has just got their 8hrs. Which somes times i hate having to come into. Anyway the images above are of Muhammad Ali proclaimed the G.O.A.T (greatest of all time). Yes many of my friends have debated that fact but thats definetly another day another post. It was fun to come back and will up the page with colour. I definetly wish I had gone a little harder on the letter style, but it what I was feelin at the time you know what I mean. Well I could go on for days because thats who I am always got somethin to say which can be a gift and a curse, but there I go again. So im out peace! more colours, design and mastering on the way... 

-Stay Safe

-Smurkone

David Choe...One of a Kinda..

Dirty Hands!!! what could be better than gettin your hands dirty while still doing something you love. Art is hands one of the best ways you can expression yourself other than music in my opinion. David is definetly one of a kind, never shys away from expression and as I watch this video I believe art is his addication I wish I had the same drive he does, but thats another blog post all together. Anyway check out this Dirty Hands video. This and more can me found at: Upper Playground.

 

Krink Does it again!!

Its about 4:30am and Im still up watching movies but not the kind people generally watch at this time...wink!wink! anyway Im jump on to hypebeast your one stop site for anything dope and I came across this dope video that the makers or KRINK markers came up with. I had to post this cause I love just about everything raw and creative and this short video displays art in form of street art, graffiti whatever the media is calling it these days. I feel its good to share things with other, if not then we all just be home with nothing to do, But this gibber gabber has gone on for too long. Check out the video and tell me what you think.

-peace
-Smurkone...oh yeahs peep the vid.

American Outlaw - Tupac

Funny today I came from work and asked myslef what have I done lately? The answer was not much of anything, my followers were seemingly on the edge. So I felt I should run with a way-back play-back!!! Tupac Shakur!! oh yeah i felt it was about time I made something on the legend. I have to say I was always an east-coast guy, but still got love for Snoop Dogg and Dr.Dre. ( you would know that if you seen the source award) anyway here it is:

American Outlaw

I was trying to have some fun with it I have many different versions but I felt this one best displayed how I love to mess with colours and my sense of lettering. I didnt want to get all funky with the letters cause I didnt want to take awat from the image but still wanted the image to stand out...well thats all from me for today I been up for hours now, but I had to get that out once I get that art twitch I cant go to sleep.

-Peace & Much Love
-Smurkone

Pardon the what!!!

Haha twitter has connected me to many different personalities, but this connection was made throught a mutal friend and a very small world. Matt Adams is this name and Pardon Le Dopeness is his clothing company. Like the Cope brand I have never actually met Matt but we share the same backyard. Toronto where I was bore and raised. (I was about to get into the Fresh Prince intro)

I got a package in the mail today, My grandfather told me to stop buying all this crap!! I told him it wasnt  crap, this is Le dopeness!! He said whatever and went downstairs. The crewneck in the middle I wore to work definetly had people turning their heads and acting about the sweater. That what I look for clothing makes peopel think or even have a response. Pardon le dopeness is definetly a brand to be recongnized and shown some love. Matt keep doing your thing so I can be the freshest kid I know.

-Support your local art...
-Smurkone...Out