Rogue One - Graffiti Artist Interview

April 2009

Interview with Rogue One, a Glasgow based graffiti artist with photorealistic and 3D styles who is known to collaborate with the Easy Riders Crew.

How old are you?

34 years young.

Where are you based?

Glasgow.

How long have you been painting / writing?

I've probably been painting for about 15 years or more.

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

I got into graffiti after a friend showed me an old Hip Hop Connection with the graffiti in the back pages. The friend was older than me and he was doing graff - tagging the streets and some trains, and he took me under his wing and got me into graff. I loved all the colours and the bold 2D styles and because I loved drawing it just seemed natural to get into graffiti.

Where did you paint your first piece?

I painted my first piece underneath a railway tunnel at a place called The Dams in the southside of Glasgow. It was pretty bad but it was my first full colour piece and didn't say Rogue, it said Mac as I hadn't started writing Rogue at that time.

How would you describe your style?

Dodgy. Nah, only kidding! I have quite a mixed style. I am inspired by loads of different writers and if I see something that I like then I will try to do something equally as good… but most people would probably say that my style was photorealistic or 3D.

How did you choose the name Rogue One?

A friend of mine in a snowboard shop I worked in saw me reading 2000 AD comic and I was trying to decide on a new tag name at the time, because I liked Rogue Trooper he said to me me "Why don't you start writing Rogue?". I thought that the idea and meaning of the word Rogue seemed perfect for a graffiti artist seeing as I am "a scallywag, a rascal and a knave".

Do you write under any other names?

I used to write under "Waxer" and "Recar" but I haven't used those names in a while. I just stuck to Rogue. Like everyone, I've had a few different tag names in the past until I settled on one.

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

The most common crew that I write with is called Easy Riders. It's a crew about 9 or 10 strong with members from around the world, but mainly Glasgow - Ejek, Akme, Vues, Daze, Just, Ders, Che, Estm, Avea, Venir, Ekto.

I used to write with a crew called The Brotherhood, alongside a couple of English writers - Sore and Spar. Before that I used to write with a crew called EBA (Eastbound Artists), mainly painting with a writer called Real.

Have you done many collaborations with artists overseas or travelled abroad for your art and if so then where is the most exciting or interesting place you have painted?

I have travelled to a few cities in England painting - London a few times, Brighton and Newcastle. I've been to Hamburg in Germany, which was great… very inspirational. I have also painted in Spain.

I would like to travel more but I am always skint.

What are you feelings on the graffiti scene in Scotland at present?

The graffiti scene is not too bad. It's getting better. It was pretty small to start with, a good 10 or 15 years ago, but I would say the guys that did write were very good. Now, as graffiti is becoming more popular and cool, there are a lot more young kids getting up and becoming good graffers in the city. Sadly there's no respect for graffiti here, there's no legal walls so any graffiti on the streets quickly gets cleaned up, trains don't even last a day… but me and the rest of the guys enjoy graffiti and still find good spots and do the best graffiti that we can.

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

I've done quite a few bits of commercial work. Some people don't like to do it but I don't care as long as I get to paint something that I want and they're happy with that. And of course for the money, which would be spent on more paint for my fun. Probably the most well known commercial job would be for Miller Beer, where they got me and a few other writers to do painting gigs around various pubs and clubs and used work by us for posters, t-shirts, beer mats and other goodies.

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

I wouldn't say it's a full-time career. Can anyone have a full-time career in graffiti? Certainly not here in Scotland. I have a real job you know, ha ha. But it is good to get jobs when you can and make some money from doing the thing that you love.

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

I don't know. I don't think so. That's a strange question. I just paint graffiti.

What do you see as your greatest achievement to date?

Having a used tampon stuck to the crotch of a naked female character that I painted at the Glasgow School of Art. Students are strange people, ha ha. I didn't go to Glasgow School of Art, but I was asked to paint a wall at the university. I haven't had any formal training in drawing or painting, just self taught.

It's nice to see bits of graffiti painted on canvas and hung in a gallery, but there's a lot of nonsense that goes on in the world of art… a lot of snobbery.

Rogue One

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

It's nice to see bits of graffiti painted on canvas and hung in a gallery, but there's a lot of nonsense that goes on in the world of art… a lot of snobbery. You might see someone's painting on a wall, getting a lot of recognition, when you know there's a lot more talented artists with better style that don't get any recognition… but It's good when it's classic old school writers like Seen or Futura 2000, because obviously after all their years of hardwork they deserve it.

Have you had your work displayed in any galleries and if so is there any one exhibition that stands out from all the rest?

I have had some paintings exhibited in some small galleries but a lot of the time these are abstract spray painted works or oil paintings which I like to do sometimes too. It is fun to work with different materials like oils and acrylic and try and be a 'normal' artist.

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

I don't know - why does anything have a sudden surge? Usually it's because it has become popular because of TV, adverts, music videos and various other commercial stuff that's going on that has picked up on what is supposed to be cool.

I think it's pretty obvious that if you've painted on a wall outside that isn't your property then it is vandalism… but if it's well done and stylish then it's artistic vandalism.

Rogue One

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?

There is a very fine line but I think it's pretty obvious that if you've painted on a wall outside that isn't your property then it is vandalism… but if it's well done and stylish then it's artistic vandalism. Sometimes people like to take that love of vandalism and transfer it to canvases. Whatever they do, it doesn't matter, just as long as they are painting and having fun.

Do you prefer doing legal or illegal pieces?

I get a good buzz like anyone out of painting illegal pieces and the thrill of getting away with it is good. But I haven't been out in the past few years. I enjoy painting pieces with friends, like productions. But I wouldn't call these legal pieces because, like I said earlier, there are no legal walls in Glasgow. We just go out and find nice big walls at quiet areas and spend some time to paint a good production.

Have you ever 'felt the long arm of the law' because of your art?

I've never been arrested but I have been pulled up quite a few times and had the police ask me what I'm doing, but luckily they've just taken my paint off me and sent me on my way.

Do you try to keep your identity anonymous where possible?

I do keep my identity anonymous. Not a lot of people know who I am… but I don't think a lot of people care.

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

I see myself as both. Sometimes I do graffiti and sometimes I like to spend time just doing normal paintings and drawings… but I do have the most fun with spray paint!

Which other artists work do you admire?

I admire loads of graffers. There's probably too many to mention… and it keeps changing all the time. Some of the graffiti artists that I admire at the moment are also friends, like Vues, Smug and Mak.

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

Again, there's too many to name. I am happy to work with any graffiti artist that has a good style and where we would compliment each other.

What is your preferred medium for making marks with?

Spray paint.

What is your colour of choice?

I like every colour… but I do prefer flesh tones, greys and blues.

What is your favourite surface to paint on?

I think a nice smooth plastered wall is the best. But even a nice new brick wall that has been white-washed is great.

Do you have a favourite piece of all time?

One of my favourite pieces of all time would be a piece by Loomit that said "Loomit" looking like it was cut into the wall and his crew name was painted in 2D going through the piece, following the cuts and folds of the letters. It's hard to explain but it was amazing. It was like introverted 3D.

What kind of music are you into?

I'm into lots of music: rap, reggae, jazz, trip-hop, even some rock and country western… ha ha!

What is the last album you bought?

The last album I bought was a Philadelphia Records compilation of classic funk and disco.

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

I'm not currently working on anything special, just continuing to get out there and paint with friends.

Anything else you would like to add?

I don't think there is anything that I can think of at the moment. This was a pretty full on interview with plenty of questions! All I can say is for everyone to check out my website and myspace: www.rogue-one.co.uk and www.myspace.com/akarogue.

For further information about Rogue One please visit:

Rogue One Profile

Rogue One Website

Rogue One MySpace Page

Rogue One Flickr Photostream

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