Banksy is a very famous and very polarizing artist. People either love his work, or they think he is the worst thing to happen to street art and graffiti (as expressed in the comments for our previous posts). Even if you're anti-Banksy, there is no denying that the artist has had a major impact on the culture, and his work has inspired many others to create new work, even if it's just to express how much he sucks. In a recent interview with Mirror Online, street artist JPS (Jamie Scanlon) revealed that Banksy's work had a much deeper impact on his life and was his inspiration for quitting drugs.
"Five and a half years ago, I was homeless from drink and drugs," JPS told the Mirror. He went to the Banksy exhibit in Bristol in 2009 and found his calling. "I thought 'hey I could do that.' I was into fine art when I was younger, but Banksy inspired me, he saved my life and I respect him."
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Like Banksy, JPS uses his environment in his art. He uses stencils to paint on security cameras, walls, and the pavement, incorporating the elements around him into his work while also being careful not to maliciously destroy property. "It's not that I just wanna damage a wall, I'm very careful where I do my pieces," he told the Mirror, adding that he understands that "what's art for some isn't for others."
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