Modern writers use spray paint cans to create graffiti. Enamel with a large number of pigments adheres well and dries quickly. Many manufacturers keep secret the technologies that provide the required qualities.
Graffiti in the bedroom
Graffiti paint filled entire departments in stores and was overgrown with related products in the form of markers and caps. From the streets, the aerosol painting technique moved into the interior. Companies have formed that make money by washing off graffiti from walls and fences.
Graffiti as part of street art or vandalism
Graffiti has many directions. Some writers use spray paint to decorate dull gray walls and fences. They create original projects, real masterpieces. Such drawings can be seen in cities around the world. They are part of modern culture.
High-quality graffiti paint applies smoothly to various surfaces, dries quickly and retains its color for a long time. Hooligans take advantage of this quality. Adrenaline junkies claim that their inscriptions on walls, carriages, and facades of public buildings, created at night while running, are real graffiti art.
Quickly apply paint before no one notices and run away. To do this, they choose cans with a strong supply of nitro paint and a high pigment content. All over the world they are fighting against illegal wall painting. Such actions are classified as vandalism and hooliganism.
Famous Russian writers talk about how they started drawing graffiti
TRUBA (TAD/FF), graffiti writer and artist (Moscow):
– When I started drawing, graffiti was different: like a small epidemic. Back then, no one knew each other by sight, and every cool drawing they saw was stored in their memory, becoming an incentive to create further, to develop their skills. There was competition, there were festivals where we met, showed each other film photographs of our works, discussed them, and agreed to create joint drawings. It's funny for me to remember my first works. We bought spray paint at the auto store and walked around the neighborhood all day, looking for a place where we could paint something, running from every adult, even if there was no reason to do so.
modern beginners of graffiti art
Don't waste time on the Internet. Go out, create and draw, and don't sit at home!
SAKVO (KNRS), graffiti writer and artist (Moscow):
– I started painting at a time when there was no specialized branded paint for graffiti in Russia. It was possible to purchase only auto enamels that had poor coverage and low density, which made it quite difficult to paint graffiti with them: good skill was required. That is why at that time technically complex works - wild style, 3D, realism (as far as it was then) - made a really strong impression on the viewer.
Now there are many good branded products on our market, learning to draw with them at a decent level is quite simple - you only need time, practice and desire. Therefore, my advice to novice writers
will be conceptual: real style does not need technology! Stop drawing effects. Work on the form, because it is the basis for the entire drawing. Without this, the level of your work will be the merit of only aerosol brands.
RETRO (TAD CREW), graffiti writer and artist (St. Petersburg):
– Being a beginner writer is not easy these days. The sheer volume of information available can be both helpful and confusing. I know this from myself – after all, I started drawing when everything around was filled with information related to graffiti. Videos, films, magazines, Internet portals - all this helped me thoroughly prepare for my first work, which I painted with Montana Cans
.
At the initial stage
The main thing is not to get lost, but to correctly use all available tools and, of course, love your job with all your heart. Remember that you always have access to live communication with people who have already achieved certain heights in our art. Clarify unclear points, learn something new and improve your skills!
Igor Multi, graffiti writer and artist (St. Petersburg):
– I started drawing just like that. One might even say - out of nowhere. I didn’t have any acquaintances from the graffiti scene. At first, I was interested in the work of a writer with the nickname K-19. I don’t know why I was so attracted to his drawings, but from then on everything started to spin: I fell ill with graffiti! I started spending a lot of time searching for any available information on how to draw graffiti.
At first it was a little difficult, but with the advent of Internet cafes it became easier to find new sources of information, images, photographs. I spent almost the entire year 2004 studying them, while simultaneously drawing various sketches. And only in 2005 I tried to depict something using balloons. The first experienced graffiti writer I met was Yegor Kabi. It was he who spurred my desire to paint graffiti and helped me develop in this area. Now I remember those events with a smile - it was a good time.
Here's what I would recommend to aspiring writers:
: Be respectful of each other and the work of other street artists. Especially those who have significantly more experience and knowledge than you.
Who is the author of modern graffiti
Graffiti in the bedroom interior
America is considered to be the birthplace of graffiti. When the gangsters began to divide their zones of influence, each gang painted the walls with their clan symbols, hiding them in lines and spots of paint. At that time, spray paint was produced only for touching up cars. It leaked, lay unevenly and quickly burned out.
In fact, in Russia in 1918 there was a call for artists to come out of their basements and paint on the walls of houses. This is how art became accessible to the common people. The first graffiti on the walls of Moscow and St. Petersburg were political cartoons and posters.
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In Italy, Morocco and the countries of the East, streets have been preserved in cities where residents continue the ancient tradition of painting the doors and facades of houses with homemade paints. Floral patterns and geometric patterns predominate.
What will others think?
One correspondent for a Russian TV channel somehow joined a team of writers and found out: according to them, 9 out of 10 people love what they draw. The latter usually calls the police.
This was a good indicator. Now it has fallen due to the fact that “writers” have appeared who do not care what kind of fame they chase - bad or good. Mostly the first one. How many mutilated walls of shops, storefronts, garages or houses are there in your city? Banal inscriptions that do not convey any emotion or thought simply spoil the appearance of the city. You won't find many real masterpieces. Because of this phenomenon, many have come to associate graffiti as vandalism rather than art.
Therefore, many writers prefer to work only at night and as quickly as possible. And some limit themselves to drawing graffiti on paper and are completely satisfied. It’s a pity that in our country there are no specially designated places for the creativity of writers, as, for example, there are in France and the countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula.
Learn and develop your talents. Become a sought-after writer and participate in various festivals of hip-hop culture!
graffiti for beginners
First used car aerosols
Graffiti on the wall indoors
At first, car aerosol cans were used to create drawings. The drawings were faded and short-lived.
- Metal coating paint applied without a primer quickly lost its appearance and peeled off.
- It was sprayed unevenly.
- The choice of colors was limited to the palette of cars produced. This is about 10 tones and white and black.
- The inscriptions were a clumsy imitation of foreign graffiti.
The names of musical groups and the names of idols were drawn up hastily and were often not complete. The authors were chased away by the police. Graffiti defaced cities. The wipers washed them off with ordinary solvent.
How can a beginner quickly master graffiti drawing?
There is no strict sequence or rules when drawing graffiti. Each work is individual. Everyone has their own style and you will too over time. First you need to learn basic skills, and after that everything will come by itself.
Don't waste time experimenting on your own. It’s worth looking at professionals right away, as they will quickly teach you what could take quite a long time to learn. Here are some general recommendations:
- Search the Internet, forums and other resources for the work of other graffists. They will help you quickly navigate this environment. First learn to redraw other people's work on paper. This will train your hand well and will help in the future. We advise you to take a simple job, without any “tricks” or complex details;
- Be sure to watch video lessons from masters of their craft. This is the lion's share of invaluable experience!
Requirements for graffiti paints
Graffiti on the wall in the bedroom
The first cans of paint appeared in stores from manufacturers from Italy and Germany:
- the choice was limited;
- the cost is high;
- the mixture in the cans was applied evenly;
- there were practically no leaks;
- colors are bright, saturated;
- The drawings lasted a long time and did not fade.
The range of colors gradually increased. Some companies produce paint in more than 200 shades. Weight from 70 grams to liter. The coating is matte, glossy, luminous. The compositions for graffiti and the pressure in the can differ. This affects the spray speed. Each writer can choose according to his experience or amount of work.
Replaceable heads for cans have appeared that change the width of the jet. Marking is now done with special markers. Before applying graffiti, the surface of the wall is primed with a roller and a background tone is created with paints in special cylinders with a large volume of up to 5 liters.
After application to the surface, the solvent-based composition dries in a matter of minutes. This produces a strong odor. Writers work in respirators.
Types of aerosol coatings
Matte, glossy, semi-gloss enamels-sprays for graffiti are available. The decorative effect can look like diamond coating, shimmer in mother-of-pearl, rainbow stains, fluorescent highlights.
The components may vary. But, as a rule, they consist of an acrylic base, oily substances, epoxy resins, an aqueous solution, fillers, and pigments.
For external work, there are special compositions with a heat-resistant effect.
Among the characteristics, we especially highlight high-quality adhesion under conditions of changes in any temperature, resistance of the coating to atmospheric conditions, and long service life.
For metal, standard products are suitable. When painting, the layer turns out to be thin, the color applies evenly. Reliable protection against adverse factors is provided.
There are also double formulations, which are a mixture of dye and primer; triple, supplemented with a corrosion converter; and specially designed for decoration.
The latest aerosols are especially convenient to work in confined spaces.
The graffiti will turn out, if not a masterpiece, then at least close to it.
Using paints and varnishes contained in aerosol cans, experienced artists create imitations of printed patterns, metal effects, textures of various materials, and blurry shades of a variety of colors.
What is in the can and why is it not full?
Wall in the room
When producing graffiti paint, a metal can, regardless of its volume, is filled in the following order.
- Metal balls for mixing.
- Nitroenamel no more than 2/3 of the volume.
- Liquid propylene.
- Cover with tube and sprayer - caps.
Before pouring into the can, the graffiti enamel is carefully filtered. Small particles can clog the narrow nozzle opening.
As the paint is sprayed, liquid propylene turns into a gaseous state, maintaining constant pressure in the can. The standard is 6 atmospheres. This ensures uniform spraying until the composition is completely consumed. Therefore, the container is left 30% empty.
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Graffiti paint contains many pigments. Otherwise, each manufacturer introduces its own components and tries to keep the technology secret.
Graffiti paint cannot be washed off with ordinary solvents. Companies have appeared offering firms and individuals to clean the walls of buildings and fences.
In some European countries and the United States, subway walls and the lower parts of houses are filled with sugar syrup. Once the graffiti covers them, everything is washed off with water. Video cameras with motion indicators are installed around the perimeter of public buildings.
Special effects
Decide on special effects for your graffiti. Once you've finished drawing the letters, you can add some details to your graffiti. For example, the letter "Z" can display a lightning bolt, the letter "O" can appear in a teardrop shape, and the letter "P" can be used in a variety of impressive effects. However, be careful, if mistakes happen in your drawing, you will not be able to continue drawing. Copy your pencil sketch (eg using a scanner) before you start coloring your graffiti. Set up the scanner so that it correctly displays all the shades of your drawing.
Caps for spray cans and other related products for street artists
Graffiti on an office wall
Every store that sells spray paint has a large selection of nozzles. For caps, the characteristics indicate not only the color of the body and core. The main thing is the width of the jet, and which brand cans they are suitable for.
Various markers are sold for marking the drawing. They ensure uniform application of the line.
Writers learned how to refill disposable cans. Manufacturers are now producing enamel to fill empty graffiti containers, including markers.
You can create a background and prime a large area with a special roller. It has a long telescopic handle and leaves a wide swath in one pass.
To create inscriptions at high altitudes, fire extinguishers and garden sprayers filled with nitro enamel are used. Their one-time equivalents are sold in the aerosol cans department.
For quick application, holders have been created for simultaneous spraying from two cans with one hand. The range of graffiti products is constantly expanding.
Recommendations for a beginner
Set your goal clearly and clearly. What do you want, what problem are you solving. Street art provides ample opportunities for self-expression, but we must not forget the importance of concept and creative intent. The author needs to clearly understand what exactly he intends to convey to the viewer. You can draw graffiti out of a feeling of protest, out of a desire to pose some question to people, out of a desire to make the world unusual, or in order to make a statement. In any case, you need to understand how this will be done. For bombing, it is important to develop some kind of recognizable style, and then leave a characteristic inscription. In itself, it may not represent any artistic value, but then the artist must be a passionate person, obsessed with the idea of being active in the street environment. This is where the term “street scene artist” comes from. This means that simple graffiti is compensated by the frequency of its appearance and the meaning, or lack thereof, that it carries.
The main manufacturers of spray paint for drawings on walls
Graffiti
The products of the following companies are in greatest demand among street art artists:
- Molotow;
- Montana;
- Arton;
- MTN Color;
- ABRO;
- Graffitimarket.
The first professional graffiti paint created in Russia was from the Arton brand. Now the company produces matte and glossy paints. The palette is constantly increasing and is close to 100 shades of each type. Quality at the level of foreign materials.
Montana spray cans were the first to appear on the shelves of domestic stores. Italy disputes the right to use the brand from the Americans. The quality of the paint is excellent. The choice is huge.
Competing with each other, graffiti paint manufacturers turned spray cans into works of art. Brands in different styles and corporate colors, drawings and entire paintings cover the containers. Each manufacturer tries to make their products recognizable and unique.
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There are many fakes on the market at attractive low prices. Therefore, you need to buy only in branded stores.
Chalk Spray Paint - What is it?
Washable paint consists of chalk and water, to which mineral elements are also added. Additives are used in the form of resin, casein, and silicates. Washable paint can be applied to any surface; it does not require long surface preparation before painting.
It is used to decorate metal surfaces, wood (for example, furniture), fabrics and other surfaces.
Description and characteristics
There are several types of washable chalk paints, they differ in the type of additives they contain:
- Resin, based on the name, it is clear that it contains various resins; silicates are also added to it;
- Dairy, contains casein;
- Oil, linseed oil is used.
They produce paint in different containers, either in cans or in spray cans. Based on the type of container, the scope of application and the order of painting work will be determined.
Also, paint that is washed off with water can cover the surface, remaining smooth or embossed.
There are several main characteristics of washable paint:
- Eco-friendly, natural;
- It is easy to clean with water;
- Resistance to cold temperatures, can be used in temperatures down to -24 degrees;
- Fireproof, does not burn, does not ignite;
- A variety of shades, there are matte and neon tones;
- It will remain on the surface for any time until it is washed off;
- The scope of application is huge, you can even dye your hair, clothes, and body with it.
Scope of application
Although paints appeared on sale not so long ago, they are already actively used for various purposes, the main ones can be identified:
- Creating drawings on vehicles for joyful events;
- They paint shop windows with it;
- In street racing;
- In draws;
- At children's events;
- To decorate venues for various celebrations;
- Promotions.
Graffiti in the interior and water-based paints
Painted wall in the bedroom
In the streets, the way of decorating walls with graffiti-style drawings has come to the interior. Special water-based paints have been created for indoor use. They take longer to dry and require surface preparation. But they do not have an unpleasant odor and apply evenly. Their base is acrylic and latex. There are paints for application on:
- plastered walls;
- tile;
- tree;
- glass, metal;
- wallpaper for painting.
An experienced writer decorates a room with a pattern in 5–6 hours. He uses a sketch drawn on paper. The drawing turns out to be unique, since the artist does not copy it, but creates a similar one. There is an element of improvisation in the process. The specific room, lighting, its size and mood are taken into account.
For ceilings, brush painting is mainly used. Spray paint cans are also used.
Paintings created on one of the walls of the room using mixed media are widely used. The background and shades are created using spray cans. Small elements are drawn with a brush or markers. Stencils are also used. The result is a unique design. The room takes on a mood. Waterproof dyes are used to spray images onto tiles in the bathroom and kitchen.
Using stencils, you can create a small pattern with your own hands on the wall of the hallway and dining room. It is enough to mark the surface into squares with thin lines using a pencil. Draw the main contour lines with a marker. Then spray the borders of the design elements with a thin stream. Fill large areas with paint. Make shades.
Start training with the basics
To master the basics of graffiti, you should start with artistic writing. All experienced masters started with this and advise all beginners to learn how to draw text graffiti on paper. You can choose any text, but it’s always fun to make fun of your name. By the way, you can immediately come up with your own tag and depict it. Don’t rush to draw in volume right away, everything has its time.
So, the first steps with which you can start learning right now:
Learn to write letters the same way
Step 1 . On a piece of paper, simply write the text in pencil. Let it be a simple text with a regular font; you don’t need to immediately twist the letters and draw mysterious arrows. Your goal is to learn to write smoothly, maintaining the kerning, height, and size of all letters. Try drawing with strokes to make it easier to correct defects if you make a mistake. After the letters start to look even, start leaving small spaces between the letters so that you can later increase their volume.
Step 2 . Outline your letters. To do this, you need to choose the style that will be easiest for you to portray. “Old-timers” advise all newcomers to learn to draw graffiti on paper using the bubble . Letters made in this style really resemble inflated bubbles, and they are the easiest to depict. Although there are many more styles:
- Wild (wild) - the letters are intertwined and confused with each other. Lots of details and additional elements;
- Blockbusters - huge and wide letters on the background;
- Character – suitable for experienced or talented graffists. Comics and “cartoon” characters are drawn in this style;
- Messiah is a multi-layered text with one overlapping another. Also for advanced writers.
For now, one style will suffice. Change the letters beyond recognition, because this is a free workout!
Step 3 . Once you are completely satisfied with the sketch, you can make several copies. When coloring, you don’t have to be afraid of ruining the sketch, since you will always have more in stock. Sketch - sketch, sketch, outline.
Step 4 . Before coloring, lines drawn in pencil can be darkened with a pen or marker. There are so many ways to color letters. Get new ideas on the Internet, look at other works. The easiest option is to sketch the letters in one color. But good graffiti should be catchy and bright, but in moderation! Therefore, you can alternate colors or make each letter different colors.
Tip: Use moderation in colors and additional elements so that your graffiti does not turn into chaos.
Cities are decorated with graffiti or 60 liters of paint per wall
In 2022, Moscow municipal authorities, together with cultural workers, found a way to combat ugly graffiti made in a hurry at night. You can't overcome it - lead it. They selected several walls on public buildings and announced a competition for the best sketch. The winners received equipment in the form of cranes, and they made their dream come true.
As a result, several teams came out of hiding and began to truly decorate the city. The first painting, located on the wall of a tram depot, took 60 liters of paint. The work took 5 days. Everyone loved the new look of the wall.
Several transformer booths were painted. Writers admitted that working on large paintings during the day is much more interesting. Now, with the help of spray paint, graffiti began to decorate the city.
Selecting style and effects
You can understand the essence of graffiti styles using a logical movement from the opposite. Imagine a smooth and beautiful advertising sign. Maybe it has some special font design. Fine. Now take a spray can and create a copy of it on the wall - without markings, just by hand. You won't succeed. Don't be upset - any famous graffiti artist couldn't do it.
An attempt to make some elegant and smooth inscription will end in failure. The idea immediately comes to mind - to draw as it turns out, but so that it looks good. This is how all graffiti styles were born. In fact, there is not much choice. From a practical point of view, you can:
Choosing a direction is a rather arbitrary matter. Graffiti would not be art if everything was based on canons and rules. A creative person will prefer to work in a way that is more convenient for him to convey his emotions and solve the main problem of communicating with the target audience.
