If you want to travel the world and do street art, chase your dream and live it.
That's the message from artist Jessica Becker, who is down here from Jacksonville on a commission after winning a mural contest held by Shots in Wynwood. Now, she has three weeks and 85' x 15' of space to paint a "wall of fame" on site at the bar.
The tattooed surfer girl is sweating it out with her brushes and buckets of flat matte house paint everyday until the thunder claps. And when we stopped by to check out her progress, she had one message: you can do whatever you put your mind to.
New Times: Who's going to be in the mural?
Jessica Becker: Oprah, Kermit, Ace Ventura, Miley Cyrus, John Travolta, Leonardo from the Ninja Turtles, Marilyn Monroe, and a couple more.
How'd you get started?
I taught myself! They never gave me art class in school.
You have any other murals here?
This is my first one! I've been working to get it since Art Basel last year. I was on a mission to get a mural.
You do graffiti?
No I only do legal walls. I'm not fast enough. I use a paint brush.
Who are some of your influences?
Aryz, Nychos, and Shepard Fairey. Aryz paints 20 story buildings without using a projector. All freehand.
What do you want to do next?
Be a world-traveling artist. I'm on an Australian job [website] already.
What was your first outdoor painting?
A skate ramp I did that got in Thrasher magazine.
What makes you want to paint?
I love what I'm doing. I'm not gonna stop. I'm gonna make it happen. Being a girl, I'm afraid of heights. But I wanna paint, so I gotta do it. I want to inspire people.
How do you like working in this heat?
I'm beyond sweating. My body is crying.
How long will it take to finish?
About three weeks, working all day, everyday. I'm up when the sun's up. I paint till it rains, and then I do it again.
You paint stuff besides walls?
I paint anything that paint sticks to: vehicles, walls, canvas, whatever. Call me up, I'll do it. Will travel.
See more of Becker's work at jessica-becker.com.
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