Aerosal Artist Paco Rosic
by: Matthew Hundley

It would be right that “Once Upon A Time In Mexico” would be on the big screen at Paco Rosic’s when I stop by for the interview. Antonio Banderas and Johnny Depp are idols of the artist-in-residence along with rapper Eminem.
In the living room a painting of Depp catches my eye.

The canvas is filled with warm rust-related colors and shaded with black and the appearance of brush strokes, all created with a spray paint can.

Turning to check out a wall-size canvas of a building in France done in oils (and still drying) I realize that Rosic has the chops to take on whatever medium he pleases.

We head down to his studio where a number of his newer works are displayed. There’s a video sitting on a stool that has Rosic and his artwork on the cover. This is the GraffitiVerite5 video (www.GraffitiVerite.com) made by L.A. filmmaker Bob Bryan to show Hip-Hop’s impact in the Midwest. The documentary focused on a summer workshop conducted at Metro High School in Cedar Rapids. Rosic was there to work with the youth.

Born in Bosnia, Rosic immigrated to Germany and is now living in Waterloo. While living in Bosnia he experienced the daily military holocaust in his homeland. Graffiti provided him with an outlet that allowed him to express the intense emotions. He came to understand that this “underground” art form could potentially represent an outlet for personal expression, much more powerful and positive than mere vandalism.

His latest work has been focused on portraits and nudes. Some of these are of music and movie stars and some are friends and local models.

“Every two to three months I go through different periods. Different colors of paint. Different styles,” says Rosic.

Lately he has been emulating oil with a paint can.

“I’m just trying to bring graffiti to the next level, bring graffiti to fine art,” he reiterates. “I like to trick people…into thinking these ARE oils.”

On many of the new works he succeeds. He used to paint on Masonite and now he is using canvas. He primes the canvas to create a brush like effect.

According to Rosic it takes about three hours to cut, prime and stretch the canvas and typically two hours to paint.
Rosic has exhibited in New York, LA and in Europe.

Regionally, his work has been displayed at CSPS, the Waterloo Art Center and at the Espresso Shop on the Hill.
“People ask, ‘How come you paint all day?’ And I say, ‘Why not?’ This is what I do. I live for tomorrow…to do another painting.”

Paco lives what he calls a “hip hop” lifestyle. He enjoys break dancing and beat mixing and hip hop music. He likes the emotions. He likes working with young kids and teaching them to turn their anger and frustrations towards something positive through graffiti or dance.

”Graffiti is not what people think. Someone who has this attitude does not understand how much work it takes to develop a style. To make a painting.”

To Rosic every painting has a strong meaning behind it. What he’s doing now is a lot different than what he does on the streets. But an equal amount of thought goes into his work whether it’s a graffiti mural on a garbage truck or an expressionistic canvas done in his studio.

Rosic has even extended his talents into designing clothing concepts for RedRum Clothing Co. in Germany.

Rosic’s work has withstood the test of going from street, to underground, to anonymity to making painting his life.

”I have an intense passion for this work, an intense love. It’s like having kids or something. Each work that gets created is really a piece of me.”

Posted: March 05, 2007