for $34.50
(includes PPR & Shipping and Handling)
"The fourth entry in the Graffiti
Verite' series (see review of Graffiti Verite’
{VL - 5/96}covers the basics of
becoming a graffiti artist, with instruction by graffiti artist SANO in
the techniques of sketching, outlining and fading, highlighting and shadowing,
“can” control, 3D effects, and more. Declaring his absolute love of the
genre, SANO sketches ideas on a pad while sitting in the sun, and talks
about translating his vision onto the wall of somebody else’s property
(just kidding!) Actually, SANO demonstrates his considerable artistic gifts
on sanctioned al fresco surfaces: a 50-foot long wall at the Venice, California
Graffiti Pit, and a canvas in a park. A far cry from the flamboyant
if illegible tags that constitute the bulk of graffiti art in many locales,
SANO’s larger work is nonetheless semi-traditional, centered on his name,
but with some really nice adjoining elements like a colorful mushroom cloud.
His smaller work is a portrait of Tupac Shakur which, given the black background,
looks something like a hip-hop equivalent of an Elvis on black velvet masterpiece,
albeit a very artistic one. Attention to detail and clarity of instruction
are plusses here, but no doubt the subject matter will raise issues for
some collections, SANO’s obvious talents notwithstanding, since graffiti
art is not universally esteemed as desirable public art. However,
as either art instruction or social document this is a worthy addition,
and is therefore recommended."
The
GRAFFITI VERITE' DOCUMENTARIES SeriesVolumes 1 - 5
are NOW
AVAILABLE for immediate NETFLIX
ONLINE RENTAL (Worldwide
rental distribution - DVD's delivered directly to your home)
GV1
- GV6 DVD Preview Screenings
-Aud: H.C, P.M. (Mike Tribby,
contributing reviewer)
VIDEO LIBRARIAN (Vol.18
: The Video Review Magazine for Libraries : No. 4) (July / August
2003 - Page 29) THE ARTS
*** (3 out of 4 Stars) (2003)
68 min. VHS: $33.95. Bryan World Productions. PPR. Color Cover.
He credits such diverse influences
as da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rubens, Duchamp, and Japanese animation as well
as music - reggae, traditional, and hip-hop - and social and political
forces. The video shows SANO in action from the conception of an
idea to the final execution of his design. It is interesting to note
that he begins by roughing out ideas in a sketchbook. Then he covers
previous wall graffiti with a paint roller (buffing the wall), but allows
the colors underneath to bleed through his base coat. After donning
a paint mask, he sprays in outline and guidelines, then paints the design
using several different techniques and explains how to regulate the flow
of the spray. Once the mural is complete, he offers ideas for using
aerosol art on canvas and demonstrates its fine art potential by creating
a realistic portrait in black and white. An unusual take on an often
maligned art form, this video will inspire art students."
- Lauri Edwards, Susquehanna
Art Museum, Harrisburg, PA
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL July
2003 Issue / Multimedia Review
What looks like a early morning venture, he walks us down to the beautiful beaches of what seems like Venice beach. What I like about the movie is that they're not trying to come with fancy concepts, but just plain down to earth filming with Sano, the perfect teacher.
Local graf heads should peep this video out as its very helpful if you're just starting out. His first showcase was the walls on the beachfront that firstly needed to be cleaned. He started with the outline, explaining why he chose certain colours. The SANO letters started taking shape and what seemed simple, became very complex. SANO gave us a broad overview of shaping letters, fill-in techniques, and loads of other techniques that could be helpful in creating the next Michelangelo or even Sano, as a matter of fact.
After what seemed more than a days work his piece was done and he went into explaining the whole concept behind it. The striking part for me was when he explained the bombing part on his piece. SANO is part Black and part Asian and said it was a dedication to his people that was killed in the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan.
I was convinced that Cleveland, Ohio has more to it than just Bone Thugs and Harmony. SANO's final piece was one that he was going to do on a canvas. It was of the late legendary rapper Tupac (2pac Shakur) created solely with black and white spraypaint. I was convinced that this guy was a genius! I would like to convince all lecturers of art classes to get a copy of this for their students, as it's truly a great addition to have for your video library, alongside other such greats as Wildstyle.
Award-winning filmmaker Bob Bryan
truly captured every moment with such precision. If mics could be given
to this video I would give it 5. Get ya MasterCard out and order this.
- By Rush, South Africa
www.africasgateway.com
The greatest compliment that one can give an artist is to remark about the level of inspiration that has been derived by their body of work. I will start my review of GV4 by saying that since viewing the film over a week ago I have been moved to create no less than one new piece each day. At no point in my life can I claim the title of “writer”, the closest I come to personal affiliation with this element is being commissioned to create graffiti nameplates for my friend’s college dorm rooms. I have though put in some work and it has been three years since I graduated from freedom and entered into corporate indentured servitude. In that time I have been completely abstained from any sort of graphics. To bring solace to my dissertation here…its been a minute since I did a piece so props are due.
SANO and Bob Bryan should both be commended for taking the time to demonstrate the at times forgotten art of graf. In today’s multimedia distraction heralded by the MTV’s, Clear Channels, and popular press the art of graffiti is often misrepresented and the culture of hip hop suffers. SANO’s step by step passage through the mindset and execution of the “burner” is on point, as it should be coming from such an accomplished artist. From the importance of pre-sketching, to color selection, to cap sizes, to grip styles, and flaring the essence is captured and presented so you feel like you are a part of the project. I grinned in hearing of SANO’s influences finding they are as close to home as other writers but, as far reaching as Japanese cartoonists and contemporary legends. This is an important bit for all the ignorant “hip hop breeds trouble” types to hear.
In short I get the feeling that viewers will be sub consciously
scouting railyards and bridges for possible canvases. The effects
of films like these can aid in starting movements of right thinking and
positivity. Thanks for the hard work. Peace.
-TimmyGrins
www.arcanemusic.com
Elements TV Tuesday nights
8-9pm ch. 5
The second part of GV4
is a demostration of aerosol art on canvas where SANO creates
a portrait of Tupac using only flat black and flat white. For the long-tern
writer this video prbably won't shed much new light on the techniques of
painting but I'd highly recommend this to any new comers out there wanting
to polish their skills and take their painting to another level.
OUT4FAME.COM/AU
www.graffitiverite.com/out4famereview.jpg
Hip-Hop and street culture magazine
".....Just
got finished watching the tape. It looks great, very captivating.
SANO is insano, if you know what I mean? He's very talented and made
it look so easy. The film was not long and drawn out, and SANO was
not only fun to watch, but he's great at verbalizing while painting......
I can't wait to play it for my friends. If I was an art teacher,
I would use this in my class."
-DJ FACE/The Arkitek
"SANO definitely took his
audience to school on this film. Not only did he walk the viewer through
many aspects of art theory, he would've made allot of the old school Cleveland
writers real proud by being so honest about his influences. Both pieces
he did on the tape put my 10 year-old son, who is an aspiring artist, in
total awe. Since watching GV4,
I've been sketching out wild style letters and tagging on nearly any blank
piece of paper I can find, which is something I haven't been motivated
to do in over 10 years. He made me feel it again, you know?GV4
is a solid documentary, no doubt."
-ROUGHDRAFT
"I just watched the tape yesterday
with some of my friends. The video is packed with great information about
graffiti...SANO is a very talented artist, and he did an effective job
in articulating upon both the technical and more artsy/metaphysical aspects
of graffiti art... Overall this was a good video, my friends and I enjoyed
it and were most impressed by the visual and musical artwork it contained."
-liMbs
"Wow what can I say? Over
the years I think I've seen all the Graffiti Videos out there and hands
down this is the first Documentary that I feel really showed me something!
Not only is SANO humble and informed, but he is also an incredible Artist!
With his steady and clear instruction I was able to understand what it
takes to create a serious Graffiti Art piece using Aerosol Paint.
It ain't easy, I can tell you that!! Although not a Graffiti Artist myself
, I've always been curious about the process that the Artist must go through.
Now I know! I respect Mr. Bryan for having the vision to offer up this
impressive How-to-do video. I can't wait to apply these new techniques
on my backyard wall and later on Canvas for my students in my Art classroom."
-A. Davio / Art Instructor
“I thought it was great!...SANO knew exactly what he was talking about. Any "writer" would agree he knows the rules and the way real Graff should be. The part about burners going over pieces, and pieces going over throw ups, and throw ups going over tags, was right on the money.
He has good can control, and was able to explain exactly what he was doing, every step of the way. I've always been one to be against sharing our last untapped art form, with the public, for fear it would be diluted and it's origins forgotten. But I think videos like this give it the respect it deserves, before it's looked at as just another hip culture wagon to jump on.
It's always been hard to explain to people how deep Graff
really is. For years it was laughed at by Art Institutes, and scorned by
the police and the inner city community. But in the last 8 or so years
there seems to have been a change in the way many folks view Graff, mainly
because the corporate world saw another way to get the attention of the
youth. None the less, I, as a longtime Graff Artist and Hip hop purist,
truly appreciate the work you've done here. Soldiers like Bob Bryan help
maintain our culture's respect.”
More peace,
"Be very selective of your heroes"
~Crush One
“GV4
was definitely well put together. My man SANO is an Artist & he appreciated
it, so that must be a good thing!.Good stuff!! Keep up the good work...”
-Swift Roc, CEO-Suicidal
Soundz
“GV4 is Awesome ! My students (8th grade) are totally inspired by it. I’d like a copy of the original Graffiti Verite’.”*****
" I've been interested in street
art for years, but growing up in an area with draconian anti-graffiti laws,
knowledge of this art-form has been elusive. Imitating the style
on paper has been easy, but the actual aerosol techniques are not.
Now, finally... someone has shared their knowledge with me, and I am more
complete for it. SANO is truly a master at his art form, and it is
a pleasure to watch him work his craft."
-Cliff - Anchorage, Alaska.
"GV4
is a great video for beginners like myself who have no knowlege of the
art or where to begin. I really like it and cant wait for summer to start.
It is exactly what I wanted in a video. Sano really explains things well
and shows the steps in detail."
-Adam G, Miami Fl.
" I
enjoyed GV4
the most of the entire collection. I appreciated the fact that you
chose an artist who is very talented and has the eloquence to explain his
creative technique very thoroughly minus the bravado. Anyone who is interested
in learning the basic aspects of aerosol art should purchase GV4.
SANO is an artist of depth."
-Best regards,
James Stone
“The video is a thorough composition. You almost forget the fact that it's instructional. Heads should enjoy it.”*****
“Bob, I just wanted to write a quick e-mail to say thanks for including Big Pimp Jones' music in GV4. I have watched the movie a few times, and it's great! I always enjoy listening to people speak who know a lot about the subject they're talking on, and SANO is one of those people - what skills! Anyway, keep on doing what you're doing, and congratulations on a great video.”*****
"The “GV” of the title stands for Graffiti Verité, Bob Bryan’s eye-popping endeavor to document the world of aerosol art. On his website, GraffitiVerité.com, Bryan quotes from Bertolt Brecht: “Art is not a mirror held up to reality, but a hammer with which to shape it.” Through Bryan’s GV series of instructional videotapes, the outsider can glimpse a part of this shaping which is commonly dismissed and (in some cases erroneously) regarded as vandalism. Bryan’s subject in GV4 is the spray can artist SANO (at work in the photo to the right and below), who points out that the concrete he works on here is indeed legal. The Graffiti Pit walls in Venice, California, are approximately sixty feet long by six feet high, and are open for community expression.*****
In a three-part format -- preliminary sketch, painting the wall, and painting on canvas -- the film balances tutorial with cultural observation, becoming a miniature portrait of SANO in the process. “Aerosol art saved my life,” he reveals. “It gave me a foundation and a focus.” Explaining technique, can control, detailing, and embracing Wild Style as “a new form of communication,” SANO’s an engaging personality driven by an infectious enthusiasm.
He creates two pieces in GV4. The sixty-foot mural links his signature with images that flow from atomic devastation to hints of erotica. While it echoes his many influences (spanning from Leonardo to anime), the work emerges as a vibrant personal offering. Graffiti is character and declaration bared for the masses. SANO exposes himself through a burst of imagination and color, and delivers it to the urban environment. That the piece is completed in one day -- and can be instantly eliminated in the sweep of a wet paint roller -- stresses its immediacy.
On a much smaller scale, SANO’s portrait of Tupac Shakur is beautifully rendered, using black and white spray paint on canvas. Although lacking the range of the mural, it’s far more intimate, and the evolution through shaping and outline becomes a quietly mesmerizing procedure. Making excellent use of background music, GV4 has extended end credits for audio samples and information on all the songs used -- a thoughtful and welcome feature.
Bob Bryan is an unobtrusive filmmaker
whose images and editing flow peacefully. He arranges facets of SANO --
philosophy, style, and humor -- with warmth and precision, welcoming those
unfamiliar with his art. Following three earlier Graffiti
Verité videos, and future volumes
likely, Bryan is preserving statements and beauty that most people pass
on the street without notice. Hopefully, our eyes may soon comprehend this
art which is so freely given. "
-Ray Young,
Flickhead
THE
E-FANZINE OF DIVERSE FILM ESOTERICA
“Bob, I just got to sit down and see it (GV4) on Sunday night. It was great. I really enjoyed it! At my site I get allot of mail each month from University Students, Professors, young Graff heads, fine artists, housewives and people from all walks of life, asking questions regarding the creative process and the technical aspects of creating a piece. Now I will refer them directly to GV4. It will be a great resource. It was great that in addition to being a talented artist, SANO is also very articulate. You did a great job of capturing the man and his art.”*****
“This is the fourth film in the Graffiti
Verite’ series by Los Angeles based director Bob Bryan.
Bryan documents the process of a single artist creating a
work of art. Bryan reveals Ohio artist SANO's step-by- step creative and
technical processes from concept and sketch through completed art work.
What also emerges from the film is an intimate portrait of SANO as
an artist. This film is an essential resource
for educators, students, artists and anyone who has been curious about
the technical process of creating graffiti art paintings.”
Peace!
-ERIC aka DEAL CIA
@149st Web Master
http://www.at149st.com
“Two-time winner of the International Graffiti Art Competition "SANO" teaches you the basics of the Graffiti Art Form. The GV4 Graffiti video presented by moviemaker Bob Bryan gives you a refreshing insight to the Underground Art Form. SANO guides you patiently through both the basic and the more complex spray techniques for both walls and canvases.*****
The video starts out with SANO making a ruff sketch and presenting his ideas for the wall piece. He brings you with him on an enjoyable artistic journey while teaching important spray techniques and making examples.
SANO takes his ideas from his ruff sketch book to the wall by Pre Sketching and making Technical Design Considerations and continues by doing detail work with Spray Cans, making 3D effects, adding shadows, shaping up of letters and finally reviewing the entire production.
SANO then begins on a Canvas Project. He starts out by
showing how to prepare the canvas, and then from using a black and white
picture of 2pac Shakur he creates a portrait using only black and white
spray paint. The Photo Realism Techniques is presented in an easy-to-understand
way that makes you want to learn. One of the best things about this film
is that it presents the art form with the artists own words.”
-Mike Coates
www.c a z a w a . b
i z
Oslo, Norway
The Online Music Business &
Entertainment Network
“The video was definitely worth watching. It was dope how you showed how SANO developed his piece from the idea all the way to how it came out in the end. It was cool seeing all the effort that goes into making a mural such as the one that Sano made. It even made me start to try to sketch my own graffiti.”*****
“Regarding GV4, I liked it allot. It was timely that an instructional tape would be produced not only to instruct but inform viewers of the broad range of issues involved with doing a production. SANO is a really talented artist and he gave a good mention of artistic influences which reflect well on the tape, because it offers potential artists an opportunity to broaden their scope of creative influences. The irony is of course where you shot it. I thought that spot was hot and could no longer be used.
We are in a time where writers share
more of their resources and talents more openly; that open tutelage was
the essence of subway graffiti back in the day. Now with so many spray
can brands, tips, styles and reasons to write your name on the wall, your
tape provides still another resource for writers to learn from. Props to
you and SANO.”
-Mare 139 (Graffiti
Artist and Designer
of the BET Awards)
Writer / Field Producer, StyleWars
DVD
“Extremely cool video, beautiful
sunsets ..... but the kid is good ! It looked average; until the
end, when it came to life. The film itself was grand, hands down!
Thanx for the opportunity to view this masterpiece.”
-Danger59, NYC
subwayoutlaws.com
”One can watch the instructional video Graffiti Verite’ 4, featuring award-winning graffito SANO, completely guilty-free. That’s because SANO and video director Bob Bryan have ensured that this is a nice, entirely-within-the-confines-of-the-law production.
The video begins with SANO delivering the voice over, “I can’t even tell you what I’d be doing outside of aerosol art. Aerosol art saved my life. It gave me a foundation and a focus.” Cut to SANO carefully plotting out on paper his next mural, which is then painted on a legal graffiti yard in Venice, CA. SANO discusses graffiti etiquette as he paints over the existing graffiti, and he wears an industrial respirator mask as he works. In the second half of the video, SANO uses spray paint to create a portrait of Tupac Shakur on canvas. It’s a pretty good likeness.
The educational value of GV4 is high. Not only does SANO teach the technical aspects of graffiti art (can control, highlights, shadowing, different uses of can tips, etc.), but he also discusses the cultural significance of certain types of graffiti and explains such lingo as “piece” and “wildstyle.” Sano represents himself well verbally.
As the title might indicate, this
is the fourth installment in Bob Bryan’s Graffiti
Verite’ video series. www.graffitiverite.com
-NoHo LA Magazine, Los Angeles
CA
“ You know graffiti art has hit the mainstream when you
go over to your mom's to use her VCR, pop in a graffiti instructional video,
and she's just as keen to learn spray-can techniques as you are. "Shove
over," says my mom, settling onto the couch beside me, "this looks
interesting." Watching Bob Bryan's DV-shot production isn't going to turn
you into a master of graffiti art, but it's not supposed to. There's enough
info in here about conceptualizing your piece, detailing techniques, using
different caps, can control, colour fades and more to get you started.
Bob Bryan follows two-time International Graffiti
Art Competition winner SANO as he quickly takes you through every
step of the process, both on a large wall and on canvas. In the end, what
I learned (especially watching him create his portrait of Tupac) was, "Holy
sh*t that looks hard." But SANO's understated charisma carries the
film, and if you want to be inspired by a master at work, this movie's
unbeatable. Plus you get to hear your mom shriek, "Damn! Oh no, he didn’t!"
which is worth the price any day. Loved the vid... ”
- MM, SHIFT MAGAZINE
"Bob, I received message re:
Grafitti Verite’ video. Ironically, I have 2 copies of the video
I'd ordered last year. It's one video I show my art students when we are
doing social statements and we have active discussions. Yesterday I was
showing the video during the last day of class, at student requests. You
would have grinned...a number of students were swaying and grooving to
the music, just riveted. Thanks for such a nice video."
-Joi Hosker, art instructor
Stanton College Preparatory ,
Jacksonville, Florida
I've been into graffiti since the seventh grade. I don't know what it was that caught my attention about graffiti but I remembered watching my friend Andre throwing up a quick tag on the desk in art class and I was hooked. I admired his hand style and spend hours trying to develop my own. I however stopped tagging and drawing for years which I regret now because I see all my peers that I used to draw with passing me up with there skills and becoming dope artist. Competition is always there and I can't have my pupils become my masters, ha ha its all good.
It wasn't till recently that I started expressing myself again with music and art but this time instead of messing with paint markers and bullsh*t tags on walls that were gonna get buffed anyway I decided to pick up a spray can and hit up the canvas. I had never tried spray painting anything other then model cars before but always admired the wild styles I saw throughout the years on the sides of the freeways. So like any other person that wants to master anything I decided to listen to the masters.
Then I picked up the GV1 and GV4 videos. They were excellent. GV1 showed some dope Los Angeles area writers and their different views towards graf which was really insightful because graf art encompasses all races and walks of life. Then I popped in GV4 SANO IS A F**KING KING OF CAN CONTROL. He is very precise in the way he presents his views, speech and art work. Most people think graf artist are just ignorant vandals, SANO is the voice for all of us intelligent artist out there who are sick of being stereotyped.
Thank you SANO and thank you Bob Bryan for having the
balls to make this dope video. Peace out
-Paul Alcaraz
Space
Division, Design Company
