Welcome to ‘Get to Know’ where we interview both established and emerging artists from across the globe and take a moment to go deeper and learn about their thoughts, processes, experience, and creative approach.
Today we feature AWFUL CBS.
I met AWFUL from CBS Crew Fame in the Nevada desert last year. I was stuck in a small town on the Cali/ Nevada border, and KEMS just happened to be visiting California on my day off. In true planetary alignment, KEMS and his homies rolled through in one of those ridiculously large American pick-up trucks, and scooped me up for a day of beers, painting bandos, and fireworks. Exploration was in order, and at one point we got dangerously close to Utah. Cool story, bro.
AWFUL was in the truck, and contrary to his namesake, he is neither an awful dude nor awful at graffiti. He’s good at both, but I guess ‘Good’ isn’t quite as nasty (bad-meaning-good) for a nom de plume, as AWFUL is.
I digress. Here’s an interview with the good dude who has an AWFUL tag. Perhaps it’s not so bad after all. We talk hometown pride, BMX, and breakfast burritos (aaaand maybe some graffiti). Tasty.
–LS
It’s always best to start at the beginning. Tell us how, and when, you first got involved in graffiti – what attracted you to the movement?
I was really into riding BMX at the time and my super good friend who writes Grips was awesome at riding and writing. So, I tried it out and was horrible, haha. But, the more I looked into it, the more I wanted to do wildstyle type pieces, and that’s been my motivation ever since. Burners, bro! Haha.
I would say I started taking it more serious around ’03 – ’04.
Ahhh, a fellow BMX kid. Who was your favourite rider? I was all about Matt Hoffman. That dude seemed unbreakable.
Yeah, I used to love BMX. I would say my favorites were Van Homan, Edwin Delarosa, Kevin Porter, and Chase Hawk.
And what year was that (when you first started)?
This would have to be early 2000’s when I first got into BMX, ’98 – ’99 maybe.
Where do you call home, and where in the world are you right now, specifically?
The place I call home is around the Rocky Mountains, in the great state of Colorado. I am actually home at the moment but looking forward to my next trip to Taos, New Mexico. Unfortunately, not a hostel but you never know where the weekend will take you.
What did you have for breakfast?
I’m not a big breakfast person, but I had some Tostitos Salsa Verde chips with Fritos bean dip. Some peanuts and a Reign energy drink… Oh, and some jalapeños wrapped in bacon and stuffed with cheddar cheese too. Haha. YOLO, bro.
Shiiiit, that oughta get the blood pumping. Remember when we had that steak burrito for breakfast in Vegas? I sure do! It was my second breakfast for the day, but too tasty not to indulge. What was that drink we had? Like, a Mexican Bloody Mary – with a beer upon it?
Yeah, that place was amazing! Papa Jose’s, I think. And, yeah with the Corona! Hahah. That was a good breakfast.
How do you describe your work?
I guess I have always wanted to have a ‘wildstyle’, but I’m not sure how to describe it… It’s not too wild, but it has doo-dads and kick-outs and stuff. It’s fun for me, and it’s what I want to do.
Let’s get situational. Describe your ideal graffiti scenario? What’s your fave painting environment/surface?
Oooohh, this is a tough question… I mean I have always loved rocking freights and still do, but over the last few years, I have really enjoyed rocking abandons and raw walls. Also bridges. Raw walls would be the ideal surface (the worst part of graffiti is buffing a wall).
I would love to paint a flat Tropicana or some daytime freights. Being rushed is my favorite way to paint.
Tell us a killer colour combo.
Combining two killer combos into one piece! Bringing all the colors to the spot. Most of the time I’m prepared, but I love making stuff work with what I have. Sometimes it’s better that way so my piece doesn’t look too stiff.
Where in the world have you visited that had some kind of impact on you? Why?
You know, I love to hike, and the views and travels along the way are amazing. Just being on top of a mountain, and being surrounded by mountains, is kinda speechless. Pictures or videos can’t do them justice.
Show me the best piece you’ve ever painted: Tell me about this piece and why you like it the most.
I mean I feel I always pick apart my pieces right when they are done and then I will look back at them later and like them more. Maybe because I see them as a whole, rather than the nitpicking I was doing after they were complete.
I don’t really have a favorite piece, I have always tried to make my next piece better than my last one, so there really isn’t one in particular that sticks out. Maybe that’s good, or that could be bad too
Now show me one of your favourite pieces of artwork that another human created? Tell me what makes it special?
Anything by Pose. That dude’s graffiti has always been my favorite, and especially his canvas work. I’m a huge fan of comic book type art and he just pinpoints that in his own style, which always comes out amazing.
When you’re lurking around places you shouldn’t be, it’s inevitable to run into interesting characters or some kind of trouble. Tell me a story of something ridiculous that’s happened to you, while painting, over the years.
I’ll never forget the time painting freights with Faker, and a few bums were making some noise under a tree, so we confronted them. We had a few laughs and then gave them money to go buy us some beer. They came back with the cheapest, most disgusting beer ever and kept the change. Haha good times.
That sounds like good old-fashioned American capitalism.
Haha. Only if it’s surrounded by Styrofoam!
Favourite letter?
My favorite letter would have to be ‘A’. I mean it just sets it off.
What do you get up to when you are not painting, any hobbies?
My hobbies besides painting would be working non-stop and also coaching both my boys, and their baseball teams. Then hiking, riding bikes, and taking my Raptor down some trails.
Dead or alive, who is the historical figure that you most admire?
Not sure ’bout a historical figure, but my Dad is my constant inspiration, and is the person I admire the most.
What’s bumping in your headphones/ studio speakers at the moment?
Currently bumping Busta Rhymes ‘E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front’
Moon landing. Fact or fiction?
FICTION. The greatest lie of all time.
We’re at a bar and I’m buying. What you drinking?
A beer, duh.
What’s the last movie you watched, or book you read?
The MEG (it’s shark week, haha).
Favourite quote?
“Always be the hardest worker in the room.”
How do you want to be remembered?
I would like to be remembered by what I have done, and by what I have left behind.
What’s next?
Portland with my Chromeboys!!!
Thanks for reading much appreciated and much love,
–Awful One
Do yourself a solid and follow @awful_cbs on Instagram. He’s out there.
Luke Shirlaw is the founder of Artillery Projects – a graffiti art publisher, and visual studio specialising in mural production, graphic design, and content creation. Follow him on Instagram, or subscribe to Artillery’s ‘The Drop’ for exclusive email interviews.
