Graffiti has evolved into an art form.
Graffiti has evolved into an art form. "Street art" pioneers, armed with markers, paintbrushes or cans of spray paint, have earned reputations around the world as talented artists. Unknown to many, however, is the fact that there are many different styles of graffiti art.
Cholo Graffiti
Cholo-style graffiti uses Old English letters.
Cholo graffiti is the style gang members in Los Angeles used during the 1940s to define their territory. They used prestigious Old English lettering, which they painted with a brush -- before there were aerosol spray cans. Chaz Bojorquez, a modern-day, well-known graffiti artist and street art pioneer from Los Angeles, uses this style.
Hip-Hop Style
Plain graffiti letters evolved into more complex drawings.
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, New York City became the center of the street art scene when a hip-hop graffiti style emerged. This style is about being original, and artists use free script lettering in different colors to reflect their personality. Later, as this style evolved, artists began using bubble letters and block letters in an effort to show more individuality and creativity.
Stenciling
While many other styles of graffiti are about writing one's name, or "tagging," street art can feature pictures as well. A graffiti artist sometimes chooses a personal picture as a logo to tag on walls in place of a name. The artist creates a stencil from his drawing, which can then be reproduced in many places quickly, using a can of spray paint.
Wild Style
Wild Style graffiti combines several elements and many colors.
Rather than legible words, "Wild Style" graffiti artists paint more abstract, complex patterns featuring lots of interlocking symbols. Many colors and layers are used, along with arrows, spikes, curves and 3-D elements -- elevating a simple "tag" to a sophisticated work of art. Several artists in New York City pioneered this style, which has become very popular around the world.
