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.
This book has provided countless hours of enjoyment for my teen who is interested in graffiti art. The book is of immense practical and educational benefit and has proven to be one of my son's most-loved possessions. Thank you Scape Martinez!!!
Good introduction to graffiti style, technique, and history for an artist
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
One of the few book resources for learning anything about the actual techniques and practices of graffiti artists. Combined with a good introduction on the styles and history of graff artwork.
A Great Place to Begin.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
I bought this book at Barns and Noble when it was about two weeks old. I really liked the explanation of the graffiti world and it's history. I've already taken amazing strides in my own style and I always look back to this book for the basics if I get graffwriters block. The only thing I would have included was something I found on the Internet about creating your name. After you practice the alphabet in bubble and block letters pick out the ones you like to draw the most and scramble them up until you find something that sticks out to you. I would also suggest taking a good look at graffiti and illustration books in general. Looking at other examples of the art form that you pursue can give you inspiration and confidence.
Graffiti
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
I needed to learn how to draw graffiti for one of my classes. I bought this book and after alot of practice I was decent at it. The book explains where to start, what colors to use, and many other things(for more advanced artists). The book was worth the money.
WOW!!!!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
Just received my copy yesterday and I am blown away with the quality of the art and photos in it! This is an unprecedented manual that really breaks down the art of graffiti to understandable steps. The way cool graphics and eye popping colors make this a must have for all artists and art educators. Mr. Martinez is not only a master technician but an exceptional teacher as well in the way that he explains, technique, materials, styles, the elements of art and, incredibly the HISTORY of graffiti in a very short, sequential page by page format. As an educator I also appreciated his disclaimers about the legal ramifications of "tagging" and how you can turn your graff skills into appropriate and appreciated art.
ThriftBooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. We personally assess every book's quality and offer rare, out-of-print treasures. We deliver the joy of reading in recyclable packaging with free standard shipping on US orders over $15. ThriftBooks.com. Read more. Spend less.