A Tantalizing Conversation with WRDSMTH
Photo Credit: Matthew Greene
WRDSMTH is an American author, screenwriter, and street artist based in Los Angeles. He is known for his iconic image of a vintage typewriter featuring different sheets of inspiration. Spraypainting and wheat pasting outdoor walls with thousands of works since 2013, WRDSMTH can be found in cities throughout the world, including London, Philadephia, New York City, Paris, and New Orleans. In 2017, he installed eight large-scale art pieces, The Bloc in Downtown Los Angeles, as part of their permanent collection. WRDSMTH has collaborated with several other contemporary street artists, including Teachr, Colette Miller, Antigirl, Thrashbird, Kai Aspire, and Bandit.
I enjoyed asking him about graffiti, street art, writing, and his signature typewriter.
UZOMAH: What street artists have inspired your signature style?
WRDSMTH: I loved and was inspired by street art long before I tried my hand at it. The Rushmore of street art – Shepard Fairey, Banksy, Invader – are the three I would cite for obvious reasons.
Muse Urban Radish in Los Angeles, CA June 2018 Photo Credit: @IanFisherOfficial / @CreativeFuture1
U: What is the difference between graffiti and street art?
W: Graffiti is the act of writing your name or signature over and over in a variety of styles and in noticeable and often daring locations. Street Art is utilizing some of the tools of graffiti and adding to them in order to paint/paste artwork onto walls and buildings in noticeable and often daring locations.
Say Everything Los Angeles, CA August 2018 Photo Credit: @Munsi
U: Why is graffiti considered street art?
W: I think graffiti is the umbrella term, and street art is sometimes included under that umbrella. Graffiti is often seen as anything illegally painted or pasted in the streets. It’s the term most often used by city officials and newscasters when they talk about art in the streets. I’ve even seen reports of muralists debuting their work, and they are referred to as graffiti artists.
Blue Elephant The Bloc in Los Angeles, CA July 2017 Photo Credit: Steffi Victorioso
U: Is street art better than graffiti? Why? / Why not?
W: They are two different things and, in my opinion, impossible to compare. Is impressionism better than expressionism? Is realism better than abstract painting? The one thing I will say is that graffiti came first and spawned a staggering movement/renaissance. Graffiti artists taught all of us what could be accomplished with a can of spray paint, and that is pretty damn amazing.
The Only Lie Covent Garden in London, England December 2015 Photo Credit: The Covent Gardener
U: How do you incorporate your past work experiences with the art you create today?
W: I’m a writer. So that’s all I do every day. I pull from experiences and emotions in my past and use those memories and feelings to paint new scenes and sentences and thoughts and phrases. People often think I am always writing about stuff that is happening now or recently happened, but truth told, I often pull from things that occurred years ago, decades ago. That’s what writers do.
Here & Now La Terraza in Redondo Beach, California February 2020
U: What are some of the biggest hindrances of creating art on a property you do not own?
W: Just taking a chance and doing renegade art is a hurdle. I get a lot of opportunity these days – commissioned walls and colorations with companies, restaurants, and hotels. BUT fifty percent of my work is still renegade and always will be. I like giving art to the people. I believe I am beautifying vs destroying when I put a piece in the streets. Some might not agree, but the majority does seem to gravitate to the work and the inspiring WRDs I paint.
Flashbacks Paris, France June 2018 Photo Credit: @PolarBearStencils
U: How do you pick a paint that works best in all weather conditions, brings the image to life, and is long-lasting?
W: I mostly use Montana Gold paint. It’s quality, dependable, and long-lasting. Other brands I use are 94 and Montana Black. I toyed with other brands, cheaper brands, but, in my opinion, you get what you pay for.
U: What made you choose a typewriter?
W: I am a writer – first and foremost. I used to work in advertising and have written screenplays, short films, short stories, and tv scripts. I wrote a novel that ended up getting published. I just love to write. So, when I was toying with the crazy notion of doing street art, I knew it would be word-based. And first thing I thought of after that was an image of a typewriter with a page coming out of it. The page would feature my words. I thought the idea was simple and compelling. And once I confirmed no one had done it in the streets prior, I moved to make the idea a reality. The rest is history.
U: What is the most essential part of your creative process in street art? Is it different from writing?
W: I have a mantra – “Create. Every day. And making excuses does not count.” That is the most vital aspect for my creative process. It could be writing, creating and cutting stencils, or getting paint on my hands in the streets or in my studio. But I need to create every day. We all do.
Please visit his site for more information about WRDSMTH’s work and writing. Please also follow him on Instagram.
