Love This! More Street & Guerrilla Art...

Last month I shared my love for street and guerrilla art, but since then I've come across two more remarkable street artists that are definitely worth sharing. There's just something that I love about creating art in a very public place, just to make people stop and look, or smile, or think twice about what they're doing. I think it takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there in the world like that, and to create art just for art's sake (not for money, fame, or to please others). Sure, you could argue that many street artists do become famous eventually, but it's only the really talented, really out-there ones that actually reap any benefits besides a profile piece in an online journal. So check out these creative, out-of-the-box thinkers below!

Artist #1: Roadsworth

This artist caught my attention because what he does is so simple, yet SO great. He is from Montreal, and started making his art because he wanted to comment on the lack of bike paths in the city (and to "question the 'car culture'"), but then he "continued to develop a language around street markings and other elements of the urban landscape" using his cool, simple stencil technique. I think his work is fab and think that his messages are really great--even if he has been arrested for it multiple times :) Take a look below and check out more of his work on his website, here.

"Asphalt Fetish" by Roadsworth

"Wishful Thinking" by Roadsworth

"Tight Rope Walker" by Roadsworth

"Dandelions" by Roadsworth (my favorite because I absolutely LOVE dandelions!)

Artist #2: Ben Wilson

Recently profiled on the New York Times website (where I learned about him), Ben Wilson has caught of lot of people's eyes because what he is doing is SO, SO unique. Basically, he does tiny, intricate paintings on squished pieces of gum on the sidewalk. That's right--the images below are on a pieces of old, smushed gum. Can you believe it? Incredible. He's based in London and has been creating these works for the past 5 years, and from what everyone has to say about him, it sounds like he's become a bit famous--partly because of the surface he chooses to paint on, and partly because of what he looks like when he's painting his works (see pic below). Either way, I'm amazed. You can read more about him and his incredible process in the New York Times piece, here.

This is on a piece of gum! It's the size of a quarter!

Same goes for this one...

An image of a sidewalk that had LOTS of blank "canvases" for Wilson to work on. Beautiful, huh?

Wilson working.

So are you impressed yet? I am! I only wish I was as creative, brave, and talented as these artists. What a way to make a statement!

Until my next "Love This!" post...

Namaste,
Mary Catherine