Anyone who has ever travelled will understand just how eye opening and humbling the experience can be. None know this better than street artist, Does. Originally from the Netherlands, Does has been graced with the opportunity to travel the world, recently having the opportunity to visit our great, brown land. While in Australia, he has been busy making his mark and exhibiting his work. However, it’s not all about the art for Does who credits travelling as one of the best things in his life. “The great thing about travelling is the openness and genuine curiosity of the people you meet. When you travel you are often a guest in someone’s home and that makes for truly unique experiences,” he explained.
Growing up in the Netherlands had an influential effect on Does’s style through inspiration gained from the different graffiti artists who painted near his hometown. “I was specifically influenced by writers like Chas, Stance, Bah, Nash and Casroc. Their work is very clean and they were involved regularly in great production walls,” he stated.
Painting walls for almost 14 years, Does’s basic approach to his art has not changed all that much. He explained, “I have always tried to develop by sketching and exploring different colour combinations. My style develops very gradually and my improvements are in the detail of the work, the more refined colour combinations, the flow and the balance of the letters.”
At a time where people are expanding and exploring alternate forms of both graffiti and street art, Does has concentrated on utilising the letter as the basis for the majority of his work. A factor he attributes to letters offering a strong basis from which he can experiment freely and discover many different forms and shapes. He adds, “although I like to experiment with forms and shapes, I do try to stay true to the basic form. The general notion that every single person has a unique hand style that can offer insights into someone’s personal traits is appealing to me. It enforces my belief that the form and shape of letters embody a certain emotion.”
When considering the future of street art and graffiti, Does likes to think it will remain a movement that inspires the youth to develop their creative talents and bring colour to the world. In terms of his own development, he says,” I would like to grow and develop my skills in the gallery context. I hope the traditional art scene will become more open towards artists with unconventional backgrounds.”
2011 was a busy year for Does, seeing him hold two solo exhibitions in Sydney and Melbourne, whilst also participating in several group exhibitions in Australia and Europe. 2012 is looking no different, as he is set to complete a few international assignments, launch his own webshop and prepare for new exhibitions, with Italy first in line.
Looking past 2012 this talented artist doesn’t see himself slowing down. “At this stage, I cannot see myself not painting. I think it is a lifestyle. Something you need to do to feel good,” he explained.
You can connect with Does via Twitter, Facebook or through his website
Check out the video below to Does in action.
