WRDSMTH INTERVIEW
“I hope my WRDs elicit smiles and/or alter someone’s mood in a positive way if they are in a half-empty frame of mind..”
Your work has become a source of inspiration for countless people who encounter it in public spaces. The messages and quotes you share serve as powerful reminders to remain hopeful, compassionate, and resilient in an increasingly complex world. What message do you ultimately hope to communicate through your work, and what impact do you hope it leaves on those who experience it?
I simply hope to affect people in a positive manner. I hope my WRDs elicit smiles and/or alter someone’s mood in a positive way if they are in a half-empty frame of mind. Or I hope I somehow add to their mood if they half-full.
The words incorporated into your work are often just as powerful and memorable as the imagery itself. Do you write all of the quotes and messages featured in your pieces, or do you also draw inspiration from other writers, thinkers, and experiences? More broadly, what inspires you to create, and what continues to fuel your artistic passion after all these years?
About 95% of the quotes you see are my words. I am a writer first and foremost, which was the reason I became a word-based street artist. Occasionally, I pay homage to lyrics or quotes. Usually, they are phrases and thoughts that I think are so good, I wish I would have penned them, which motivates me to tip my hat to them with a WRD.
Over the course of your career, you have created an incredible body of work, each piece carrying its own story and significance. Is there a particular artwork that holds special meaning for you or stands out as a personal favorite? If so, what makes that piece especially memorable, and what does it represent within your artistic journey?
‘Aspire To Inspire’ is a favorite because it encapsulates the entire WRDSMTH endeavor. I am also fond of ‘blush/shine’ because it captures a romantic place and time for me. And finally, ‘the only lie’ because it was a personal WRD that seems to speak to so many individuals, whether they are presently immersed in those emotions or whether they are waxing poetic about the past.
Your work demonstrates a remarkable command of both technique and storytelling. Can you walk us through your creative process, from the initial spark of an idea to the finished piece? We’d also love to hear about the mediums you work with and what draws you to them. Are there any materials, techniques, or creative disciplines that you find particularly challenging—or that you hope to explore more deeply in the future?
I love to write in many different mediums. I used to work in advertising in a past life, but it was not the type of writing I wanted to be doing. I wasn’t fulfilled. So I quit my job and headed west and started writing movie and TV scripts. A few years ago I opened a manuscript that ended up getting published. Now I just want to write novel’s because there are no rules- you can create any type of story you want structured however you want (something you cannot really do with scripts). Personally, I percolate an idea in my head for whatever medium I am working in until it is screaming to be born onto a page. That process has always worked for me. WRDSMTH came about because I needed/wanted an active hobby. I wanted something that got me away from sitting in front of the computer screen for stretches of time. When the WRDs I was placing in the streets of LA started resonating with people, it motivated me and I just kept going and doing bigger pieces and getting up more often. Then all hell broke loose and the whole endeavor started taking off, which still amazes me to this day. Now I am getting read on a daily basis all over the world and for any writer, that is pretty much living the dream, Bottom line, I am having a lot of fun and I hope that shows in the work.