At 13-17 years old, as a skinny quick thinking kid, is when I began truly studying and sketching the urban subcultures and people who literally dwelt and slept in the inner city. I would spend the early mornings, entire days and memorable nights, traveling alone by RTD or Metro buses to commitments, school, work, my father's downtown garment district jobs or union buildings, bridges, tunnels, parks, lakes, old theatres, sandwich shops, 2nd story rainy rooftops and window outlets, etc. I would spend hours, intrigued by the movements and almost endless unexpected occurences, observing the grey and faded concrete architecture from the early 1900's, The traffic and sirens, rodents and pigeons, alley activities, varied "clashing" yet "homogenized" people, shapes, scrapes and cityscape sounds. I began sketching quick portraits at 14 years old as an automatic semi-natural way to chronicle and journal daily thoughts and activity in these metropolitan worlds. (A) The sketch portion is just a few of my inkpen captures I did from street corners and bus seats. My dreams and creative visions then, were always to somehow add color and vivid commentary to what some refer to as a "dying, drug infested, dirty, dangerous and desolate" place.... and to somehow make a difference, communicate and touch lives. I believe that this was a crucial component as to why I became a muralist. This is a picture of me 17 years old roaming the streets of Manhatten, New York by myself... H Rios (213) 435-9611