Smurfs Graffiti: BLUEhahaha!

The Smurfs first appeared in 1958 in a series of illustrated comic strips by the Belgian cartoonist Peyo (Pierre Culliford). The characters then went on to stardom in the Hanna-Barbera children's television cartoon, The Smurfs.

Smurfs appear regularly in graffiti murals around the world, and no wonder - these blue skinned fictional characters have been around for more than half a century. IGN dubbed The Smurfs "kiddie coacaine" for people growing up in the 80s. Though considered antiques in the comic world, The Smurfs are still gaining popularity with cartoon consumers and artists.

Smurfs are named according to their emotional traits or professions, for example; Brainy Smurf or Painter Smurf. I suppose this one could be called Ghetto Smurf:

Above: The Smurf language replaces most verbs and nouns with the word "Smurf".

Above: Tattoo Smurf depicted in a popular graffiti style.

Above: These blue fictional characters are very adventurous, finding their way into a variety of street art shapes and styles.

Even when depicted in a stylized fashion, Smurfs are recognizable. So recognizable, in fact, that even as a silhouette graffiti piece, there's no doubt that this is a smurf:

For many years, Smurfette was the only girl Smurf in the village - that is, until Sassette came along.

Above: Smurfette wasn't one of the original Smurfs as she was created by Gargamel to be an evil Smurf. Originally, Smurfette's hair was black, but after she became a good smurf, her hair turned blonde.

Above: Gargamel the wizard is the antagonist of the series. This somewhat dim-witted baddie creates diabolical plots to capture Smurfs to fulfill one of his dastardly schemes.

Smurf: In true Smurf language, this would have been "I Smurf trucks!"

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One Reason Why I'm Checking Out Forever 21

 

 

Judging from the photos above, Forever 21 in Megamall is my kind of store. :)  

Thanks Isay for sharing your photos with me. 

20 Arcade, Video and Computer Game Graffiti Artworks

Graffiti art is often an expressive, albeit illegal, way for street artists to express their opinions on social and political affairs. However, sometimes graffiti artist create fan art of celebrities, movies or computer games. This street fan art is simply a way of expressing appreciation for characters that have become a part of the artist's life.

Classic Arcade Games in Graffiti Art

Classic arcade games like Tetris, Space Invaders and Pacman have memorable, pixellated characters or objects that frequently find their way into graffiti fan art. The pixels can be created out of paint, tiles or painted squares of materials such as cardboard or wood.

Above: Fan art graffiti of the arcade game Tetris, made using colorful plastic packing crates.

Above: This gaming graffiti piece uses craft mosaic tiles to create a pixellated image of the alien characters from the arcade game, Space Invaders.

Classic Video and Computer Games in Graffiti

Besides arcade games, there are a number of classic computer games that have found their way into street artworks. Mario Brothers, The Legend of Zelda, Lemmings and Worms were a staple diet for gamers back in the late 80s and 90s. With the advent of gaming consoles, gamers could play their favorite games from the comfort of their own homes instead of going out to an arcade.

Above: These tile mosaics show Mario from the popular Nintendo game, Mario Brothers, in a classic, pixellated style.

Above: This piece of street art uses beer coasters to create a pixel image of Link from the Legend of Zelda.

Above: Lemmings painted on a bridge over a busy road way. Several lemming graffiti pieces have popped up around the world, usually on bridges over freeways and highways. The artworks are often accompanied by the phrase, "Hello Lemmings!"

Above: A classic Worms character greets pedestrians from a street corner. The game's graphics changed drastically with the introduction of Worms 3D.

Recent Games

The current gaming industry focuses heavily on graphics. Computer games and console games now have highly detailed scenes and characters that present new challenges for game playing graffiti artists. Spray paint, however, can create a smooth, 3D effect when used by a skilled graffiti artist. Luckily there are many games that use a cartoon style for their characters, making a graffiti rendering of the characters easier for street artists.

Above: Graffiti artworks showing characters from Street Fighter.

Above: Commissioned graffiti depicting an image from the video game, Halo, followed by an artist's interpretation of a Halo character.

Above: Samus Aran, the bounty hunter from the video game series Metroid.

Above: The Sony Corporation commissioned several graffiti artworks to advertise their new product, the PSP. The googly-eyed cartoon characters are each holding a PSP.

Above: Bioshock graffiti art

 

Above: A spray-painted 22nd Century vehicle from the game R-Type

 

Above: Large graffiti piece of Starcraft's Typhus, smoking a cigar. Artists' mediums like spray cans and air brush canisters allow for a soft, smoky effect.

 

Above: Grand Theft Auto graffiti

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10 Freaky Photoshop Artworks

Photoshop gives digital artists the opportunity to create whatever they wish, from sweet and inspiring to humorous or downright creepy. The following images show the results of those days when Photoshop artists feel a bit macabre or sinister...

Above: A Photoshop artist's freaky Mona Lisa

Creepy Nazi Boy
There's something innately disturbing about an evil child, isn't there? Children are supposedly innocent, carefree and a little naive, but this kid is far from innocent, with his shaved head, mono brow, goatee and tattoo. He looks like he could be the son of Hitler.

Photoshopped Mouth-Eyed Doll
While we're on the subject of all things sweet and innocent... Dolls are meant to be so sweet that they hurt your cute tooth, yet this doll just gives me the heebie jeebies. Imagine a creepy, horror movie doll laugh coming from three little freaky mouths all at the same time. Ack.

My Girlfriend's a Robot
You thought your girlfriend was human, right? Think again - all women are emissaries of the intergalactic robot overlord, Zorg. We're here to eat your brains...

Southern Joker
"Why so serious?"

What Lies Beneath
Because inside every woman is, well, muscle, flesh and bone, right?

Horror Bush
George Bush gets a face lift, courtesy of Photoshop image manipulation.

Just Clownin' Around
Clowns are pretty freaky, even on a good day, but this Photoshop painting, by artist Anton Semenov, shows what happens when these entertainers go clown crazy.

World War Two's Auschwitz Camp
Another picture from the gallery of Anton Semenov, depicting Auschwitz concentration camp prisoners during the holocaust. The skeletal nature of the subjects, along with their blank, staring eyes, emphasizes the horror that Holocaust victims must have endured.

Mother's Little Treasure
Because Rowan Atkinson has been precious since birth. Imagine a mother's horror when he opens his mouth and instead of crying, says, "I am the devil, but you can me Toby."

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