PaintingTheTown is a photographic report on graffiti in Cape Town, South Africa.

PaintingTheTown was started in March 2007 to fill a gap in the Cape Town graffiti scene as at that time there was no active site featuring Cape Town or even South African graffiti on a regular basis. Since those humble beginnings and with many experiments and mistakes along the way the site has grown considerably into what you are seeing today.

Below is a screenshot of the first version of PaintingTheTown with the first post displayed.

FAQ

How did PaintingTheTown start?

It was a stormy night on 11 March 2007. I had refreshed GrafAllStarz 150 times, DredWorks was nowhere to be seen and I had looked through every picture on Cape Town Graffiti Archive at least twice. The idea then occurred to me, with the few photos of graffiti I had, why not do it myself.

So I did.

Who started PaintingTheTown?

Matthew Olckers, student from the very underrated Fish Hoek Senior High School. I got interested in graffiti because all the cool kids were doing it. Now Graffiti, Street Art, Art, whatever you want to call it is my obsession.

But there have been a many important people who have helped out along the way. You know who you are! yo yo Mr T, Mr J and the other Mr J.

Why cant you update PaintingTheTown every day?

Despite being fascinated by graffiti I am an entrepreneur at heart and my studies come first.

What do you think of graffiti artists? Heroes or villians?

A wise man once told me that you can respect a NAME without respecting the person behind the name. For me style (linked closely to IQ) is everything.

How do I learn to how to paint spray?

Step 1: Learn your history at www.artcrimes.com , www.graffiti.org
Step 2: Sketch,Sketch,Sketch,Sketch,Sketch,Sketch
Step 3: Choose your spirit animal and paint.
Step 4: Please note that painting on someone’s wall without permission is ILLEGAL. PaintingTheTown does not condone illegal activities so you can look hardcore and then blame us, Mxit, etc.
Step 5: If you feeling really funky check out www.ekosystem.org

Have you ever paint sprayed?

I tried at an amateur level but gave up. I was too scared to do anything illegal so I picked up a camera instead.

Can I advertise on PaintingTheTown?

YES YOU CAN! (insert Barack Obama’s voice here). Email me about business at matthew.olckers@gmail.com

Anything graffiti or street art related please email submitptt@gmail.com