Graffiti tips

[crimsonzephyr]

Im only 16 and really want to start graffiti but im not exactly sure how...

i understand the whole pig problem

i just need actual artistic tips or even examples

[Revolucija]

How do you deal with the can? Have you done anything on paper?

[RedStaredRevolution]

Most people will tell you to sketch for a really really long time before you go out and paint. I agree that you need to sketch a lot but using a can is different from sketching so try and use paint every now and then. Until you dont suck try and do this in places where much better artists wont mind (out of the way spots or legal places). If you piss off to many graf artists you'll never get a lot of respect and they will most likely screw your shit up. So paint occasionally, sketch all the time. Once you get better start painting more, but never stop sketching. Even the best graf writers today still sketch.

[crimsonzephyr]

I've started sketching lately but too nothing extensive

i dont really hav any expirience with spraypaint

[Revolucija]

Find some empty wall nearby and start drawing ...
Buy some spraycan caps (NY fat, gold etc.)
Use Happy Color or Montana ;)

[Red October]

It depends on what kind of stuff you're doing. Political or tagging? If you're doing tags, you need to sketch, sketch, and sketch some more to figure out good letterforms and whatnot. And you're probably going to suck really badly for a while, but practice will help a lot.

[RedStaredRevolution]

Originally posted by [email protected] 09, 2007 06:46 pm
Find some empty wall nearby and start drawing ...
Buy some spraycan caps (NY fat, gold etc.)
Use Happy Color or Montana ;)
I woulden't start out by using anything as good as Montana. Until you actually get good, you might as well go and rack some rusto or krylon. Theres no point in paying for really expensive paint if your not going to do anything worthwhile. Hell if you get good using shit paint and then move to good paint you should be amazing. Everyone sucks at first, I myself still suck. Its a hard thing to get good at but if your really into it dont give up.

[Libertarian Socialist Movement]

Originally posted by [email protected] 08, 2007 12:48 am
Im only 16 and really want to start graffiti but im not exactly sure how...

i understand the whole pig problem

i just need actual artistic tips or even examples
i just got arrested for that shit. but i use stencils,
i waz stenciling a picture or bush and hitler having sex

[S.O.I]

Most people will tell you to sketch for a really really long time before you go out and paint. I agree that you need to sketch a lot but using a can is different from sketching so try and use paint every now and then. Until you dont suck try and do this in places where much better artists wont mind (out of the way spots or legal places). If you piss off to many graf artists you'll never get a lot of respect and they will most likely screw your shit up. So paint occasionally, sketch all the time. Once you get better start painting more, but never stop sketching. Even the best graf writers today still sketch.

i got mad graffiti respect

maybe i should start writing political shit too

[Bilan]

Originally posted by Libertarian Socialist Movement+November 11, 2007 05:00 am--> (Libertarian Socialist Movement @ November 11, 2007 05:00 am)
[email protected] 08, 2007 12:48 am
Im only 16 and really want to start graffiti but im not exactly sure how...

i understand the whole pig problem

i just need actual artistic tips or even examples
i just got arrested for that shit. but i use stencils,
i waz stenciling a picture or bush and hitler having sex [/b]
Haha! That's a hilarious stencil idea.
I do mainly tagging. Lot of anarchist tagging, and so forth.
I'd love to be able to do pieces, but it just aint gonna happen.
I enjoy stenciling when I get the chance. I lost my stencil knife, and I'm currently unemployed and broke as fuck, so it's become increasingly difficult.
But my girlfriend gave me some paint ( :wub: ) so it'll be okay.
And that's my story. :lol:

[RedStaredRevolution]

Originally posted by [email protected] 10, 2007 04:26 pm

Most people will tell you to sketch for a really really long time before you go out and paint. I agree that you need to sketch a lot but using a can is different from sketching so try and use paint every now and then. Until you dont suck try and do this in places where much better artists wont mind (out of the way spots or legal places). If you piss off to many graf artists you'll never get a lot of respect and they will most likely screw your shit up. So paint occasionally, sketch all the time. Once you get better start painting more, but never stop sketching. Even the best graf writers today still sketch.

i got mad graffiti respect

maybe i should start writing political shit too
if thats what you want to do, go for it.

Ive kinda moved away from political stuff and mostly tag or bomb (not nearly good enough to piece or burn anything, hell im not even that good at bombing haha). but i still do the occasional slogan or stencil.

[Everyday Anarchy]

What exactly is the point of tagging? I love seeing inspiring slogans or political graffiti, but if all you're going to do is tag a wall or train, I don't see the point.

[RedStaredRevolution]

Originally posted by Everyday [email protected] 10, 2007 07:42 pm
What exactly is the point of tagging? I love seeing inspiring slogans or political graffiti, but if all you're going to do is tag a wall or train, I don't see the point.
I honestly coulden't tell you exactly why I do graffiti, its just something about it that makes me love doing it. Before i got into it I wasnt good at art and wasnt even that interested in it, but for some reason I just love doing it. Part of the reason to do things like pieces and burners is partly to prove to yourself that you could create something like that and another reason could be for respect. Its just another form of expression and an outlet for people. Everyone has a different reason for doing it, I honestly dont know what mine is.

[Everyday Anarchy]

Originally posted by RedStaredRevolution+November 10, 2007 07:28 pm--> (RedStaredRevolution @ November 10, 2007 07:28 pm)
Everyday [email protected] 10, 2007 07:42 pm
What exactly is the point of tagging? I love seeing inspiring slogans or political graffiti, but if all you're going to do is tag a wall or train, I don't see the point.
I honestly coulden't tell you exactly why I do graffiti, its just something about it that makes me love doing it. Before i got into it I wasnt good at art and wasnt even that interested in it, but for some reason I just love doing it. Part of the reason to do things like pieces and burners is partly to prove to yourself that you could create something like that and another reason could be for respect. Its just another form of expression and an outlet for people. Everyone has a different reason for doing it, I honestly dont know what mine is. [/b]
Fair enough. I can dig that. :star:

[Muthafuck Judas!]

Originally posted by Everyday [email protected] 10, 2007 07:42 pm
What exactly is the point of tagging? I love seeing inspiring slogans or political graffiti, but if all you're going to do is tag a wall or train, I don't see the point.



I honestly coulden't tell you exactly why I do graffiti, its just something about it that makes me love doing it. Before i got into it I wasnt good at art and wasnt even that interested in it, but for some reason I just love doing it. Part of the reason to do things like pieces and burners is partly to prove to yourself that you could create something like that and another reason could be for respect. Its just another form of expression and an outlet for people. Everyone has a different reason for doing it, I honestly dont know what mine is.

Bullshit!! Tagging mindless crap on walls is nothing more than a self-indulgent way of creating more work for some poor bastard who has to spend hours cleaning up your rubbish.

EDIT: That said, I'm not against all graffiti. If there was a political or funny piece somewhere that I knew wouldn't get cleaned off I would have no problem with it.

[Bilan]

Originally posted by Muthafuck Judas!+November 12, 2007 03:43 pm--> (Muthafuck Judas! @ November 12, 2007 03:43 pm)
Everyday [email protected] 10, 2007 07:42 pm
What exactly is the point of tagging? I love seeing inspiring slogans or political graffiti, but if all you're going to do is tag a wall or train, I don't see the point.



I honestly coulden't tell you exactly why I do graffiti, its just something about it that makes me love doing it. Before i got into it I wasnt good at art and wasnt even that interested in it, but for some reason I just love doing it. Part of the reason to do things like pieces and burners is partly to prove to yourself that you could create something like that and another reason could be for respect. Its just another form of expression and an outlet for people. Everyone has a different reason for doing it, I honestly dont know what mine is.

Bullshit!! Tagging mindless crap on walls is nothing more than a self-indulgent way of creating more work for some poor bastard who has to spend hours cleaning up your rubbish.

EDIT: That said, I'm not against all graffiti. If there was a political or funny piece somewhere that I knew wouldn't get cleaned off I would have no problem with it. [/b]
I think you missed the point.

"Tags", as in, that squiggly shit that people do is rubbish to some, but that doesn't mean it's not a creative expression in all instances, though, in some, I'd say you're right.
But I tag. It's not self indulgent. I don't do squiggly ones. I drew floating-heart-balloons, and do political graffiti.

Point being, don't try and paint everything with one brush like that.

And seeing as you're from Syd, it's probably a bit harder to relate too, because there's so much shit graffiti here. Go to Melbourne, you'll know what I mean.

[Muthafuck Judas!]

I think you missed the point.

"Tags", as in, that squiggly shit that people do is rubbish to some, but that doesn't mean it's not a creative expression in all instances, though, in some, I'd say you're right.
But I tag. It's not self indulgent. I don't do squiggly ones. I drew floating-heart-balloons, and do political graffiti.

Point being, don't try and paint everything with one brush like that.

And seeing as you're from Syd, it's probably a bit harder to relate too, because there's so much shit graffiti here. Go to Melbourne, you'll know what I mean.

I agree that it is creative expression in some instances, although my opinion is a little skewed because my school is absolutely filled with random little tags which end up getting cleaned off every couple of months by some old South American guy who can hardly speak any english.

Also in the 5 years I've been there the only political thing I saw was a little piece of block writing the day after the start of the Iraq war which read 'no blood for oil' or something along those lines.

[Bilan]

Originally posted by Muthafuck Judas!@November 12, 2007 06:55 pm

I think you missed the point.

"Tags", as in, that squiggly shit that people do is rubbish to some, but that doesn't mean it's not a creative expression in all instances, though, in some, I'd say you're right.
But I tag. It's not self indulgent. I don't do squiggly ones. I drew floating-heart-balloons, and do political graffiti.

Point being, don't try and paint everything with one brush like that.

And seeing as you're from Syd, it's probably a bit harder to relate too, because there's so much shit graffiti here. Go to Melbourne, you'll know what I mean.

I agree that it is creative expression in some instances, although my opinion is a little skewed because my school is absolutely filled with random little tags which end up getting cleaned off every couple of months by some old South American guy who can hardly speak any english.

Also in the 5 years I've been there the only political thing I saw was a little piece of block writing the day after the start of the Iraq war which read 'no blood for oil' or something along those lines.
The solution: Grab a pen or texta, and do it yourself!

[Muthafuck Judas!]

The solution: Grab a pen or texta, and do it yourself!

I like your thinking my friend :)

Although it will have to be somewhere that it won't get cleaned off, I've become too fond of Carlos to make him clean up my stuff.

[Black Dagger]

Although it will have to be somewhere that it won't get cleaned off, I've become too fond of Carlos to make him clean up my stuff.

Bro, if he wasn't cleaning off those tags he'd be cleaning off something else - he gets paid to clean, that's his job.

It's not like if there were no tags he'd get a really long break or something.

He gets rostered on a set amount of hours, in that time he cleans whatever there is to be cleaned that he can clean in that time.

Tagging isn't 'making more work for him' - all it means is, during his shift he'll spend some time cleaning tags instead of toilets, or classrooms, or whatever... he works the same amount of time, it only influences what he has to clean.

[Muthafuck Judas!]

Tagging isn't 'making more work for him' - all it means is, during his shift he'll spend some time cleaning tags instead of toilets, or classrooms, or whatever... he works the same amount of time, it only influences what he has to clean.

You're right, I know that I just wouldn't like the idea of someone spending their time to clean things I've unnecessarily written on a wall.

[Bilan]

I can understand that.

[Black Dagger]

Originally posted by Muthafuck Judas!@November 12, 2007 09:16 pm

Tagging isn't 'making more work for him' - all it means is, during his shift he'll spend some time cleaning tags instead of toilets, or classrooms, or whatever... he works the same amount of time, it only influences what he has to clean.

You're right, I know that I just wouldn't like the idea of someone spending their time to clean things I've unnecessarily written on a wall.
Fair enough - but that does not mean that you will not graffiti any place it will eventually be cleaned off? That excludes a large proportion of good places unfortunately.

[RedStaredRevolution]

Originally posted by Muthafuck Judas!+November 12, 2007 01:43 am--> (Muthafuck Judas! @ November 12, 2007 01:43 am)
Everyday [email protected] 10, 2007 07:42 pm
What exactly is the point of tagging? I love seeing inspiring slogans or political graffiti, but if all you're going to do is tag a wall or train, I don't see the point.



I honestly coulden't tell you exactly why I do graffiti, its just something about it that makes me love doing it. Before i got into it I wasnt good at art and wasnt even that interested in it, but for some reason I just love doing it. Part of the reason to do things like pieces and burners is partly to prove to yourself that you could create something like that and another reason could be for respect. Its just another form of expression and an outlet for people. Everyone has a different reason for doing it, I honestly dont know what mine is.

Bullshit!! Tagging mindless crap on walls is nothing more than a self-indulgent way of creating more work for some poor bastard who has to spend hours cleaning up your rubbish.

EDIT: That said, I'm not against all graffiti. If there was a political or funny piece somewhere that I knew wouldn't get cleaned off I would have no problem with it. [/b]
fuck you man. how are you going to say how people want to express themselves? and not once did i say you should just go out and scribble shit. I suggested that you sketch and get good at drawing before you go out and put your stuff up so it doesn't look like shit. i highly doubt you even know any actual writers so i dont think you would have the slightest clue why they do what they do. dont be a dick, especially if you dont know what your talking about.

[Muthafuck Judas!]

I just don't see the point of tagging shit like 'pubba' or something along those lines on the side of a train.

[Organic Revolution]

Originally posted by Muthafuck Judas!+November 11, 2007 11:43 pm--> (Muthafuck Judas! @ November 11, 2007 11:43 pm)
Everyday [email protected] 10, 2007 07:42 pm
What exactly is the point of tagging? I love seeing inspiring slogans or political graffiti, but if all you're going to do is tag a wall or train, I don't see the point.



I honestly coulden't tell you exactly why I do graffiti, its just something about it that makes me love doing it. Before i got into it I wasnt good at art and wasnt even that interested in it, but for some reason I just love doing it. Part of the reason to do things like pieces and burners is partly to prove to yourself that you could create something like that and another reason could be for respect. Its just another form of expression and an outlet for people. Everyone has a different reason for doing it, I honestly dont know what mine is.

Bullshit!! Tagging mindless crap on walls is nothing more than a self-indulgent way of creating more work for some poor bastard who has to spend hours cleaning up your rubbish.

EDIT: That said, I'm not against all graffiti. If there was a political or funny piece somewhere that I knew wouldn't get cleaned off I would have no problem with it. [/b]
Everything we do doesnt have to be outwardly political. Graffiti is an amazing and beautiful form of art that can brighten the boring and grey landscape of an industrial park or neighborhood. Graffiti is a form of art that is almost impossible to comodify (well, unless your Banksy) and is a direct attack against the forces of gentrification.

[RedStaredRevolution]

Originally posted by Muthafuck Judas!@November 12, 2007 04:54 pm
I just don't see the point of tagging shit like 'pubba' or something along those lines on the side of a train.
Just because you dont get it doesnt mean its bad for everyone else. Other people still enjoy it and in most cases it gives the onlooker something wild and colorful to look at; instead of the boring old grayness of a cleaned city.

[Organic Revolution]

Originally posted by RedStaredRevolution+November 12, 2007 04:21 pm--> (RedStaredRevolution @ November 12, 2007 04:21 pm)
Muthafuck Judas!@November 12, 2007 04:54 pm
I just don't see the point of tagging shit like 'pubba' or something along those lines on the side of a train.
Just because you dont get it doesnt mean its bad for everyone else. Other people still enjoy it and in most cases it gives the onlooker something wild and colorful to look at; instead of the boring old grayness of a cleaned city. [/b]
It isnt a clean city per se, but a city without art, a dead city, where there is no social interaction besides trade. Graffiti is the wrench in people walking around New York with their heads buried in their cellphones.

[Red October]

Cities are often dingy, dirty places to begin with...adding some color brightens up the landscape and adds something interesting to it. Plus, a corporation is allowed to put whatever the fuck they want on the side of a building because they have tons of money, so why shouldn't we enjoy that privilege too? I'd rather look at some nice graffiti than a fucking shampoo ad.

[RedStaredRevolution]

Originally posted by Organic Revolution+November 12, 2007 06:24 pm--> (Organic Revolution @ November 12, 2007 06:24 pm)
Originally posted by [email protected] 12, 2007 04:21 pm

Muthafuck Judas!@November 12, 2007 04:54 pm
I just don't see the point of tagging shit like 'pubba' or something along those lines on the side of a train.
Just because you dont get it doesnt mean its bad for everyone else. Other people still enjoy it and in most cases it gives the onlooker something wild and colorful to look at; instead of the boring old grayness of a cleaned city.
It isnt a clean city per se, but a city without art, a dead city, where there is no social interaction besides trade. Graffiti is the wrench in people walking around New York with their heads buried in their cellphones. [/b]
haha i didnt mean literally "clean". i just meant clean of graffiti or other forms of art. should have specified that :P

plus when cities do clean graffiti by buffing it or paint over it it makes the wall, train, etc. it usually looks worse than before.

[rocker935]

Just so you guys know, I'm friends with Hardee and im going to be doing the graffiti with him. And we are going to be keeping if not most, ALL of our art political. We aren't going to scribble "Bubba" or anything.

[Red October]

Originally posted by [email protected] 12, 2007 06:26 pm
We aren't going to scribble "Bubba" or anything.
Why not? You could make some pretty sick graff out of it. Not all graffiti has to be about politics, just like art in a gallery. I do political stuff, which I think is good to do, but I also do my own art that is not political. It's all good.

[Muthafuck Judas!]

You guys have brought up some things which never really crossed my mind.

So sorry if I came accross as rude and closed minded.


Peace

[crimsonzephyr]

Originally posted by Red October+November 13, 2007 01:59 am--> (Red October @ November 13, 2007 01:59 am)
[email protected] 12, 2007 06:26 pm
We aren't going to scribble "Bubba" or anything.
Why not? You could make some pretty sick graff out of it. Not all graffiti has to be about politics, just like art in a gallery. I do political stuff, which I think is good to do, but I also do my own art that is not political. It's all good. [/b]
We aren't doing meaningless graffiti we are doing it to express our views

[crimsonzephyr]

Tell me if this is a good idea

i bought sum window paint markers and im planning on taking the ink out and adding 2/3 paint and 1/3 thinner or mineral spirits to it

the markers have a nice "mop" tip

[Red October]

Originally posted by hardee+November 12, 2007 10:41 pm--> (hardee @ November 12, 2007 10:41 pm)
Originally posted by Red [email protected] 13, 2007 01:59 am

[email protected] 12, 2007 06:26 pm
We aren't going to scribble "Bubba" or anything.
Why not? You could make some pretty sick graff out of it. Not all graffiti has to be about politics, just like art in a gallery. I do political stuff, which I think is good to do, but I also do my own art that is not political. It's all good.
We aren't doing meaningless graffiti we are doing it to express our views [/b]
That's a very closed minded view of graffiti. Just because it is not political doesn't make it "meaningless". Really, don't be a dick about it. The modern graffiti movement did not start as an explicitly political act, it started as a way for people to express themselves. Much of the best graffiti in the world is not political. It's art! And who says art has to be political?

[Black Dagger]

Originally posted by RO
And who says art has to be political?

Unfortunately this is a POV adopted by many of the young members on this site.

IE. That everything we do as revolutionaries must take the form of 'propaganda' - this misses the 'point' of creative expression.

Graffiti, or any art form for that matter, is not valid only when it explicitly promotes revolution; but regardless, illegal street art is often an affront to private property, gentrification and the social order (the order of the ruling class).

Moreover, the elevation of 'political graffiti' (at the expense of all other graffiti) as a tool of propaganda, really over-states its effectiveness.

The popular argument is that political graffiti is the only acceptable graffiti because it communicates an important message - yet no critical consideration is given to how effective this communication is.

By no means am i suggesting that political graffiti is pointless or misguided - it definitely forms a part of the daily urban resistance, as an outlet for dissent - but as with most political propaganda it's a blunt tool. Most people cannot be bludgeoned out of a state of alienation by crude propaganda (slogans) into critical, socially revolutionary consciousness. That doesn't make sloganeering invalid, it just needs to be taken with some perspective. The same is true for all graffiti.

[crimsonzephyr]

i guess i worded that wrong

by meaningless i just meant like tags or random pictures

im not against expressing oneself (even with tags) i just meant that we are doing this to express our views, to spread the word. Not to write our tags or random pictures with no purpose besides expressing how we feel (unpolitically). I do understand other people do it and im fine with it, its just not what we're out to do.

[Black Dagger]

You really need to stop using 'we' - when very clearly 'we' don't all agree with you ;)


Originally posted by hardee+--> (hardee)Not to write our tags or random pictures with no purpose besides expressing how we feel (unpolitically). [/b]

Creative expression IS a purpose.

Just because something doesnt have an explicitly political purpose doesn't mean that its actual purpose is worthless/meaningless.


hardee
I do understand other people do it and im fine with it, its just not what we're out to do.

By, 'we're' i assume you mean 'I'm'? Because you're not speaking for everyone when you generalise 'our' purpose.

[Bilan]

Originally posted by bleeding gums [email protected] 14, 2007 02:34 pm

Creative expression IS a purpose.

Just because something doesnt have an explicitly political purpose doesn't mean that its actual purpose is worthless/meaningless.

QFT.
I love you, BGM. You remind me so much of the Situationists, just without the ego. :wub:

[RedStaredRevolution]

Originally posted by bleeding gums [email protected] 14, 2007 12:34 am
By, 'we're' i assume you mean 'I'm'? Because you're not speaking for everyone when you generalise 'our' purpose.
I think by 'we' he means rocker935 and himself. rocker stated a few posts back that they would be doing this graffiti together.

[rocker935]

Originally posted by RedStaredRevolution+November 14, 2007 11:03 am--> (RedStaredRevolution @ November 14, 2007 11:03 am)
bleeding gums [email protected] 14, 2007 12:34 am
By, 'we're' i assume you mean 'I'm'? Because you're not speaking for everyone when you generalise 'our' purpose.
I think by 'we' he means rocker935 and himself. rocker stated a few posts back that they would be doing this graffiti together. [/b]
Yup, Hardee and I, along with a few other comrades are going out to do this as a group project if you will.

[Black Dagger]

Fair nuff.

[Everyday Anarchy]

This is not an attack on graffiti artists or anything, I'm just trying to understand everything a little more.

When I see tags and seemingly random shit (first impression) sprayed on walls, the only thing I can think of is gangs. I know that that is extremely wrong, but that is simply the way it has been ingrained in my mind since I was little.

I'm curious what some graffiti artists have to say about the whole inner-city gang connection to graffiti.

[Red October]

Originally posted by Everyday [email protected] 14, 2007 06:01 pm
This is not an attack on graffiti artists or anything, I'm just trying to understand everything a little more.

When I see tags and seemingly random shit (first impression) sprayed on walls, the only thing I can think of is gangs. I know that that is extremely wrong, but that is simply the way it has been ingrained in my mind since I was little.

I'm curious what some graffiti artists have to say about the whole inner-city gang connection to graffiti.
Gang graffiti is often done to mark a gang's territory or diss another gang, it's not usually a form of artistic expression from what I've seen. In my area there seem to be two gangs that diss each other through graffiti, with one using a star of david and another using a swastika as a symbol. Some gang graffiti I've seen does have a fair amount of skill behind it though.

by the way, this is my thousandth post :D

[RedAnarchist]

Originally posted by Red [email protected] 14, 2007 11:06 pm
by the way, this is my thousandth post :D
Not, of course, including the ones which don't count towards your postcount I assume? :lol:


(j/k, well done RO :D )

[Everyday Anarchy]

Originally posted by Red October+November 14, 2007 05:06 pm--> (Red October @ November 14, 2007 05:06 pm)
Everyday [email protected] 14, 2007 06:01 pm
This is not an attack on graffiti artists or anything, I'm just trying to understand everything a little more.

When I see tags and seemingly random shit (first impression) sprayed on walls, the only thing I can think of is gangs. I know that that is extremely wrong, but that is simply the way it has been ingrained in my mind since I was little.

I'm curious what some graffiti artists have to say about the whole inner-city gang connection to graffiti.
Gang graffiti is often done to mark a gang's territory or diss another gang, it's not usually a form of artistic expression from what I've seen. In my area there seem to be two gangs that diss each other through graffiti, with one using a star of david and another using a swastika as a symbol. Some gang graffiti I've seen does have a fair amount of skill behind it though.

by the way, this is my thousandth post :D [/b]
I would say that the general public views tags as gang-related graffiti. When graffiti has a message or an image, that is when people sorta cock their head sideways and start to think about it. Otherwise, people see it only as gang activity and for the most part ignore it.

[Red October]

Gang graffiti:
http://publicsafety.ci.akron.oh.us/police/images/gang_graffiti.jpg

Good graffiti:
http://www.citynoise.org/upload/16123.jpg


How does that look like gang graffiti? If someone views that as the bloods or MS-13 graffiti, that's their problem.

[rocker935]

Originally posted by Everyday [email protected] 14, 2007 11:34 pm
I would say that the general public views tags as gang-related graffiti.
Your right, when my mom saw graffiti in the neighborhood she thought that gangs were moving in and got totally freaked out. Obviously I live in a white suburb, so she isn't used to seeing this in the neighborhood.

[Black Dagger]

Obviously I live in a white suburb, so she isn't used to seeing this in the neighborhood.

That's really weird; in oz there is graff in most neighbourhoods - in the city and the suburbs.

[crimsonzephyr]

...anymore tips?

[RedAnarchist]

Originally posted by Red [email protected] 14, 2007 11:43 pm
Good graffiti:
http://www.citynoise.org/upload/16123.jpg


Whilst that looks amazing, I haev no idea what it says. What does it say?

[RedStaredRevolution]

Originally posted by Red_Anarchist+November 15, 2007 06:30 pm--> (Red_Anarchist @ November 15, 2007 06:30 pm)
Red [email protected] 14, 2007 11:43 pm
Good graffiti:
http://www.citynoise.org/upload/16123.jpg


Whilst that looks amazing, I haev no idea what it says. What does it say? [/b]
at first glance i think the blue one says MTR and the green and black one says CAPE or CASE (looks more like CAPE to me).

[crimsonzephyr]

Originally posted by RedStaredRevolution+November 15, 2007 11:36 pm--> (RedStaredRevolution @ November 15, 2007 11:36 pm)
Originally posted by [email protected] 15, 2007 06:30 pm

Red [email protected] 14, 2007 11:43 pm
Good graffiti:
http://www.citynoise.org/upload/16123.jpg


Whilst that looks amazing, I haev no idea what it says. What does it say?
at first glance i think the blue one says MTR and the green and black one says CAPE or CASE (looks more like CAPE to me). [/b]
I think the first one is "metro"

and i have no idea with the second

[RedStaredRevolution]

Originally posted by hardee+November 15, 2007 08:15 pm--> (hardee @ November 15, 2007 08:15 pm)
Originally posted by [email protected] 15, 2007 11:36 pm

Originally posted by [email protected] 15, 2007 06:30 pm

Red [email protected] 14, 2007 11:43 pm
Good graffiti:
http://www.citynoise.org/upload/16123.jpg


Whilst that looks amazing, I haev no idea what it says. What does it say?
at first glance i think the blue one says MTR and the green and black one says CAPE or CASE (looks more like CAPE to me).
I think the first one is "metro"

and i have no idea with the second [/b]
ya youre right, i mistook the E for a connector. but im almost positive the second one says CAPE

[rocker935]

I can see that it says metro for sure. But I cant see "cape" at all.

[crimsonzephyr]

Originally posted by [email protected] 16, 2007 01:46 am
I can see that it says metro for sure. But I cant see "cape" at all.
Same, it looks too long to be "cape" too

[crimsonzephyr]

Originally posted by [email protected] 16, 2007 01:46 am
I can see that it says metro for sure. But I cant see "cape" at all.
Same, it looks too long to be "cape" too....o wait i see it

but it looks more like "grape"

[RedStaredRevolution]

Originally posted by [email protected] 15, 2007 09:46 pm
I can see that it says metro for sure. But I cant see "cape" at all.
ya, the color combination is harder to read and i think thats an LA style which are much more jagged then others. the C just has a bunch of arrows and connectors behind it which makes it look like its more than a C

[Red October]

I think it's by the legendary artis COPE2. I found it in a google image search for him, so I assume it is his work. My point is that guys like Cope are not gang members or murderers, they're artists who are out in the streets expressing themselves. They often are not very explicitly political in their art, but the fact that they are directly challenging private property and censorship is good.

[Vicarious]

Originally posted by [email protected] 08, 2007 12:47 am
Im only 16 and really want to start graffiti but im not exactly sure how...

i understand the whole pig problem

i just need actual artistic tips or even examples
Im 15
I sympathize with you, but I steer more in the direction of stencils!!
Find a stencil on the net, OR make your own with a drawing on paper or of an edited image in photoshop (or something that acts like photoshop) print it NOT in black but a light gray (to conserve printer ink) then get one of those plastic (so you can use the stencil over and over unlike paper were it can only take so much paint before falling apart) folders (yellow if you got it) that you may use for school. Trace the design on the plastic using a fine sharpie with the paper behind the plastic and when done cut it out with a X-acto knife or my personal favorite the short blade on a Swiss Army knife along with the scissors.
[img]http://fc03.deviantart.com/fs20/i/2007/304/d/8/Visit_The_Philippines_by_Vicarious247.jpg' alt='' width='800' height='851' class='attach' /> (http://fc03.deviantart.com/fs20/i/2007/304/d/8/Visit_The_Philippines_by_Vicarious247.jpg)
This is one I made in photoshop (the font is not made for stencil work) its ready to go.
and you can make your work walking and moving for every one to see like putting it on a shirt!! here is one of my shirts on my cousin (deceased)
[img]http://a737.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/38/m_d77374309f14f446d819a980288489b8.jpg' alt='' width='170' height='302' class='attach' /> (http://a737.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/38/m_d77374309f14f446d819a980288489b8.jpg)

[bezdomni]

Use different spray tips (the thing that disperses the paint) to get interesting effects. You can get a fatter one to make bold lines or a skinnier one to get thinner, more precise lines.

If you want to do something big, sketch it out a few times first.

Bold spray tips are great for writing up slogans and shit...you really only need the other tips for artistic effect, or drawing something.

Tagging in groups is much more efficient and safer than going it alone. If you're using stencils, it's good to have four people; one close lookout, one distant lookout, a sprayer and a holder.

If you're not using stencils, then you just need three people and can obviously eliminate the holder.

Multilayering stencils can make some pretty cool, detailed shit that can go up very quickly.

Even if you're working in a place that you are certain you won't get caught or in trouble, still try to go as fast as you can. Working on your speed will make it so that you can get shit up fast when you are in a more sensitive area. Speed is very important.

Try to put shit up in places that will be very difficult or impossible to erase. Half of the creativity of graffiti is what you put up, the other half is where you put it.

That's about all I got right now.

[crimsonzephyr]

Originally posted by Vicarious+December 23, 2007 03:24 am--> (Vicarious @ December 23, 2007 03:24 am)
[email protected] 08, 2007 12:47 am
Im only 16 and really want to start graffiti but im not exactly sure how...

i understand the whole pig problem

i just need actual artistic tips or even examples
Im 15
I sympathize with you, but I steer more in the direction of stencils!!
Find a stencil on the net, OR make your own with a drawing on paper or of an edited image in photoshop (or something that acts like photoshop) print it NOT in black but a light gray (to conserve printer ink) then get one of those plastic (so you can use the stencil over and over unlike paper were it can only take so much paint before falling apart) folders (yellow if you got it) that you may use for school. Trace the design on the plastic using a fine sharpie with the paper behind the plastic and when done cut it out with a X-acto knife or my personal favorite the short blade on a Swiss Army knife along with the scissors.
[img]http://fc03.deviantart.com/fs20/i/2007/304/d/8/Visit_The_Philippines_by_Vicarious247.jpg' alt='' width='800' height='851' class='attach' /> (http://fc03.deviantart.com/fs20/i/2007/304/d/8/Visit_The_Philippines_by_Vicarious247.jpg)
This is one I made in photoshop (the font is not made for stencil work) its ready to go.
and you can make your work walking and moving for every one to see like putting it on a shirt!! here is one of my shirts on my cousin (deceased)
[img]http://a737.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/38/m_d77374309f14f446d819a980288489b8.jpg' alt='' width='170' height='302' class='attach' /> (http://a737.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/38/m_d77374309f14f446d819a980288489b8.jpg) [/b]
the plastic folder idea is great i would never have thought of that. Ive been using cardboard which works alright

[Vicarious]

Originally posted by hardee+December 26, 2007 01:22 am--> (hardee @ December 26, 2007 01:22 am)
Originally posted by [email protected] 23, 2007 03:24 am

[email protected] 08, 2007 12:47 am
Im only 16 and really want to start graffiti but im not exactly sure how...

i understand the whole pig problem

i just need actual artistic tips or even examples
Im 15
I sympathize with you, but I steer more in the direction of stencils!!
Find a stencil on the net, OR make your own with a drawing on paper or of an edited image in photoshop (or something that acts like photoshop) print it NOT in black but a light gray (to conserve printer ink) then get one of those plastic (so you can use the stencil over and over unlike paper were it can only take so much paint before falling apart) folders (yellow if you got it) that you may use for school. Trace the design on the plastic using a fine sharpie with the paper behind the plastic and when done cut it out with a X-acto knife or my personal favorite the short blade on a Swiss Army knife along with the scissors.
[img]http://fc03.deviantart.com/fs20/i/2007/304/d/8/Visit_The_Philippines_by_Vicarious247.jpg' alt='' width='800' height='851' class='attach' /> (http://fc03.deviantart.com/fs20/i/2007/304/d/8/Visit_The_Philippines_by_Vicarious247.jpg)
This is one I made in photoshop (the font is not made for stencil work) its ready to go.
and you can make your work walking and moving for every one to see like putting it on a shirt!! here is one of my shirts on my cousin (deceased)
[img]http://a737.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/38/m_d77374309f14f446d819a980288489b8.jpg' alt='' width='170' height='302' class='attach' /> (http://a737.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/38/m_d77374309f14f446d819a980288489b8.jpg)
the plastic folder idea is great i would never have thought of that. Ive been using cardboard which works alright [/b]
Ya paper gets to be a pain in the ass especially if you use it over and over!!
:ph34r:
Shirts are good presents for friends, and your art is legal and its moving!!!
and you can make profit if you want to be self employed.

[w0lf]

Originally posted by Libertarian Socialist Movement+November 10, 2007 06:59 pm--> (Libertarian Socialist Movement @ November 10, 2007 06:59 pm)
[email protected] 08, 2007 12:48 am
Im only 16 and really want to start graffiti but im not exactly sure how...

i understand the whole pig problem

i just need actual artistic tips or even examples
i just got arrested for that shit. but i use stencils,
i waz stenciling a picture or bush and hitler having sex [/b]
:lol: :lol: Good work! Any pictures?

[crimsonzephyr]

I don't know how well wheat pasting works, can anyone give some tips or personal experiences with it.

I've read stuff about it but what ive heard doesnt give info like how long it lasts before going dry, how sticky it is(it doesnt seem like it would stick amazingly well), etc.

[Vicarious]

Hmm wheat paste it can be a good friend or a pain in the ass
you can probably get a recipe on about.com or wikipedia, and if you still cant find one just Google Marxist paste

i prefer silk screening the the back bulletins at my school then re post them to where my message is clear, it saves paper

I think i need a bigger silk screen though


well best of luck to you dont let any one (piggies or friends of piggies) catch you

[non-vio-resist]

i dabbled with this when i was 16, so i guess i can't be too upset with the pro-graffiti outlook on this site; i'm starting to realize most of you are in high school. i would make the argument that graffiti is anti-working class. what i am all in favor of are the legal graffiti walls, as i think it's an amazing art form, but "getting up" on a building or someone's garage is ridiculous. people scrubbing the shit off the walls or painting over it are the working women and men that we're supposed to be fighting for; you know,the slave wage folks? how ironic would it be that some poor government worker/ victim of capitalism is painting over your "left-wing" political message. graffiti has it's place. any time a kid from the inner-city can make a living from graffiti it's awesome. or if there are legal walls supported by tax-payers, then this is a beautiful art form. otherwise, though, you're going to be contributing to someone working their ass off covering up your "tag."

[bezdomni]

i'm starting to realize most of you are in high school.
What the hell does that mean?


people scrubbing the shit off the walls or painting over it are the working women and men that we're supposed to be fighting for; you know,the slave wage folks? how ironic would it be that some poor government worker/ victim of capitalism is painting over your "left-wing" political message. graffiti has it's place. any time a kid from the inner-city can make a living from graffiti it's awesome. or if there are legal walls supported by tax-payers, then this is a beautiful art form. otherwise, though, you're going to be contributing to someone working their ass off covering up your "tag."

First of all, communists don't do graffiti on the homes of proletarians or the petty-bourgeoisie, or (generally) on small businesses. We target the property of the state and the bourgeoisie to "decorate". Anyway, graffiti is cleaned by janitors. If they weren't scrubbing graffiti, they'd be scrubbing toilets or cleaning up puke. Doing graffiti is no more "anti-working class" than puking in a hallway or having muddy shoes.

Also, I'd like to clarify that janitors aren't proletarians. The concept of a working class based around cultural lines is completely alien to revolutionary marxism.

[crimsonzephyr]

Hmm wheat paste it can be a good friend or a pain in the ass
you can probably get a recipe on about.com or wikipedia, and if you still cant find one just Google Marxist paste

i prefer silk screening the the back bulletins at my school then re post them to where my message is clear, it saves paper

I think i need a bigger silk screen though


well best of luck to you dont let any one (piggies or friends of piggies) catch you

silk screen?

[non-vio-resist]

What the hell does that mean?
that means what it says: it's an observation of the site. there are a lot of high-school kids here. before responsibility reared it's ugly head, i, too, was in high school. there was no family, no job, and no responsibility. i was a blissful idiot. i said i can't knock kids who paint, because i did it when i was that age. i'm a grown-ass man, though; i can't be running around with my skateboard, a backpack, and a respirator any more. also i have nothing but respect for people who can get up; it's a high art form.



First of all, communists don't do graffiti on the homes of proletarians or the petty-bourgeoisie, or (generally) on small businesses.
it doesn't really matter where you do it; you're creating boring, strenuous work for someone who's being exploited.

We target the property of the state and the bourgeoisie to "decorate".
i mean, this is a complicated matter. who are you to label someone in a capitalist society? look, whatever your belief system, ie anarchist, democratic socialist, marxist, etc the fact is that many of us live in capitalist societies. i don't feel anger for, say, a political dissident who may happen to be a brain surgeon and have nice things. did you ever take into account the property of those members of what you call the "bourgeoisie" class, could actually be marxists, anarchists, or leftists in general? you'd really have to ask the person before you deface their property instead of making some kind of judgement calls. as for defacing state property, you're never going to convince me that this is a revolutionary act. i know i keep repeating myself, but you're creating uninteresting work for a working individual.


Anyway, graffiti is cleaned by janitors. If they weren't scrubbing graffiti, they'd be scrubbing toilets or cleaning up puke. Doing graffiti is no more "anti-working class" than puking in a hallway or having muddy shoes.

i would call this a wasteful, "petty-bourgeoisie" (to use your words) argument. it's kind of the same argument that i've heard capitalist-loving douche-bags make when they litter. they say: "well, it creates a job for somebody." this is an elitist attitude.


Also, I'd like to clarify that janitors aren't proletarians. The concept of a working class based around cultural lines is completely alien to revolutionary marxism.

if you haven't figured out by now, i'm not a marxist but if he were around today, i think he would be fighting for people like janitors (marx once said himself that he wasn't even a marxist:D). marx was concerned not only with the abolition of capitalism but also the quality of work. he thought human beings were entitled to interesting, meaningful work, or quality of life (you know, the fish in the morning/hunt later part?). i just don't think that marx would share your views which seem to suggest that some blue collar workers are perhaps better than others. i possibly missed your point.

[bezdomni]

There are lots of holes in what you are saying.


that means what it says: it's an observation of the site. there are a lot of high-school kids here. before responsibility reared it's ugly head, i, too, was in high school. there was no family, no job, and no responsibility. i was a blissful idiot. i said i can't knock kids who paint, because i did it when i was that age. i'm a grown-ass man, though; i can't be running around with my skateboard, a backpack, and a respirator any more. also i have nothing but respect for people who can get up; it's a high art form.

Yeah, this site is comprised mostly of youth. There's a lot of political work that youth do almost exclusively, graffiti is probably the best example of t. I think it's great that young people do political graffiti in disciplined ways.


it doesn't really matter where you do it; you're creating boring, strenuous work for someone who's being exploited.
So? If they weren't cleaning graffiti, they'd be scrubbing a toilet or doing something else equally boring and strenuous. That's like saying "workers have to run the printing press for communist newspapers, so we shouldn't produce a revolutionary newspaper."

Yeah, this system is based in exploitation....political graffiti or not. In fact, graffiti (and wheatpasting) serve a propagandistic purpose, and when combined with other forms of revolutionary work strengthen the radical pole in society.


i would call this a wasteful, "petty-bourgeoisie" (to use your words) argument. it's kind of the same argument that i've heard capitalist-loving douche-bags make when they litter. they say: "well, it creates a job for somebody." this is an elitist attitude.

Waste is a product of imperialism and an integral part of this system. You can't have capitalist-imperialism without waste. I don't have a problem with wastefulness or littering on its own, I have a problem with the underlying conditions of wastefulness and littering.

My argument is that it doesn't matter if janitors have to scrub graffiti. If they weren't scrubbing graffiti, they'd be scrubbing something else. That's their job. If there was nothing for them to scrub, they'd be unemployed or doing some other form of exploitative labor.


i'm not a marxist
Well, there's your problem!


i think he would be fighting for people like janitors
Yeah, Marxists around today "fight for people like janitors"...but janitors are not the deepest, most exploited people in society. Their livelihood does not revolve around doing productive labor, although it *does* revolve around doing labor. The backbone of the capitalist system, however, is not the service industry - it's the industrial proletariat. Those who own nothing but their labor and have to sell it on a day-to-day basis in order to survive.


i just don't think that marx would share your views which seem to suggest that some blue collar workers are perhaps better than others.

"Blue collar" is not a term consistent with material reality. Class is determined by relations to production...some people under capitalism are net exploited while others are net beneficiaries of exploitation, while others still are outright exploiters (or the armed forces of the exploiters).

The proletariat is the backbone of capitalist society, it is the deepest and most exploited class in bourgeois society and alone possesses the potential to radically transform society and abolish classes as a whole.

Janitors aren't proletarians, since their work is contingent on imperialism and commodity production. If there weren't workers in factories producing spraypaint, there would be no graffiti and therefore no janitors to clean it up.

They are exploited and oppressed, make no mistake in that. They are, however, not proletarians according to their relationship to the means of production.


(marx once said himself that he wasn't even a marxisthttp://www.revleft.com/vb/../images/smilies/biggrin.gif).
The context of that was Marx expressing opposition to a group of terrorists who were calling themselves "Marxists" when they were not.

[non-vio-resist]

"Blue collar" is not a term consistent with material reality. Class is determined by relations to production...some people under capitalism are net exploited while others are net beneficiaries of exploitation, while others still are outright exploiters (or the armed forces of the exploiters).

i'm well aware of this, soviet pants, but i don't know how constructive it is to not use words like blue-collar in a non-marxist society. it does serve a purpose, and i think that a janitor lives a high quality life vis a vis an immigrant picking tomatoes, who is literally a slave to an exploiter. "blue collar" is semantics, but if i were to say this on the street it means something to someone else, therefore being within the economy of language, as opposed to saying "an individual within the material world would not be called "blue collar" because karl said so." you're correct that under the marxist lens this term means nothing, as well as "working class," but they are exploited as well as anyone else in the system, and they are both words in the u.s. vernacular that express a meaning to some.

[mykittyhasaboner]

sketching is also important for developing your own style :cool:

[Vicarious]

:ohmy: