This was a project I did in my comprehensive art class in May. Each class period is about ninety minutes long, so it took me about... two and a half weeks? I procrastinated a few days.

I have no idea how the idea came to me to dedicate (maybe that's the wrong word) a piece to Charles Manson. I guess it was the fact that I was so angry recently at multiple things--a breakup, people around me, getting beaten up at school recently, the stupidity that resides within people.

The main detail is "Death to Pigs!" seen in the center of the piece (first two words are within the upper-left corner A). One of Manson's catchphrases as well as what he wrote (or an accomplice, actually) on the wall of a victim. Anyway, surrounding that phrase is "A T W A", known as "Air, Trees, Water, Animals", or "All the Way Alive." The way I drew each letter hopefully represents the first meaning of the phrase; Manson's so-called "religion."

The word "boom" is drawn lightly in pencil all over the piece in all angles. I'm not sure why I did that.

In purple: "Silence, my voice. I've got no choice. I don't feel". These are lines taken from the System of a Down song "A T W A" to correspond with the piece. Along the letters are the phrases "now is the time for helter skelter", "Air is God--without air we don't exist", and "all the way alive" is upside down.

The "slash marks" are actually cut into the cardboard and there is thick paint on the inside designed to look like dried blood. There are also handprints intended to harbor the same effect.

All in all, this is probably my favorite form of art--graffiti. This was taken with my camera considering it was done on a piece of cardboard that's about 30" x 34".

Media: oil paint, acryllic paint, colored pencils, markers, black ink, exacto-knife cuts all over the place (slashes, palm tree leaves and trunk, waves), spray paint... There's too much to list.

The day that I finished this, a group of Chinese university students came into the class and saw it. I hate to brag (but I'm female, har har), but I was the center of attention for a good thirty minutes or so. I'm glad they were interested.

In any case, I would love it if you full-viewed this and tried to find every detail. It's hanging over my bed in my room at this moment.