Art

The Street Art Experience

By Sarah Aterrado - March 09, 2016

I wish one day I'd be able to paint one of these walls...

These are exactly the words I told myself a few years ago.

I have always been fascinated with street art. How they are a mystery. How they keep people in constant wonder. How and when did it effin come up here? What the hell does that mean? Who did it? Much more fascinated by how street artists can hide in plain sight like ninjas - except, they're not bound to spy or kill but sure they know their way around spray cans and brushes and make something alive with it.
Coffee Bean and Tea  Leaf Street Art


Last February 27, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (CBTL) launched Brew Your Best Masterpiece Davao leg in which people will get to learn about street art, unleash creativity and express self that aims to inspire people to become the best version of themselves through a public mural.

I was thrilled.

To be one of the few bloggers who were invited to this event was a humbling experience. It is something that I've always wanted to do. Miss it and I will have to wait another lifetime for another shot. Or do it some other time and end up in jail for an artwork that is not even worth looking.
Coffee Bean and Tea  Leaf Street Art

The experience, though, was far from what I have expected. We were given two hours for this and half of it was spent trying to figure out what could be done and how should I do it. I wasn't creative enough. No, let me rephrase that. I wasn't creative. The other half was spent forcing my reluctant brain to send signals to my hand because my fine motor skills seemed dysfunctional at that moment.

Bottomline, it was not easy.

I had a hard time putting together the image that was on my mind. But I really like how it looked. It was awesome! I cannot tell you how awesome it was but I swear it's better than Da Vinci's or van Gogh's. Translating it to reality, however, is harder. Or should I say, impossible. Add to that those few passers-by wearing their most curious stupid faces.

I never really like it when people watch me while working on something. It feels like I am robbed off my freedom to do something ugly, boring, stupid or absurd - or anything I feel like doing.
Street Art Davao

And knowing that I am working with real artists didn't help either. What's a blogger/pseudo-artist who pride in vectors and pixels and relied on ctrl+z all the time doing here anyway? I shake my head.

But despite doing it for the first time, despite the onlookers with sneers that they couldn't keep for themselves, and despite feeling so small among the crowd of big artists... IT WAS INCREDIBLE.

I scaled a greater freedom I have not known before. I realised that aiming for the approval of others is like allowing them to dictate me what's beautiful and what's not. And it has kept me from expressing myself truly.

So screw everyone and their standards.

I made myself forget about the crowd, the artists, and the artwork per se. I focused on the experience, the feel, and the moment. And it has never been so liberating.
Brew Your Best Year

For the two hours that I had my hand stained with paint, I was convinced that I am a bad artist. Perhaps it's the most cringe-worthy-what-a-waste-of-space artwork you will see along with the amazing works of others, worthy of being scrubbed out or painted over. And I won't blame you if you think it's worse. But that's okay. In fact, I am proud of it because I did something I thought will remain a dream and did it even though I know I wouldn't nail it.

What I did may not mean anything to the world but to me, it made all the difference. It helped me become the best version of myself - to go beyond the fences I have set. Imagination is limitless but it can only mean a lot if you do something about it.

And yes, I'm still bad at painting, but at least I tried. :)

Coffee Bean and Tea  Leaf Street Art


Coffee Bean and Tea  Leaf Street Art

Coffee Bean and Tea  Leaf Street Art


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16 comments

  1. That's not even bad at all. :)

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  2. I stop all the time when I see Street art I absolutely love it !!! Wow

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  3. That is so INCREDIBLY cool. What a once in a lifetime experience. I am super jealous.

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  4. What are you talking about? If you think that is bad you should see my attempt to draw it is not pretty. Yours however is a masterpiece and if I lived nearer I would add it to my growing street art library. Good job xx

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  5. I totally get the "i don't feel very creative when people are watching me" statement.... but seriously ... I think you did a great job!!

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  6. whoah - how awesome is this? I would love to do something like this & I am glad you let go and enjoyed the experience ;)

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  7. That's not bad at all. This is so cool. Sounds like a wonderful experience.

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  8. I love street art! Yours doesn't even look bad.

    Southern Soul

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  9. I love it! I often take tons of pictures of graffiti in the cities I visit. Some of my favorite art.

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  10. Such inspirational art pieces. Thank you for sharing them. It's amazing how each one tells a story.

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  11. I came here because of your artwork. And now I'm a regular. LOL. Kaya di na nakapagtataka. That is so amazing. Galing!

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    Replies
    1. You haven't shown me your printed Duterte WPAP yet! Haha. :D

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  12. Ahhhhh...love your art, and what a cool experience! I have always loved street art, and funny I am seeing this today because I was just admiring someone's wall art depicting something that looked Day of the Dead-ish, but wasn't. I know it was something specific, but I cannot pinpoint its origin. I loved it…it was a pale woman with flowers in her hair, but she looked painted similar to something like Day of the Dead.

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  13. I think this is awesome - and that you are quite creative :) It's great to try out new things, and it looks like you rocked it here.

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  14. I think this is so cool. I wish I had even an ounce or artistic ability.

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  15. Wow. That is really good. I wish I had even an ounce of that talent.

    http://ficklecattle.blogspot.com/

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