Spray paint and graffiti have gained a bad reputation over the years. Mainly due to the use of spray paint and tagging in illegal places; graffiti. It makes it hard for those who are skilled using spray paint to paint rather then deface public property.
A person who has made a name for himself using spray paint is local Bremerton artist, Fro. His real name is Jonathan Perry but everyone who knows him calls him Fro. He demonstrates respect for the art form and goes against the grain of the stereotypical use of spray paint. He paints only on legally designated public space and often for commissioned work.
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Fro’s original introduction into painting came from the hip hop community in Orlando Florida. Today his work is heavily influenced by comic books. In comic books the artists need to fit a large amount of information in each frame. Fro takes this technique and applies it to his paintings. His work is hard to miss. It is not subtle or small. His paintings are big and bold - commanding attention.
In a world so heavily reliant on the internet and social media, Fro takes a different approach to getting his work seen. He uses the Manette Free Wall to get his name out in the community. This is a place designated for artists to spray paint legally. The wall helps him express his ideas, practice new techniques, entertain his own creative itch, and market his work to the world. He paints larger than life so it is visible to those driving by. When I went to photograph him painting he was making adjustments to a painting approximately 20 ft. x 10 ft.
His work at the free wall is respected amongst those who share the space. With only unwritten rules of respect artists should never paint over another artists’ work unless you create something interesting and thoughtful. In a space that changes daily, some of Fro’s work stays up on the wall for multiple weeks. Recently one piece stayed up over a month until Fro himself covered it up with something fresh.
Painting and drawing has been one art form that I have struggled with the most. Getting my hand to translate what my brain was envisioning was never easy. Then I look at spray paint and think that’s even harder and more impressive for people who work with that tool. Which is what made me interested in exploring the creativity with spray paint artists, Fro.
Check out his work on Instagram at @fro_yla and @yourlocalantagonist
