Carlsbad Art and Culture

Much like I have done for the past 10 years, I planned to arrive in a foreign country with a bag loaded with artwork and art supplies. Each piece of art was created in advance to gift to the urban environment of my future destination. The art supplies would be used in a similar fashion where the creation would be left behind for locals and travelers to interact with.

Jaco and Playa Hermosa in Costa Rica was my destination, but complications arose well before landing. One checked-in bag loaded with spray cans was confiscated at LAX. I was summoned to security by the airport loud speaker. I was told the cans and paste could not be taken. I shrugged my shoulders and boarded the plane with an adjusted itinerary upon landing… find paint and paste.

The warm water and consistent surf lured me into the ocean for the first days of the trip but an injury to my leg and stitches kept me out of all water for the remaining day which meant it was time to start painting.

I began with introducing the the city of Jaco with my drip technique. I found a nice red concrete pillar outside an art store where I would later load up on paints and brushes. A screaming J. Leigh piece was chosen and pasted to surprise the hundreds of daily passersby.

I have pasted Same ‘Ol, a Carlsbad local homeless man who passed away a handful of years ago, all over the world including China, Australia, Europ and all over the US. I couldn’t pass on bringing him to Central America. I found a nice weathered wall outside a bank. While pasting it, a voice shouted at me. I continued pasting while answering to the American voice. I soon found out the young man behind the voice was from Oceanside, the neighboring city of my hometown and home to Same ‘Ol when he was not in Carlsbad.

I returned to Playa Hermosa and a few days later and began spraying a large Doodle in the rain titled ‘Doodle’s Broken Board’ on the facade of the Cabinas Las Olas Hotel, which has pounding surf just out back notorious for breaking boards. Locals and visitors watched as I completed the piece and the hotel owners later asked if I would be interested in working with them on a t shirt showcasing Doodle.

With some pastes, a mural and countless stickers and small pencil Doodles scattered all along my path, I began a Doodle surprise in the ocean themed bathroom of my hotel room. After a long day of wandering around the streets of Jaco, I began sketching a Doodle character on the wall besides the sink and behind the door. The sketch came pretty easy and before I new it I had transformed the entire bathroom in a working studio. I painted late into the night and continued the following morning.

My stay at the hotel had come to an end. After thanking everyone for their hospitality, I motioned up towards my room at the 2nd floor and hinted about a “little” surprise.