How to Become a Graffiti Writer

There are many things in life you can become, but some people strive to live on the edge. I've done graffiti in my past, and I don't condone this behavior. With that said, if it's something you want to do there are some things you need to know. The most important thing is come up with a name that has a "ring" to it. Most of the popular graffiti artists have a name that has some kind of meaning. You want to stay away from obvious names that have been used before.

A good thing to do is think of a name, and then Google it to see if it's taken already. Once you have a name for yourself, you'll need a tag. A tag is a simple way of writing your name, but there are advanced versions of this style of writing. Your tag is similar to a signature, and it will be something you need to perfect. My best advice for training with a tag is to do a bunch of variations on paper.

Ask your friends which ones they like, and practice that style. You gain experience from doing the tags over and over. I sometimes will write a single tag a hundred times or more. You have to be able to write your tag without looking. Try it and see how close you can come to making it look perfect. Once you practice on paper to get your skills up, then you can progress to spray paint.

I recommend you wait a couple of years before you even attempt to use spray paint. You can also practice if you have a backyard on old wood and canvases. The most difficult part of switching over from pen to can is the control. The initial feeling is slightly different from the pen, but after some practice you can find your niche. Lastly, you want to have a style of your own when you write.

The biggest mistake with new graffiti writers is they copy other writers. There's nothing wrong with this, but try to find your own style. The worst thing you can be called in graffiti is a "toy" and a "biter." A toy is someone who is new to graffiti, and a biter is someone who copy's other graffiti writers style. Stay safe out there and remember, if it doesn't take a lot of work, then it's probably not worth your time.