Graffi ti Art Mr. Hobbs

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 them everywhere  Where do you often see graffiti?  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 Art?  There are no strict rules to creating graffiti art, 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  Colourful 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.  The best thing to do is practice graffiti in a sketchbook or blackbook.  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?  Since 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.  Evolved into a pop culture existence often related to underground hip hop music and break dancing creating a lifestyle that remains hidden from the general public.  Nowadays, many graffiti artists had taken to displaying their works in galleries and owning their own studios.  This practice started in the early 1980s with artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, who started out tagging locations with his signature and Keith Haring, who was also able to take his art into studio spaces.

Graffiti and Culture  Graffiti is often seen as having become intertwined with hip hop culture and the myriad of international styles derived from New York City Subway graffiti (see below). However, there are many other instances of notable graffiti this century. Graffiti has long appeared on and subways.  Grew in popularity in the 70s  80s gave rise to stencil graffiti  Marc Ecko, an urban clothing designer, has been an advocate of graffiti as an art form during this period, stating that "Graffiti is without question the most powerful art movement in recent history and has been a driving inspiration throughout my career."[ [

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," also known as a "bombing" which 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??

Graffiti Artist: Banksy  Banksy is one of the world’s most notorious and popular street artist who continues to remain faceless in today’s society.  Known for political, anti-war stencil art in England but his work can be seen anywhere from Los Angeles to Palestine.  In the UK, Banksy is the most recognizable icon for this cultural artistic movement and keeps his identity a secret to avoid arrest.

 Much of Banksy's artwork can be seen around the streets of London and surrounding suburbs.  Banksy’s art is a prime example of the classic controversy: vandalism vs. art.  Art supporters endorse his work distributed in urban areas as pieces of art while city officials and law enforcement have deemed all work by Banksy to be vandalism and property destruction.  Many members of Bristol’s communities feel that Banksy’s graffiti reduces property value and encourages rogue behavior.

Your Graffiti Project  Check out the rubric to see what’s up…  Here is a Graffiti creator which is a useful tool to help you with lettering and creating your own style. Graffiti creator Graffiti creator

Now, practice some lettering in your sketchbooks.