This Australian couple, now living in Los Angeles, collaborate on every piece of art they create. Splitting their works between acrylic on canvas and the murals in the streets, they’re participating in the Australian street art show Young & Free: Australian Contemporary Street Artists opening up at 941 Geary (San Francisco) on September 10th. We emailed them a few questions as they wrap up their work for the show.
So you’ve been in LA via Melbourne, Australia for 2 years now… How has the transition been?
It’s been great! We really love it in Los Angeles…quite quickly it felt like home here, which was something we didn’t expect! But the transition was really smooth for us. After a few months to settle, and just once we wrapped our heads around some of the small differences like allowing 40 minuets to get somewhere – even if its 5 miles away -and learning to use inches and feet over centimeters and meters!
What have been some of the pluses and minuses of being in LA?
There is definitely more pluses than minuses! I think the main pluses are the weather and the people. We have met so many great people here that have become very close friends. And the constant sunshine and blue skies is just ridiculous! I don’t think we will ever get sick of that!
Do you consider LA your permanent home now?
At the moment, yes. We can definitely see ourselves being here for many more years…But you never know what the universe has in store.
It seems that your works are divided between murals and paintings. Which came first?
It was different for both of us. I started painting graffiti in the mid 1990’s. I had been painting pieces for years before returning to Art School and learned how to paint with acrylics.
Myla on the other hand, had been painting with a brush for most of her life, and it wasn’t until we met that she started using spray paint.
Which medium works best to translate your work? Walls with spray paint or brushes while creating paintings?
I’m not sure… We really love painting graffiti and it’s such a big part of our overall influence and style. Painting graffiti letters is so important to us, and we love painting big characters on walls too. The way we go about painting with spray paint is similar to our brush paintings, but also completely different.
The characters are the same, and the content, but outside we paint with heavy lines and strong bold colors. Whereas on our paintings with acrylic, its a lot softer and harmonious approach. With subtle colors and no outlines…and we love working that way too!
The characters in your works are so insanely happy. Where does this come from?
We are pretty happy people! We love our life together, and love what we do… we are always positive and a few days a year aside, always in a good mood…the fact that we are both like that is why we work so well together I think. If one of us was a moody fucker, I think the whole dynamic would be a disaster!
You guys are a couple and do all your works together. How long have you both been working together?
We have been together for about 5 years now. For the first couple of years, we would work together on a lot of stuff but also worked on our own projects. We always enjoyed collaborating more than working apart, so one day we where talking about it and came to a decision to start only working together. Since then we have collaborated on every piece of artwork we have made, except for when we paint letters of course… our pieces are the only thing that we do solo. Painting your own name is something that just has to be done by your self!
How did you guys go about working together?
We pretty much always have two paintings going at one time. We sit down together and talk and sketch out thumbnails for possible ideas, concepts and compositions. Then we take those ideas and start drawing up a rendered finished sketch. Then one of us will start on one painting, while the other starts on the second painting. Then once we have each finished to a certain point we switch them over and work on the other. Then when we are both finished on the 2 paintings, we will access what else the paintings need to be finished, and take one each and add those elements. It sounds a lot more confusing than it actually is!!
We were in Australia last year and kinda got into watching cricket. Being in LA, how do you get your cricket fix? Because we all know that you love shrimp on the barbe, drink Fosters, and LOVE cricket.
To tell you the truth… neither of us are HUGE cricket fans… But Australian Rules Football is another story. Dabs loves Australian Rules Fottball, he watches it every week over here on the internet. He becomes a completely different person when he watches the footy – I call that person ‘Football Dabs’. He yells at the screen and curses so much and SO loud! He sits over in front of the computer and yells out things like “CAR’N RUFFY” and is always yelling “BALL!!!”. He completely changes… its crazy to see!
Is that a knife?
Yes…it is a knife mate!…but I have a question for you!…can you tell me…
What ever happened to predictability?
The milk man, the paper boy, evening T.V.
When did I get to living here? Somebody tell me please
This whole worlds confusing me.
Everywhere you look.
There’s a heart (there’s a heart)
A hand to hold on to.
Everywhere you look
There’s a face of somebody who needs you.
And when you’re lost out there and you’re all alone
A light is waiting to carry you home
Everywhere you look.
Everywhere you look.
Ahhh Ahh Ahh Ahhh Ahhhhhahhhh??????
Have you been to San Francisco before? Also, plan on doing any outside work while in the city? We’d love to see some of your work around town.
We have been to SF, but only for a few days at a time. We are really looking forward to spending a good week there. And are definitely going to paint some walls while we are in town… as many as time permits!
Music you’re feeling right now?
We listen to a lot of music! We are in our studio 7 days a week working and always have music playing! At the moment there are a few albums we are really loving – Dead Milkmen ‘Metaphisical Graffiti’, Brian Wilson presents ‘Smile’ and the Slackers ‘Redlight’.
What can people expect from your upcoming show at 941 Geary?
It’s going to be a great show! It’s a group show made up 13 very talented Australian artists. We are really looking forward to seeing so many Australians all together in the States! One of the artists in particular, NEW2 is a Melbourne graffiti pioneer. When I was coming up in the graffiti game, NEW2 and his partner TAME where killing it! They definitely inspired me a lot and continue to do so. From the mid 80’s he has been pushing the limits of the art form, and is still pushing! So I can’t wait to see what he brings to the city!
Young & Free: Australian Contemporary Street Artists
Featuring: ANTHONY LISTER, KID ZOOM, DABS & MYLA, DMOTE, NEW2, BEN FROST, MEGGS, HA-HA, REKA, RONE, SOFLES, and VEXTA
Opening Reception – September 10, 2011, 6-9 pm
On View through October 22, 2011
@941 Geary
941 Geary St, San Francisco, CA
More info:
– FecalFace.com
– DabsMyla.com
– 941Geary.com