What do you write?
I have many alias names but I’m most commonly know as MIRO
Tell us a little about yourself… How long you’ve been painting and who you’re down with etc.
I started living the dream back in 1982 working my way up from the streets of Queens to the trains of New York City. In the 80s I represented a dozen crews such as MPC, RIS, AOK, XTC and so on. I’m most noted for pushing RIS, the original crew members lived within a ten block radius of my house making it easy for me to learn the trade.
What brands of paint did you use most frequently in the early years?
Red Devil, Rust-Oleum, Krylon, Martin Paint and Rickell’s helped me do it better.
Are you a can collector?
Not at this time.
Can you still find old paint stock in your area?
Its like a diamond in the rough!
Any good racking stories?
I would go on missions to New Jersey with my two buddys from Co-op City. First stop – Pergament’s! Grab a shopping cart, load up to the top and walk out the garden section to the parking lot to off load the cans and go back for seconds!!
Any favorite old paint stores?
Woolworth, Ace, Pergament’s, Rickell’s, hobby shops and Pearl Paint, (Fort Knox!).
Best discontinued paint, and why?
Red Devil was the best, it had such good coverage.
Ever found some racked caps work good with certain paints?
Rockbottom always had the best caps to rack like Scotch Guard and Niagara.
Worst paint ever award goes to?
Krylon, ‘School Bus Yellow’… Just as good as pissin’!
What are some of your best painting experiences?
Painting with my crew and anything subway related was always a rush.
^Miro from ’85, still running today after 25 years! Rust-Oleum, ‘Silver’ & ‘White’ with Krylon, ‘Baby Blue’ & ‘Flat Black’ outline. In this pic you see some of my partners I put up; Quest, TSK, NEO, NOG & GHOST, RIS!
How do you feel about the brands of Euro paint and their impact on the scene?
It’s two sided. Makes things too easy for the new school and at the same time gives the old cats more options to work with.
If you could choose a few cans to have on your shelf, what would they be?
Krylon, ‘Jungle Green’ & ‘Icy Grape’. Rust-Oleum, ‘Cascade Green’ & ‘Dunes Tan’.
Any other comments?
Thank you for this interview and for providing a place to capture our history!
I’d like to also acknowledge the RIS crew; Ghost, Lost, Neo, EA, Rec 127, Pry 79, Sur 167, Gato, Coal, Nev 67, Cro 1, Saint, Sin, Wes, Dasher, Ingy, Zoney Zone, Nye, Dutch, Viza, Reas, Ven, Ket, JA, Duel, Mone, Cavs, Deter and many more…. Respect!!
