Graffiti & Urban Art Features

How To: Draw the word Uzi in graffiti script

Graffiti maestro Wizard performs one of his trademark user-requested graffiti demonstrations. In this video creates an even more compact design than usual, creating the word UZI in fairly standard graffiti-script and elaborating it with some splatter patterns and a hatted figure popping out from the corner. His speed and technique, especially working without a pre-drawing, are simply remarkable.

How To: Paint Bedroom Walls like a pro

To prepare a bedroom for walls to be painted, remove as much furniture and objects from the room. You can leave the larger furniture in the center of the room, covered. Fill in any holes or cracks in the wall with a patch. Also, remove any hardware or outlet plates from the wall. Next, place masking tape at the base boards so you can paint below the carpet level. Tim suggests using a drop cloth rather than a plastic cloth to cover the floor. Drop cloths last much longer and are more convenien...

How To: Draw a scary character

In this tutorial, we learn how to draw a scary character. First, draw the outline with a hat and a cape. After this, use your pencil to color the inside of the hat and the face (except the eyes) completely black. From here, you will shade in the hat by blending in the pencil with your finger. From here, you will color in the bow on the front of the cape and then shade in the sides and the top and bottom of the cape. Use your finger to blend in the pencil and then smudge it around the front of...

How To: Draw a graffiti Smurf character

In this tutorial, we learn how to draw a graffiti Smurf character. Start off by drawing the hat for the Smurf, then draw in the ear on the side of the head. Then, draw in the face and start to add in the details. Draw in the mouth, nose, and eyes. After this, draw in the upper body and the clothing that the Smurf is wearing. Add crinkled lines on the edges to make it look like the pants are too big, then draw in the feet, arms, and hands. Draw a spray paint can in the hand of the Smurf, then ...

How To: Make linoleum asphalt mosaics with Craftzine

Linoleum asphalt mosaics, also called Toynbee Tiles, are artworks permanently embedded in pavement. In this video I'll show you how to construct your own from inexpensive materials. You can get real linoleum (don't use vinyl flooring) for this project by ordering free samples online. By cutting out a mosaic design in the linoleum and sandwiching it between layers of paper, wood glue, and asphalt crack filler, you can affix the mosaic very permanently to an asphalt surface, such as your drivew...

How To: Draw a spraycan sketch

In this tutorial, we learn how to draw a spray can sketch. First, draw the face of the can on the piece of paper, drawing the eyes, nose, and mouth. After this, draw the surrounding parts of the can around the face. Draw the bottom and the top of the can as well as the top with the middle open area where the spray will come out. After this, draw in as much detail as you would like on your spray can. Use a black marker to shade in on the sides and make lines darker. When finished, save and enj...

News: Liar, Liar, House On Fire

See a burning building? Hold all calls to the fire department. Canadian artist Isabelle Hayeur fools passerbyers with her installation, "Fire with Fire", an artwork that creates the illusion of a fire-swept four-story heritage building in the downtown eastside of Vancouver. "The Downtown Eastside is the oldest neighbourhood in Vancouver; it is also the most run-down. This historic area is infamous for being plagued by social problems due to poverty. Before falling prey to serious urban decay,...

How To: Draw graffiti with color

Have you always looked at graffiti and wondered how they got such perfect lines and great color with just a spray can? Watch this video tutorial set to funky music and learn how to create a sketch of the finished product. Draw it on paper first and, with this easy to follow guide, learn how to make the finished product "Exode" with just a set of markers. Each picture shows the progression of the piece, from just a simple sketch to the fully colored product. In almost no time you will be makin...

How To: Draw Gizmo from the "Gremlins" with Wizard

We don't remember much about the 1984 movie "Gremlins," but we do remember the adorable protagonist/lead Gremlin Gizmo! Who can forget his big, pleading eyes, doll-like stature and chubby tummy? Our four-year-old selves swooned over the fantasy that we could own our very own Gizmo as a pet. Unfortunately for us, our pipe dreams went bust when we discovered that Gizmo shockingly wasn't real, but at least we can still recall the tender days of yore by drawing this Gizmo character.

News: Grafitti Dog Goes For a Stroll

Nowhere Near Here, by Pahnl, is made with the graffiti light writing technique (stop motion animation that uses a combination of light with stencils and long exposure photography). Over 300 hours in the making and more than 200 stencils later, the tale of a "dog running around the city at night, doing whatever a dog does": Vocals by Karin Dreijer Andersson of the Knife and Fever Ray.

How To: Get more out of spray paint cans

In this how-to video, you will learn how to get more out of your spray cans. This is useful if you want to make the most out of the money spent on these purchases. These spray cans are very useful for painting objects that would be harder with the traditional bus. First, follow the directions on the spray can. It should say to turn it upside down and spray it until it runs clear. This keeps the tips clear. If the can is old, you can carefully remove the tip from the can and drop it in paint t...

How To: Tag like a real graffiti artist

Graffiti— do you have the guts to get out there and tag some property? There's a whole lot more than just spray paint involved. To be great, you'll need things like a sketchbook, pencils, pens, markers, spray can tips, latex gloves, legal (or illegal) wall, and most importantly… creativity. If you think you’ve got what it takes to be an urban graffiti artist, follow these steps to become da ’hood’s next da Vinci.

How To: Draw a graffiti design with a mustachioed figure

For those among you looking to improve you small-scale pencil-and ink graffiti skills, you could not ask for a better silent teacher than Wizard. His viewer-requested drawings always demonstrate a high degree of skill while being simple and slowly-done enough to allow his fan to emulate him and improve their own art. His trademark well-chosen electrofunk soundtracks are perfect background music for the graffiti creation process.