Doves - Graffiti Artist Interview

April 2009

Interview with Doves, a New York City based graffiti artist who is a master of many styles! Doves represents some of NYC's finest graffiti crews - such as Top City Krew, COD Crew, 5MH Crew and TC5 Crew.

How old are you?

26 years young.

Where are you based?

New York City, Money making Manhattan.

When did you begin painting graffiti?

I began to pick up cans around '96, but I didn't take it serious till early '99.

How did you get into graffiti and what made you start painting?

Well, I always could draw cartoons, such as Ghostbusters etc, and I found a copy of Beat Street in the crib at like age 8 and I was hooked… I wanted to be apart of that world. At first I was a black book bandit, but eventually took it to actual paint and started rocking walls.

Where did you paint your first piece?

On a roll down gate in my hood.

How would you describe your style?

Classic New York B-boyism with a splash of Bruce Lee and Bob Ross!

On the subject of your work, I have to say props for your style! Where do you get the inspiration for your work and your infamous characters from?

First off thank you! The inspiration for my work comes from everywhere man. Music is a big inspiration for me, or a badass chick coming down the street, or other peoples work.

As far as my characters… you can call me a third generation B-boy/mugs technician, those were handed down to me by Dontay TC5 and the inspiration for them comes from everyday people in the street, from a ghetto fab chick to a skater standing on Broadway with some fly gear on.

How did you choose the name Doves?

I wanted a name that began with a "D" and an "O", so I started at first with "DONE" but the "N" was wack and so I switched it to a "V" turning it into "DOVE"… but it looked too short. One day I picked up a copy of the graff mag "Under Cover" back in '94 and they used to have a section where dudes would send in outlines where I stumbled upon a "SPADE" outline by SERVE. I saw the "S" on that piece and it looked so mean that I had to add it. From that point on I became "DOVES", plus 5 letter burners look better to me anyway.

Shout out to RIFF - the original DOVE.

Do you write under any other names?

I got a few of them that heads might not know is me!

Do you write with any crews and if so which ones?

The main one is my TCK family (Top City Krew), those are my brothers for LIFE!

I also write with 5MH, COD Crew (Yo WEN, I got you!) and from time to time 718 Krew.

How did you come to be involved with TC5 Crew?

Well for starters, Dontay TC5 is from my projects and he would do all kinds of stuff in the hood like flyers, walls, stickers, logos etc… I would snatch the flyers he did, take them home and bite them joints to death. It was something about the style that attracted me to it. Anyway, Dontay ended up painting my downstairs neighbor, CC ROC SDA's, room and so I begged CC to introduce me. I met Dontay on a basketball court with my blackbook, he breezed thru it of course and told me to check him on the corner whenever… I did and ended up having these corner blackbook sessions learning about different styles and mugs… right on the corner!

Dontay then ran a skate shop called "Friction", we would sit there watching the "MARTIN" show bumping that "Ironman" album. Hanging at that shop I learned a lot from him, technique wise and just gaining knowledge on how it all works… 'Tay gave me a lot of jewels.

Dontay threw me down with IBM, which is like a probational crew, to see how good I would get and eventually I got put down with COD CREW at age 17, but I didn't really do much to uphold the crew because at the time I had a lot of personal issues that prevented me from painting. Once I got back on track through I was rocking it! West and The Pharaoh Dasher put me down with the almighty Fame City Crew, at that point I was down with the brother crews related to the 5 and I started getting better with my letters. I helped out on a few walls at the Hall Of Fame and some other projects which led to a phone call from Doc and Dontay, that was followed by a Mafia style dinner that I won't ever forget and the rest is history! It's not just an honor to me, or "another" crew to put up; it's a legacy with a lot of responsibility to uphold.

What are you feelings on the graffiti and street art scenes in America and New York at present?

Well, as far as New York is concerned there are very few keeping it alive! There are few that do rep it right and will always be a staple in NY graffiti forever. I know we'll always have the best style hands down, cuz we built this shit!

As far as America, dudes are killing it around the board. Dudes down south got flow, Mid West dudes kill it constantly, but certain West Coast writers are the ones who are truly pushing shit to new heights… just in terms of getting bigger with strictly graffiti, no frills… just graff. From street bombing, to productions, to commercial work, they're killing it! Hands down… I give those guys much props.

Have you ever done any commercial work and if so what would you say was your most well known piece?

Well, I've done a ton of commercial work… too many to name… ha-ha! The ones that are most known would have to be a split between a Pepsi ad I did in '05 and the sneaker collabo I did with Converse last summer.

You know there was a time when I was this lil chubby break dancing / graffiti / skating kid from the projects that girls would diss to death, but now those same girls are buying my sneakers for their rugrat kids.

Doves

Has graffiti become a full-time career for you now and if so was it a long journey to get to this stage?

It is definitely a full time career for me, not a day goes by that I'm not painting or drawing. It's a beautiful thing to wake up and wanna work, but hell yeah… it's been a long journey; I put in a lot of hard work, as well as dedication and sacrifice. You know there was a time when I was this lil chubby break dancing / graffiti / skating kid from the projects that girls would diss to death, but now those same girls are buying my sneakers for their rugrat kids. That shows me how far I've come, but I know that I still got a long journey ahead of me.

Is there any one point in your career you would class as 'your big break'?

I'm still waiting for my big break… LOL.

What do you see as your greatest achievement to date?

I would have to say my first solo show, it just brought so many people together to have a good time. It was a great moment and a big achievement for me personally.

What are your thoughts on graffiti being just as likely to be found in a gallery as on the streets these days?

It's all good to me and it doesn't bother me because you can find me in both elements. If you do graff on canvas do your thing and get paid, I'm tired of these grumpy bitter dudes always talking about "keeping it real" because "keeping it real" don’t pay the bills! However, if you try to perpetrate like you're a bonafide graff writer and you NEVER put in work then there's a problem because you're a fraud. Saying you're a graffiti writer to give your bio some edge is wack, just stay true to what you do and people will respect it.

How many times have had your work displayed in galleries and is there any one exhibition that stands out from all the rest?

Well… as of right now I've only done three shows, with the last one being my very first solo show and that's the one that stands out. It brought a lot of people together that wouldn't normally get along in the same room. We all had a good time… tunes, drinks, fine women and of course great art by yours truly!

Recently I've done more graff related jobs than ever, there is a definite shift in the public's interest and views on the art form.

Doves

There seems to have been a sudden surge of interest in graffiti and street art recently, why do you think this is?

Media maybe? It's more visible than ever, kids love it and they gravitate to it. The average Joe is starting to see it for what it is I guess. Recently I've done more graff related jobs than ever, there is a definite shift in the public's interest and views on the art form.

There is a very fine line between those who see graffiti as art and those who see it as vandalism, what are your views on this?

With anything in this world there's good and there's bad, you need that even balance. You can't have dope productions everywhere without some dope throw ups, drippy mop tags or some fill in's. If some people don't like it, then then fuck 'em… that's their problem… but if the Plumber Joe is feeling what me and my peers are doing, then it's all good too.

Do you prefer doing legal or illegal pieces?

Both, it don't matter to me, I just like having fun painting.

Have you ever 'felt the long arm of the law' because of your art and if so can you tell us about it?

No and I'd like to keep it like that.

What is the biggest risk you have ever taken for your art?

I've taken many risks, just like anybody else while painting, but making this my full time job and trying to pull it off is the main one.

Do you try to keep your identity anonymous where possible?

Well I don't hide who I am, but I don't plaster my face all over either. It's a little different with me because I do business with a lot of people and so people know my face, I can't just walk into a Nike meeting with a ski mask you know!

Where is the most obscure place you have ever left a tag or piece?

I left a tag on a crab's shell in north Miami, then the lil' homie got up and walked away… mad… ha!

Do you see yourself as an artist or a graffiti writer?

Both. When I'm doing a canvas then I'm a artist with a graffiti influenced background but when I'm rocking outdoors with paint then I'm a straight graffiti writer constructing letters to flip and bounce with an artistic background… they're one and the same… at least when it comes to me.

Which other artists work do you admire?

I admire artist like Ron English and the famous special effects makeup designer Rick Baker.

Dudes like Chaz Bojorquez, I think his work is amazing. More obvious guys like Basquiat, Takashi Murakami and Salvador Dali.

On the street side of things guys like:

• Dondi - the style master
• My crews: The Cool 5 and FC Crew… of course!
• My big homie DASH (aka Knuckle Up)
• Ces
• Pure RIS
• Rebel SC
• TATS Cru
• Bates
• Reas
• Sub
• Wane COD
• Stem YNN
• Cope
• Ewok 5MH is that dude
• Mode 2
• Kofie One
• Toomer TKO
• Siner (Miami)
• Hek
• Frame
• Porn
• Skill
• Revok & Saber MSK - for their colossal burners with that infinite west coast stlye
• Sento
• Can2
• Jersey Joe - for pushing the game to the next level

As far as bombers, dudes like:

• Ead
• YE
• Spek (RIP)
• Post
• RFC & THE VIOLATORS
• VE (RIP)
• Bester
• Sabe (KST)
• Sue
• Chad
• Louie 167
• Skuf
• RN
• Set
• Spon
• Giz
• Kel 5MH
• Splesh
• VFresh
• Ceek 333
• Sen4
• Soe TNS
• MQ
• CET'DLC
• JA
• DBS
• Fucking Revs

…the list goes on!

On the business side… Mr. Cartoon, man watching that dude make the money he deserves off his craft makes me wanna become the best artist and businessman possible, word.

Which other graffiti or street artists would you most like to work with if given the chance?

If he was alive it would have to have been Mr. Dondi White.

What is your preferred medium for making marks with?

Everything… spray paint, bucket paint, acrylic, paint marker… whatever works.

What is your colour of choice?

"Flat Black" or "Shock Black" by Montana Gold.

What is your favourite surface to paint on?

A flat smooth primed surface or rusted metal.

Do you have a favourite piece of all time?

My favorite piece (or rather production) has to be the TC5/FC production on 10th street and Ave D in 1995 (STAK, DOC, BLUST, WEST, DONTAY, DOZE). That "KEG" burner by DOZE with the spaceship landing was insane, at 12 years old I was sold! If it wasn't for that production I wouldn't have gone down that road of style. Thank god for that wall… because I wasn't about to paint fruit and Corona bottles for bodegas for the rest of my life!

What is the biggest production you have ever worked on?

I have yet to work on a "big" production, so to say, as most of my walls are solo or a line up of just burning. I gotta bring them back FC style, but Manhattan isn't having that no more, they got the supermarkets (they usually have to best walls) and building owners shook!

What kind of music are you into?

I'm into almost everything really… everything except emo hard rock, country music and that Honda civic Techno shit.

What is the last album you bought?

I can't remember the last time I bought an album. Shout out to Lime Wire! Ha-ha!

What are you working on currently and what plans do you have for the future?

Well right now I'm starting to pick up tattooing to add it to my arsenal, I plan to take that art form very serious this time around. I just started my new blog to bring people a little bit more into my world. I will continue to paint and improve on my styles, trying to roast and toast some of these sucka toyz, but for the most part I'll just try to push my art to new levels… and hopefully get my "big break", as you put it, ha-ha.

Anything else you would like to add?

Thank you Canned Goods for the support. Don't forget to check out my blog bigdoves.blogspot.com.

Shout to my blood brother "Richie Rock Hands" (UFC needs you), Ques 718, My brother for life "Nasty Vaz TCK" and all the lovely ladies in my life…, The Cool 5ive, FIRST CLASS KINGS. I got this…

Peace.

For further information about Doves please visit:

Doves Profile

Doves Blog

Doves MySpace Page

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