How To, for the Young-uns

Thanks to Omen...

From Toy to King from kreisone on Vimeo.

BLAST FROM THE PAST

Here's an interview by Galerie d'art Yves Laroche with Omen, of Taichung Four Crew. Omen is currently painting in Montreal.

YL :You've lived in Asia for  a minute, right? Tell me about painting nights there.

O : It was awesome! I lived in Taichung,Taiwan. I lived there for 4 years. I can bust Chinese and everything. When I got there there was only about 12 graffiti writers in the whole country! With a population of around 25 million  you can see how that is just crazy. I was bombing around town with this paint called PP SPRAY ( all the pressure and twice the lead.haha.) with stock caps no less. And I saw some other guys were bombing as well. Mostly 3 other guys but I had no way of meeting them. So one day I was walking by my piece and underneath it was sprayed "omen. do you want to paint with me" and 2 check boxes with "yes" and  "no". later that night I checked "yes" and then went to another spot and dropped a piece with my email address. But before they could reply to that message my friend Jessica told me she ran into them (it was two guys SAME and BOBO) and they were coming to the restaurant I was eating at. It was pretty awkward because my chinese at this point sucked and all we were doing was meeting to paint. After that we did the first production in Taichung the largest piece in all of Taiwan and went bombing pretty much all the time together. I miss them. It's not the same as here. There you have freedom at the price of no laws while here it is the opposite. One day. One day. Now there is at least 30 writers there , ha, and I keep track of what is going on there via flickr.

Love Minus Zero/ No Limit

I don't get to get out as much anymore to find new graf around town, but this is right across the street from my house, so it was something to do on a busy Sunday. Seems like someone working in my neighborhood who calls himself Zero. I hope to see some more of his stuff soon.


















There was also some stuff left over from when the lot was a bar that I never saw open.

Angel Baby

There have been a couple new stencils here and there around town. Here's one from the corner of Da Long and Dong Hsing Rd.

Tips For Your Drawing Graffiti Art

In particular the use of the bold style lettering is really distinctive to graffiti art. The images themselves will usually be hard hitting, and be painted in stark colours utilising strong shadows and outlines to add depth and definition. Images usually depict social or political issues close to the artist's heart.

Before you start a piece of graffiti art, you should draw a small scale version of the large piece you want to create first, then when you begin your actual piece, its a simple task of just scaling up your graffiti sketch.

If you need ideas for a graffiti font to use, there are plenty of sites online that have examples for you to copy. For the outlines, use a fine marker pen. In order to produce a 3D effect, shade around the letters you've outlined with a different colour. Then use permanent markers to colour in your letters.

Once you are ready to paint your sketch on to your larger canvas or wall, you need to draw a reference grid over your small drawing. Sketch a full size replica of the grid on to your wall or canvas that you are using for your scaled up graffiti piece. Use either chalk, charcoal or diluted paint to draw the large grid. To make marking the grid out easier, the simplest thing to do is to use a piece of string.

Use chalk or charcoal to transfer your small drawing on to you larger canvas. Use an aerosol can to paint the background in using diluted paint, keep the layer thin and allow it to dry before you start your colouring. When you've finished the outline and the background, it's time to add the colours and detail. Again use aerosols to add the colours. Start with the lightest colours first and the largest sections, and then move on to the detail and the smaller areas last.

When you've coloured your work in, you can add the fine definition with a brush to enhance the fine lines and borders around your figures and letters. You can preserve it for years to come with a thin layer of varnish.

These are all the steps you need to master if you want to paint impressive graffiti art.

Graffiti Creator v2.0

Initial planning for Graffiti Creator version 2.0 has begun. This update will completely overhaul the user interface, having the Graffiti Preview on screen, full screen, all the time with hide-able toolbars displaying the several drawing tools. 

Also, a tutorial will be included , describing how to layer Graffiti within an image, and how to import images from the Photos app and use them as the background. Maybe a few videos, too. The layering wiring will also be redone, allowing for instant-layering instead of 1.) saving to Photos, 2.) import and use as new background. 

Possible new line drawing options, such as dashed, and maybe even patterned lines.

Release Date: End of Year 2009

Many thanks to everyone around the world who has downloaded Graffiti Creator! 

Michael Nolivos

SoviloN Software

Graffiti Creators and Graffiti Styles

 

 Graffiti is a form of art that is used to express the artists feeling and emotions. Just like pouring out your feelings in a diary, only using a different medium. Although many people see graffiti as a nuisance and also see it as vandalism, it is hard to not be interested in its unique style and free expression. Graffiti is a social expression, often a voice of the discontented youth, and is part of the urban world around us.

It is generally harmless, vibrant and creative and often brightens up walls and buildings. Graffiti has many different styles but the two most common types are tagging and hip hop graffiti. Different styles of graffiti fall into different categories.

Hip hop graffiti pieces are usually very large and are created using aerosol spray paints. They usually are a complex mix of letters or a cartoon sketch. Hip hop graffiti usually takes longer to achieve as it takes a lot of planning and designing first.

Tagging graffiti is used as a means to 'mark territory'. This type of graffiti is used as a way to mark one's presence, to say 'so and so was here'. Often the letter styles in one territory will be different to another and signatures are very territorial indeed. Some graffiti is racially motivated or sometimes even politically motivated and bears some relation to urban street fighting.

Commercial graffiti is seen as a big problem. This involves private organisations paying graffiti artists to spray paint advertising logos on walkways and buildings so that they can promote their product. This is an illegal form of advertising.

Graffiti is amazing and its a great way to express yourself through colours, pictures and words. Graffiti can mean everything to an artist so they use it as means of expressing their feelings if they have a lot kept in. It is a stress relief and it is fun painting a wall.

Some people like to express their feelings by writing them down or speaking to someone else. Others may choose to paint words in fierce, vibrant colours, that come across as a message in a piece of art. This could be a message in itself, indicating that they are being driven to the wall because no-one is really listening. So many young people, especially in the inner cities, find that their families are usually too busy trying to survive to have quality time to spend with them. So they form sub-cultures and their own styles of communication to express what they need to say.

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An Empty Suit/Nice Threads

Saw this new stencil on the way home from work last night. I've seen another one or two somewhere but have already forgotten where.

Graffiti Creator Version 1.1

Graffiti Creator for iPhone Version 1.1

Background Image Support.

- Original image size and resolution is retained

- All of the Graffiti tools are compatible with background image support.

- Allows for layering Graffiti. Make Graffiti, save as image, use as background, and make additional Graffiti. This allows for multiple words, and layering of different designs.

- Simply go to Colors > Background Color > Image.

New Features.

- Selecting pattern stroke color with Color tool is now available.

- Upgraded Gradient tool and UI. Now you can specify the exact interpolation of the gradient colors, allowing for unique and custom gradients.

- Save Graffiti in Portrait Orientation! Instead of double tapping in landscape, hold your Lock Button on your iDevice, then press the Home button. The Graffiti is then saved in Portrait Orientation.

New Fonts

- amsterdam, GRAFFPITY, Kingthings Xander and Kingthings Xander Outline

Bug fixes.

- Fixed a bug that displayed the "Black" color button in BW rather than RGBA color mode.

- Fixed a bug for the Kingthings Calligraphica & Dearest fonts that did not display capital letters.

Thank you for your continued use of the Graffiti Creator for iPhone App.

Special Thanks to Kevin King, creator of the Kingthings line of fonts.

Death Note: L Black and Red Graffiti Wallet

This is a wallet from the popular anime and manga series, Death Note! This wallet features the popular characters, L! L is featured on the front and back of the wallet in front of red graffiti relating to the series. The wallet itself is black.

See Price: Death Note: L Black and Red Graffiti Wallet

The interior of the wallet is black with white accent stitching, and it contains a total of 7 pockets; 1 window pocket (for your ID), 4 misc./credit cards pockets, and 2 bills pockets.

Element Stanton Graffiti Complete Skateboard

ELEMENT 8" COMPLETE SKATEBOARD STANTON GRAFFITI - This Complete Skateboard includes only Premium Name Brand Components, which we've carefully selected for this board to ensure your maximum satisfaction.

See Price: Element Stanton Graffiti Complete Skateboard

This Element Complete Skateboard is 8 inches wide. And custom complete skateboard ships fully assembled with Bones MiniLogo Wheels, MiniLogo bearings and Black Trucks.

Street graffiti

Street graffiti
Originally uploaded by micksabox

This Graffiti is an example of keeping it simple: you don't need advanced patterns or even gradients to make sick Graffiti. This graffiti works well because the colors complement each other so well. Inspired by an NBA Street mentality.

Hulk graffiti

Hulk graffiti
Originally uploaded by micksabox

This is a cool example of the kinds of effects that the patterns allow. By lowering the opacity of the green pattern color, it looks like this Hulk graffiti has veins, which is appropriate for the deezed Hulk.

Flickr group for Graffiti Creator

The Official Flickr Group for Graffiti Creator for iPhone is located here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/graffiticreatoriphone/. Here you are able to upload your creations, discuss techniques for making your Graffiti even better and comment on other tagger's creations.

Note that Flickr has an email-to-Photostream feature that gives you an email where you can send your attached Graffiti to. The Graffiti picture is then automatically added to your Photostream.

Graffiti Creator is Live on App Store!

Today is July 10, 2009 and Graffiti Creator is officially live on the App Store! Its been a long journey to get to here, but in the end I am proud in the quality of Graffiti Creator.

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As of July 11, 2009, we have 2, 717 downloads worldwide! Remember, get yours while its still free! Thanks to everybody who downloaded it and reviewed it, I appreciate the feedback.

South Wenshin Road Artifical River

Useful and Fun : GRAFF: The Art & Technique of Graffiti

I bought this book for my 11 year old son who was interested in the art of graffiti. He experimented with it a little but after he received the book he was able to do so much more. It sale on Internet Shopping Store. Although he probably looks at the pictures (which are numerous and varied) more than read the text he has still learned a great deal about the various styles and techniques.

I even began to read it and was pleased with the easy to understand language and explanations throughout. It is a great learning tool.

Once viewed as merely a blemish on the urban landscape, graffiti today has evolved into a legitimate art form in its own right, influencing entertainment, advertising, fashion and other creative industries worldwide.

In this unprecedented book, master graffiti artist Scape Martinez shows how he does his thing, offering streetwise advice to help other "writers" create maximum-impact, legally sanctioned work. Step by step, he lays out the philosophies and realities of the genre. From picking a "tag" and developing letterforms, to the logistics of prepping a wall and working a spray can in a painterly fashion, Graff will help you find your style and leave your mark--large and loud.

- A breakdown of the fundamental elements of graffiti style letters, character, backgrounds - and how they work together and intermingle with arrows, symbols, quotes and tags
- From paper to wall, a start-to-finish approach for creating graffiti in various styles
- 5 on-site step-by-step demonstrations show the creation of various types of compositions, from throw ups to full-blown pieces.

Complete with a glossary and a timeline tracing graffiti history, Graff is the bible for street artists looking to elevate their work, graphic designers wanting to expand their vocabulary, and anyone interested in giving their work an edgy, urban look.

More Efficient

Reprogrammed the drawing algorithm for the Graffiti. Previously, whenever the view needed to be updated, the mini iPhone background was redrawn along with the Graffiti. However, this resulted in the iPhone losing memory quickly and slow redraw times, as the image that depicted the iPhone background had to get stored to memory, drawn, and then the Graffiti would be drawn.

Now, whenever the Graffiti preview view needs to be redrawn, only that view is redrawn, resulting in WAY better performance.

Obligatory New Post

I just found a new outdoor gallery of Taichung graffiti art & will get out and get shooting just as soon as time permits. It's a motherlode. Looks like a kilometer of riverbank colored up on two sides.

In the meantime, check out Craig's "Wall Art Korea." Good stuff.

Possible Background Image

Upon using and creating Graffiti with Graffiti Creator, the importance of having a background image has dawned on me, especially to enhance the appeal of saving Graffiti and using it as your wallpaper.

Will probably update after release, as this functionality is not too hard to add.

Comment.

Is Graffiti An Art?

Graffiti is a medium. It is like paper,canvas or pencil. You can use things to make art or you can use those thing to make a grocery list, it's all up to you and what you choose to express using those tools.

A lot of artist today and in the history of art have done graffiti (Kith Harring and Basquiette pops into my mind right now), with Swoon selling pieces to Momma and Shepard Ferry, Fail and Banksy having huge shows (as well as a lot of other artists that are a little less known but are getting there), I don't think that this is ever a question - street art, is art.

Does that means that every person who write their name on the wall is an artist?! not really, just like not everyone who write a grocery list in an author. I think that has to do more with the intention of the artist then with the medium they work in.

Pre-Development

As of June 7, 2009, Graffiti Creator is close to release. I need to add some graphics for the pattern selector and maybe change the algorithm that repositions the shadow. Other than that, I am hoping for a smooth App Store submission, as I have heard that it can be quite complicated.

Graffiti Creator for iPhone Official Blog

Hello, and welcome to the official blog of Graffiti Creator for iPhone. I want to first thank you for downloading my app, hopefully it is the first of many to come. 

Here, you may post comments and feedback concerning the App. Did the app crash? Post what happened here.

Also, any suggested improvements are gladly welcomed, as I plan to provide some updates should the need arise.

Thanks again, and may your graffiti's be live and your tag's be monsters! 

Where da Grammar At?

Some bitty in Milwaukee (warning, Fox News, remove your brain) got her knickers in a twist over graffiti in her neighborhood that read "Where da bitches at?"

Now, I like correct grammar as much as the next English teacher-- unless it's an English teacher in Taiwan, but nevermind--however, I think that, since this has been a recurring nightmare for the last several decades, it's time for the new generation of grammarians to ease off and allow popular usage to help the language evolve. If it wasn't for language evolution, we'd all be talking like Chaucer.

So, if you're out there writing, throw some prepositions UP!

Graffiti and Real Estate Investments

As graffiti is usually a vandal's attempt at attracting attention to themselves, removing it as quickly as possible eliminates the satisfaction they receive knowing that people are viewing their name or whatever usually rude message they have left behind. If left alone, graffiti tends to multiply, as other vandals see the area as an easy target.

Therefore, especially in urban areas, but potentially anywhere, it is important that a property owner keep a can of paint on hand that matches their building's exterior color. Conducting a regular tour of the outside of the building, and requesting employees or tenants to inform you immediately if any graffiti is visible, will make sure you can nip any problem with this form of property vandalism in the bud before it becomes a major problem.

It is sometimes controversial whose responsibility it is to clean up graffiti: a property owner or city officials. While many cities conduct graffiti clean-up programs, these often happen only once or twice a year.

In addition, the volunteers or city staff responsible for the effort will likely only choose one or two colors with which to paint over graffiti, leaving an unsightly paint mark that isn't much better than the original eyesore—the graffiti. Therefore, while I would encourage any city to go forward with such graffiti clean-up measures, I assert that any responsible property owner will take removing graffiti upon themselves, and do it in a timely and affective manner.

Downtown Taichung