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Sanctioned Graffiti

A friend in Three Rivers has a rock in her front yard (well duh, most people in Three Rivers have rocks in their front yards) and for a few years, she has wanted some words painted on the rock. She mentioned it to me and I said, “I can do that!” 

After she explained her idea, I spent time messing around with typestyles, looking for something I could imitate. After experimenting awhile, I realized the only choice was Papyrus, the type that graphic designers love to hate. I love it. What do you expect from an unsophisticated, marginally educated, DBO* from Tulare County?? It was the best choice because it has ragged looking edges, and I was painting on a ragged rough surface.

I forgot to bring my chalk to mark the borders, but was able to scratch in the lines with a rock, then put a first layer down to see if I could control the paint and a brush. 

Yeppers. I can do this. A new brush helped.

Layer layer layer. Watch out for drips.

 Remember to step back and see if it is readable.

My friend wanted it subtle, and liked the light color. I asked if I could add shadows, she was good with that, and we both liked the results.

Voila! Sanctioned graffiti (or sanctified graffiti?) My friend said, “Tell your people that I am thrilled, filled with happiness and joy over this!” I said, “We are ending this year proclaiming the truth.” She said, “Amen”, and we were both quite satisfied.

*Ditch-bank-Okie is supposed to be a pejorative term, but I view it as a compliment.

7 Comments

  1. And yes, God is the rock of our salvation. Great thought to begin a New Year!

    • Amen, Deendie!!

  2. Love, love, love this! Subtle, but powerful. The shadowing makes it look 3D. Makes me wish I had a big flat- faced rock begging for graffiti too. 🙂

    • Melinda, I wouldn’t be surprised if you imported a rock for the very purpose! I would come paint it for you. HEY! Can we do this at your cabin??

      • I wish! That would be awesome!

  3. (Aaaaand this time it worked!)

    I love this! And what a perfectly flat service to add such an appropriate sign. It’s almost as if it was “predestined” to happen, right? And the shadowing is just perfect.

    Happy New Year (or, as I have been saying recently, “Better New Year!)!

    • Sharon, I thought it was quite interesting to have such a perfect surface for painting! My friend says the rock came from the property, but had no idea why it was so smooth. She has been wanting this for at least two years, and couldn’t find anyone to do it for her. Isn’t it interesting that my friends don’t think of me as an artist?


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