Local artist creating art with spray paint

By Trisha Maldonado

Douglas Dispatch
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 4:33 PM MDT


Raul Montano, a sophomore at Douglas High School, does a unique form of art, “Spray Art.”


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Spray art, also known as aerosolgrafia, is a rare form of art that is generally performed on the streets in large metropolitan cities creating surreal landscapes of planets, comets, pyramids, cities, waterfalls and futuristic looking paintings.

Montano, 15, first started painting when he was 14. The Montano family went on vacation to San Francisco, while there he watched a man spray painting for about 20 minutes.

Once he came home to Douglas he asked his parents to purchase spray paint and started creating these amazing works of art, said his mother Marinna Montano.

Within a few days of practice he started selling his art at the farmers market in Douglas, she said.

He has also sold his canvases at swap meets in Tucson, selling each painting for $10. “When we go to Tucson people stand around watching him paint,” said his dad, Raul Montano Sr.

The funds he earned from his paintings helped him fund his trip through DHS to Europe in March.

“What is really amazing is that he raised most of the $3000 on his own, by selling his paintings,” his father said.

Montano starts with a blank piece of poster board and a mental layout. His technique is a series of well-placed layers and textures, predetermined blocking and masking using lids, bowls and recycled objects. “I’m always learning new tricks to make my stuff better,” Raul Jr. said.

He also uses ambient effects by using a painter’s spatula, a window scraper and a straight edge. His best tool is his finger adding what looks like falling star to his images.

Spray art has become second nature to Montano. While wearing a respirator, to protect himself from toxic fumes, he is able to create stunning landscapes swirling the paint together and fading from one color to other through series of differing values, of each color, by simply using spray paint.

“I do this for fun, but it would be cool to do this as a career,” said Montano about his spray art.

 

Comments

    Read Carefully wrote on Jun 12, 2012 6:03 PM:

    " Air Quality is actually defending Montano's skills and painting!....duh!!! "

    To Air Quality wrote on Jun 10, 2012 9:08 AM:

    " If you shut your mouth that would really improve the air quality1 This is a story of a young man doing something positive with his life. Great job on your artwork son! Keep the cans going! "

    cam wrote on Jun 2, 2012 10:57 PM:

    " One of mine. Brilliant to say the least.Creative, gifted and just plain awesome!!!!!!!!! "

    Air Quality wrote on May 20, 2012 3:15 PM:

    " Your car driving down two blocks releases more emissions that this kid does with his paints. One entire can releases .4lbs , But he could do atleast 50 paintings with about 4 cans of color - if not more. Even if he got a booth - the second he opened it they all get released anyway, and booths are more harmful to the painters as they concentrate the droplets. You could always do this kid a favor and walk to work twice a week, that would save him a good 6 months to year worth of emissions. "

    THINK ABOUT OUR AIR QUALITY wrote on May 10, 2012 10:19 AM:

    " i encourage the young person to think about using a paint booth each can of standard spray paint produces about 0.4 pounds of emissions to our air "

    Amber wrote on May 9, 2012 11:27 PM:

    " It's really nice to see others doing the same kind of art I've been doing in Douglas. The time's I've done events have been in Bisbee but I was worried I was the only Rattlecan artist out there! Awesome job to Raul for keeping up with it! It can be challenging at first, he's definitely a talented kid! "

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