Graffiti & Urban Art Features

News: Chia Pets...on Acid

Remember Grandma-approved eco-friendly mud graffiti? London native Helen Nodding has taken a similar approach: non-destructive moss graffiti. Helen was inspired by the cold hard steel, glass, and concrete of the city:

News: 3 Ways You Can Protest Ai Weiwei's Detainment by the Chinese Goverment

The Free Art and Technology Lab (F.A.T.) has provided three different energetic and passionate methods for voicing support for Ai Weiwei, the famous Chinese artist and activist who has been detained without known reason by the Chinese government since March 31st.

How To: Graffiti the name "Ster" with Wizard

Have you ever wanted to graffiti your name? We definitely have (maybe something to do with the street cred?). Either way, learning how to do graffiti is a fun way to get into drawing and urban art styles.

How To: Robin Rhode Knows How To Play With Himself

South African born artist Robin Rhode combines street art with optical trickery, resulting in a cumulation of performance, graffiti, drawing, film and photography.

How To: Draw a pair of cholitas in pencil with Wizard

If you've watched enough of his other videos on our site, you should have realized by now that graffiti-artist Wizard can draw just about anything with a pencil and pen. In this video he turns his talents to drawing a pair of cholitas in pencil. They are elegant, sexy, and supremely well-done. Keep practicing graffiti fans! Broaden your horizons by copying this definitely non-graffiti piece.

How To: Make shutter shade sunglasses from duct tape

Okay, so the shutter shade trend sort of rode the wave of Kanye West's popularity after he wore it for his video for "Stronger," and then decreased in fan enthusiasm after the Taylor Swift music video incident (your ego is more than your "imaginary friend," Kanye).

How To: Draw a graffiti-style demon with Wizard

In this video, graffiti master-for-hire Wizard broaden his horizons by drawing a demon. While this is an atypical subject for him, he demonstrates mad skills in this demonstration and you could certainly improve your tagging and general art skills by copying this work.

How To: Color and shade the name "Real" in graffiti with Wizard

For this fun drawing tutorial, graffiti genius Wizard does two things he's never done before: 1. He graffitis his own last name, "Real," and 2. He colors in his graffiti, which includes clowns that could scare the pants off of the Joker, a bumpy brick wall, and a teeny bumble bee/clown hybrid who's more creepy than cute.

How To: Make a flaming duct tape wallet with hidden pockets

Duct tape isn't only good for making sure your items don't fall out of your eBay shipments and for securing a rear view mirror in place after your drunken cousin knocked it off one night during a temper tantrum.

How To: Draw a skull knife with Wizard

Who knew that Wizard, graffiti-master-for-hire-extrordinaire, could also draw fantastic fantasy images? In this installment of his series of video art demonstrations, he draws a skull knife that look positively menacing. Copy this and improve your art skills boys and girls.

How To: Draw a cholita

If you have any mexican blood in you, you may already know what a cholita is defined as. If you don't know the urban dictionary defines a cholita as, "pretty much a tough girl.Usually a female version of a vato. They draw their eyebrows on and wear chuck taylors and carry a glock." There you go! Now if you're interested in drawing a cholita, this video will show you how to draw one crazy looking cholita. So good luck and enjoy!

News: DIY Eco-Friendly Mud Graffiti

Graffiti even Grandma would approve of (ok, for some of you maybe that's a turn off...). How about... graffiti that is good for the environment and you (non-toxic), as well as preservative of the past (architecture, etc).

How To: Create alternative art duct tape paintings

Okay, just to clear things up before you head over to watch the video, duct tape painting does not involve grinding up little pieces of duct tape to make paint.

How To: Use packing tape to seal duct tape art designs

If you've ever sewn or worked with fabric, you know what no matter how great that shirt turns out it must be hemmed (raw edges sealed with a stitch) in order for your work to last. The same principle goes for delicate duct tape art.

How To: Make a placard with copper text

This how-to video tutorial shows how to make a placard or card out of PCB copper board. Learn how to remove the copper from a piece of PCB leaving behind the desired text in the copper finish for a fancy text.

How To: Make an executive tower wallet out of duct tape

Sometimes you just have too much cash to fit into a small, purse-sized wallet and need a much bigger one to hold in all your dough. If you're one of the few lucky lads who are making lots of money in our gloomy economy and need a larger wallet, then watch this video to learn how to construct a cool executive wallet out of duct tape.

How To: Spray paint properly

Try to use the same brand of spray paint throughout the project, read the instructions, follow them. Different brands may have different instructions, this is why we advise against mixing brands. Begin by lightly sanding your project with 600 grit sand paper, anything lower can potentially scratch your project. Use a sturdy tape to cover the parts you want to leave unpainted. Use a very light coating of primer, sand it with 600 grit sand paper (lightly). To add 'special effects' to the job, u...

How To: Draw a graffiti spraycan

In this video, we learn how to draw a graffiti spray can. Start out by drawing the top of the can with the nozzle on the very top. Use a half circle with a thick line under it to make the top. Next, draw the rest of the can creating a face on the side of the can with a mouth, nose, ears, and eyes. Then, draw in the bottom of the can using a circle shape and filling it on black so it looks sealed. Add in some lines to show the can spraying, then write in graffiti letters underneath to finish!

News: Subway Whoosh + Hefty's = Super Fine Pop Art

Joshua Allen Harris' work is ingenious. An incredibly simple, common household item (garbage bag) makes use of disgusting subway toxins (exhaust) to create inflatable street monsters.

How To: Draw an animated Pilot marker with Wizard

Thanks to advances in CGI, lots of ordinarily silent or non-alive things have been animated (or anthropomorphized for all you English majors out there). Dogs, cats, squirrels, and thanks to the "Toy Story" series, Barbie and Ken, too.

How To: Make wheat paste

Wheat paste is a cheap and easy way to attach posters around town. All you need is flour, water, sugar, non-toxic glue, a pot, and pot. Get started wheatpasting and get your message out there. Watch this video graffiti tutorial and learn how to make your own cheap wheat paste at home.

How To: Build your own set of graffiti lettering

Drawing graffiti letters can be done in hundreds of different ways, but drawing on graph paper helps the letters stay to scale, and using a brush pen creates a flared effect. Draw a few different types of graffiti letters with a demonstration from an experienced artist and art supply store employee in this free video on drawing. This video will demonstrate exactly how to build your own set of graffiti lettering. Build your own set of graffiti lettering.

How To: Create a geek chic duct tape layered wallet

Duct tape isn't only handy for taping your rear view mirror back when your drunken cousin knocks it off in a fit of intoxicated rage. In fact, duct tape is a excellent and cheap material for crafting.

How To: Make a long stem rose out of duct tape

Learn how to put that roll of duct tape to use with help from this tutorial! In this video, learn how to make a long stemmed rose out of duct tape... Perfect to surprise a girlfriend or boyfriend with to show them how much you care. Make unique duct tape gifts and hone your duct tape skills with guidance from this instructional!

How To: Craft funky woven duct tape credit card holders

Wallets are our least favorite item to purchase. Why? Well, they're either super crappy in quality and looks (think a pleather wallet you can purchase at the clearance bin at Wal-Mart) or gorgeous but out of this world expensive (Dior, anyone?). There's selmonly a space in between where we can get a good-looking wallet for cheap.

How To: Make a graffiti mop from a repurposed cleaner bottle

In this tutorial, we learn how to make a graffiti mop from a repurposed cleaner bottle. First, you will take stamp cleaner in a small bottle that you can pick up from any craft store and a bottle of Pilot ink (1 oz). Next, empty the stamp cleaner from the bottle and then pour the ink into that bottle using a dropper. After this, place the top back onto the bottle and shake it for several seconds. When done, take the cap off and you will be able to write on a wall now using this bottle's soft ...

How To: Make a cloud lamp

Make a very neat lava-like lamp for less than $10 in parts. Uses only soap and water. No chemicals, easy, fun, and the results are incredibly neat! Make a cloud lamp.

How To: Create designs using duct tape puzzle decoration

Those who have never worked with duct tape before don't know just how versatile and painterly the medium can be. While duct tape serves its practical purpose well as a Priority Mall package sealer and prom dress maker, it has great artistic ability as well.

How To: Draw Danger Mouse

If you remember who Danger Mouse is, you may be considered old in some books. Danger Mouse was a secret agent has had an eye patch on his face and a weird looking partner. He would always face off against other animals like birds and snakes, but in the end would always save the day. So, if you're interested in going back through time, this tutorial will show you how. The video shows how you can draw Danger Mouse using some helpful tips. Good luck and enjoy!

How To: Craft a silver duct tape pocketknife holder

You never know when you're going to need a knife. Whether you carry it on your person for protection or simply use it to open stubborn packaging and envelopes, pocketknives are super practical yet also very dangerous if they accidentally open up in your pants.

How To: Make the Book of the Dead from "Army of Darkness"

For those of you not in the tack horror movie loop, "Army of Darkness" was a comedy horror flick which came out in 1993 that featured not so scary zombies and your typical aggregation of gnarly looking undead. While the movie itself was a bit of a snore, the prop guys did produce a rather cool-looking book, called the Book of the Dead.

How To: Create a bucket drum or protest art

In this video, we learn how to create a bucket drum or protest art. To start, you will grab a large plastic bucket and you will apply take all around the sides of it so it's wrapped up. The tape should be intersecting at the opening of the top of it. Then, use a tie to connect this in with the tape and then size it so it fits around your waist. From here, you will tie the bucket to your waist and then use sticks to beat your new drum. You can stick the sticks to the side where the tape is to ...

How To: Make easy and quick duct tape shoelaces

By now you've probably heard of the duct tape crafting trend. If nothing else, the sour economy has inspired an upsurge of popularity in DIY stuff, including using duct tape to make everything from prom dresses to wallets.

How To: Build a YouTube channel presence and get subscribers

Any successful blogger and business brand will tell you that social media is really the only PR you need these days. Whether you're tackling Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or planning a takeover of YouTube, getting your product name out there - even if it's just your own name because you run a blog - is the number one absolute, most importan thing you can do to sell your brand.

How To: make dripping street art

In the world of instructional video, there are some videos that transcend debate. Is there the intent to instruct? Is the idea simple and original? Is a step by step process articulated? Is the content revelatory?

How To: Use spray paint safely

Whether you're a graffiti artist or a home crafter who uses a lot of spray paint for various backyard projects, it's important to use your spray paint safely. This short, basic but useful video introduces you to a few of the air filter masks on the market. It also teaches you a bit about how to use them and how to keep them operating correctly. Use spray paint safely.

News: Free Graffiti Research Lab!!!

Our friends at Graffiti Research Lab were detained in Beijing over the weekend on charges of “upsetting public order”.