Joshua Ray Stephens is a local artist who now resides in Cabbagetown after completing a BFA in graphic design degree at University of Georgia, working at Fabrica, an internationally acclaimed research center in Italy, for a year and earning his MA in 2D design at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. Joshua “had a moment of inspiration,” realizing that he wanted to make comics and made the switch from graphic designer to cartoonist. In 2008, he self published the graphic novel The Moth or The Flame. In his comics he attempts to spark people’s imagination by leaving enough for there to be mystery.
This mural painted for Living Walls in 2013 is meant to be read from left to right as a comic book. The characters are named Nik Nik (dark hair) and Thorsten (blonde). Murals are much larger than the work that Joshua usually does and one cool thing he did with this larger work is that the scale is set so that a person can stand in front of it and look like they are part of it, like being in the tunnel. Another FAQ about this mural is that Joshua’s car was broken into and his sketchbook was stolen while he was working on it.
The artists this weekend at Forward, Warrior! Cabbagetown did an amazing job on the wall. I’ll start posting bios, progress shots, and pictures of the finished murals next week as some of the murals are still being finished, but I’ll leave a teaser of Brandon Sadler‘s mural here to start.
Atlanta Street Art 