"Family man" isn’t usually a term used to describe top graffiti artists with impeccable street-art credentials, but it’s what makes Donald Ross a singular figure on the world street-art scene.
Better known by his "tag" Scribe, Ross’ whimsical illustrative style will be on wide display around Honolulu starting this week at in-store appearances with his artist wife, Alisa, live painting at Friday’s monthly Eat the Street food truck rally and demonstrations of his spray-painting skills on large outdoor murals in Kalihi, Kakaako and Waipahu. His visit is being sponsored by Lightsleepers, a group that promotes hip-hop and street music and culture.
Thanks to his solo and collaborative murals on buildings throughout the city, Ross has been described as the best-known artist in Kansas City, Mo., where he lives with his wife and 5- and 8-year-old sons. His work generally reflects a positive outlook on life that has put him in good stead as the art director of Children’s Mercy Hospitals in Kansas City.
"I do mural work at the hospital here besides other design and interior work for the hospital, such as its helicopter and ambulances," he said by phone last week.
 SCRIBE AND ALISA ROSS
>> 4 to 9 p.m. today at Prototype, Ala Moana Center
>> 4 to 9 p.m. Friday at Eat the Street’s 1st Anniversary Luau, 805 Ala Moana Blvd.
>> 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at In4mation, Pearlridge Center
Cost: Free
Info: lightsleepers.net
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Ross said he was last in Hawaii a couple of years ago, and looks forward to returning to a place that offers plenty of inspiration.
"Drawing fish got me into art in the first place," he said, "so while I’m there, I’ll fit in some snorkeling."
It should make for a very busy trip, what with the mural painting and special store appearances, including a visit to Ala Moana Center’s Prototype today and Pearlridge’s In4mation on Saturday. The couple’s appearance at Prototype is tied to today’s international release of retailer Kidrobot’s latest Fatcap artist-designer toy line series, for which Scribe has done an exclusive figure.
"We’ll be bringing mostly smaller, affordable items," Ross said. "It’ll be color pencil sketches, miniature paintings, and since Alisa does plush toy work, she’s bringing some of that as well as some of our collaborations."
Ross’ gallery shows have been seen in major cities across the mainland, as well as in Israel and Great Britain.
"I started out as a graffiti artist in college," he said, "but once I got in trouble with the law and received some degree of fame for what I did, I started focusing on gallery shows and installations. Years later, when I had a show at (retailer) Cardboard Spaceship in Santa Cruz, I noticed the place also sold vinyl fine-art toys, so I started designing and customizing my own line of original sculpts for them.
"These toys have such a huge fanbase, and there are a lot of responsible collectors out there … . With toys, it gave me a chance of controlling what I was doing and I’ve always wanted to see my character work in three-dimensions.
"But it’s my work at the hospital that really helps support my family, and my morning shift there gives me the opportunity to spend time with my boys," he said.
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On the Net:
» scribeswalk.com
» 40threads at web.mac.com/scribeone/iWeb/Site 2/40Threads.html
