GV DOCU-SERIES www.graffitiverite.com

FILM REVIEWS of GV4: Basic Techniques for Creating Art on Walls & Canvas Directed by Multi Award-Winning Filmmaker Bob Bryan

THE ARTS Featured Article in VIDEO LIBRARIAN by Mike Tribby, Contributing Reviewer

GV4’s Bob Bryan “The fourth entry in the Graffiti Verite’ series (see review of Graffiti Verite’ {VL - 5/96} covers the basics of becoming a graffiti artist, with instruction by graffiti artist SANO in the techniques of sketching, outlining and fading, highlighting and shadowing, “can” control, 3D effects, and more. Declaring his absolute love of the genre, SANO sketches ideas on a pad while sitting in the sun, and talks about translating his vision onto the wall of somebody else’s property (just kidding!) Actually, SANO demonstrates his considerable artistic gifts on sanctioned al fresco surfaces: a 50-foot long wall at the Venice, California Graffiti Pit, and a canvas in a park.

A far cry from the flamboyant if illegible tags that constitute the bulk of graffiti art in many locales, SANO’s larger work is nonetheless semi-traditional, centered on his name, but with some really nice adjoining elements like a colorful mushroom cloud. His smaller work is a portrait of Tupac Shakur which, given the black background, looks something like a hip-hop equivalent of an Elvis on black velvet masterpiece, albeit a very artistic one.

Attention to detail and clarity of instruction are plusses here, but no doubt the subject matter will raise issues for some collections, SANO’s obvious talents notwithstanding, since graffiti art is not universally esteemed as desirable public art. However, as either art instruction or social document this is a worthy addition, and is therefore recommended. - VIDEO LIBRARIAN Vol. 18 : The Video Review Magazine for Libraries, No. 4, Jul/Aug 2003 - Pg 29 *** (3 out of 4 Stars) 68 min. Bryan World Productions. PPR. Color Cover

1 GV DOCU-SERIES www.graffitiverite.com

he term graffiti brings to mind vandals spraying subway walls with four-letter words. Viewers may be surprised to “Tlearn that not only is this a legitimate art form, but there are contests (the narrator is the two-time winner of the INTERNATIONAL GRAFFITI ART COMPETITION), legal graffiti walls (one in Los Angeles is shown), and a variety of techniques and procedures used to produce top quality aerosol art.

A bit different from the earlier videos in this series which showcased multiple artists, this one features SANO, an articulate young artist who explains his process and discusses the inspiration behind his art. He credits such diverse influences as da Vinci, and white. An unusual take on an often maligned Michelangelo, Rubens, Duchamp, and Japanese art form, this video will inspire art students.” animation as well as music - reggae, traditional, and hip-hop - and social and political forces. - Lauri Edwards, Susquehanna Art Museum, The video shows SANO in action from the Harrisburg, PA conception of an idea to the final execution of his - SCHOOL design. It is interesting to note that he begins by LIBRARY JOURNAL July 2003 Issue, Multimedia Review

“The world is a canvas and I’m expressing my thoughts on your walls! “

recently had the opportunity to peep out GRAFFITI VERITE Volume 4, a 67 minute documentary on the art commonly roughing out ideas in a sketchbook. Then he covers “Ireferred to as graffiti. previous wall graffiti with a roller (buffing the wall), but allows the colors underneath to bleed A well laid out movie starts out with two time through his base coat. winner of the INTERNATIONAL GRAFFITI ART COMPETITION, SANO writing some of After donning a paint mask, he sprays in outline his ideas in his book and explaining to us how you and guidelines, then the design using several start with the concept of your piece and doing a ruff different techniques and explains how to regulate outline of it. the flow of the spray. What looks like a early morning venture, he walks Once the mural is complete, he offers ideas for using us down to the beautiful beaches of what seems aerosol art on canvas and demonstrates its fine art like Venice beach. What I like about the movie is potential by creating a realistic portrait in black that they’re not trying to come with fancy concepts,

2 GV DOCU-SERIES www.graffitiverite.com but just plain down to earth filming with Sano, the he greatest compliment that one can give perfect teacher. Local graf heads should peep this an artist is to remark about the level of video out as its very helpful if you’re just starting out. inspiration that has been derived by their His first showcase was the walls on the beachfront Tbody of work. I will start my review of GV4 by that firstly needed to be cleaned. He started with the saying that since viewing the film over a week ago outline, explaining why he chose certain colours. I have been moved to create no less than one new piece each day. At no point in my life can I claim The SANO letters started taking shape and what the title of “writer”, the closest I come to personal seemed simple, became very complex. SANO affiliation with this element is being commissioned gave us a broad overview of shaping letters, fill-in to create graffiti nameplates for my friend’s college techniques, and loads of other techniques that could dorm rooms. I have though put in some work and it be helpful in creating the next Michelangelo or has been three years since I graduated from freedom even SANO, as a matter of fact. After what seemed and entered into corporate indentured servitude. In more than a days work his piece was done and he that time I have been completely abstained from any went into explaining the whole concept behind it. sort of graphics. To bring solace to my dissertation The striking part for me was when he explained the here… bombing part on his piece. Its been a minute since I did a piece so props are due. SANO is part Black and part Asian and said it was SANO and Bob Bryan should both be commended a dedication to his people that was killed in the for taking the time to demonstrate the at times bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. forgotten art of graf.

I was convinced that Cleveland, Ohio has more In today’s multimedia distraction heralded by the to it than just Bone Thugs and Harmony. SANO’s MTV’s, Clear Channels, and popular press the art final piece was one of graffiti is often misrepresented and the culture that he was going to of hip hop suffers. SANO’s step by step passage do on a canvas. It was through the mindset and execution of the “burner” of the late legendary is on point, as it should be coming from such an rapper Tupac (2pac accomplished artist. From the importance of pre- Shakur) created solely sketching, to color selection, to cap sizes, to grip with black and white styles, and flaring the essence is captured and spraypaint. presented so you feel like you are a part of the project. I grinned in hearing of SANO’s influences I was convinced that this guy was a genius! I would finding they are as close to home as other writers like to convince all lecturers of art classes to get a but, as far reaching as Japanese cartoonists and copy of this for their students, as it’s truly a great contemporary legends. This is an important bit for addition to have for your video library, alongside all the ignorant “hip-hop breeds trouble” types to other such greats as Wildstyle. hear. In short I get the feeling that viewers will be sub consciously scouting railyards and bridges for Award-winning filmmaker Bob Bryan truly possible canvases. captured every moment with such precision. If mics could be given to this video I would give it 5. Get ya The effects of films like these can aid in starting MasterCard out and order this.” movements of right thinking and positivity. Thanks - RUSH for the hard work. Peace. South Africa - TIMMYGRINS www.africasgateway.com www.arcanemusic.com Elements TV Tuesday nights 8-9pm ch. 5

3 GV DOCU-SERIES www.graffitiverite.com

hile the GRAFFITI VERITE’ SERIES Cleveland writers real proud by being so honest is not easily accessible to people in our about his influences. Both pieces he did on the tape part of the world, GV4 somehow found put my 10 year-old son, who is an aspiring artist, in it’sW way to the Out4Fame reviewing desk. Unlike total awe. other documentaries centered around Graffiti such as StyleWars, GV4 does not educate the general Since watching GV4, I’ve been sketching out wild public about the culture of Graffiti but instead style letters and tagging on nearly any blank piece of provides an insight into the process of creating paper I can find, which is something I haven’t been graffiti art, as demonstrated by LA Graf artist motivated to do in over 10 years. He made me feel SANO. This demonstration is divided into two it again, you know? GV4 is a solid documentary, no parts, the first being the creation of a large scale doubt.” semi-wild style piece at a legal wall in Venice beach. The viewer is taken through the process from start - ROUGHDRAFT to finishbeginning with the artist sketch. Can control, choices of colour and the thought process behind the concept for the piece are all covered as just watched the tape yesterday with some well as everything in between. of my friends. The video is packed with great information about graffiti... SANO is “Ia very talented artist, and he did an effective job The second part of GV4 is a demostration of aerosol art on canvas where SANO creates a portrait of in articulating upon both the technical and more Tupac using only flat black and flat white. For the artsy/metaphysical aspects of graffiti art... Overall long-tern writer this video prbably won’t shed much this was a good video, my friends and I enjoyed it new light on the techniques of but I’d and were most impressed by the visual and musical highly recommend this to any new comers out there artwork it contained.” wanting to polish their skills and take their painting - liMbs to another level.

OUT4FAME.COM / AU -- ow what can I say? Over the years www.graffitiverite.com/out4famereview.jpg I think I’ve seen all the GRAFFITI Hip-Hop And Street Culture Magazine VIDEOS out there and hands down “Wthis is the first Documentary that I feel really showed me something! Not only is SANO humble and informed, but he is also an incredible Artist! ust got finished watching the tape. It looks With his steady and clear instruction I was able to great, very captivating. SANO is insano, if understand what it takes to create a serious Graffiti you know what I mean? He’s very talented Art piece using Aerosol Paint. “Jand made it look so easy. The film was not long and drawn out, and SANO was not only fun to watch, It ain’t easy, I can tell you that!! Although not a but he’s great at verbalizing while painting.... I Graffiti Artist myself , I’ve always been curious can’t wait to play it for my friends. If I was an art about the process that the Artist must go through. teacher, I would use this in my class.” Now I know! I respect Mr. Bryan for having the - DJ FACE / The Arkitek vision to offer up this impressive How-to-do video. I can’t wait to apply these new techniques on my backyard wall and later on Canvas for my students ANO definitely took his audience to in my Art classroom.” school on this film. Not only did he walk the viewer through many aspects of art - A. DAVIO / Art Instructor “Stheory, he would’ve made allot of the old school

4 GV DOCU-SERIES www.graffitiverite.com

V4 is the ultimate toy tutorial, for V4 is Awesome! My students (8th grade) anyone looking to walk, way before are totally inspired by it. I’d like a copy they can crawl in the graff game.” of the original GRAFFITI VERITE’.” G G “ “ -kom!k, Las Vegas - MELISSA TRUJILLO, 8th Grade Art Teacher

thought it was great! SANO knew exactly ’ve been interested in for years, but what he was talking about. Any “writer” growing up in an area with draconian anti- would agree he knows the rules and the way graffiti laws, knowledge of this art-form “Ireal Graff should be. The part about burners going “Ihas been elusive. Imitating the style on paper has over pieces, and pieces going over throw ups, and been easy, but the actual aerosol techniques are not. throw ups going over tags, was right on the money. Now, finally... someone has shared their knowledge He has good can control, and was able to explain with me, and I am more complete for it. SANO is exactly what he was doing, every step of the way. truly a master at his art form, and it is a pleasure to I’ve always been one to be against sharing our last watch him work his craft.” untapped art form, with the public, for fear it would - CLIFF be diluted and it’s origins forgotten. But I think Anchorage, Alaska. videos like this give it the respect it deserves, before it’s looked at as just another hip culture wagon to jump on. V4 is a great video for beginners like myself who have no knowlege It’s always been hard to explain to people how deep of the art or where to begin. I really Graff really is. For years it was laughed at by Art G “like it and cant wait for summer to start. It is Institutes, and scorned by the police and the inner exactly what I wanted in a video. SANO really city community. But in the last 8 or so years there explains things well and shows the steps in detail.” seems to have been a change in the way many folks view Graff, mainly because the corporate world saw - ADAM G. another way to get the attention of the youth. None the Miami Fl. less, I, as a longtime Graff Artist and Hip hop purist, truly appreciate the work you’ve done here. Soldiers like Bob Bryan help maintain our culture’s respect.” “Dope video, a great piece of a collection f or all hip hop and graffiti headz... “ More peace... Be very selective of your heroes!” -JANINA L. - CRUSH ONE Chicago, IL

V4 was definitely well put together. enjoyed GV4 the most of the entire My man SANO is an Artist & he collection. I appreciated the fact that you appreciated it, so that must be a good chose an artist who is very talented and G “Ihas the eloquence to explain his creative technique “thing! Good stuff!! Keep up the good work...” very thoroughly minus the bravado. Anyone who -Swift Roc, is interested in learning the basic aspects of aerosol CEO art should purchase GV4. SANO is an artist of SUICIDAL SOUNDZ depth.” - JAMES STONE 5 GV DOCU-SERIES www.graffitiverite.com

“GOT THE TAPE! IT ROCKS!!” film balances tutorial with cultural observation, becoming a miniature portrait of SANO in the Nothing less than the stellar quality we’ve come to process. “Aerosol art saved my life,” he reveals. “It expect. It’s my favorite of the GV DOCU-SERIES, gave me a foundation and hands down. Can’t wait to rap with you about it. a focus.”

- GEOFFRY DONNE Explaining technique, can Los Angeles, CA control, detailing, and embracing Wild Style as “a new form of communication,” “The video is a thorough composition. You almost SANO’s an engaging forget the fact that it’s instructional. Heads should personality driven by an enjoy it.” infectious enthusiasm. He - G-FRESH creates two pieces in GV4. The sixty-foot mural links his signature with images that flow from atomic devastation to hints of erotica. While it echoes his many influences (spanning “Bob, I just wanted to write a quick e-mail to say from Leonardo to anime), the work emerges as a thanks for including Big Pimp Jones’ music in GV4. vibrant personal offering. Graffiti is character and I have watched the movie a few times, and it’s great! declaration bared for the masses. SANO exposes I always enjoy listening to people speak who know a himself through a burst of imagination and color, lot about the subject they’re talking on, and SANO and delivers it to the urban environment. That the is one of those people - what skills! Anyway, keep piece is completed in one day -- and can be instantly on doing what you’re doing, and congratulations on eliminated in the sweep of a wet paint roller -- a great video.” stresses its immediacy. - Keep the funk, - Keith, BIG PIMP JONES On a much smaller scale, SANO’s portrait of Tupac Shakur is beautifully rendered, using black and white spray paint on canvas. Although lacking the range of the mural, it’s far more intimate, and the he “GV” of the title stands for GRAFFITI evolution through shaping and outline becomes a VERITÉ, Bob Bryan’s eye-popping endeavor quietly mesmerizing procedure. Making excellent to document the world of aerosol art. On use of background music, GV4 has extended end This website, GraffitiVerité.com, Bryan quotes from credits for audio samples and information on all the Bertolt Brecht: “Art is not a mirror held up to reality, songs used -- a thoughtful and welcome feature. Bob but a hammer with which to shape it.” Through Bryan is an unobtrusive filmmaker whose images Bryan’s GV series of instructional videotapes, the and editing flow peacefully. He arranges facets outsider can glimpse a part of this shaping which is of SANO -- philosophy, style, and humor -- with commonly dismissed and (in some cases erroneously) warmth and precision, welcoming those unfamiliar regarded as vandalism. Bryan’s subject in GV4 is the with his art. Following three earlier GRAFFITI spray can artist SANO (at work in the photo to the VERITÉ videos, and future volumes likely, Bryan is right and below), who points out that the concrete he preserving statements and beauty that most people works on here is indeed legal. The Graffiti Pit walls pass on the street without notice. Hopefully, our in Venice, California, are approximately sixty feet eyes may soon comprehend this art which is so freely long by six feet high, and are open for community given. expression. - Ray Young, FLICKHEAD The E-Fanzine of Diverse Film Esoterica In a three-part format -- preliminary sketch, painting the wall, and painting on canvas -- the

6 GV DOCU-SERIES www.graffitiverite.com

“Bob, I just got to sit down and see it (GV4) on continues by doing detail work with Spray Cans, Sunday night. It was great. I really enjoyed it! making 3D effects, adding shadows, shaping up of At my site I get allot of mail each month from letters and finally reviewing the entire production. University Students, Professors, young Graff heads, SANO then begins on a Canvas Project. He starts fine artists, housewives and people from all walks of out by showing how to prepare the canvas, and life, asking questions regarding the creative process then from using a black and white picture of 2pac and the technical aspects of creating a piece. Now Shakur he creates a portrait using only black and I will refer them directly to GV4. It will be a great white spray paint. The Photo Realism Techniques resource. It was great that in addition to being a is presented in an easy-to-understand way that talented artist, SANO is also very articulate. You makes you want to learn. did a great job of capturing the man and his art.” One of the best things about this film is that it This is the fourth film in the GRAFFITI presents the art form with the artists own words. VERITE’ SERIES by Los Angeles based director - Mike Coates, Bob Bryan. Bryan documents the process of a www.c a z a w a . b i z. Oslo, Norway single artist creating a work of art. Bryan reveals THE ONLINE MUSIC BUSINESS & Ohio artist SANO’s step-by- step creative and ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK technical processes from concept and sketch through completed art work. What also emerges from the film is an intimate portrait of SANO he video was definitely worth watching. as an artist. This film is an essential resource for It was dope how you showed how educators, students, artists and anyone who has SANO developed his piece from the been curious about the technical process of creating “Tidea all the way to how it came out in the end. It graffiti art . Peace!” was cool seeing all the effort that goes into making - ERIC aka DEAL CIA a mural such as the one that Sano made. It even @149st Webmaster, http://www.at149st.com made me start to try to sketch my own graffiti.”

- JAMES L. FRYE Two-Time Winner of [email protected] THE INTERNATIONAL GRAFFITI ART COMPETITION “SANO” Teaches You GV4 The Basics of The Graffiti Art Form. egarding , I liked it allot. It was timely that an instructional tape would be produced not only to instruct but he GV4 documentary video presented “Rinform viewers of the broad range of issues involved by moviemaker Bob Bryan gives you a with doing a production. SANO is a really talented refreshing insight to the Underground Art artist and he gave a good mention of artistic TForm. SANO guides you patiently through both influences which reflect well on the tape, because the basic and the more complex spray techniques it offers potential artists an opportunity to broaden for both walls and canvases. their scope of creative influences. The video starts out with SANO making a ruff The irony is of course where you shot it. I thought sketch and presenting his ideas for the wall piece. that spot was hot and could no longer be used. He brings you with him on an enjoyable artistic We are in a time where writers share more of journey while teaching important spray techniques their resources and talents more openly; that open and making examples. SANO takes his ideas from tutelage was the essence of subway graffiti back in his ruff sketch book to the wall by Pre Sketching the day. Now with so many spray can brands, tips, and making Technical Design Considerations and styles and reasons to write your name on the wall,

7 GV DOCU-SERIES www.graffitiverite.com your tape provides still another resource for writers ou know graffiti art has hit the to learn from. Props to you and SANO.” mainstream when you go over to your mom’s to use her VCR, pop in a graffiti - MARE 139 “Yinstructional video, and she’s just as keen to learn (Graffiti Artist & Designer of the BET Awards) spray-can techniques as you are. “Shove over,” says Writer / Field Producer, StyleWars DVD my mom, settling onto the couch beside me, “this looks interesting.” Watching Bob Bryan’s DV-shot production isn’t going to turn you into a master “Extremely cool video, beautiful sunsets... but the of graffiti art, but it’s not supposed to. There’s kid is good! It looked average; until the end, when enough info in here about conceptualizing your it came to life. The film itself was grand, hands piece, detailing techniques, using different caps, can down! Thanks for the opportunity to view this control, colour fades and more to get you started. masterpiece.”

- DANGER59, NYC Bob Bryan follows two-time INTERNATIONAL subwayoutlaws.com GRAFFITI ART COMPETITION winner SANO as he quickly takes you through every step of the process, both on a large wall and on canvas. In the ne can watch the instructional end, what I learned (especially watching him create his video GRAFFITI VERITE’ 4, portrait of Tupac) was, “Holy sh*t that looks hard.” featuring award-winning graffito But SANO’s understated charisma carries the film, “OSANO, completely guilty-free. That’s because and if you want to be inspired by a master at work, SANO and video director Bob Bryan have ensured this movie’s unbeatable. Plus you get to hear your that this is a nice, entirely-within-the-confines-of- mom shriek, “Damn! Oh no, he didn’t!” which is the-law production. The video begins with SANO worth the price any day. Loved the vid... ” delivering the voice over, - MM, SHIFT MAGAZINE “I can’t even tell you what I’d be doing outside of aerosol art. Aerosol art saved my life. “Bob, I received message re: GRAFITTI It gave me a foundation and a focus.” VERITE’ video. Ironically, I have 2 copies of the Cut to SANO carefully plotting out on paper his next video I’d ordered last year. It’s one video I show my mural, which is then painted on a legal graffiti yard art students when we are doing social statements and in Venice, CA. SANO discusses graffiti etiquette as we have active discussions. Yesterday I was showing he paints over the existing graffiti, and he wears an the video during the last day of class, at student industrial respirator mask as he works. In the second requests. You would have grinned... a number of half of the video, SANO uses spray paint to create a students were swaying and grooving to the music, portrait of Tupac Shakur on canvas. It’s a pretty good just riveted. Thanks for such a nice video.” likeness. The educational value of GV4 is high. - Joi Hosker, Art Instructor (Jacksonville, FL) Not only does SANO teach the technical aspects STANTON COLLEGE PREPARATORY of graffiti art (can control, highlights, shadowing, different uses of can tips, etc.), but he also discusses the cultural significance of certain types of graffiti ’ve been into graffiti since the seventh grade. and explains such lingo as “piece” and “wildstyle.” I don’t know what it was that caught my SANO represents himself well verbally. As the title attention about graffiti but I remembered might indicate, this is the fourth installment in Bob “Iwatching my friend Andre throwing up a quick tag Bryan’s Graffiti Verite’ Docu-Series. on the desk in art class and I was hooked. I admired - NOHO LA MAGAZINE his hand style and spend hours trying to develop my own. I however stopped tagging and drawing for

8 GV DOCU-SERIES www.graffitiverite.com years which I regret now because I see all my peers Then I picked up the GV1 and GV4 videos. They that I used to draw with passing me up with there were excellent. GV1 showed some dope Los Angeles skills and becoming dope artist. area writers and their different views towards Competition is always there and I can’t have my graf which was really insightful because graf art pupils become my masters, ha ha its all good. It encompasses all races and walks of life. Then I wasn’t till recently that I started expressing myself popped in GV4... SANO is a f**king King of Can again with music and art but this time instead of Control. He is very precise in the way he presents messing with paint markers and bullsh*t tags on his views, speech and art work. Most people think walls that were gonna get buffed anyway I decided graf artist are just ignorant vandals. SANO is the to pick up a spray can and hit up the canvas. I had voice for all of us intelligent artist out there who are never tried spray painting anything other then sick of being stereotyped. Thank you SANO and model cars before but always admired the wild thank you Bob Bryan for having the balls to make this dope video. Peace out! styles I saw throughout the years on the sides of the freeways. So like any other person that wants to - Paul Alcaraz master anything I decided to listen to the masters. SPACE DIVISION, DESIGN COMPANY

The GV DOCU-SERIES is currently available online @ Amazon.com Instant Video where DVD’s can also be purchased for Schools and Libraries domestically and abroad.

Contact: BRYAN WORLD PRODUCTIONS PO Box 74033 Los Angeles, CA 90004 Telephone (323) 856-9256 Website: www.graffitiverite.com E-mail: [email protected] OTHER LINKS:

• GV4 Webpage http://www.graffitiverite.com/index_files/Page871.htm • GV4 Press Release http://www.graffitiverite.com/GV4PressRelease.htm ORDER YOUR DVDS DIRECT OR THROUGH YOUR LIBRARY DISTRIBUTOR

Amazon | Baker & Taylor | Follett | Midwest Tape | MVD | OverDrive DIRECT ORDERING INFO: GV eStore | www.graffitiverite.com/GVPurchaseOrderPPR.pdf 9