Artists mainly use graffiti to express their emotional feelings and represent real-life experiences through the art. Many people in the community can relate to graffiti since it represents real-life events and experiences. The practice of graffiti has become a popular way for adolescents to act out in opposition to the authoritative, adult society that restricts them. By directly disobeying the law and demonstrating their defiance of societal norms, young graffiti writers engage in a socially unacceptable form of making themselves seen and heard by society. Through this experience the participants have the opportunity to explore issues of identity and self in community by engaging in art directives, facilitated by an art therapist, which can offer reflective insight and instigate therapeutic change and maturation. Graffiti becomes a way for young people to outwardly express their inner struggle for identity through a creative outlet. The art of graffiti shows emotions that can help individuals express their emotions better.
Poppy art, often considered a form of vandalism, has actually been shown to have numerous health benefits. Here are a few examples: Stress reduction: Creating graffiti art allows individuals to express themselves creatively, which can be a great way to reduce stress and improve mental health. One study found that participating in art activities, such as graffiti art, helped reduce stress and anxiety.
Improved social skills - Graffiti art can also be a great way to meet new people and improve social skills. Many graffiti artists work in groups or crews, which allows them to collaborate and communicate with others. This can help improve social skills, such as communication and teamwork.
Physical activity - Graffiti art often requires physical activity, such as climbing and walking long distances. This can help improve physical fitness and overall health.
Sense of community - Graffiti art can also help build a sense of community and belonging. Many graffiti artists feel a strong connection to their local graffiti scene and are actively involved in their community. This sense of belonging can have positive effects on mental health.
Cultural expression - Graffiti art can be a
way for individuals to express their cultural identity and traditions. This can help preserve cultural heritage and promote a sense of pride and belonging. There are many other health benefits of graffiti art, including improved problem-solving skills and increased self-esteem. If you're interested in trying graffiti art, it's important to do so legally and with the permission of property owners.
Storytelling - It can be argued that many graffiti tags are one-off pieces that may depict a story but cannot necessarily be considered storytelling street art but an opportunity to create immersive and narrative-driven street art experiences. This work of art is made up of a series of pieces that depict a daring escape by white silhouette figures.
The motives for some types of conventional graffiti may include anger and hostility toward society, and the vandalism thus fulfils some personal psychological need. The graffiti may arise from boredom, despair, resentment, failure, and/or frustration, in which case it may be vindictive or malicious.
The problem is, while social justice graffiti has the power to amplify marginalized voices, surrounding structures, beliefs, and policies suppress and manipulate them. In this highly racialized and increasingly popular business, street art often maintains a double standard for its artists. Nowadays, graffiti is commonly recognized as a form of public art, embraced by museums, art galleries, art critics, and art institutions.
This opened the way for a new “creative economy”. It is based both on the actual production of art and its consumption by a public receptive to this artistic lifestyle. A growing interest to collectors. In just a few years, it has become a key player in contemporary art. Public enthusiasm is also growing, a sign that this movement is sustainable, accepted and appreciated. There is a strong economy around urban art, driven by growing visibility in and off the streets, a buy-in from city dwellers and a strengthening of cohesion within the community.
Why is graffiti so powerful?
Street art is more than just a form of artistic expression. It often has a social and political impact, used by artists as a way to protest, challenge authority and convey messages.
Some of them explore the beauty of lettering itself by creating complex and almost mystical calligraphic images, while others, strive with great passion to achieve simpler, yet deeply philosophical use of typography as a means to convey their messages, social or political commentary, challenge conventional norms, and serve as a platform for marginalized voices. Graffiti's ability to provoke thought and emotion within public spaces grants it a unique power to spark conversations and inspire change.
The habit of etching words and pictures on walls persisted through the great early civilizations. The Egyptians did it with hieroglyphics. The only known source of the Safaitic language, an early form of Arabic, is from inscriptions on rocks and boulders in Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. Ancient Greeks and Romans, as well as people in Sri Lanka and Mesoamerica, were known to etch messages on stone surfaces for poetic, personal and political reasons.
However, graffiti is to some people a form of art, but to some a form of vandalism. In most countries, marking or painting property without permission is considered by property owners and civic authorities as defacement and vandalism, which is a punishable crime, citing the use of graffiti by street gangs to mark territory or to serve as an indicator of gang-related activities.
Graffiti has become visualized as a growing urban "problem" for many cities in industrialized nations, spreading from the New York City subway system and Philadelphia in the early 1970s to the rest of the United States and Europe and other world regions. They used impersonal, mundane reality, irony, and parody to "defuse" the personal symbolism and "painterly looseness" of abstract expressionism. Graffiti have long appeared on building walls, in latrines, railroad boxcars, subways, and bridge. They were a gathering of young painters, sculptors, architects, writers and critics who were challenging prevailing modernist approaches to culture as well as traditional views of fine art.
Graffiti is today a recognized art and has entered the world of contemporary art and museums, with recognized artists. Coming from Hip hop culture and an advent in the 1970s in the United States, graffiti is lettering, a calligraphic signature. The most common styles are throw up, bubble or flop, wild style or piece, 3D or even calligraffiti, a style popularized by the Dutchman Niels Shoe Meulman. If the tag is done with a quick gesture, graffiti requires real technical skill. It includes play on colors, shapes and sometimes characters or animals.
S. Kristol
Now let's talk about the work of the artist Stephane Kristol — born in France in 1988, traversed the art world as a mediator for artists before giving birth to his own artistic alter ego, "PASCHAT", fusing his past with a unique vision to create fascinating contemporary artworks with graffiti. Skilfully blending his background as an artist's agent with his irrepressible creative drive, Stéphane Kristol has carved out his own niche in the contemporary art world. You can see some of his work featured. He like American artoons, caricatures, travel and adventure.
Initially imagined when he was just 12, the idea matured with him, whether in his sculptures or in his paintings, evolving into a series of works that marry animal forms with deeply human and emotional features. This has become the vehicle for his artistic vision, giving birth to "PASCHAT", reminiscent of the world of his childhood. I have always been fascinated by the “TIGER”, it is a very elegant animal with a strong character and astonishing charisma. However, today it is an animal in danger of extinction.
Names like "equality", "reflection", "truth", "future", "innocence" and "childhood" reveal the essence of his artistic universe. It's also a way of raising awareness among the very young. he explains I called my very first sculpture “Equality”. It features “PASCHAT” against a barrel representing pollution. It is also a way of raising awareness among humans about all these inequalities and all this damage imposed by humans on Nature and animals.
He uses aesthetics as a means of raising awareness, being convinced that people are more inclined to react when this is taken into account. The precision-crafted sculptures come to life with a captivating aesthetic. Every detail and line are meticulously crafted to capture the essence of the characters and the emotions they represent. This aestheticism is not simply a façade, but a window through which he communicates benevolent emotions. In a world often marked by negativity, Kristol finds it important to focus on awakening these emotions. "I like to tell things with positivity," he says. His sculptures and paintings are imbued with this positivity, mixed with a touch of playfulness that recalls the world of childhood. His works are a nod to the evolution of mentalities, "Reflection", equality, human, inequality, emotions, positivity, and social damage.
We more easily forget the damage caused by Humanity when aesthetics comes into play, and causes a lack of acceptance, inequality, rejection, and humiliation, and dependency. Nature and animal are more subjective to us, even so in childhood, and help cope with all these negative emotions, it is also a way of raising awareness among humans about all these inequalities and all this damage imposed by humans on Nature and animals. And therefore, he decided to humanize PASCHAT. The tiger is magnificent animal, a symbol of beauty, majesty, protection, vitality, and strength, independence, and immortality. The tiger is a potent symbol in Jungian psychology; However, today it is an animal in danger of extinction, it symbolizes power, strength, and courage, embodying the psyche's primal, instinctual, and feminine aspects. In traditional Chinese culture, the tiger is also a symbol of luck. Considered to be an embodiment of “yang” – or positive – energy, the tiger is a 'solar animal' in Yin-and-Yang philosophy, and associated with the sun, summer and fire. The tiger expresses his rage quietly because there is nothing he can do from behind the bars of his cage. His strength is inside his cage now. He is no longer free as he was in the jungle. It can also represent the shadow side of the personality or the unconscious forces that we may not be aware of.
What does tiger symbolize in Buddhism? It is said to represent unconditional confidence, disciplined. awareness, kindness and modesty.
Stéphane Kristol skilfully balances technical innovation with emotional discourse. When it comes to choosing the right medium for his work, S.Kristol works with both clay and 3D modelling, for his sculptures, then creates a mold for production in polyester resin. This robust material enables him to play with automotive paints, broadening his color palette. His sculptures are worked with an airbrush, this leaves him a lot of freedom to play with colors, to suggest themes and convey messages... His PASCHATs are, generally speaking, created with a lot of positivity and a lot of aesthetics.
When it comes to his paintings, Stéphane Kristol prefers 3D modelling, another form of sculpture, but in the digital domain. These works are then printed on aluminium, a material that perfectly complements his universe inspired by nature and urban art. His works are now exhibited in many contemporary art fairs throughout France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Canada. He is also followed by a large number of collectors.
Peppone
We also feature the works of Peppone — a 45 years old artist living near Aix-en-Provence. Avid collector, he feeds his collection with what he finds in car boot sales, municipal libraries sales or even with what friends and strangers bring him. Thus, from a place of dreams and travels, the adventures of Tintin are also a place of encounter for Peppone.
Peppone uses an impressive collection of comics to imagine resin shapes in bright and colorful colors. They are imbued with a strong pop symbolism that reminds him of childhood and the territory of innocence. He draws his inspiration from Walt Disney and his eternal Mickey, Hulk, Zorro, Spiderman and other Marvels. But also among pop culture icons: Wahrol, Pollock, McFarlane or Straczynski. Peppone explains that man is the only living being who knows he is going to die and that, to escape his condition, he reproduces, communicates and dreams; thus maintaining a kind of cyclical link between past, present and future. Everything starts with a digital drawing on the model of the clear line, dear to Hergé and according to precise specifications where he mixes his childhood characters in the heart of a referring situation which must immediately awaken the memories of the spectator. Without excessive intellectualization, we invite you to immerse yourself in his own general culture and interest. From Pop-Art we borrow the popular, encounters with large paintings during visits to museums, cinema, TV series, music but also from sports victories, historical moments, advertisements and even iconic brands. In short, everything that gave a link to his youthful years in the 80s and 90s. On the form he treats his subject in a version with strong Street Art connotations and voluntarily trash in the surface treatment. From the world of Street Art he borrows spray paint, stencils and paintmarkers. Then he wants his viewers to have the impression of appropriating a piece of wall, as some did when the Berlin Wall fell, with the idea of tearing off a piece of himself.
If you’re new to graffiti art, getting started can seem overwhelming. But with the right tools and materials, anyone can create their own graffiti art.
The right materials: To get started with graffiti, you need some basic materials. These include spray paint, stencils and spraying tools. You will also need a surface to work on, such as a wall or canvas, objects such as ceramics, wood, cardboard, animal figurines. Be sure to use high-quality materials to get the best results. Some of the most important items are:
Spray paint – This is perhaps the most important tool you will need for creating graffiti art. Look for high-quality spray paint, which comes in a variety of colors and finishes. Matte spray paint is ideal for a flat, uniform look, while glossy spray paint can add shine and depth to the design.
Stencils – Using stencils is a great way to create detailed and intricate designs with precision. You can buy pre-made stencils or make your own with a cutting tool like a craft knife or laser cutter.
Marker – Markers are useful for adding details and contours to your design. Choose markers with different tip sizes to achieve different effects.
Protective Equipment – Graffiti art can be dirty and potentially dangerous. Therefore, it is important to wear protective equipment such as a respirator, gloves and safety glasses.
Surface Cleaner – Before you start painting, it’s important to clean the surface of your wall to make sure the paint adheres well. Use a surface cleaner or a solution of water and a mild detergent to remove dirt, grime or debris.
Tape and newspaper – To protect the surrounding area from spray mist, use tape and newspaper to create a barrier around the wall.
Find a legal place for your graffiti art – Graffiti art is often associated with illegal activities, but there are many legal places where you can create your own graffiti art. Look for public places where graffiti art is allowed, such as designated graffiti walls or community art projects. You can also ask property owners for permission to create graffiti art on their property. Remember safety: Graffiti can be a dangerous activity if proper safety precautions are not taken. Always wear a mask and work in a well-ventilated area to avoid breathing in the toxic fumes from the spray paint. It is also important to be aware of your surroundings and avoid graffiti in hazardous areas. Start small: If you’re new to graffiti art, it’s best to start small and work your way up slowly. Practice basic techniques first, such as creating simple stencils for lettering. Once you’re comfortable with the process, you can experiment with more complex designs and styles. Techniques to create Graffiti Art
Graffiti Styles and techniques
Without knowing the vocabulary, you can't really get a complete idea of a tag, nor its intention. So when someone tags a billboard, they're letting other taggers know where they've been and signalling that the bar has been raised. Tagging is the practice of someone spray-painting "their name, initial or logo onto a public surface" in a hand style unique to the writer. This includes such techniques as scribing. However, spray paint in aerosol cans is the number one medium for graffiti. From this commodity comes different styles, technique, and abilities to form master works of graffiti.
Wildstyle — is one of the most complex and intricate graffiti letter styles. It is characterized by interweaving, overlapping, and interconnected letters, often with arrows, curves, and extensions. Wildstyle can be challenging to read, as it prioritizes style over legibility.
Bubble letters — are rounded, inflated-looking letters. They are usually outlined and have a 3D effect, giving them a bubbly appearance. Bubble letters are often used by graffiti artists, especially beginners, as they are relatively easy to create and read.
Block letters — are simple, bold, and heavily influenced by traditional typography. Each letter is formed by straight lines and angles, creating a strong and legible style. Block letters are often used for large-scale graffiti pieces and tags. Throw-up is a quick and simple graffiti style characterized by fast execution. It involves quickly painting the outline of each letter with one or two colours, usually using fat caps on spray paint cans. Throw-ups are commonly used for graffiti tags and are often done in a hurry to avoid detection.
Stencil lettering — involves using stencils to create precise and consistent letter forms. Artists cut out the desired letters on a stencil material, place it on the surface, and then spray paint over it. Stencil graffiti allows for replication of the same design multiple times. It can also be used to create intricate and detailed artworks.
Calligraffiti — combines graffiti art with calligraphy. It blends expressive and flowing lettering styles with the boldness and urban edge of graffiti. Calligraffiti artists focus on the aesthetic qualities of the letters while maintaining legibility.
Gothic/Blackletter — draws inspiration from medieval calligraphy. They feature elaborate, angular, and ornamental letterforms with sharp edges and intricate details. This style can be seen in both traditional calligraphy and graffiti art.
Lines and swirls — of bright, primary colors have great movement and energy and almost appear to be dancing.
There are several techniques to create unique and eye-catching graffiti artwork.
Some of the most popular techniques:
Freehand – This is the simplest technique to create graffiti art and involves using spray paint to create designs and letters freehand. This technique can be difficult to master but allows for a high level of creativity and spontaneity.
Stenciling – This is a popular technique for creating clean and precise designs. Use a cutting tool like a craft knife or laser cutter to make your own stencils or buy pre-made stencils online or at an art store.
Layering – This technique involves applying multiple layers of color and texture to add depth and dimension to the design. This technique can be achieved with the help of stencils or by painting several layers of paint freehand.
Drip technique – In this technique, spray paint is used to create drips and splashes that create an abstract and organic effect. This technique can be achieved by holding the spray paint close to the wall and spraying quickly.
Reverse Graffiti – Creating a design by removing dirt or dust from a surface instead of applying paint. Use a pressure washer or cleaning solution to create your design on a dirty or dusty surface.
3D Illusion – Use shading and perspective techniques to create a 3D effect in your design. This can be achieved by using different shades of the same color to create the illusion of depth.
Composition – The composition of your graffiti is important to create a balanced and visually appealing piece. Consider elements like balance and symmetry when planning your design.
Graffiti art is a unique and powerful form of expression that has gained popularity worldwide. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, there are many techniques and tips you can use to create stunning graffiti artwork.
Street art is a controversial subject. Tags were the first form of modern graffiti. It all began with vibrant colors, letters and symbols scrawled on public surfaces, and when one looks at the work created by different creators from now and then, it becomes clear how those graffiti art letters and markings evolved in beautiful and unexpected ways over the years.
As well as having meaning, art is also valued for its beauty, and there's no denying how beautiful some graffiti can look, which is why street art tours are now so popular all over the world.
Colors in graffiti
Colors have an emotional effect that words cannot replicate. Each color has a positive meaning as well as a negative meaning that can elicit a different reaction and emotion, depending on who the viewer is and where they are from. That is why it is essential to discover the meaning of colors.
The colors of graffiti were represented in a color space and characterized by several statistical parameters. We found that graffiti have chromatic structures similar to those of traditional paintings, namely their preferred colors, distribution, and balance.
Graffiti display a greater diversity of colors, and the colors are more intense. In other words, the colors are more saturated because graffiti artists are taking advantage of the new generation of artificial pigments available nowadays.The lines and swirls of bright, primary colors have great movement and energy and almost appear to be dancing. Artists use Color saturation to create different moods: for example, darker colors suggest a lack of light (night or indoor scene), and dark colors can often give a sense of mystery. A light color is associated with a light source or the light itself reflected in the composition.
Therefore, in graffiti, the gamut areas are larger and the orientations of the gamuts are more spread out, revealing a less tuned selection of the preferred colors and suggesting that graffiti artists have more freedom in color choices. There is a vast body of research on how color impacts mood, linking warm shades like red and yellow to feelings of excitement and delight. Conversely, hues from the cooler side of the color wheel, such as blue and green, are associated with calm and relaxation. A color that can evoke one reaction in one person may evoke the opposite reaction in another, due to culture, prior association, or even just personal preference.
7 Classic Color Combos used in Graffiti:
Black and White. Chrome and Black. White and Red. Yellow and Black. Gold and Black. Tonal color combos. Fluorescent color combos
Symbolic meanings that are often associated with emotions:
#Red — Passion, Love, Anger.
#Orange — Energy, Happiness, Vitality.
#Yellow — Happiness, Hope, Deceit.
#Green — New Beginnings, Abundance, Nature.
#Blue — Calm, Responsible, Sadness.
#Purple — Creativity, Royalty, Wealth.
#Black — Mystery, Elegance, Evil.
#Gray — Moody, Conservative, Formality.
#Pink — Soft, reserved, earthy
#Purple — Mysterious, noble, glamorous
#White v Truth, indifference
These are just a few examples of the many graffiti lettering styles and colors that exist. Each style has its own unique characteristics and requires a different approach in terms of technique. One of the most important aspects of graffiti lettering is the ability to create a cohesive and legible tag. This involves understanding the flow of the letters, how they interact with one another, and how to create a sense of balance and harmony within the design. Graffiti artists often develop their own unique styles, techniques, by combining elements from various styles or creating entirely new ones, pushing the boundaries of creativity within the art form to find their own unique voice.
Urban art is not just about bright explosions of color and bold images. Black and white also has its place in the palette of street artists, creating works of undeniable visual power. Black and white, by reducing an image to its simplest forms, has the power to emphasize details and textures that would otherwise be lost in a deluge of colors.
Use of images of popular culture in art, emphasizing the banal or kitschy elements of any culture, most often through the use of irony. It is also associated with the artists' use of mechanical means of reproduction or rendering techniques. Urban art, once relegated to dark streets and abandoned buildings, has found its way into art galleries and homes around the world. Now you can find street art paintings that decorate the walls of your living room or office.
Pop graffiti artists draw inspiration from comics, music, film and television to create works that are both familiar and surprising. Most people agree that graffiti is done by graffiti artists for graffiti artists.
Urban art has become a popular decor element, bringing a modern touch to any space. style has been heavily influenced by hip hop culture and the myriad international styles derived from Philadelphia and New York City Subway graffiti; however, there are many other traditions of notable graffiti in the twentieth century.
Banksy, the Master of Street Art Banksy is arguably the most famous street art artist in the world. His works are instantly recognizable, with their mixture of social satire and political commentary. His paintings, reproductions of his wall works, are highly sought after by art lovers around the world.
Perhaps the most important step moving forward is reframing how we — individuals, businesses, police, and government—view graffiti. So long as graffiti is stigmatized, it will continue to be discounted, removed, and painted over with performative “authorized” art. So long as the system criminalizes and excludes diverse artists, those who need their voices heard the most will be silenced — let’s start by treating graffiti as an art form, a mode of public expression, and a tool to challenge existing realities of oppression.
By experimenting with these methods, one can create unique, individual graffiti artwork that shows your own sense of style and originality.
Practice, be patient and enjoy the process!
