I have a dream job I make people smile in 2003 while being a laid-off tech guy
in 2003 while being a laid-off tech guy
in 2003 while being a laid-off tech guy I revisited my childhood friends I
I revisited my childhood friends I
I revisited my childhood friends I decided to paint these characters that
decided to paint these characters that
decided to paint these characters that I’ve been drawing since I was a little
I’ve been drawing since I was a little
I’ve been drawing since I was a little kid back in the Philippines and exhibit
kid back in the Philippines and exhibit
kid back in the Philippines and exhibit them at an Open Studios to my surprise
them at an Open Studios to my surprise
them at an Open Studios to my surprise people like them they smiled they
people like them they smiled they
people like them they smiled they laughed and they bought paintings I
laughed and they bought paintings I
laughed and they bought paintings I actually had a hard time sleeping after
actually had a hard time sleeping after
actually had a hard time sleeping after the Open Studios because I wanted to
the Open Studios because I wanted to
the Open Studios because I wanted to find the perfect way for thinking Boston
find the perfect way for thinking Boston
find the perfect way for thinking Boston for purchasing all of the artwork and so
for purchasing all of the artwork and so
for purchasing all of the artwork and so at around 2:00 a.m. I committed to
at around 2:00 a.m. I committed to
at around 2:00 a.m. I committed to giving away paintings to show my
giving away paintings to show my
giving away paintings to show my gratitude to Boston and to spread smiles
gratitude to Boston and to spread smiles
gratitude to Boston and to spread smiles around the city in the span of two weeks
around the city in the span of two weeks
around the city in the span of two weeks 30 paintings were left on park benches
30 paintings were left on park benches
30 paintings were left on park benches train stations hospitals senior centers
train stations hospitals senior centers
train stations hospitals senior centers and other public spaces with this note
and other public spaces with this note
and other public spaces with this note attached
below the note is my website
below the note is my website badda clan comm my last name this is how
badda clan comm my last name this is how
badda clan comm my last name this is how people are able to contact me nothing
people are able to contact me nothing
people are able to contact me nothing beats the smiles of people who find
beats the smiles of people who find
beats the smiles of people who find paintings I recently painted murals in
paintings I recently painted murals in
paintings I recently painted murals in North Carolina and also gave away
North Carolina and also gave away
North Carolina and also gave away painting stare these are pictures of
painting stare these are pictures of
painting stare these are pictures of people who found paintings in Raleigh
people who found paintings in Raleigh
people who found paintings in Raleigh here are photos of paintings being given
here are photos of paintings being given
here are photos of paintings being given away across the country that was me at
away across the country that was me at
away across the country that was me at the post office in North Pole Alaska I
the post office in North Pole Alaska I
the post office in North Pole Alaska I heard that if you write a letter to
heard that if you write a letter to
heard that if you write a letter to Santa Claus chances are your mail will
Santa Claus chances are your mail will
Santa Claus chances are your mail will end up here okay I kind of believe it
end up here okay I kind of believe it
end up here okay I kind of believe it because when we walked in there there
because when we walked in there there
because when we walked in there there are hundreds of letters from kids who
are hundreds of letters from kids who
are hundreds of letters from kids who wrote to Santa here are pictures of
wrote to Santa here are pictures of
wrote to Santa here are pictures of paintings being given away around the
paintings being given away around the
paintings being given away around the world before I showed the next slide I
world before I showed the next slide I
world before I showed the next slide I was just like to emphasize that that’s
was just like to emphasize that that’s
was just like to emphasize that that’s the real Eiffel Tower in Paris and this
the real Eiffel Tower in Paris and this
the real Eiffel Tower in Paris and this is the fake one in Vegas fake real fake
is the fake one in Vegas fake real fake
is the fake one in Vegas fake real fake all right
Machu Picchu was incredible but it was a
Machu Picchu was incredible but it was a bit of a challenge to leap paintings
bit of a challenge to leap paintings
bit of a challenge to leap paintings there concer up 10,000 feet
there concer up 10,000 feet
there concer up 10,000 feet hardly any oxygen at hard time breathing
this was a little easier if the rice
this was a little easier if the rice terraces in the Philippines bit of a
terraces in the Philippines bit of a
terraces in the Philippines bit of a hike more oxygen beautiful place family
hike more oxygen beautiful place family
hike more oxygen beautiful place family friends and clients also give away
friends and clients also give away
friends and clients also give away paintings I’m a full-time artist and I
paintings I’m a full-time artist and I
paintings I’m a full-time artist and I can’t afford to go to all these places I
can’t afford to go to all these places I
can’t afford to go to all these places I love this one a client of mine went on a
love this one a client of mine went on a
love this one a client of mine went on a cruise to Antarctica and she left a
cruise to Antarctica and she left a
cruise to Antarctica and she left a penguin painting for a whole bunch of
penguin painting for a whole bunch of
penguin painting for a whole bunch of penguins is that cool like literally
penguins is that cool like literally
penguins is that cool like literally cool when paintings are given away in
cool when paintings are given away in
cool when paintings are given away in non-english speaking countries the text
non-english speaking countries the text
non-english speaking countries the text gets translated to the local language
gets translated to the local language
gets translated to the local language here’s one in Tibet so I receive lots of
here’s one in Tibet so I receive lots of
here’s one in Tibet so I receive lots of messages from people who find paintings
messages from people who find paintings
messages from people who find paintings most are simple thank-you notes
most are simple thank-you notes
most are simple thank-you notes however some come with photos of the
however some come with photos of the
however some come with photos of the painting recipients and they’re found
painting recipients and they’re found
painting recipients and they’re found art this was from an Elvis impersonator
art this was from an Elvis impersonator
art this was from an Elvis impersonator from Australia who found a painting at
from Australia who found a painting at
from Australia who found a painting at Graceland and Memphis Tennessee this is
Graceland and Memphis Tennessee this is
Graceland and Memphis Tennessee this is my other faith a bride to be found a
my other faith a bride to be found a
my other faith a bride to be found a painting in Harvard Square and her
painting in Harvard Square and her
painting in Harvard Square and her family and friends a prior to her
family and friends a prior to her
family and friends a prior to her wedding and her family and friends used
wedding and her family and friends used
wedding and her family and friends used the painting for wedding cake her
the painting for wedding cake her
the painting for wedding cake her wedding reception and one of the
wedding reception and one of the
wedding reception and one of the bridesmaids even shrunk it and place it
bridesmaids even shrunk it and place it
bridesmaids even shrunk it and place it in a Barbie box is that durable
just a few months after starting the
just a few months after starting the street art project I decided to give
street art project I decided to give
street art project I decided to give away paintings on a cold gray and icy
away paintings on a cold gray and icy
away paintings on a cold gray and icy February day in 2004 in Cambridge where
February day in 2004 in Cambridge where
February day in 2004 in Cambridge where I live
I live
I live I left a painting on a park bench and
I left a painting on a park bench and
I left a painting on a park bench and immediately a young couple approached
immediately a young couple approached
immediately a young couple approached the bench at first I was concerned for
the bench at first I was concerned for
the bench at first I was concerned for the woman because she was wearing these
the woman because she was wearing these
the woman because she was wearing these neon pink shades with almost pitch-black
neon pink shades with almost pitch-black
neon pink shades with almost pitch-black lenses that was worried because she
lenses that was worried because she
lenses that was worried because she wouldn’t see the ice and that she would
wouldn’t see the ice and that she would
wouldn’t see the ice and that she would slip but fortunately the couple didn’t
slip but fortunately the couple didn’t
slip but fortunately the couple didn’t have a hard time picking up the painting
have a hard time picking up the painting
have a hard time picking up the painting and they walked up happily with her
and they walked up happily with her
and they walked up happily with her found art I didn’t hear back from them
found art I didn’t hear back from them
found art I didn’t hear back from them until spring of that year they said a
until spring of that year they said a
until spring of that year they said a message saying that they would like to
message saying that they would like to
message saying that they would like to meet me a few days later heard a knock
meet me a few days later heard a knock
meet me a few days later heard a knock on the door and when I opened the door
on the door and when I opened the door
on the door and when I opened the door guess what she was still wearing the
guess what she was still wearing the
guess what she was still wearing the same exact shade however this time it
same exact shade however this time it
same exact shade however this time it was more appropriate it was a nice sunny
was more appropriate it was a nice sunny
was more appropriate it was a nice sunny spring day she then hugged me and then
spring day she then hugged me and then
spring day she then hugged me and then she removed her shades I saw that a
she removed her shades I saw that a
she removed her shades I saw that a portion of her head was sort of K bit
portion of her head was sort of K bit
portion of her head was sort of K bit caved in department her shades were
caved in department her shades were
caved in department her shades were hiding she told me that she and her
hiding she told me that she and her
hiding she told me that she and her husband found the painting during their
husband found the painting during their
husband found the painting during their first week of chemotherapy and that it
first week of chemotherapy and that it
first week of chemotherapy and that it helped them deal with her illness and
helped them deal with her illness and
helped them deal with her illness and treatment at this point we were all
treatment at this point we were all
treatment at this point we were all crying it was all so then and there that
crying it was all so then and there that
crying it was all so then and there that I told myself that I will give away
I told myself that I will give away
I told myself that I will give away paintings no matter what this is a still
paintings no matter what this is a still
paintings no matter what this is a still from a video message that this mom put
from a video message that this mom put
from a video message that this mom put together the San Francisco Chronicle
together the San Francisco Chronicle
together the San Francisco Chronicle published a photo of her son picking up
published a photo of her son picking up
published a photo of her son picking up a painting at the BART station in San
a painting at the BART station in San
a painting at the BART station in San Francisco immediately after the story
Francisco immediately after the story
Francisco immediately after the story was published the mom contacted me
was published the mom contacted me
was published the mom contacted me apparently they’ve lost touch for about
apparently they’ve lost touch for about
apparently they’ve lost touch for about four years she mentioned that her son
four years she mentioned that her son
four years she mentioned that her son had a mental breakdown got into drugs
had a mental breakdown got into drugs
had a mental breakdown got into drugs and that was how they lost communication
and that was how they lost communication
and that was how they lost communication the newspapers story and painting
the newspapers story and painting
the newspapers story and painting reunited the mom
reunited the mom
reunited the mom the Sun the most intense feedback
the Sun the most intense feedback
the Sun the most intense feedback received today came from a college
received today came from a college
received today came from a college student in the Midwest he sent a message
student in the Midwest he sent a message
student in the Midwest he sent a message detailing the insurmountable challenges
detailing the insurmountable challenges
detailing the insurmountable challenges he was facing that school year and his
he was facing that school year and his
he was facing that school year and his thoughts about suicide he told me that
thoughts about suicide he told me that
thoughts about suicide he told me that finding a painting on campus was one of
finding a painting on campus was one of
finding a painting on campus was one of the reasons why he didn’t take his own
the reasons why he didn’t take his own
the reasons why he didn’t take his own life this was a portion of his message
life this was a portion of his message
life this was a portion of his message Wow never in my wildest dreams could I
Wow never in my wildest dreams could I
Wow never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined becoming a muralist let
have imagined becoming a muralist let
have imagined becoming a muralist let alone a full-time artist as you may
alone a full-time artist as you may
alone a full-time artist as you may recall I was a tech guy my my mural
recall I was a tech guy my my mural
recall I was a tech guy my my mural career started when schools began asking
career started when schools began asking
career started when schools began asking me to give presentations about my
me to give presentations about my
me to give presentations about my kindness slash pay it forward and non
kindness slash pay it forward and non
kindness slash pay it forward and non graffiti form of street art all my
graffiti form of street art all my
graffiti form of street art all my school related murals are based on kids
school related murals are based on kids
school related murals are based on kids drawings what I do is I showed them how
drawings what I do is I showed them how
drawings what I do is I showed them how to draw my characters and then I take
to draw my characters and then I take
to draw my characters and then I take their drawings then I paint them and so
their drawings then I paint them and so
their drawings then I paint them and so in the end the kids artwork becomes part
in the end the kids artwork becomes part
in the end the kids artwork becomes part of the school’s history
of the school’s history
of the school’s history slash legacy just like stories from
slash legacy just like stories from
slash legacy just like stories from people who find paintings some of my
people who find paintings some of my
people who find paintings some of my mural painting experiences have also
mural painting experiences have also
mural painting experiences have also been really memorable one particular one
been really memorable one particular one
been really memorable one particular one comes to mind it was of dis boy who
comes to mind it was of dis boy who
comes to mind it was of dis boy who could not stop watching me paint the
could not stop watching me paint the
could not stop watching me paint the school’s mural it all started when the
school’s mural it all started when the
school’s mural it all started when the seizure brought this entire class to
seizure brought this entire class to
seizure brought this entire class to observe the mural being painted believe
observe the mural being painted believe
observe the mural being painted believe it or not that kid started to cut
it or not that kid started to cut
it or not that kid started to cut classes in order to see me paint that
classes in order to see me paint that
classes in order to see me paint that got him in trouble but it did not stop
got him in trouble but it did not stop
got him in trouble but it did not stop him at first he just asked art related
him at first he just asked art related
him at first he just asked art related questions but eventually he started to
questions but eventually he started to
questions but eventually he started to share his passion of becoming an
share his passion of becoming an
share his passion of becoming an ambulance driver yeah I was impressed
ambulance driver yeah I was impressed
ambulance driver yeah I was impressed but somewhat puzzled by highly specific
but somewhat puzzled by highly specific
but somewhat puzzled by highly specific career choice especially for its age
career choice especially for its age
career choice especially for its age but nevertheless I encouraged him no and
but nevertheless I encouraged him no and
but nevertheless I encouraged him no and but unexpectedly he tried to convince me
but unexpectedly he tried to convince me
but unexpectedly he tried to convince me to become an ambulance driver I told him
to become an ambulance driver I told him
to become an ambulance driver I told him hey hey you know I already found my
hey hey you know I already found my
hey hey you know I already found my dream job and I can’t think of doing
dream job and I can’t think of doing
dream job and I can’t think of doing anything else I didn’t think much of our
anything else I didn’t think much of our
anything else I didn’t think much of our conversation I just found it amusing
conversation I just found it amusing
conversation I just found it amusing however later on that week I found that
however later on that week I found that
however later on that week I found that as his mother was a drug addict and that
as his mother was a drug addict and that
as his mother was a drug addict and that every month sometimes every week the
every month sometimes every week the
every month sometimes every week the ambulance would come and rescue his mom
ambulance would come and rescue his mom
ambulance would come and rescue his mom the boy saw the ambulance drivers as his
the boy saw the ambulance drivers as his
the boy saw the ambulance drivers as his heroes and he wanted to become one to
heroes and he wanted to become one to
heroes and he wanted to become one to this day I’m still in awe of that kids
this day I’m still in awe of that kids
this day I’m still in awe of that kids capacity to find good in a really
capacity to find good in a really
capacity to find good in a really difficult situation since giving away
difficult situation since giving away
difficult situation since giving away the very first painting the fall of 2003
the very first painting the fall of 2003
the very first painting the fall of 2003 this actual one on this slide about
this actual one on this slide about
this actual one on this slide about 2,500 paintings have now been given away
2,500 paintings have now been given away
2,500 paintings have now been given away in all 50 states including DC
and in about 70 different countries
and in about 70 different countries around the world who would have thought
around the world who would have thought
around the world who would have thought that by thanking Boston that I would
that by thanking Boston that I would
that by thanking Boston that I would find my life’s work kindness can truly
find my life’s work kindness can truly
find my life’s work kindness can truly be paid for it and it comes back thank
be paid for it and it comes back thank
be paid for it and it comes back thank you
”
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