What's Graffiti?
Graffiti is any type of public markings that may appear in the forms of simple written words to elaborate wall paintings. Graffiti has existed since ancient times, with examples dating back to Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire.
History of Graffiti
![Picture](/uploads/9/9/1/2/9912305/4754404.jpg)
The interior of a 70s subway
Graffiti has a long and proud history. The subculture surrounding graffiti has existed for several decades, and it's still going strong. The style of urban graffiti that most people have seen and know about, the kind that uses spraycans, came from New York City in the late 1960s, and was born on the subway trains. Taki 183, who lived on 183rd street in Washington Heights, worked as a messenger who traveled all throughout the city. While he did so, he would use a marker and write his name wherever he went, at subway stations and also the insides and outsides of subway cars. Eventually, he became known all throughout the city as this mysterious figure. Kids all over New York, realizing the fame and notoriety that could be gained from "tagging" their names on subway cars began to emulate Taki 183.
Graffiti writers, in addition to getting their name around as much as possible, would try to outdo each other in terms of style. The "style wars" in the 1970s between graffiti artists trying to get famous and creating bigger and better pieces resulted in the emergence of an entire subculture surrounding graffiti.NYC subway graffiti became world famous, and its style and sensibilities were transplanted to other parts of the country and the world, mixing with local traditions and styles in new ways.
With heightened security in the 80's, subway graffiti slowly died out. In 1989, the last train with significant amounts of graffiti on it was taken off the lines, ending an era. Traveling on the subways in 2003, there is virtually no graffiti to be seen on the outside of trains, and only dim scratchings here and there on the insides. But graffiti lives on, on city walls and other more unlikely places. Recently, there has been a trend towards writing graffiti on freight trains. Nowadays, artists are "getting up" not just in their own city, but across the country, furthering the transmission and mixing of different graffiti styles from all over. Graffiti has also become a way to make money. Graffiti art has been featured in exclusive galleries and has exerted its influence on the world of graphic design. Nowadays, it is not uncommon to see graffiti-style or graffiti-inspired art on t-shirts, posters, and CD covers.
Graffiti writers, in addition to getting their name around as much as possible, would try to outdo each other in terms of style. The "style wars" in the 1970s between graffiti artists trying to get famous and creating bigger and better pieces resulted in the emergence of an entire subculture surrounding graffiti.NYC subway graffiti became world famous, and its style and sensibilities were transplanted to other parts of the country and the world, mixing with local traditions and styles in new ways.
With heightened security in the 80's, subway graffiti slowly died out. In 1989, the last train with significant amounts of graffiti on it was taken off the lines, ending an era. Traveling on the subways in 2003, there is virtually no graffiti to be seen on the outside of trains, and only dim scratchings here and there on the insides. But graffiti lives on, on city walls and other more unlikely places. Recently, there has been a trend towards writing graffiti on freight trains. Nowadays, artists are "getting up" not just in their own city, but across the country, furthering the transmission and mixing of different graffiti styles from all over. Graffiti has also become a way to make money. Graffiti art has been featured in exclusive galleries and has exerted its influence on the world of graphic design. Nowadays, it is not uncommon to see graffiti-style or graffiti-inspired art on t-shirts, posters, and CD covers.
How to draw Graffiti?
Many people may think that Graffiti artists just randomly spray paint on the walls to create words and shapes. In fact, drawing Graffiti is one of the most difficult arts of all kinds. You might not think of "math" when it comes to drawing,but many Graffiti artists actually make use of it. For example, when a shadow effect is used, the artist has to deal with different angles to give it such an effect. Moreover, it is important to keep objects in correct proportion and perspectives.
Step 1: Graffiti artists often work on a piece in sketchbooks before they actually begin painting it. The sketchbooks sometimes use a grid to help plan out the design. Sometimes they go beyond planning, and create visual effects that look as if they were stretching or folding the grid.
Step 2: In the Graffiti Grapher software artists will use Cartesian coordinates to locate the start and finish of each line.(For more information about the Graffiti software, visit http://graffitianalysis.com/)
Step 3: Artists then spray the Graffiti by following the coordinates of the Graffiti template.
Here are some Graffiti video tutorials:
Step 1: Graffiti artists often work on a piece in sketchbooks before they actually begin painting it. The sketchbooks sometimes use a grid to help plan out the design. Sometimes they go beyond planning, and create visual effects that look as if they were stretching or folding the grid.
Step 2: In the Graffiti Grapher software artists will use Cartesian coordinates to locate the start and finish of each line.(For more information about the Graffiti software, visit http://graffitianalysis.com/)
Step 3: Artists then spray the Graffiti by following the coordinates of the Graffiti template.
Here are some Graffiti video tutorials:
It ain't easy, is it? Graffiti artists definitely devote lots of time practicing and they should be well-respected. Let's check out some amazing Graffiti art pieces done by talented artists:
Make Your Own Graffiti!
Wanna have your own graffiti?That's easy! Here is an awesome website for you to create your own artwork!
http://www.graffiticreator.net/
Wanna have your own graffiti?That's easy! Here is an awesome website for you to create your own artwork!
http://www.graffiticreator.net/