I can’t really put a finger on when I first met Ohnoes – I have a vague recollection of an early Secret Walls gig and getting drunk, but it could have, really, been any time over the past few years. His work has been adorning the walls of Melbourne for a while now, and his art has made appearances across a whole bunch of galleries and shows – even more so in the past year or two.

That might have to do with the fact that he now finds himself surrounded by a bastion of other creatives in the burgeoning Arts Hole studio – who give him that extra impetus to strive further with his work, or it may be that amongst the derth of “urban art” these days, his work is uncompromisingly spot on in terms of what, in my mind, he might be aiming at – a stylised depiction of imagination, graffiti, sports and underground cultures, interspersed with poignant reminders that the fantastical is often closer to reality than we realise.

Sure, there are other people doing this these days – its not uncommon, but Ohnoes is good. Real good. Honest in his interpretations, he doesn’t compromise on what he wants to put out there. He experiments, crosses mediums, is equally skilled with a can as he is with a brush, and there’s a certain stylisation to his work that is recognisable and uniquely his own.

Lets just couple this with the fact that the dude is one of the most genuine artists I know – he doesn’t talk shit, he doesn’t do cliques, he doesn’t bitch or moan or try to one up himself, he’s a humble mofo with a lot of potential to make it big, and get his work in front of the eyes of “the masses”. On top of that, well, for me, some of his stuff is out there – in a positive way, that is, in the way that you take a look at it one second and get that slightly jarring feeling of “hey, that’s not quite … what I expected.”

NBA loving, paint crashin, passionate and reliably cool, Ohnoes is one of those guys that we just love to find out more about – so read on below for the DL on this talented dude …

How did you first start out in your creative journey? At what age did you start drawing, and how did life lead you to doing what you do now?

My earliest memories of enjoying drawing were when I was 8. I remember drawing ninja turtles and my favourite NBA players in class. I never really took it too seriously until I hit high school.

My high school art teacher encouraged me to take it more seriously and began feeding me art history, which just opened a Pandora’s box of experimentation, including spray paint.

Do you have any formal artistic background, and what kind of identities within the art world do you believe your work most identifies with?

I don’t have any formal artistic background; I was pretty much self-taught except for the tips I have gotten along the way. I always enjoyed observing art and trying to understand how it was created, and like a puzzle tries to recreate it later.

My ‘art’ is a very mood or influenced based process. One day I could be illustrating, the next I could be getting messy with an array of different mediums or even working digitally. The subject matter also changes, from realism portraiture, pop culture, graffiti etc. I believe just like in all professions these days to have an edge and grow multiple disciplines go a long way, and if I where to align my art with any movement it would be this one.

You obviously have a lot of influences from graffiti, illustration and hip-hop culture – but what other, random places, do you draw fragments of influence that other people probably wouldn’t realise?

I find my influences in a lot of places, none more then my peers. Being in a studio with so many different styles and methods allows me first hand to study other influences and processes, which eventually manifest into my own experimentation.

Conversations and advice also play a role into my influences. Photography, textures, old signage, lyrics in music – even found objects can also be strong influences in my work.

Tell us a bit about your aerosol work and the work you do up on walls – what is it about spraypaint that you love, and where does it sit amongst your total creative output?

In the past few years my aerosol art has been a development of stylized photorealism. With each wall I paint I learn something new too add to my process as well as a greater eye for detail.

Spray paint is without question my favourite creative output. Aerosol art has been my gateway medium into meeting so many artists and interesting individuals. Spray painting I feel is overseen for its amazing complexities. It is the most forgiving yet the most tedious medium; it covers large areas, but takes patients and attention to detail. It allows for collaborations with other artists who in most cases compliment your work and the diversity enhances the overall mural.

Tell us a bit about your studio, the Arts Hole – how does the place help you in your creative work, and what kind of environment is it? Who there inspires you to get shit done?

The Arts Hole is my ‘happy place’. Since the day it started, my production, quality of work and discipline has grown enormously. It’s become my second family and like families it’s constantly growing. It’s an open plan studio so pretty much what’s mine is yours policy goes in there (even with food and booze). I’d like to say everyone in the Hole gives me inspiration, although having history and watching my good friend Chehehe constantly push his envelope and churn out work every time he’s here pushes me to step up my game.

Unwell Bunny has become a mentor to me. His critical and insightful conversations about art and his processes are always a good way to get inspired.

Losop is a newer addition to the studio and has been an outside the box guy. His process is similar to mine but in a completely different format and learning off each other has also helped in my growth.

Boywolf, I can’t leave this guy off the list, just knowing him is an honour. I began knowing of him and a fan of his work, now a close friend and a guy I learn from and work with on the regular has helped me not only with promotion but my confidence as an artist too.

How about the commercial side of things? Does your day job intersect with the art that you do, and visa versa?

More and more I have been fortunate to be working more out of the studio and nothing makes me happier. I have been commissioned to create interesting murals, graphics for t-shirts and illustrations, allowing me to take ‘art breaks’ to focus on my personal projects.

What have been some of the more interesting projects that you have worked on in the past? Tell us a bit about some of the cool shit you’ve accomplished!

The end of 2013 was crazy in the months of November and December myself and the studio were invited to paint at ALL YOUR WALLS, which was a great honour for us as well as allowing us to work together towards a group effort. David Jones commissioned us to paint a mural for them on Good Food and Wine week and we also had our first group show, which was a great success. Personally I believe growth, as a group, is a much stronger statement then individual accomplishments.

Living, working and creating in Melbourne – how has this city itself changed the way you create art, if it has at all? what is it about Melbourne that gives you a sense of creative energy?

I have had a passion for street art since the 90s, both observed and practiced. I don’t even think there are words to describe how much it has grown in awareness and appreciation. Melbourne has always had it’s own spin to street art that separated it self from the rest of the world. That’s one of the things I love about working and living in Melbourne. Everyday there is something new on my social media feeds, every week someone is having a show and as a community we support each other. The energy is endless and truly motivational.

What do you have planned for the rest of the year, and, indeed, the future? What projects would you like to accomplish, and where do you see yourself taking your art?

This year I am planning to have my first solo show, that’s on the top of my list. The Arts hole plans too have a couple of group shows as well as do tons of kick ass productions.

I never know where my art is going – that’s half the fun.

Check out more from Ohnoes on his website, or add him over at @instagram – @_ohnoes!