VINCENT "STRIVE" QUITUGUA

What to expect painting live graffiti at an event.

2018-07-05T22:34:00.000-07:00

well the day has come for u to paint live, i would say it easy but there is always issues that always arise, for some reason the event coordinator want to move your setup, the medium that u where going to paint on has changed.

1 . You need to keep cool and collective like you have done it before, even if your dying inside.

2. Be prepared with a back up plan, I use spray paint for my murals the size of the wall or canvas might change, i am so versatile i can change plans in a blink of a moment.

3. If painting outside take into consideration the weather, like wind. I always setup with the wind blowing toward the side as to not hit my canvas head on.

4. Paint something unique, colorful and amazing, give it your all, don't hold back because they didn't pay u enough or things aren't going your way. Think of it as an audition you never know what CEO is watching or your next client is is in the crowd.

5. Talk to the crowd interact, give them business cards, stickers, flyers to your next show break the ice. People nowadays are to scared to interrupt and miss an opportunity.

6. If painting with other artist, remember u are unique do not imitate innovate show off your unique talents, there been so many time I've been copied, its not even funny, but i stood out because i was the original style master.

Good luck

book me at your next event.
strivewma@yahoo.com

Anti Immigration Mural @ Indepence Border Festival

2018-07-04T23:12:00.001-07:00

Artist: Strive One, Mex, and Mode

We where painting live at the independence Border festival and we where asked to alter there painting or tear it down due to a major sponsor compliant. Customs and border portection, where furious there booth was right in front.

This happen sunday july 1st 2018 in san ysidro, at larsen field. We where protesting the immigration policys of the current administration, with a green jacket with the statement "we do care"

we where not able to finish it. But the seed was planted. People where amazed and supportive, the event officials did not notice till about an hour later so a good portion of the crowd saw our mural. Hopefully this sheds light on the immigrant children sleeping in detainment centers. I (Strive One)started with the statue of liberty as to not raise concern and Mex continued with the flag. Mode drew the child in a cage very quickly then put on his jacket. It was thrilling as the crowd stopped and looked.This is one to remember.

In us we trust.

2016-07-25T21:39:00.001-07:00

Google myself to see where my art has traveled, but feel like I have neglected it. I dont want to fail summer so i gotta find impersonation and get to work. Turn the robot on.

About to put Vince on the back burner and let Strive take over.

Including getting this blog a jump start and work on my YouTube channel. Plus art has taken me to different places,that people never seen. Gotta be wide awake and make dreams come true. And if you want a custom painting Strivewma@yahoo.com is the email to reach me at. Created over 1,000 paintings about to design a thousand more in the coming year that's the goal and hand pick 50 for a solo show summer 2017.

THE HARDCORE @ Battle Groundz in Chula Vista, California 2015

2015-05-31T02:00:00.002-07:00

3-D flower My take on clean Technology

2015-05-30T23:56:00.000-07:00


16 x 20 Medium Acrylic on canvas $500.00

Strive One The HardCore

2015-01-23T21:04:00.000-08:00

Strive-one Imperial Beach Ca. 1/20/2015

Strive one Robots

2015-01-23T20:58:00.000-08:00


Strive one

T.A.G. aka Tattoos and Graffiti show in San diego California, Amnie, Dex and Strive

2014-11-12T16:08:00.001-08:00

I don't know if its fate or just luck we always start an event by carpooling together, this time was no different wake up early and show up early is the motto, after a few stops for dexxx to buy paint and Amnie buy buff, and some food, crack a few jokes and we are on our way. Don't know what to expect since it was my first time at the venue. Big Automotive Warehouse. big thanks to Iph from OFA So this is the recap,

(Dexxx Patiently waiting for Amnie to finish with the buff)

(Amnie Starting off his Piece)

Most artist start off from left to right, not this little rebel

(Strive Painting both sides first)

(Dex Starting in the Middle)

(Amnie setting up the background and letters)

(Dexxx getting busy)

(Strive setting up the letters)

(Dexxx Finishing up)

(Amnie making it shine)

(Strive dodging falling spray cans but got it done)

Modern Monroe

2014-10-26T08:58:00.002-07:00

I was up last night and my mind wonders in all directions And Andy Warhol wrote this about Art

"You take some chocolate...
and you take two pieces of bread...and you put the candy
in the middle and you make a sandwich of it.
and that would be cake"
Andy Warhol

So I stayed up wondering who is today's Marilyn Monroe, In my opinion I came to a conclusion. whats one of the most iconic person in modern day, That has the same characteristics as the great Marlyn Monroe,

Title: Modern Monroe

By Vincent "Strive One" Quitugua

If this is the case, I am not wishing Kanye marriage any bad ill, but hopefully Kim Kardashian wont take the same route with countless marriages. Her image alone is a symbol of American culture. And if art is ten years behind then in ten years from now you will know what I am talking about.

The HardCore

2014-09-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

Allow me to re-introduce myself MY name is STRIVE!!!

2013-11-19T14:21:00.000-08:00

I started of young like any teenager the confidence and arrogance of thinking you know everything, I wanted to paint with the artist that inspired and amazed me growing up, I was taught and guided by what I could only call the “DR. DRE” of the San Diego graffiti scene, JOKES157, I am going to say “Amnie” would be Eminem, these two have been some of my greatest influences, painted alongside with both. Along with my own drive to never quit created Strive One, But 2013 wasn’t the greatest year for me, I went through a difficult time, let’s just say I drew allot of broken hearts, I have no regrets, did everything to a T, I could say I tried. But “I AM BACK”. There were days I didn’t feel like painting trapped in my own nocturnal thoughts. But my alter ego strive pulled me back to reality, I remembered that I paint canvases fast with passion, I try to impress myself in each one and I am a tough critic, I don’t sketch things out, if I do sketch it’s for fun. On the back burner I always have at least 5 canvases being created. I just want to point at a canvas and say that’s a Strive. Still racing Death, even when I party or go out it’s with a purpose; DJ blend and DJ caffeine have a Strive canvas, The only thing that could stop me is me, I Apologize if I was late in delivering my Canvases , I don’t have an excuse, I learned and continue to learn. I refuse to quit or stop; I have 600 canvases in different homes, countless hours of practice and STILL FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE BEGINNING, I kill strive over and over, only to build him better. MOVING forward and Leaving the past, but remembering the mistake and not repeating them

Welcome the new kid, Hello the new artist, Ever since i could remember been the same Artist.

2013-07-08T11:07:00.000-07:00

South western college, Chula Vista Ca

While some kids where playing interments, i was playing ninja in the night, trying to find a Quiet spot to paint, while most kids where writing essay, I was practicing my letters trying to get better. I am gonna be an artist cause Picasso make it look easy, For some reason I feel like i am racing time, Like the day doesn't care what you have to do. I keep pushing my limits and these voices in my head keep tell me to, keep moving, keep going, Pay attention to detail and try not to derail. I don't like leavings thing to god cause honestly he never talks back. 20 painting in a month, Guess i didn't paint enough. 4000 views on the blog, guess i didn't write enough, Its not like i could take these paintings with me, That's why i leave my sorrow on my painting, and life to the fullest, No disrespect to the graffiti kings of the past but i make my own letters, Hopefully i inspire some other artist with my style, but you got to get your own.

I know my art is just a drop in the ocean.

2013-07-06T11:16:00.002-07:00

One of my custom orders "Never Bow Down

I saw on yahoo that the worst degree to get was in Arts, good thing I didn’t get a degree, practiced hands on, every day for; I don’t even know how many days. It’s tough I guess, if you don’t eat sleep and breathe it. Sometimes, I think of something and I paint it before I forget. Classify it as inspiration. I call it dedication. I do it because I LOVE to do it. Sometimes it pays the bills yes and sometimes it pays my nights out, But mostly it pays my art supplies to keep going and keep moving, I believe a true artist will never say “I used to do art”. I know my art is just a drop in the ocean, but I do it anyways. Hoping it creates a small puddle, for you to stumble across my art. What legacy will I leave if I get a 9 to 5 job go home and watch TV. Sounds boring to me, and a little dead inside, if you ask me. Explaining to my kids 40 years from now "should've, could've, would've, done this. I don’t call it a hobby; I don’t call it a career, more an addiction. There’s worst thing I could be addicted to.

I'm from where a child's future's in the streets with the bums Because it's hard to become something so unique where I'm from.

2013-07-04T22:02:00.001-07:00

Can't stop the hustle


Can't stop the hustle

Can't stop the hustle

It's the beginning but its feeling like the last stand, had to do three times in a row, just to remind you. One of a kind. Blood, sweat, and time i invest. Life is naturally hell you have to work to put a smile on.

Out of a strom, beauty comes out in from of a snow flake.

2013-07-04T14:14:00.001-07:00


Never burn a snowflake, it won't be the same if you tried.

Out of the cold a snowflake is created, but what happens when you try to capture it. It starts to melt and they say no two snow flakes are the same. Beautiful and unique, but if you add a flame it turns in to water and that water might extinguish the flame.Those drops turn in to a stream, that stream turns in to a creek, that creek turns in to a river and you might drown it the flood. DON'T mess with a snow flake because as nice as it may seem you only hear the avalanche once its too late. People say i am nice but don't miss interpret it as a weakness, I fall into peoples lives like snowflakes, but just as fast i could disappear and, like tears; they are made of water............. turned cold.

Out of the darkness

2013-07-04T13:41:00.000-07:00

Out of the darkness

It was just a regular day as i got off of work, first picture i saw as go on to Instagram. Honestly i didn't know who she was when i first saw the picture, She had transformed her hair, cut away into this short rocker style hair cut, Loved the picture wanted to paint it right of the bat, I know her personally and knew her story of whats going on, Some person had broken her wrist and she seem like she was getting rid of the past and starting new, but life is more complex then the eye meets, Got home around 12:00 pm thought about it again, I said if i don't paint it now i never will, texted asked her to send me the picture earlier no reply, only option was to look at my phone. So here i go again of to my studio to paint in the middle of the night, grabbed my spray paint and set up outside, My studio on a busy main street and the crazy homeless people looking at me like i was crazy. It was dark out under the street lights i painted the background, "Out of the darkness this complex background" was made, just like her story, In the picture she looked elegant, poised, ready to conquer, maybe her own fears, there was a sadness in her eye's but i fail to capture that, its hard to paint sadness when you admire that person,

"People are like stained-glass windows.
They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,
but when the darkness sets in,
their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within"

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Stuck on Hearts, Hearts, Hearts, Hearts, Hearts, you got what? Heart.

2013-06-18T22:22:00.001-07:00

Title: Self Portrait

Title: Death of the heart

Title: Can't turn evil

Title: Innocent

Title: Building and repairing but still sick

That's strive, that's real, that's graffiti, I am about mine, that ain't talk, that's fact's, That's too bad, That's fucked up, you fell off, that's so sad, that ain't mine, that's your problem, That's Your life, That's your job, My heart that won't budge, Eat Your Heart Out, BUT YOU STARVE!!! .

"If you ain't living for the day,It safe to say your wasting time"

2013-06-18T21:35:00.001-07:00

Sorry as a graffiti writer i am a little hood, but as an artist am a little sophisticated, but as a human i make mistakes. I still have a lot to learn, I want to create art that will make new york graffiti writer want be from the west, trying to push my limits in the next months to come. Strive got next, looking for galleries. Give me any art job and i will strive at it. Married to this art and its having contractions. Coming to a wall near you.

Long time coming and i am Not stopping

2013-06-17T23:42:00.001-07:00

First time i went out and paint rolled by myself, had some high heat engine paint with stock tips, and pocket lint no cash for buff. Worst paint to work with, And the experience of a new toy in the game. Thinking "I got this" Went under the the bridge and could still smell the tree's and the floor laced with old spray cans from kings of the city that had painted before me, brought my raggedy old sketch book, I could still remember the color scheme blue black and yellow, I walked and looked for a spot not to go over anyone. The paint came out watery and cheap yellow paint dripped everywhere. But i finished, Almost a decade later and I still haven't finished and with the same motivation of a new kid in the game, STILL FEEL LIKE I'M barely getting started.

You could try to be me, It's cool, you could make believe

2013-05-30T13:03:00.000-07:00

I recently found, Another graffiti artist with the name "Strive" i thought he never heard about me so i checked out this work, he had copied a sketch, that i made of my home town. he lives no where near San diego, I found it amusing and wasn't mad at all. You could try to be me, It's cool, you could make believe, from birth i have been molded to be "ME" one of a kind, special edition, and I could never be like you" Nature VS Nurture maybe it’s a little of both. My mother has schizophrenia and that make me half crazy, and my street name is Strive "PLEASE TEST ME". I’ve been tested since birth and that gives you a falls sense of security. But who wants to be king of the hill, when He’s the first one in the village that’s killed. That Guttersnipe kid Striveeze

How many times must you prove your an Angel

2013-05-23T14:20:00.000-07:00

Here we were, Me and my friends late night hanging out at the shop painting, sketching and talking into the late hours of the night. As a man walks in and Said can you make me a shirt, We said yeah sure, what do you want on it, in a low creep voice said the devil Stating and glaring at everyone, This old middle age white guy looked like he had a tough life, continues to ask us, what do you think the devil is? What do you think the devil is? My friend MEX and Ruben said there different means to it. This old white guy continues his conversation and answers Himself, and said "The white man is the devil". I don't think he was being racist, He was talking about himself. At this point we were playing Johnny cash song remixed and turned into hip-hop, and of course the rapper mentions the devil on the song weird coincidence. So at this point I was like sorry we can’t make your shirt on black we only have white, "I want it to be dark" my friend Ruben said we could make you a canvas. The old man standing straight and looking at me with a grin, Asking again, "do you know that the devil is" pulls out some cash and extends his arm, more than what the canvas was worth as if it was a bribe? That’s when I was like "IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO LEAVE" I start to walk up to him he start to back up towards the door, I continue Approaching him and he knew not to mess with me, I had that look on my face, that only comes out once a year. I escort him out the shop and around the corner, and he about to walk away he ask "Why did you kick me out" Your creeping everyone the fuck out, What do Expect I am the devil and start this long loud laugh.

I never been comfortable, knowing I could do better

2013-05-18T15:26:00.000-07:00

woke up today at the crack of dawn and saw the sunrise. I keep getting custom orders left and right,but The craft i been trying to build has been left on the back burner for a minute. Back to the old me. Paint and create, like there is no tommorow. Continue in my quest to perfect this craft, and have fun while doing it. Life is what you make it, So what are you creating on your free time?

STRIVE in action Early years

2012-12-29T22:42:00.000-08:00

"No loitering"

2012-11-26T13:39:00.000-08:00

Can't sit, got to keep on moving. Sharks drown if they don't keep moving, A few bad moves and with a chance of luck you could just be loitering, Medium: Acrylic on canvas 20"x16"

2012-11-24T15:10:00.001-08:00

MEDIUM: ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 24"X36" UNTITLED