Taya Starling

I first discovered Drew, without even realizing I had discovered Drew… I can’t even tell you how or when, but it left an impact I waited to feel again.  Quite some time later I rediscovered and somewhat properly discovered Drew on Instagram before realizing that this incredible artist Slaying Giants wall by wall was in fact the same amazing artist who I once discovered. After months and months of admiring and double tapping those instagram photos I finally reached out just to tell him how incredible I think his work is. To say I’ve discovered a soul as rich and touching as his paintings would be an understatement. The interview below is a little glimpse into the world of Drew Merritt where he doesn’t even realize that he is in fact doing so much more than just slaying giants.

Name

Drew Merritt

Location

Los Angeles, CA

Occupation

I would like to say something like “Lion Tamer/Warrior Poet” but that would be a lie haha. I feel like “artist” is a title I’m still building up to. I want to be able to say “I’m an artist” but I feel like I haven’t earned it yet so I always just say “I’m a painter” when people ask.

When did you first discover your love for art?

It’s something that I’ve had a passion for as long as I can remember. I can’t exactly say when it started though. My parents visited me last week and told me when I was little I used to cry because my hands would cramp up from drawing so much… And they still do haha.

What did you study in school?

I wanted to go for art but had no idea where to go and no knowledge about it. I lived on a farm in New Mexico my whole life so I had no clue how much art was appreciated in the world. When I went to school I studied animation at a tech school (because that’s what they said art was ) and needless to say I didn’t last long because I’m horrible with computers. Then I went to an actual university for fine arts for about two weeks until my teacher told me to “get my shit together.” So all in all, I guess I’m just a big drop out.

What is your medium of choice?

I always think about art mediums in terms of food. Acrylic is sort of my fast food, oil would be a really great home-cooked meal or a nice restaurant, and spray paint is my ice cream.

When did you paint your first mural?

I think the first mural I did was when I was about 9? I found left over house paints in my parents garage and painted 10 super heros I had made up on my bedroom walls and I was hooked. I started writing graffiti on trains when I was about 12 I think.

What would you say is your ultimate goal with your work?

I want to create something I’m proud of. I want to influence people’s lives for the better. I really want to make something positive out of negatives and make something beautiful. I also want to create a little controversy so it actually makes people think. There are so many artists now that do it for shock value instead of real value. I think self expression is valuable and shouldn’t be said in a shout, but in a song, poem, or something pleasant that gets people’s attention. A positive almost always out shadows a negative in my opinion.

Tell me about Slaying Giants

Slaying Giants means overcoming obstacles. Triumphing over the things in life that seem larger than you and hopeless. Whether it’s an illness, or personal problem, substances abuse or whatever giant you face, the idea is to overcome it. In my case however, I see myself more as Don Quixote jousting with windmills as if they were real giants. Accomplishing my goals as if they were real problems isn’t right. In the end, my work, no matter how much I love painting, is still just painting. It’s not starvation or illness, it’s not an issue. I’m blessed to be able to paint but I’m just “tilting at windmills” as the novel says. But I hope my work can affect people in a positive way to help them overcome their giants.

Complex magazine named you one of LA’s 10 Street Artists to Watch- has this affected your artistic path?

Yes. Very much. At the time I wasn’t really sure how much of a fan base I had or how many people were paying attention to my work. That [feature] gave me the confidence I needed to keep going and realize I could accomplish my more impossible seeming goals in painting and art.

What artists do you admire?

Mostly the dead ones. And that list is just too long to name. But  I’m surrounded by so many living artists who I truly admire and who I am lucky enough to call my friends.  They continue to push me more and more. Zes, Cyrcle, Tristain Eaton, devngosha, Esao Andrews just to name a few. I really like the work Revok is putting out now as well.

Where do you draw your inspiration?

People really interest me. Nature as well, but nature has already been painted perfectly in my eyes. People on the other hand, well, people are flawed. And it’s those imperfections that make things so interesting.

What’s the most exciting thing about what you do?

Meeting beautiful people such as yourself.

Words of inspiration for other artists?

Be true to yourself, stay passionate, work harder.

What is your life motto?

“YOLO?” No that’s wrong. maybe “Kill two birds in the bush worth one in your hand?” Wait, I think I got that wrong too.

Believe it or not, I always say “stay gold.” It’s embroidered on my shoes.  “The Outsiders” was my favorite book growing up.

You can find Drew on instagram @drewmerritt

or on his site www.drewmerritt.com

or if you’re lucky, on a huge wall near you.