Not all those who wander are lost and not all those who hang off rooftops painting incredible murals must do so in the dead of night. The New York Times feature Colossal Media, a Williamsburg based company keeping the tradition of hand painted outdoor advertising alive.

“People think hand-painted means graffiti,” said Mr. Moeller, who, as it happens, publishes the graffiti culture magazine Mass Appeal. “Or they worry we won’t be able to replicate an image with photorealism.”

Neil Marks, director of marketing for Comedy Central, which commissioned the “Freak Show” ad near Union Square, echoed that concern. “As tremendous a job as Colossal does in replicating the art,” he said, “I don’t know how comfortable I would be in hand-painting Jon Stewart’s face.”

Is Marks scared they’ll screw up Jon Stewart’s graying temples?

Photo of Wesc advertisement on Houston and Broadway from Collosal Media.