I found this bit of graffiti while visiting Paris a few years back. Fitting to the French, it is the naughtiest piece of graffiti that I like. Overall, the French graffiti was much more stylized and expressive than the US’s. Often the graffiti in New York or San Francisco seems like it had been planed for months and is carefully designed to fit perfectly into the artist’s portfolio.  The French seems to be spur of the moment, more emotional. I actually enjoy it more than the perfectly crafted stencil.  However, it may have something to do with how hard the police and business owners crack down on street artists.

This wonderful mermaid was found well off the beat path, near the Musée national Gustave Moreau.

This is another fun stencil I found in the San Francisco Mission District on Valencia Street.  The wording is a bit faded but it is a duck quacking the words “I Like You”.  We could all use a little positive reinforcement now and again -even if it is coming from a duck. The duck has a subtle motion which I appreciated.  This is a duck on the move, a duck who is going somewhere.

Five years ago I had the idea for a site focusing on graffiti I liked. I kept procrastinating by trying to do as much research on the artists as possible before launching and then Exit Through the Gift Shop came out. This took the edge off the idea.  But, even though graffiti is utterly “in” right now, I will post a few of my favorites every so often. It is not the street artists’ fault the whole thing became a commercial mess.

This one is one of my favorites.  It was taken four years ago in San Francisco Mission District near Tartines.  I am  sucker for cute. Unfortunately, this cute little critter was painted over in less than a week. I love the elegance of its cuteness. A plump, tear-shaped body, cute ears and a big tail on a fire hydrant just waiting for a passing dog to notice.