Tag: lettering

bookmark_borderMixed Media Drawings * Smile Now Cry Later * Lost in Time * 2008

Posted on by savethesavages

Title: Smile Now, Cry Later
Description: Framed 11″x14″ black & white, mixed media drawing

Saturday, May 2nd 2026: I dug up a photo of this old, framed drawing I did. I feel that it pairs well with the Raiders chola girl; as a matter of fact I think I did these two based on a black and white themed art show. Anyways, “Smile Now, Cry Later” is an oldies song, inspired by gang culture in Los Angeles in the 90’s. I have to admit, as a young artist I romanticized it a bit, even the graffiti writers took part in the subculture of tagbanging around that time. I was just the outsider looking in, observing everything around me.

Oh btw, I just realized I edited this post exactly 10 years later! OMG. Time is wild and synchronicity never ceases to amaze me.

May 2, 2016

Title: Lost in Time
Description: Framed 11″x14″ black & white, mixed media drawing

If you grew up sometime between the 1980’s and 1990’s, were influenced by gang culture and watched Mi Vida Loca, then this mixed media drawing would be the end result. This is pretty much a throwback to those times.

Echo Park wasn’t a safe place back then. I’m sort of amazed at how much the city of Los Angeles has changed, for better or for worse.

Please inquire to: shermgrafik@gmail.com

bookmark_borderGraffiti Art Appreciation from the Year 2006 – 043026

Posted on by savethesavages

Another stroll down memory lane, 2006 I believe…20 freakin years ago, omg. I love Vyal’s green daemon character, the way our pieces flow in between and the color combos we used. So much motion and flow on a wall. In so much gratitude that I got to paint right next to a living legend – a Capricorn god of the earth and an aerosol master. This wall was Tibetan / Buddhist inspired. If you happen to see this Vyal, hi! Let’s go eat and see one another before we grow any older and die, okay? We love and miss you!👁️🖤🩶🤍

A link to the full wall production

bookmark_borderDrawing: I H8 U

Posted on by savethesavages

A fucking mood. I’ve drawn this before but I figured – it’s going to take the same amount of time for me to look for the drawing when I can just redraw it. So yes, it’s Saturday, April 25, 2026 and I still hate you. Forever. Roxy was the biggest hater and I miss her so damn much…

bookmark_borderDrawing: Do Not Worry // Apr 19, 2026

Posted on by savethesavages

The Magickal Bunny – who only comes out once in a while these days says:

Just for today, do not worry.

Just for today, count your blessings.

You are a magickal and infinite being, here to learn in this place called Earth. Some call it Earth School.

The learning never stops – you will constantly grow, evolve, living and dying simultaneously.

Enjoy the process, magician.

Blessed be.

I could list ALL the things I’m worried about, but I choose not to. As long as I am alive – breathing, seeing, hearing, talking, feeling without any physical pain in this moment – and I can still pay my bills and provide for my cats then I am okay. If you are reading this, you are probably okay too.

bookmark_borderDrawing: Hold On To What Feels Real

Posted on by savethesavages

I’m going to keep posting my drawings, doodles, rough sketches, bubble 3d lettering and handwritten thoughts even if they’re sloppy looking and lo-fi. It’s the antidote to all this AI slop. I’m having AI fatigue tbh – although it did help me with my taxes, it still fails with other stuff. Someone compared it to like teaching a child how to do things and you have to repeat yourself with it constantly – double-checking it’s output and editing your prompt a few times. That’s definitely an accurate comparison.

Anyways, hold on to what feels real…

bookmark_borderStay Relevant

Posted on by savethesavages

Friday 08-29-25 – I have typography heavy on my mind right now for no reason so I am bumping this up.

063016: I have an affinity for handpainted lettering and typography – gothic, script, ornamental, etc. Basically the hard-to-read ones that aren’t normally used in advertising – because although they’re lovely to look at, they’re kind of hard to read.

I drew this up a few years ago. I find that when I’m annoyed with something or someone, it tends to fuel some of my artwork on a subconscious level. I don’t even remember who it was in particular, it could’ve been a few random people who I just stumbled upon on internetland. I guess it bugs me when people hella show off or try too hard – they’re either screaming “hey look at me, I’m doing something” or “hey look at me, I post nothing but bullshit…but I want you to think it’s NOT bullshit”. So at the time I made this, that’s what staying relevant meant to me: people who just do useless things in order to remain in the minds of the general public, like celebrities who are famous – you don’t even know what they’re famous for.

Well fast forward to now. Being a jack-of-all-trades in content marketing and design, I’m starting to understand what staying relevant means from this angle:

+ Posting images and using words that you wouldn’t normally say to catch the attention of a potential client or buyer.

+ Being in the customer mindset, thinking like them so you can better predict what they are most likely to buy from you.

+ Paying attention to the latest in technology, social media, pop culture and anything related to it.

Don’t get it twisted, I’m not a fan of the last bullet point. I don’t like having to keep up with any of it, especially anything that’s cool and trendy. But since we’re in a global market now, meaning everyone is either buying or selling something whether it’s their art, music, creative services – we could all stand to stay relevant somehow by learning something new everyday and applying it to ourselves.

Keep your mind open to possibilities and opportunity, no matter what age you are.

bookmark_borderSherm > Liber Amicorum > GRI

Posted on by savethesavages

08-29-2025: apparently I am reminiscing hard and appreciating my own hand lettering skills. My goal was to add more tags to posts but this one came up.

Edit: it’s 2021 and they have created an L.A. Graffiti Black Book, but it’s currently sold out.

07-08-2015: I made this for the Getty Research Institute in 2012. Explore the book here.

bookmark_borderSHERM Gotchic Lettering – 2010

Posted on by savethesavages

I don’t really give myself enough credit sometimes. Well I can finally look back on my work 10 years later and say that it was actually pretty good, like this SHERM drawing.

I really don’t miss painting graffiti all that much but I do miss how I can get very detailed with my letters.

bookmark_borderArt for Sale: Wu-Tang “C.R.E.A.M” Painting by Sherm

Posted on by savethesavages

Title: CREAM
Size: 16″x20″

Do you live by the Wu Tang code of Cash Rules Everything Around Me? Then this 16″x20″ acrylic painting is for you. This is a painting of the letters inspired by the rap song “C.R.E.A.M” by the world famous Wu Tang Clan.

Please inquire to: shermgrafik@gmail.com