Subway Art, written by Martha Cooper Style Wars, directed by Henry Chalfant
Searching online for uploaded images of tags. Taking a walking tour highlighting areas with active graffiti artists. Going on your own hunt for tags in your area.
Visit https://legal-walls. net/ to locate nearby artwork that was done by permission.
This isn’t to say that you should limit yourself to just your area. In fact, comparing and contrasting what local artists are doing versus what’s being done in, say, Los Angeles or Berlin could be just as enlightening.
Your tag needs to be visually appealing, so a name that sounds cool might be less impressive visually than one that sounds blah but looks pretty awesome. You’re free to change your name at any time, both before and after you start tagging. If you plan on doing any illegal artwork, make sure that your alias can’t be traced back to you in any way.
Angles Spacing Symmetry Thickness
Tilt the angle of the whole letter so that its top is pointing slightly to the right, and its bottom to the left, or vice versa. Curve its vertical line so it resembles the letter “J” for a more languid, swooping effect. Reduce the size of the loop at its top to suggest a sharper, tighter, swifter line.
Don’t be content with just copying. Blatant mimicry in finished tags (or “biting,” as it’s called in graffiti circles) is frowned upon. This is another reason why it’s important to start out with a sketchbook. This way you can learn by others’ examples without being accused of trying to pass off borrowed styles as your own.
If you’re using the letters “U” and “V,” you may be pleased at first with how they each look individually. However, you may then realize that they’re too similar and confusing when paired together. In this case, you’ll have to alter one or both to make them more distinct so your tag is easily legible.
An actual large canvas A sheet of plywood A wall that belongs to you
This goes for your whole body, not just your arms. Expect your waist, hips, legs, and feet to have an impact on the quality of your work. The larger the surface area to be covered, the wider your range of motion will need to be. A larger canvas means you have to reach, lean, and bend to a greater degree, and more often.
This goes for your whole body, not just your arms. Expect your waist, hips, legs, and feet to have an impact on the quality of your work. The larger the surface area to be covered, the wider your range of motion will need to be. A larger canvas means you have to reach, lean, and bend to a greater degree, and more often.
If you don’t shake it up, the consistency will be uneven. This means that it will be extremely thin at times (which makes for a weak coat), and thicker at others (which could cause clogs).
Remember that many paints have toxic ingredients. Even those that don’t should never be inhaled or ingested. Wear protective gloves and mask to reduce this risk.
For neat, crisp lines, you need to work up close. For fades and shadows, you need more distance.
Again, some experimentation may be needed here. Constant motion is always key, but do some practice lines at various speeds to see what effect each has on your lines. Another reason not to dawdle is if you decide to tag some place without permission.
Whether the area has already been tagged, in which case you should choose another. How visible it is, since you may be better off improving your skills on less visible areas. If it’s legal to tag this space, and if so, whose permission you need to obtain, if any. If it’s illegal to do so, and if so, if you’ll be easily noticed or caught.
