Aiden Baker / Getwellsoon

"I aspire to create by bringing life to a blank space, I hope to create a better and happier world for people to live in." - Aiden Baker

My latest #inspirations4aspirations interview is with graffiti writer, artist and muralist Aiden Baker (@paintingwitheyesclosed).

Aiden is known for his tag phrase "Get Well Soon". His iconic smiles can be found throughout Tallahassee, Jacksonville and cities around the country. Throughout our interview and following pen-pal correspondence, I have frequently stumbled across their older tags on street signs, walls, billboards and more. Before this interview, I parked for an art market and discovered the dripped smiley face (used in my depiction) on a dumpster.

For the visual, I was inspired by a comic book cover of The Twilight Zone No.76 from 1977. It depicted a mysterious alien figure putting up posters. I depicted Aiden with their trademark smile in the style of a Keith Haring type figure with color inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat..

Given graffiti's controversial, frequently villainous associations, I redrew the Sherlock/Watson-esque Whitechapel Vigilance Committee from the 13 October 1888 Illustrated London News, often associated with Jack the Ripper.

I FILLED the piece with (street) art references:

• ⭐Son of Bozo - refers to 1920s boxcar graffiti Bozo Texino

• ⭐Eat my wheatpaste! - a tribute to wheatpaste art, another iconic smile, + parody of a Jackie Robinson "Eat your Wheaties" poster

• ⭐Martha Cooper Shot me - refers to a photojournalist who documented the NYC 1970s graffiti scene

• ⭐ Saul Bass 1961 - references early writers like Julio 204 & Taki 183, also the graffiti ending credits for West Side Story (1961) by designer Saul Bass

• ⭐For a wild time - tribute to Tracy168 who popularized the intricate and illegible Wildstyle (which I didn't attempt)

• ⭐Rat - references Banky and Blek le Rat

• ⭐Who Watches the Watchmen? - references the comic Watchmen

• ⭐Kilroy - references WWII soldier's graffiti "Kilroy was here" but with an anti-war slant

• ⭐Frodo Lives - references popular counterculture 1960/70s slogan

The book "Eye on Art: Graffiti, Vandalism or Art?" by Anna Collins gave a fascinating history lesson.

1) Why do you create?

I wanted to add a little bit of positive energy to the negative things we are dealing with and full of hardships because I believe that this world has a lot of negativity about life and a lot of pain that makes other people’s emotional, physical, and mental suffering difficult to handle. 

I produce not just for myself or to escape my own reality, but also with the intention of uniting people or simply offering their perspectives on art and life experiences, which motivates me to make whatever tiny difference I can.

2) When life gets you down, what inspires you to get back up? -

I would say I genuinely want to spread - and I know it sounds cheesy as hell - I want to spread hopefulness and happiness and stuff like that to everyone. 

I’ve gotten DMs and messages that are really heartwarming and really motivate me a lot. Also people see [my art] in different cities and, now, states. And they go like, “Who is this? Who’s doing this? This is awesome!” Just spreading that too. 

And getting the whole grip and concept of why we do what we do - our passions that motivate us on a day-to -day basis. It inspires me to push more and more.

And if I don’t do it [I feel] I’m failing everyone in a way, but that’s just a naive concept in my head to think like that last part. But in general I like to see the reaction of people. I like connecting people together with the art that we do and the passion we push towards this, to make something out of this and to try to make a mark on this world or even leave like a legacy in a way. 

So that kind of motivates me a lot do that.

3) Many artists often dabble in procrastination. Do you think the sometimes risky quality to graffiti strengthens your art? 

In my opinion, it enables me to overcome obstacles that a “true” artist would often encounter.

Being a [graffiti] writer for the past 15 years has allowed me to be more creative and self-assured in my work, as well as to perform under pressure.

4) How does it feel to create art that can be painted over or destroyed at any moment? 

What many other graffiti writers normally do if they got painted over, gone over, or just got basically destroyed…they take it in a negative way, not reflecting on it and stuff like that. Or they just kind of let their feelings take over and then gotta go back over to that spot and diss it. Or just do another piece and stuff.

But for me, it’s kind of the opposite in a way. I just like to kind of think about it and to try to be humble with it. 

It’s like…I could do the most perfect and beautiful piece and stuff, even though I’m the only one that’s seen it. I just know: at least it was produced and it was out there, you know? And take pictures and stuff. But either way, I have done it.

I’ve done pieces and stuff where I buffed it myself. And it was kind of…you’re doing all that effort and you put your heart and soul into something and you kind of just erase it. 

They kind of just reminds me of being content with myself and my art and being humble. That and just kind of taking pride in that way in trying not to let it affect longer.

Even if it gets buffed or gone over by somebody else, I try to be positive about it and kind of let go and not like let my feelings get in the way of it. I don’t know if that made any sense, but yeah, it’s kind of like how I deal with that and create art.

Additionally, I studied Self-Effacement (Sallekha), which is an excellent example of letting go even if you created the most amazing art. 

However, I do feel a little bad about those who have passed away and their legacy is often difficult to let go of. But it does keeps the next generation and art alive.

4.2) What does the phrase and your tag “Get Well Soon” mean to you?

It’s difficult to put this into context or classify because it means so many different things. However, I will die if I can eat up all the agony and anguish in the world! as long as there can be peace on Earth! It’s a little morbid, but it will get better soon. In bringing us into get well soon

Many thanks to my inspiration and aspiration, Aiden Baker. I’m John Lhotka, wishing you a nice day, and all that jazz.