Street Art: An Overview

  Since I've gotten some questions lately about street art, this post is going to be entirely dedicated to street art. There are several types of street art out there, but I'm just going to discuss the types that are most commonly used and that I use myself. I will also talk about things are okay to do and which things you should avoid doing at all costs.

 

TAGGING

  This is one very important aspect of tagging you should be aware of. Tagging is basically a way to sign your name anonymously, whether you are just tagging a wall, or tagging a piece of your own artwork. Street artists often use random words and symbols when they are tagging, but a tag can basically be any combination of letters and symbols. Some street artists also make there tag a meaningful tribute to someone they lost or care about. 

 

examples of tagging

this is an example of a tagging alphabet. There are a lot of others out there that you can find. Some are region specific. ie: you can tell where some taggers are from based on what alphabet they use. You can be creative and come up with your own.

STENCIL GRAFFITI

Like other types of graffiti, stencil graffiti is either used to display art or some sort of political message. These stencils are made by simply cutting designs into the cardboard. The stencil is used to duplicate the image onto a wall for display. These images range from small, simple piece of artwork to large elaborate ones. Stencil graffiti has become very popular since its conception in 1969. Banksy is an example a street artist who is very well known for stencil graffiti.

This is an example of stencil graffiti that I have done. 

This is some of banksy's well known stencils. 

There are a lot of different stencil artists out there. If you want to give it a try you can start off by just making a simple stencil of something you really like, then come up with your own ideas later. 

OTHER TYPES OF GRAFFITI

Graffiti is the most well-known type of street art. Graffiti is created by using markers and/or spray paint. Graffiti can either be a serious social message or political statement, or it can simply be a display of artwork. The street artists who create graffiti work anonymously and tag their artwork after completion. The most common type of graffiti is elaborate calligraphy, but it can come in various different styles.

SLAPS

Slaps (sticker tagging, sticker bombing, slap tagging) is a form of street art that uses stickers to display original art or political messages. This form of street art is easy to do and can be done during the day. It is also the cheapest because several stickers can be printed at one time for a small fee. This form of street art is a very popular for artists to display their work. Putting up stickers became known as slaps because you take the back off the paper part of the sticker and cup it in your hands and slap it on a wall or sign as you are passing by. 

A lot of artists also hand draw all of their artwork on to blank stickers or on USPS labels. That is obviously one of the cheapest ways because you can get the USPS labels for free at the post office or hundreds or thousands of blank ones any place that sells office supplies for anywhere from $4 to $10. 

If you get your stickers printed somewhere you usually have a few options. You can get paper, paper high gloss or vinyl stickers. The paper stickers are a little bit cheaper then vinyls, but they aren't very weather resistant. If your budget only allows you to get paper go with the high gloss. There usually isn't a price difference between no gloss and high gloss and the color wont fade as fast in the high gloss stickers. Vinyl is what bumper stickers are printed on, so they will last for years if no one takes them down verses months. 

A lot of the stickers I use are paper, I like to use them for a few different reasons, but the main one being that if you see my sticker somewhere that means I was there recently. 

hand drawn

printed

printed

Times Square

outside yankee stadium 

 Downtown Raleigh

the last three are a few of mine.

STREET POSTER ART

This is a type of street art that is not commonly known as art by many, however, city streets would be rather boring without them. These posters can be handmade or they can be printed onto thin sheets of paper for and aren't very expensive. These posters (like many other forms os street art) can display a political message. However, they can be humorous or informative as well. 

These are just a few examples of poster art, there are obviously a lot more out there. 

DO'S AND DON'TS OF STREET ART

It is important to know the do's and don'ts of street are. Follow these. They can save you from a lot of trouble from other street artists as well as gangs who tag in the same areas as you. Not only can you avoid trouble by following these rules, but you can earn the respect of your fellow street artists as well.

DO remain anonymous, because street art is in a legal grey area.

DON'T snitch. Keep other street artists anonymous as well. I think that is sort of a rule everyone goes by. If you get caught doing art with someone don't say anything, don't give them anyones names, don't admit to doing anything. If you happen to live in an area where it is illegal the fuzz will use scare tactics to try and get you to admit to doing something, but for the most part they are feeding you a bunch of empty threats. They really don't want to do the foot work to try and get solid evidence against you and in most cases they will just turn you loose after a few hours of harassing you.

DON'T cover someone else's art. First off it's rude, but second some tags are gang and drug related. It is ok to tag on a spot that had art on it, but was white or grey washed by the city or building owner. In that case it is not your fault in any way that whatever was there was covered. 

DON'T listen to people when they tell you there is a wrong way or a right way to do street art. It's like any other art form. You aren't going to let someone tell you there is a wrong or right way to do a canvas, or a wrong or right way to paint your house. NO ONE is the boss or king or lord of street art. The only time you have to worry about following rules is if you are trying to join a street art crew. 

DO at least a rough sketch of what you want to put up before you put graffiti on a wall. Having an idea in your head is great, but having a mapped out visual will help you work faster and your art will look better. 

DO practice your tag before you start putting it up places. You can try a few different ways of writing it out and if you have done it a few times on paper you will be faster at it by the time you put it on a wall. 

DON'T hang around after you have finished a piece. If you want a picture of your work just go back the next day. 

I am by no means an expert in street art, it is just something I do, but If there is anything you'd like to know more about or if there is anything you think I should write about on here let me know. I write back to anyone that takes the time to send me a message, so long as I get the message. The best way to know for sure I'll get something you send to me is by dropping me a line on my facebook page just click there ---> Notti By Nature