April’s issue of Juxtapoz is a special edition to celebrate the Art in the Streets exhibition at MOCA, Los Angeles. My small contribution to it was a piece about Belgian artist Roa who was featured in the exhibition and my last book Street Sketchbook: Journeys.

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Roa is one of the artist’s who appears in my latest book and one who I enjoy following – so I’ve been looking forward to seeing photos from his Mexican Adventures. There is a nice book connection too, as Roa was keen to paint with some of the Mexican artists who he first got to know through Street Sketchbook: Journeys… So although I can’t take credit at all, it is greatly satisfying to see him collaborating with fellow featured artists Sego & Saner.

Sego & Roa

Saner & Roa

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There have been a lot of good books published recently in the field of Street Art of late. Trespass being one of them. So I’m pleased to see Street Sketchbook: Journeys getting some attention in amongst them. With some natural bias my friend Caleb Neelon has just given his perspective on the book on the Imprint website.

Its an interesting read for me. Caleb is a prolific author, muralist and artist , so its great to hear his perspective on the journey concept and interesting connections he makes in this short review. Book reviews are rare these days so I’m lucky to have a fellow author who genuinely digs the book!

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Earlier this year Basco Vasko, a Chilean artist I have admired for a long time, asked me to conduct an interview with him for Juxtapoz magazine. Finally its in print (see above with Dr Lakra on the cover). Finding the right questions to unravel his art and processes was quite a challenge since his highly original work defies asking the obvious ones. But in the end I learnt more about his work in the process and hopefully its an enjoyable revealing read.

Basco Vasko is one of the featured artists in my up-coming book Street Sketchbook: Journeys and someone who I have longed to publish in depth.

While I was able to contact him and include him in the Graffiti World book, its his sketchbooks that I have long been wanting to share with the world.

His high resolution images of his sketchbook art have become one of the highlights in the new book, a few pages also appeared in the Juxtapoz article…

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Here is a little info about the book, but in the simplest terms this book is about how artists develop their voice…

Art is a journey. Every artist forges their own path of discovery that gradually leads to the formation of their own unique style, and creative outlook. This book follows the journeys of 26 extraordinary artists from around the world through stories, projects undertaken and key moments that have shaped their artistic eye. Some of these artists have been on travels that have inspired them while for others ‘the journey’ is what links the people and things they’re passionate about, which makes them want to create art.

Street Sketchbook: Journeys explores how artists develop ideas and in particular looking at the work of some of the most exciting talent emerging from today’s street art culture and independent art and design practise. On the street these artists express themselves with graffiti art and murals while they also produce art in countless other ways such as on canvas, sculptures, animations, comics and even performance art. The aim of this book is to share in the artist’s passions and uncover their processes and obsessions. Through in-depth interviews, unseen sketchbooks and photographs we gain a unique insight into their creative lives.

In all their different endeavours their spirit remains the same, one of experimentation, originality and free expression. Their passion for art is also often necessarily combined with a Do-it-yourself attitude and ingenuity that is equally inspiring. Many of these artists initiate their own commercial or community based projects, create their own outlets and markets for their art often bypassing conventional routes. As today’s markets for art and design fluctuate, being able to self-initiate and author projects is becoming increasingly important. Which makes the work of these independent artists all the more relevant and inspiring to all artists endeavouring to unlock their own ideas. From Colombia to Chile, Ukraine to Mexico, these artists come from different backgrounds and have arrived at different creative conclusions. Talent is rising from small creative hubs in sometimes-overlooked places, producing fresh outlooks and approaches.

Street Sketchbook: Journeys explores the interesting and varied backgrounds of each artist, observing how different experiences can shape an artist, while common humanity and urban life can lead to similar themes being interpreted in different ways. With the generous collaboration of all involved, this book looks at the extraordinary stories of young artists and how they engage with the world.

The above pages are some spreads from the Bastadilla and Stinkfish chapter – I’ll post some things from other contributors over the coming months

Many thanks to all the artists who made it happen. Keep the date of the 1st October free for the London book launch at Pictures on Walls gallery space.

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I’ll be writing more about it in the coming months, the official release date is 27th September – with a launch party in London lined up for the 1st October.

There are so many fantastic artists and their personal stories in this one but I don’t want to give the game away too soon…

But just today I heard news of a piece two of the artists appearing in the book did together. Saner and Sego were two artists I met on my travels in Mexico last year and this book has a Mexican flavour to it with nearly a third of the artist’s coming from all over Mexico.

Painted at the National Museum of Popular Cultures – its an absolutely stunning piece which gives a flavour of what’s coming in this next book. To read more about the project check Saner’s blog. Also check Sego’s blog for more great work and fantastic photos.

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