{"id":4333,"date":"2019-10-23T22:57:07","date_gmt":"2019-10-23T22:57:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/blog\/?p=4333"},"modified":"2023-04-04T07:47:43","modified_gmt":"2023-04-04T07:47:43","slug":"darins-murals-will-make-you-smile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/blog\/2019\/10\/23\/darins-murals-will-make-you-smile\/","title":{"rendered":"Darin&#8217;s Murals Will Make You Smile"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When you spot Darin&#8217;s murals, prepare yourself to smile and ride a wave of nostalgia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/p\/murals-by-darin-at-private-residence--PSJrr8MhES\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Backyard-Mural-by-Darin-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Darin's colorful mural he did for Graham Stephan's backyard. This painting is bright and fun with plants like palm trees, cactus, and blue leaves. \" class=\"wp-post-4333 wp-image-4351\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Backyard-Mural-by-Darin-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Backyard-Mural-by-Darin-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Backyard-Mural-by-Darin-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Backyard-Mural-by-Darin.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/p\/murals-by-darin-at-private-residence--PSJrr8MhES\">Backyard Mural&nbsp;by&nbsp;Darin in Los Angeles. <\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Drawing inspiration from the golden years (yes, the &#8217;90s), Darin&#8217;s murals characteristically feature adaptations of classic cartoon characters along with other characters of his own creation. The bright colors, thick outlines, and playful imagery will surely put a childlike smile on your face. We grin from ear-to-ear every time we see Darin&#8217;s murals, and so we felt compelled to reach out to get a little more insight into his life and artwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What\u2019s unique about your work?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>My methodology is vastly different depending on what sort of project I\u2019m working on but my influences always play an integral role. Throughout my work, you\u2019ll often notice subtle nuances that are inspired by 90s cartoons, graffiti, anime, and modern minimalist masters.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/p\/murals-by-darin-at-montclair-parking-garage--PryGYuAZ4B\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin2-819x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Darin's mural at Montclair Parking Garage, Oakland, CA right next to Darin's childhood home. Hello Kitty character and other 90's inspired cartoons\" class=\"wp-post-4333 wp-image-4335\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin2-819x1024.jpeg 819w, https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin2-240x300.jpeg 240w, https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin2-768x960.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin2-1229x1536.jpeg 1229w, https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin2-1638x2048.jpeg 1638w, https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin2.jpeg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/a><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/p\/murals-by-darin-at-montclair-parking-garage--PryGYuAZ4B\">Sanrio Souffle by Darin in Montclair Parking Garage, Oakland, CA<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What is your favorite (or least favorite) material to work with and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>I\u2019ll always love using aerosol, especially on murals and large scale pieces. Lately, I\u2019ve been venturing out and more heavily integrating acrylics &amp; exterior house paint. For smaller, personal pieces I enjoy posca markers, collages, whiteout pens, and watercolor.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How do your pieces come to life? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>My creative process is best described as controlled chaos. I\u2019m always looking at my surroundings for interesting shapes or aesthetically pleasing color palettes&#8230; I can\u2019t turn it off. It\u2019s a sickness.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/p\/murals-by-darin-at-private-residence--PSJOJgaStS\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin1-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"Mural by Darin on the side of a private residence in Culver City, CA. Bright Colors, 70's Vibe Plants. \" class=\"wp-post-4333 wp-image-4336\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin1-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin1-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin1-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin1.jpeg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/p\/murals-by-darin-at-private-residence--PSJOJgaStS\">70&#8217;s Vibe Plants by Darin at a Private Residence in Culver City, CA.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What motivates or inspires you? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>It may sound melodramatic but if I\u2019m not in the act of creating or have a creative project coming up, I feel uneasy\u2014I\u2019m sure there\u2019s some psychological unpacking that can be done there (lol).<\/em><br><em> <br>One quote I\u2019ve always enjoyed is \u201cI\u2019m just trying to be a better person than I was yesterday,\u201d and I totally forgot who said it\u2014sorry homie.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/p\/street-murals-by-darin-at-nandm-market--Pr1Sbd3HdB\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"952\" height=\"746\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin-3.jpg\" alt=\"Sanrio Song by Darin at N&amp;M Market, Oakland, CA. Bright and Colorful 90's inspired Cartoon characters on the facade of market.\" class=\"wp-post-4333 wp-image-4338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin-3.jpg 952w, https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin-3-300x235.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin-3-768x602.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 952px) 100vw, 952px\" \/><\/a><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/p\/street-murals-by-darin-at-nandm-market--Pr1Sbd3HdB\">Sanrio Song by Darin at N&amp;M Market, Oakland, CA<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What makes a space special?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Any space that seems drab or a naked wall where I can add color or life makes it special because of my interaction with the environment. If my mural, painting or just a splash of added color makes someone feel better, even unconsciously, I feel like I\u2019ve done my job.<\/em><br> <br><em>Even if the subject matter, message or quote is expressing a negative feeling, I always aim to have the veneer of positivity to the naked eye so that, a child for instance, can gain joy from viewing it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/creator\/darin\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin-Blog-Post--1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Darin in front of a brick wall in Oakland, CA.\" class=\"wp-post-4333 wp-image-4334\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin-Blog-Post--1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin-Blog-Post--300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin-Blog-Post--768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin-Blog-Post--1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog-prod.wescover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Darin-Blog-Post-.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/creator\/darin\">Darin<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What funny moments, unexpected surprises, or obstacles have you encountered?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Too many to name!<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>I\u2019d like to take this moment to thank my friends &amp; family. Without them I don\u2019t know if I\u2019d even still be here, let alone making art as a living.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"text-align:right\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/creator\/darin\">See Darin&#8217;s Murals&gt;<\/a><\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you spot Darin&#8217;s murals, prepare yourself to smile and ride a wave of nostalgia. Drawing inspiration from the golden years (yes, the &#8217;90s), Darin&#8217;s murals characteristically feature adaptations of classic cartoon characters along with other characters of his own creation. The bright colors, thick outlines, and playful imagery will surely put a childlike smile [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4351,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[101,1375,1372,1373],"tags":[79,54,175],"class_list":["post-4333","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-categories","category-all-community","category-community","category-creators-sellers","tag-california","tag-murals","tag-oakland"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4333"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4333"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4333\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11354,"href":"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4333\/revisions\/11354"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4333"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4333"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wescover.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4333"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}