Rules Of Graffiti

You suck until further notice

It's gonna take a long time before we even acknowledge your existence, even longer before we can bear to look at that foul scribble you call your name. To speed the process of acceptance, you can A) Choose a clever name that defies the norm of simple-minded slang. An example of a good name is "ARGUE" (RIP). It looks good when written, sounds cool when spoken, and conveys a combattive attitude. On the other hand, "ENEMA" (actual name) looks, sounds, and conveys a shitty attitude. BE CHOOSY. B ) Use paint, gain a thorough knowledge of supplies, remember that permission walls, stickers, and dust tags are small parts of a balanced diet, be bold, learn a style of writing for every occassion,and write your name bigger every time you go out.

Jealousy is a disease for the weak

Your heart is your greatest possession, dont let it get taken from you.

Dont write on houses of worship, people's houses in general, other
writer's names, and tombstones. Writing on memorial walls and cars is beef beyond belief. Furthermore, involving civilians in your beef is grounds for dismissal. These are are the five fingers of your right hand. Get to know them well. Give soul claps, firm handshakes, and throw smooth bolo punches.

Although being a toy seems undesirable, you should enjoy it while you can. At this stage you can bite all you want with no remorse. All your elders will say is, " Awww isn't that cute, kootchie kootchie koo." So steal that dope connection, rob that color scheme. and loot whole letterforms. Dont worry about giving any credit, we'll pat ourselves on the back and brag how we're influencing the next generation. However, style isnt a crutch or a schtick. It is understanding why that connection you bit flows, or why that color scheme bumps. Style is the process to an appealing end. Once you got it down to a science, you can reinvent letterforms to suit yourself. This creative growth will amaze the old and young alike. Pretty soon somebody will steal your secret sauce and the cycle will be renewed. If this happens to you, don't bitch about not getting your due. Graffiti is the language of the ignored. If your style is stolen, someone heard you speaking. You got what you wanted from the beginning, some attention, you big baby.

It must be noted that the vandal squad loves graffiti. Their job requires them to fiend for graff as much as you do. When you wreck enough walls, they'll want to meet you. Just like the ball huggers outside the graff shop, they'll recite every spot you hit, with the difference being you'll also hear the Miranda Warning. To postpone this, go solo as much as possible. Dont write with anyone that wont fight for you. Don't be paranoid, but be careful. If you avoid writing on pristine properties, you'll stay in misdemeanor territory, and you wont divert the cops' attention from pastry and caffiene consumption (consult local laws to be sure). Remember, if they didn't see you do it, it's almost impossible for them to win a conviction without your own damming testimony. Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP! Giving a cop info on another writer will doom you to a life of ridicule, from cops and kids alike, with no parole.

There's nothing wrong with knowing your the shit as long as you are. But once you reach that conclusion, your one foot over the edge of falling off. Watch your step fathead, there's no shortage of people chanting, "JUMP JUMP JUMP!" There are plenty of writers that have been painting well for the better part of 20 years, and your posing and fronting looks retarded next to them. Get back to work, you "never was" slouch. In conclusion, graffiti is free, impresses the girls, is heroic in our couch potato culture, will provide you with a million stories to tell at parties, and a sure cure for the inner-city blues. If it's not fun, you're doing it wrong or have been doing it too long. So get going, fame awaits the fly among you.

Piece By Piece

A Brief History of Modern Graffiti

1969 Philadelphia - A kid tries to impress a girl by writing his nickname (cornbread) onto her locker, it didn’t work. He then writes it’s on her bus route and apartment block quite likes the idea and continues with the rest of the city. Soon other people copy him. Whether he gets the girl is unknown.

New York 1969-1974 - The idea works its way to New York with people mainly writing on the subway system with new styles and being developed and the names becoming bigger and most complex. One of the first to gain attention from the media is ‘TAKI 183’ a footmessager from Manhattan who used his job walking the city to put up his name.

New York mid 70s - One of the busiest and heaviest periods of graffiti in the city due to financial problems in New York city, the subways where left un-maintained with graffiti not being removed.

Rome 1979 - Lee Quinones, and Fab Five Freddy has a gallery opening in Rome. The first time graffiti art is in a gallery space.

London 1979 - Punk band ‘crass’ stencil political slogans around London.

Paris 1981- Blek Le Rat started stenciling small rats unto the streets of Paris and other French cities he soon moved onto life sized stencils of people and is one on the most influential graffiti artists of all time.

1980s - graffiti spreads to the 4 corners of the world where new styles are developed.

1990s - The obey campaign starts with Shepard Fairey creating stickers and posters of wrestler André the giant and is soon all over the country and eventually the world for people to stick up it becomes so famous it is seen in several films and TV shows.

Bristol 2003-Banksy has his ‘turf war’ show where he paints on cows.

Washington 2004-05 John Tsombikos starts the ‘BORF’ campaign a tribute to a dead friend, at his court appearance he turns up in paint-splattered clothes.

Art

I'd been painting rats for three years before someone said "that's a clever anagram of art" and I had to pretend I'd known that all along.

This is a blog dedicated to graffiti from around the world. Its accompanied by pictures, videos and clever quotes.

Banksy's Manifesto

When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me. - Emo Philips