When the walls become canvas, the street arts are born. Often known for its notoriety as unsanctioned art, this form of expression has shaped the direction for visual imagery in more ways than one. It has showcased thoughts of the common man and brought out his views on to a public platform. It has demonstrated the unlimited possibilities of art, once thought limited only to the elite and restricted to some mediums. The street arts differ for different nations, showcasing each country's individual social, economic, political and moral ethos. And over the period of time, these images chart the direction different countries are taking. In this article we will try to understand street art in its varied forms, how it has evolved and what its future could imaginably be.
Tag style graffiti
The basic signature of a graffiti artist is known as the tag style. Here the name is written in a simple or special style that the artist uses to sign his or her works. These tag style graffiti works can commonly be seen on many walls. While simply a signature, this may also contain hidden messages if the artist intends so. Some artists also use fire extinguishers filled with paint to tag on high areas, otherwise unreachable.
Bombing
Also known as throw-up, this form of street art makes use of one or more colours on multiple surfaces of an area. Another form of bombing is yarn bombing. Similar to bombing, this style involves the usage of plenty of yarn to create art pieces. Artists are thus often well-versed in the craft of knitting and putting together the yarn in a range of styles and design. This form of graffiti is usually employed to an existing piece of pop art to give it more style and appeal.
Hollow graffiti
This form of graffiti is also popular as outlines or shells. As the name implies, here only the outlines of the picture take precedence and no fill is used.
Piece
Of great interest to art lovers and graffiti artists is this form of work. A piece refers to an elaborate work of graffiti that involves complex pictures and depictions. Three dimensional effects, colour transitions and a range of effects are made use here. As this work takes plenty of time, it is often done in a legal manner. A well executed piece earns the artist plenty of recognition, more so if the piece is located in a hard-to-reach location.
Scribing
Also known as scratchitti, scribing refers to the creation of graffiti that is hard to remove. This is done by scratching or etching graffiti on to a surface. Sharp tools like keys, knives or drill bits are used to achieve this. Most artists in scribing are well versed with the knowledge of what items can etch on which surfaces and provide what effects, making this form of art rather interesting, as long as it is not illegal.
Stencil graffiti
This is another popular form of graffiti portraits that became popular with Blek le Rat. Cut outs from cardboard, plastic or even paper are used to replicate images quickly and easily. Beginning from small images to life size ones, stencil graffiti has gained extreme popularity over the years.
Those mentioned above are just a few of the popular means graffiti artists use. While works may often be illegally done, they leave behind indelible impressions of the community and times it lives in. To enjoy the street arts today, one however need not go just to subways. Canvas is an accepted surface too and many artists provide great pieces of graffiti that can be displayed at home or office.
Tag style graffiti
The basic signature of a graffiti artist is known as the tag style. Here the name is written in a simple or special style that the artist uses to sign his or her works. These tag style graffiti works can commonly be seen on many walls. While simply a signature, this may also contain hidden messages if the artist intends so. Some artists also use fire extinguishers filled with paint to tag on high areas, otherwise unreachable.
Bombing
Also known as throw-up, this form of street art makes use of one or more colours on multiple surfaces of an area. Another form of bombing is yarn bombing. Similar to bombing, this style involves the usage of plenty of yarn to create art pieces. Artists are thus often well-versed in the craft of knitting and putting together the yarn in a range of styles and design. This form of graffiti is usually employed to an existing piece of pop art to give it more style and appeal.
Hollow graffiti
This form of graffiti is also popular as outlines or shells. As the name implies, here only the outlines of the picture take precedence and no fill is used.
Piece
Of great interest to art lovers and graffiti artists is this form of work. A piece refers to an elaborate work of graffiti that involves complex pictures and depictions. Three dimensional effects, colour transitions and a range of effects are made use here. As this work takes plenty of time, it is often done in a legal manner. A well executed piece earns the artist plenty of recognition, more so if the piece is located in a hard-to-reach location.
Scribing
Also known as scratchitti, scribing refers to the creation of graffiti that is hard to remove. This is done by scratching or etching graffiti on to a surface. Sharp tools like keys, knives or drill bits are used to achieve this. Most artists in scribing are well versed with the knowledge of what items can etch on which surfaces and provide what effects, making this form of art rather interesting, as long as it is not illegal.
Stencil graffiti
This is another popular form of graffiti portraits that became popular with Blek le Rat. Cut outs from cardboard, plastic or even paper are used to replicate images quickly and easily. Beginning from small images to life size ones, stencil graffiti has gained extreme popularity over the years.
Those mentioned above are just a few of the popular means graffiti artists use. While works may often be illegally done, they leave behind indelible impressions of the community and times it lives in. To enjoy the street arts today, one however need not go just to subways. Canvas is an accepted surface too and many artists provide great pieces of graffiti that can be displayed at home or office.