old stuff (by skan)
before you discovered this forum or basic graffiti you will probably have done some not so good sketches and when you first login to the forum and post them you will get laughed at and hopefully directed to this thread
keep these peices even shit stuff is valuable and write what people say about them on the back
if people just say your toy, wack etc dont write this stuff on the back i mean when people say that the A is your worst letter but the B shows some style or when people say straighten this bend that and stuff (if no-one says anything constructive (we can be meanies at times) pm the pictures to me or one of the moderators and explain why you are doing so someone should help eventualy)
the reason you are doing this is because you will get an understanding of what is good and what is bad general overview (by dread)
before anything, know something about graffiti in general. seeing tags, throws and pieces isn’t knowing, go out and find the spots, get flicks in your storage, and ultimately try to get in touch with other writers. and maybe after this you would feel like "damn, ill go and burn the shit out of everything."
WRONG
now is the time you should start sketching, and this isn’t just letters, draw cartoons, draw everything that just pops into your mind. as you might know, graffiti isn’t restricted to just one agenda, you can do pretty much everything you want with it.
the first thing in sketching is doing outlines after outlines, for hours and hours straight. no one gets good at lettering by doing a fast minute outline and colouring it for 5 hours. LOOK AT THE FLICKS, AND KEEP UPDATING YOUR COLLECTION, because this is the main key to updating your own personal style. just by looking at the fresh pieces and throws you know something about the other people operating in your area. I really can’t put any more weight to flicks (my personal opinion) , because knowing what the other writers is about will help you to overdo yourself and come up with something wicked.
when you think you have a good outline ready, think again. sketch that shit again, but make little modifications to it this time. continue this as much as you want, but remember to keep your shit in LETTER FORM. I don’t care if its wildstyle or whatever, but even the wickedest of wildstyles are SHAPED AS LETTERS, although they are camoflauged by different types of "thingies". (I call em thingies, since I really can’t come up with another word that suits all the un-necessary arrows, extensions and fastenings better)
choosing a name (by skan)
choosing a name isn’t necessarily the first thing you should do but most people do this first so I will put it here
first off
some people get a name handed down to them by an older writer
some people choose a name because they like the way it sounds
some people make a name out of the letters they like
it doesn’t matter which way you get your name but it does matter if you are using another writer’s name
when choosing a name it is important to do your research look up graffiti legends first (if you choose one of these names you will get flamed)
then look for writers who are better than you or have been rocking the name for a long time.
try looking on
http://www.robotswillkill.com/graffiti/ http://www.at149st.com/artists.html
there’s more out there but I can’t remember them
you could also look at user lists of major forums if you find there is a user with the name you were going to have pm the writer and politely ask them if they are still using the name if they say they are using it look below
if you already have a name and find another writer its using it and you don’t want to change you could add a number to the end
if you haven’t decided on a name it doesn’t matter yet because in the next step you will get to try different words
block letters (by skan)
take a ruler and choose a simple letter (I think a capital T will be good for this) you can make the T out of two rectangles of equal size
(one vertical one horizontal)
kinda like these like these (ignore the dots)
.______
|______|
. __
|... |
|... |
|__|
Now make the T and use the ruler to make the rectangles the same size
this is what we mean by a block letter
do this letter quite big on an normal piece of paper and put it somewhere it wont get lost (don’t rub out the construction lines they are the reason you are doing this)
next choose another simple letter (L,I,U,,E etc)
make these out of horizontal and vertical blocks and put them on the pile
when you’ve made your way through the alphabet (at some time you are going to need to do diagonals and rounded shapes just save them until last) put these in a folder/draw etc where you won’t lose them or damage them
now start making 4-6 letter words from these templates and put all the words you make in the pile after you can do good bolck letters quick without a ruler you should be ready to start trying different styles
a throw-up (by skan)
the links are images I’ve made then links to stop the post getting to large
I drew all these picture and did not bite if they are similar to yours its coincidental
also for the toys don’t bite these letters it won’t help in the long run
A throw-up or "throwie" sits between a tag and a piece in terms of complexity and time taken. It generally consists of a one-color outline, one layer of fill-color and sometimes a force field/aura (a line around the outside of a throwie or piece which draws attention and can cover drips and mistakes). Easy-to-paint bubble shapes often form the letters. A throw-up is designed for quick execution, to avoid attracting attention to the writer.
this is basic but is needed for the writer to progress if I saw this painted I wouldn’t think its wack (I thing seen rocked an S similar to this)
http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/1...ture085yj4.jpg
this letter is not wack but it has large gaps which would slow down the process of painting
http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/3...ture088qs6.jpg
these are the same letter slightly modified
some of these have gaps but they would be filled with the outline colour when you do your 3d/drop shadow (explained later on)
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/5873/picture086dg8.jpg http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/7...ture089tu5.jpg http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/9...ture087if0.jpg http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/6...ture092dh9.jpg http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/6...ture090sp4.jpg
this is a basic throw-up with a drop 3d I haven’t used a vanishing point because this takes up time figuring where the lines go and when your painting a heated spot you need to be quick
http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/8...ture093si7.jpg
this is a basic throw-up with a drop shadow this makes it look like the throw-up is floating when done correctly
to do this pretend the letters have been duplicated and make the duplicates down the page slightly then the parts of the duplicate which can be seen with the original filled are coloured in (I might use more pictures to explain this because it’s hard for me to explain)
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/7...ture094gy4.jpg
when painting a throw-up (its good to do the first one somewhere very quiet and where it wont be seen because the first time you do it you will probably make a mistake)
now then the steps
*take your outline cap and your fill colour and draw the outline of the throw-up if you mess it up correct it you can go over mistakes with your outline
*now put a fatter cap (you don’t have to but its faster) on your fill colour and fill in everything inside the outline if there design has small gaps fill them it you will make them gaps latter (make sure your lines only go one way and back the same way this is generally quicker that doing lines everywhere)
*now use your outline colour and outline cap and paint the outline over the fill (if there’s gaps in your design this is the time to fill them)
*do your 3d/drop shadow in your outline colour
*if you want do a force field/aura (basically a line around the throw-up) this can be done in your fill colour or a different colour (bright colours will draw attention to your throw-up) a force field/aura can be accompanied by those paint splatter circle things drips drawn on (not drips you get when you spray for too long on one spot artistic ones)
*if you want to, do a tag inside or next to your throw-up (if you abbreviate eg skan could be sk) do a tag because another writer could use the same abbreviation and you don’t want others thinking you didn’t do it the other writer did
getting better at piecing (after block letters) (by skan)
this can help when you’re not sure after block letters and when you’re stuck for ideas
to get better at pieces I would say look at other basic pieces and copy the style
when your not in the mood to sketch go out and take photos of local writers pieces and save pictures of pieces off the internet to your computer get photos of simple pieces and difficult pieces print some of these pictures (make sure you get a variaty of styles/level)
for each photo you print grab a pen and write neatly what you think are the strong parts the weak parts, and what you think the writer could have done to improve, leave some space because you will probably have better and different oppinions later on
i never write on the front of a photo instead i will print a black and white duplicate and use a coloured pen if i want to circle weak parts, bits i like etc then i paperclip it to the colour counterpart
now you have got a library of pictures ready draw those pieces (simplest piece first)
don’t trace them you wont learn by doint this
then you could post a few of these pencil sketches in the toy blackbook to see what people think.
dont claim that there yours someone will recognise the style and you will be flamed if i was to do this i would put in bold letters that i had copied it
now when you come to make your own letters for a piece you will be influenced by the pieces you drew and you letters will look a lot better
another way is to find a piece and copy the style of it into your piece
don’t bite the letters it doesn’t help
if you decide to post these in the forums say you copied another writer and if possible add flicks the piece you copied of this stops people flaming each other
(also if you copy a writer who you can contact eg dread pm him and ask if he is ok with you doing so)
trust me this helps loads
now youve copied you will want to create your own pieces
go and buy a blackbook even if youve already got one i would recomend getting another for your better stuff
now start sketching outlines in pencil and going over your final outline in a black pen post this on the forums to see what people think and write comments on the back (dont expect to get all good comments theres more of a chance you will get all bad ones) dont get pissed off over this some of the people will have more experience and dont like the things you think are good
just keep doing outlines and keep reading what people have said about your piece and if you will slowly learn and the good comments will come
this doesnt mean you can act like your the best and start beef when people dont like what you do your still only basic and if your acting like your it people wont give critisism (also if you start to help others they will help you and others will realise your cool and will help you)
not all of your sketches will be great your still learning and expected to make mistakes (think of every mistake as a chance to learn something new and get better) just keep doing simples and writing what you and others think on the back
once you have got the lettering down get another book preferably one for artists so that markers wont blead to mich (if the markers blead throught on to the other side of a page it doesnt matter you will be writhing oppinions on the back, if the markers bleed throught multiple pages put scrap paper like old newspapers behing your page
now its time to learn again so get your flicks out and bite colour schemes and do your own and post them and write on the back all the time keep advancing your letters and colour and your on the path to get better and better
one day you will make the jump into the main forums when this tme comes you will probably get people complaining your to good for toy battles or complmenting you andout it being time to move up
even thought your out of the toy forums check back and offer your advice to people starting out
basic 3d graffiti tutorial (by skan)
cilck to make bigger
ok look at step 1
ive drawn out the letter flat and split it into its main sections so i can look back at ti whils doing my 3d stuff just to make sure everything is there
look at step 2
ive placed two vanishing points (dots at the edge of the page where the 3d goes to) then ive drawn a verticle line (orange highlight) after this ive drawn lines from the top and bottom of the verticle line to the vanishing point (blue highlight)
no ive done two vertical lines so i know the timensions of the letter (the left part is the letter the right will be 3d)
look at step 3
ive done two small vertical lines to show where my gaps in the letter will be (light orange)
then ive drawn lines to/from these two lines to the left vanishing point (light blue)
now ive drawn two vertical lines to place the vertical colums of the s (dark blue) (the one that it closer to the vanishing point is smaller)
finaly ive drawn two lines from the orange line on the right side to the (brownish lines)
look at step 4
ive drawn lines from each tope edge to the opposite vanishing point (orange line)
then i draw a line from all the edges in the gaps to the opposite gap(light blue)
look at step 5
i wouldent draw this i would do it in my head but il illutreate it to explaint it
basicly i decide which parts i want to be light or dark
then you can see the final letter coloured
homemade krink stuff (by obseen but I added some stuff)
krink if made properly looks super and is hard to buff
get this ( a good silver paint) easy to steal from say homebase
most metallic silvers will give the same result
mix with some white spirit the more white sprit the drippier (if its not too drippy it won’t get through the nib)
put into bottle that’s easy to pour with, very good idea
put into a mop of your choice,
[/quote]
RECIPE FOR CANDY INK (by obseen)
candy ink is the most staining ink I’ve heard of, apart from maybe etch and grog
you could get potassium nitrate off eBay or from your school probably
Ingredients
4 lemon boiled sweets, make sure there bassets lemon sherbets they have the most acidic content...
Food colouring, your colour choice...
600grams of caster sugar....
400grams of potassium nitrate...
White spirit...
Steps
1. Put sugar and potassium nitrate into a saucepan. Heat on a gentle heat...
2. Keep stirring till it forms a gooey liquid.
3. Leave this liquid to cool so it goes hard.
4. Re-heat and then mix in the sweets and food colouring.
5. Add white spirit on a very low temp even turn the hob off.
6. You now have some thinned candy ink for ur marker Very Happy
painting (by skan)
if your getting negative comments and being told to "keep going simple" or "your wack" and stuff don’t go out and paint it will just give you a bad name keep sketching and you will be ready one day
ok you’ve got some letter structure good tags and a decent throw-up and you decide you want to go out and paint one night.
first off paint is not the same as sketching so got some wood or find a place where no one goes and practice until you feel right.
next have a walk around the area you want to paint looking for quite places which there won’t be much activity at night. when you find places make sure there’s no cctv and there’s escape routes
chose a good night to go out Fridays and Saturdays usual have more police out because of party’s bars and clubs. Monday nights won’t have much going on so less police will be on duty.
choose appropriate clothing dark grey is least visible at night not black, don’t wear graffiti clothing sure it looks good but will get ruined by paint or if you have to get away. also a cop who’s unsure if it was you who did it will be more sure if your clothing labels you as a graffiti artist
be prepared you don’t want to be hiding between two dumpsters anyway but needing to piss make it lots worse, also having an excuse ready helps if you get asked what your doing out at 3 in the morning
if you’re going with mates make sure you can trust them. also when you’re travelling to and from the spot be discrete talking about graffiti and the spot could be picked up by cctv that can record sound also yelling and messing around will attract attention.
if you feel unsure or there’s lots of activity near the spot go home sure you didn’t get to paint but there will be lots of other times to paint but there wont be if your caught, if your mates are peer pressuring you into painting it when you don’t feel safe there not mates, a real mate/crew should respect your decisions
after you’ve painted take your cans with you and ditch them somewhere away from the spot.
you will defiantly get an adrenaline rush after painting but control it don’t run around town tagging everything you can see you don’t know who or what can see you instead walk home and if you know a spots safe do something and keep walking
also avoid painting on the following
cars (abandoned/burnt out ones are ok)
churchs
peoples houses
peoples art (good pieces included)
memorials
graveyards
schools,colleges,universities, (the money should go towards education not cleaning)
emergancy services (hospitals and stuff (police stations are ok))
do all this and you should reduce your chances of getting caught or ruining your work
(I don’t paint much and haven’t been painting for long so feel free to correct me and add to this)
of interest
my doing peoples names...
http://graffitispot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1488
come here if you are struggling and want some inspiration I am doing pieces for people
the official cap thread...
http://graffitispot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1204
here you will find descriptions of the main caps
mrwiggles
http://www.mrwiggles.biz/graffiti.htm
this webpage contains graffiti lessons and some graffiti lessons most writers don’t like what he does but I’ll put it here because it might help
(don’t bite the alphabets it won’t help you in the long run )
killians doing peoples names
http://graffitispot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1501
He’s new to this but a free piece is a free piece get em whilst you can :)
info on not getting caught
http://www.graffitispot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=861
all city book
http://www.sekondhandprojects.com/allcitybook/index.htm
books of interest
http://www.at149st.com/books.html
style wars
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...e+wars&pl=true
future of graffiti
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?...re+of+graffiti 
beginers thread 
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