By the time I started doing graffiti in 1991, the Krylon color Icy Grape had been discontinued. At least as far as I know, Rust-oleum didn’t have a purple like this and the other random brands we would find never had a regular purple color. This gives a pretty good idea of how limited the colors were in those days.
The way it is now, you can have pretty much any color you can imagine. In addition, we have lots of shades of colors. The wide range of colors has changed the look of graffiti. Some may not like it, but it’s progress. The wide range of colors in addition to excellent coverage, controllable valves, various pressure options, seemingly endless nozzle options and decades of information passed down has elevated the graffiti game as far as style is concerned.
With that said, limitations aren't necessarily a bad thing. I know when I go to choose colors these days and stand in front of a rack with over 100, I don’t get as creative as I used to. It’s easy to fall into the idea of using a few shades of one color for my fill, a few shades of another for my background and do similar color techniques most of the time when I paint. Looking back at my 90s work, I see much more experimentation with color combos than what I do now.
Limitations can cause one to test the boundaries of what is available. Innovation is created out of necessity if you want more than what is available. Maybe it’s time to put some limitations on myself to see if that innovation will come back.
2 comments
Raewon 807
Dope Bus! I’m glad you’re business is growing. You’re a great person and you sure deserve it. Plus the amount of work you put in should reward you. You’re doing great man. I appreciate your content. Thanks for all the love for the community.
BROK_ONE Chicago
I loved those days, I remember Plum purple was one of my Faves. Can you imagine trying to rack the amount of colors and brands from the stores now, which is the way we did it back in the day. Now they just choose a color and brand, and put a order in on a cell phone and it shows up at your door. Its become so commercialized like everything else that was considered underground and mysterious, Oh to the good old days.