Dash2000 Memorial

It seems like more and more people have been passing away too soon these days- I guess this is just part of life, part of getting older. This is the second memorial mural I've painted so far this year, and unfortunately there are still a few more I need to do.

I painted this portrait recently with Kofie and Plek for my friend Dominic "DASH 2000" Smith. He was known for being one of the early members of legendary LA graffiti crew UTI (Under The Influence) back in the '80s. He constantly experimented with different mediums, sketched, and painted, pushing his creativity for the rest of his life.

This portrait was based on a photo taken by Eriberto Oriol, the background was painted by Augustine Kofie, and Plek did the letters. Kofie's cloud designs are a tribute to Dash's deep respect and admiration for Asian culture, which often influenced his own artwork. This was painted on a wall in central LA that Dash painted regularly. Dash passed away last year from cancer, and today is his birthday.

You can also see some nice process shots by Carlos Gonzalez here.