GS: What is your tag name and why did you choose it?
Does: My artist name is Does.
When I was looking for a graf name I was also trying to make my mark as a soccer player. During one the matches I heard someone shout out 'Hi Does, go for that ball!' and I basically just knew that would be my name. I felt it was a strong name that incites to action as 'does' is also the conjugation of the verb 'do'.

GS: Where did you begin making art in the streets and how old were you?
Does: I did my first piece when I was 14 years old. It was a black and silver piece that said DOES. My best mates were on the lookout for me. A few weeks earlier we had founded our own crew, unofficially known as the Pancake Rebels South crew. We were four typical adolescents acting like little vandals and looking for some excitement.

GS: Which other artists influenced your style and did you try to emulate?
I like my brothers work. It is totally different and very inspiring. I am inspired by energetic artists that push boundaries.

GS: How would you describe your style?
Does: I think my work and style is best known for the bright colour combinations, the details, the clean and strong lines and the balance in the letters.

GS: What motivates you to keep on writing?
Does: It’s become a way of life, I wouldn’t know any better now. What I find is that every year there are new things and collaborations to discover.

GS: How do you pick your locations ?
Does: I am always on the hunt for good locations. A good spot can add so much extra to a piece.

GS: What tools do you use ? Only spray paint?
Does: I very much enjoy using different media. It’s a challenge to use and experiment with new materials. When I work with acrylics and brush it takes a lot of time and I need to be patient. Working with pencil and markers is much faster, but more prone to error; with markers you can’t afford a mistake as you can’t erase or touch up anything.

GS: Do you pre plan your murals, or make it up as you go along?
Does: I usually take some rough sketches for the outline.
Sketches have grown to become guidelines for me. It is nice to work from a basic idea and let the piece develop while working on it. Sketching will continue to be an important tool in developing my style.

GS: Any unforgetable story that you want to share with us?
Does: A few things come to mind. My top 3:
1. Glue sniffing kids who trying to steal my bags and cans in Bogota, Colombia.
2. Painting next to a big tigersnake in Tasmania, Australia.
3. Painting under a bridge in the Bronx in NYC – I was standing on piles of dirt and hundreds of serringes and I came across the people who lived under this bridge.
Another experience that I’ll never forget because it was so terrifying, is the earthquake in Christchurch New Zeeland. My girl and I were there when a 6.8 and a 5.4 aftershock hit the city and 60 little aftershocks followed during the next few hours.

GS: Any message to other artists?
Does: Ask me anything via does@digitaldoes.com.

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