Graffiti

What is Graffiti? Graffiti art doesn't just mean art we see sprayed on walls. In fact, graffiti art has such strong characteristics that it's easy to spot anywhere. Graffiti is often found on the sides of buildings typically in cities. Graffiti is sometimes regarded as a form of abstract modern art and other times regarded as unsightly damage or unwanted vandalism.

Are there “Rules” For Graffiti? There are no strict rules to creating graffiti, but there are distinct characteristics that make graffiti art appear stylish. Let's see what those characteristics are: Loose Forms Subjects overlap Highlights applied to letters or image 3D impression Colorful and bright - colors like red, orange, yellow, green and blue are preferred

Is it a Legal form of Art? In most countries, defacing property with graffiti without the property owner's consent is considered vandalism. Controversies that surround graffiti continue to create disagreement amongst city officials, law enforcement, and graffiti artists looking to display their work in public locations. Some artists even buy their own walls to practice on. Nowadays, graffiti artists can be employed by companies to advertise or create artwork to cover up boring walls.

How long has it existed? It has existed since the times of ancient Greece and the Roman Empire when lettering and figures were scratched or painted into walls. In modern times, spray paint, normal paint, and markers have become the most commonly used materials. It evolved into pop culture and is often related to underground hip-hop music and break dancing. Nowadays, many graffiti artists have taken to displaying their works in galleries and their own studios. This practice started in the early 1980’s in America with artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, who started out tagging locations with his signature.

Graffiti Vocab A "tag" is the most basic writing of an artist's name. A graffiti writer's tag is his or her personalized signature.

The "throw-up," is normally painted very quickly with two or three colors, sacrificing aesthetics for speed. Throw-ups can also be outlined on a surface with one color. A "piece" is a more elaborate representation of the artist's name, incorporating more stylized letters, usually incorporating a much larger range of colors.

A more complex style is "wildstyle", a form of graffiti usually involving interlocking letters and connecting points.

Can you read it??

Now, practice some lettering in your sketchbooks.

http://video.pbs.org/video/1864784580/ PBS video – 7 minutes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQH5HggtiAw Abstract art with music – 9 minutes

Directions for Abstract Art Activity: Draw an angry line. Draw a happy line. Draw a sad line Choose two musical symbols to add. Choose three geometric shapes to add. Decide on a color scheme. Color your abstract drawing.