I this article, you will find a list of the most popular types of graffiti styles with examples and descriptions.
Tags
In the context of graffiti, „tags“ stands for one-colored signatures (pseudonyms) of graffiti writers.
Decorative elements like stars, drips, arrows and/or splashes may be added to it. For more infos, check out this article.
In urban areas, you will probably find lots of graffiti tags with low quality. The one’s with a unique form and the biggest spread will be remembered.
Handstyles
Handstyles are artistically done graffiti tags.
Simple Style
Letters in simple style basically look like normal letters. The composition is not complex. Hence, they are easily readable. Colors and effects matter the most in simple style graffiti.
Bubble Style / Throw-Ups
Graffiti in bubble-style – a sub-category of “simple style” -look like they have been blown up with air. All edges are round. They do not leave plenty of scope for variation and creativity. Read this article, if you want to learn how to draw graffiti letters in bubble style.
Silver Style
Also a sub-category of “simple style”. The principles of “simple style” apply to “silver style” as well. Except the color of the fill-in, as the name of this style already implies, has to be silver.
Semi-Wildstyle
Semi-wildstyle graffiti are more complex than simple style. Letters are arranged in a more elaborate way and style elements are added.
Wildstyle
The letters of wild style graffiti are very abstract and cannot be identified as letters easily. Lots of style elements, like arrows and big serifs are added to the letters and make the composition very complex. The shadows of the letters fill the spaces between the letters and make the whole piece look compact.
Example of graffiti wild styles
3D-style
Graffiti pieces with very three-dimensional compositions are called 3D-style graffiti. As a result, the letters (can) have different vanishing points and optical illusions. “Daim” is probably the most popular artist focusing on 3D-style.
Genius 3D graffiti art by Daim
Stencil (Pochoir)
Stencil graffiti, as the name already implies, are usually created with a stencil and black coloring. The French word for stencil “pochoir” is not commonly used for this technique, despite stencil graffiti have their roots in France. The french graffiti artist “blek le rat” is considered as the stencil prioneer. He is the first one who used it as his main style. Above all, Banksy is the most popular representative of this technique.
Characters
„Character“ is an abbreviation of “cartoon character”. They are usually painted next to a graffiti to create a scenario around the graffiti piece. Even so, some artists decide to just focus on characters. Copying characters (from cartoons) is usually accepted, because they are only used as decorative elements. If the graffiti artist decides to focus on characters only, it is needed to bring in his/her own creativity though.
Famous Graffiti Characters of Can2
Streetart
In contrast to graffiti, streetart focuses on figurative art and not on creative lettering. Thus, “stencils” and “characters” can be considered as sub-categories of streetart. Photorealistic images are the most sophisticated form of streetart.
Roller Graffiti / Roll-Ups
Spray cans limit the reachable area of graffiti artists. Roll-ups are one ingenious way to overcome this hurdle. They are created with emulsion paint and paint rollers, like the name already implies. Thus, the graffiti artist can reach areas which were impossible to reach before and additionally can create even bigger pieces in illegal spots.
Fire extinguisher Graffiti
Like roll-ups, fire extinguisher graffiti are an attempt to cover a larger area with big letters very quickly. The fire extinguisher used as a tool for applying paint is very hard to control, making this form of graffiti pure vandalism and lacking any artistic value. However, there are creative approaches in figurative artworks, which are partly created with fire extinguishers. Therefore, fire extinguishers as a spraying tool add more value to streetart than graffiti.
creative fire-extinguisher streetart
fire-extinguisher graffiti
Anti-Style / Ill-Style
The anti-style developed when inexperienced sprayers justified their still-immature pieces by claiming it was a deliberate artistic choice. So, anti-style graffiti, also known as ill-style, is rarely used intentionally.
Wrapping it up
I hope this overview of modern graffiti styles has helped you on your creative journey! Is there something we have forgotten to mention or do you have a specific question in mind? Feel free to drop a comment below!
References:
- Das große Graffiti-Lexikon – Bernhard van Treeck
- Graffiti: Kunst aus der Dose – Thorsten Will
- https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stencil
- Can2 Characters: https://www.instagram.com/p/CtHvQQTr-Kg/ https://www.instagram.com/p/Crl2SeyNQgJ/?img_index=1
- Rollup graffiti: https://www.instagram.com/p/CsGKoOfo7T5/?img_index=1
- Fire extinguisher graffiti: https://www.instagram.com/p/Crq_YBVPeg5/, https://www.instagram.com/p/CBxgbybJm5e/
- 3D graffiti by Daim: https://www.instagram.com/p/C-niDSWMXEZ/ , https://www.instagram.com/p/DESmMYVMhUJ/?img_index=1
sigma
Great. Stuff
Easy
I wish l can do this
the wildstyle :O
slay
this is really cool the hardest is wild style in my opinion
cool
Really great website, especially for my research
awsome
Been writing for 30 years and still I learn things everyday. DeLiK
how do i style my own letters
nice
These are awsome examples of different styles
i love this
Excellent summary of these styles, thanks!
I’m becoming obsessed
Great stuff