Writing on the Wall – Graffiti Art Is Ryan Brotherston’s Passion
BY PATTI SMITH PHOTOS BY MICHELLE HIGGINS AND PATTI SMITH
Ryan Brotherston is only 12-years-old, but he has already traveled to some of the most amazing cities in the United States. Among them are New Orleans, Atlanta, San Francisco, and New York City. He has toured the French Quarter, Centennial Olympic Park, Alcatraz Island, and Times Square and, while all of these places were fascinating, what impressed him most about all the loations was the graffiti art he saw on train cars, murals, and sidewalks.
“Our favorite place is New Orleans and, since graffiti is everywhere, a lot of people made money on it,” Ryan says. Businesses often commission artists to paint logos, company names, and scenes that represent what that business is all about.
During a trip to California to visit his aunt, Ryan went to an art show in San Francisco where he met professional graffiti artists who encouraged him to pursue a career in this genre. Ryan stays in touch with them and seeks their advice.
Ryan is already getting his first assignments. He was recently commissioned to paint a mural on a wall in the children’s waiting area at Prine Orthodontics. Dr. Jodi Prine first saw Ryan’s work when he entered a contest to design a new T-shirt logo. “The first time we saw his graffiti hand-sketched on a piece of paper, we were wowed,” praises Dr. Prine. She wanted something creative in the space she calls the ‘Kid’s Club’ where children wait for their appointment time. Younger siblings spend time there, too. After seeing more of Ryan’s art, Dr. Prine knew he was the perfect person to paint the mural. “His work was young and fun and hip. It was something different.”
Ryan can be described as a lifelong fan of letters. When he was little, he would only play with the Legos and building blocks that had letters on them. He started reading at age three and by then he already knew how to write the alphabet. He started learning fonts and could identify them by sight on billboards and signs. This amazed his parents, Candy and William Brotherston, who both work for the Bay County Sheriff’s Department. Dad is a sergeant and Mom works in the office.
They are aware of the negative image graffiti art can have and they are educating their son on the proper ways to use his artwork. The only wall Ryan is allowed to paint on is the one his parents built for him in their backyard. It was one of the best Christmas gifts Ryan has received. He often takes one of his pencil sketches and brings it to life on his wall using vibrantly colored spray paints. He likes the brightness of neon green, aqua blues, hot pinks, yellows, and reds. He uses black as an outline to make the letters pop.
An internet search of the word “graffiti” reveals prehistoric and ancient origins. People have found ways to paint on walls as long as they have walked the Earth. ‘Graffiti’ by definition means to scratch. The original artists may have been trying to communicate something or keep record of events. When he first became interested in the graffiti art style, Ryan researched great graffiti artists. He also studied graffiti fonts and checked out books on graffiti art from the Bay County Public Library.
Some artists with whom Ryan is connected offer advice when he posts photos of his work on Instagram. The feedback is helping Ryan to enhance his skills. Uter, an artist from the San Francisco area, critiques Ryan’s work. Ryan saw Uter’s work firsthand at the art show he attended when visiting New Orleans. Ryan also admires the work of New Orleans graffiti artist Uzit. He saw Uzit’s signed art in New Orleans and looked him up on line. They became friends through Instagram. Uzit is now deceased but, through that connection, Ryan became part of Uzit’s network of artists who are still encouraging Ryan today. He is also connected internationally with artists in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada. “There’s a whole community out there. Ryan has found his little niche to fit in and he’s got lots of support,” said Candy. “He’s found his tribe.”
“A lot of people frown on kids doing this kind of stuff, but a lot of kids do it for a reason,” she continues. Ryan chooses this medium simply because he likes the eye-catching quality of it as well as the layers it takes to create it. He starts with a base and then enhances the image with every layer of paint.
Ryan has great mentors and supportive parents who are steering him toward true professional outlets. “Big cities have places artists can go and paint. The closest one to us is in Pensacola and that’s not convenient,” says Candy, who would like to see Bay County embrace this idea. She believes that Ryan has a passion and a voice that can start a conversation.
[author image=”https://www.panamacityliving.com/media/2014/07/Patti-Smith.jpg” ]Patti Smith is an award-winning professional writer and editor with more than 25 years experience in U.S. markets including Metropolitan areas of Connecticut, California, Indiana, Kentucky and Florida. She currently writes columns, features and faith testimonies for local and national publications. She believes everyone has a story to tell and that others’ lives may be changed or enriched by reading it. She is married to a devoted husband, mother to three amazing children and grandmother to one precious grandchild.[/author]