Street Art: From Tags to Riches

To mainstream America (as well as other places), graffiti is the catch-all phrase to describe vandalism, or “the action of deliberate destruction or damage to property”. There is no distinction for the various approach used by these artists to express themselves. Our desire for this article is that we can briefly spotlight several of these different styles and techniques. As a matter of distinction and universal appreciation for all the Urban Bomb Workers.

Tags / Burners: Tagging is the simplest type of graffiti, usually consisting of the writer’s street name in one color. Tags are basically the graffiti writer’s signature; if they’re associated with a crew, they might also contain the crew’s name or initials. The goal; to have the coolest looking tag and be prolific in its distribution. Tags can be seen on any surface and can be done in spray paint, markers or glass tools.

Throw-up / Throwies: A throw-up is a little more complicated than a tag, usually having two or three colors, but not nearly as elaborate as a piece. A throw-up is something that can be done quickly and repeatedly, while still identifying the writer. They’re usually done in block or bubble letters, often in one color with a differently-colored outline.

Sticker Bombs / Slaps: Stickers are a quick and easy way to throw up a tag quickly. Graffiti writers used to use the “Hi, My Name Is” name tag stickers, but now it’s also common to see them on the free address labels you can get from the Post Office. It’s just as likely to see elaborate, professional-looking printed stickers with a message or image plastered all over. Graffiti artists like stickers because they can take their time on the art in private, then quickly slap them up wherever.

Wheatpaste / Paste-Up: Used in a similar distribution style to stickers, but in poster size or larger format. Wheatpaste is an adhesive that can be cheaply made by the bucket and then used for several dozen hangings. The paste is brushed on the wall and back of poster and then the piece is applied like wallpaper. Then as a protectant from weather / Public Works, another coat of the clear paste is applied over the top. Other products including spray adhesive are routinely used for the process

 

 

Wildstyle: Wildstyle is a particular style of writing that was developed and popularized by graffiti artists like Tracy 168, Stay High 149 and Zephyr in New York City. It’s a complicated and extremely stylized form of writing that, to the untrained eye, is not easy to read. Wildstyle writing features arrows, spikes, curves and other elements that non-graffiti artists may have a hard time understanding. Wildstyle pieces are often 3D and considered to be one of the most complicated forms of graffiti.

Stencils: Using stencils is a quick and effective way to put up somewhat-complicated pieces very quickly. By holding the stencil against the wall and spraying, you can get a much more detailed picture than you would be able to with just a spray can. Even if you use two or three layers to make a more colorful and intricate picture, stencil graffiti can be thrown up in a matter of minutes.

 

Piece / Mural: A piece (short for masterpiece) is a graffiti painting, much more complex than a tag and usually having at least three colors. Pieces are hard to do illegally because of the time involved, so a good piece will gain a lot of respect for that particular graffiti artist. As graffiti has gotten more respect as a legitimate art form, a lot of pieces have been commissioned – or permission granted to the artists to put them up.

To say surrealism is more artistic than impressionism would be considered absurd. The attempt to categorize some styles as graffiti and others as street art can be counter-productive. We all have our preferred styles, but as street art lovers let’s respect every bomb someone took the time to hit up and the effort it took to get there.