Beginners Guide to Street Art
What is Street Art?
Art publicized, illegally or legally, in the streets such as graffiti, stencils, wheat pasting, stickers, rollers, video projection, street installations, screen printing, yarn bombing, sculptures, lock-ons and so on.
An Evolving Message
In recent times, street art has progressed and evolved to include just about any type of medium to relay a message, an opinion, a remark, or to simply express one's need for attention. The types of street art vary and are often changing. (However, you can see 5 types of street art that perhaps you have or have not noticed by clicking Here.)
Different Types of Street Art
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeDifferent Types of Street Art
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeStreet Art Does Not Always Make Sense
Street art does not have to make sense, as a matter of fact, it rarely does. Take GATS (Graffiti Against The System) for example, this artist has created a character who has famously conquered most urban blogs and websites by defining a brand of his own. Other famously known characters are Swampy, Space Invader, Banksy's Rats, Mr. A, OS Gemeos and Buff Monster.
Street Art Characters
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeThe Purpose for Street Art
On the other hand, street art often makes sense. For example, murals transcribing a message for community peace. Or take artist JR, who won a TED prize in 2011. Through his success, he was granted "one wish to change the world." His focus relates often to the struggles people endure and also identifies him within public locations that deal with freedom, identity, and limits.
JR and his TED Prize Wish
JR, a French street artist, uses his camera to show the world its true face. He makes his audacious TED Prize wish: to use art to turn the world inside out. A funny, moving talk about art and who we are. Learn more at insideoutproject.net.
2012 Popular Trends in Street Art
Most recently, lock-ons, yarn bombing, and video projection have becoming very popular.
Lock-ons, most commonly known for the welding involve, have becoming a popular technique used by very skilled craftsmen and welders. Artists, such as Tejn, take scrap metal from other urban areas and weld together to form a sculpture. They then take this sculpture and weld it, or lock it, to a common location such as a fence, street lamp, or other metal objects. Below is a video (or picture) of the work done.
Yarn bombing is definitely a method that has shocked most individuals involved in street art. Why you may ask? Well lets just say it is not something you would expect to be done simply because yarning has never been a trend within the urban community. To be honest, I have even imagined little old ladies taking a yarn and wrapping it around a light post late at night. However, times have changed and many bold individuals of the younger generation are bringing up the game.
Last but not least is video projection. This has caused massive hype in most of the metropolitan cities through-out the world. It is very exciting to notice a simple glance of the incredible marketing power this one holds. Pictures, or videos, are projected on to a massive wall to indicate changes, advertisement, artistic messages, and more.
Lock On Street Art
Lock on STREET ART sculptures by TEJN in Copenhagen and Berlin
Yarn Bombing
Who ever said Street Art was limited to restless trouble makers?
Video Projection
555 KUBIK
"How it would be, if a house was dreaming"
The conception of this project consistently derives from its underlying architecture - the theoretic conception and visual pattern of the Hamburg Kunsthalle. The Basic idea of narration was to dissolve and break through the strict architecture of O. M. Ungers "Galerie der Gegenwart". Resultant permeabilty of the solid facade uncovers different interpretations of conception, geometry and aesthetics expressed through graphics and movement. A situation of reflexivity evolves - describing the constitution and spacious perception of this location by means of the building itself.
A Growing Trend Within the Artistic Community
If you are looking for a method to get known, innovation is key. Street art is constantly changing and also evolving. It is much more difficult to stand out today than it was 5 years ago. With the growth of technology, such as social media, artists have access to thousands upon thousands of different ideas at the reach of their palm, literally.
I must admit, one must be patient to accomplish success in this field. Like any other hobby, subculture, or idea, one must be spent much time before obtaining the results in mind. I highly encourage to avoid doing any illegal stunts. Although it may seem like an upward struggle, there have been many successful legal street art artists. Often, all it takes is a great idea and motivation!
Thinking About Creating Street Art?
If you have been thinking about creating drawings, stencils, murals, screen printing, or just working with aerosol, below I have added a variety of options you have to begin. Of course, this all depends on the amount of work you wish to put in and level of comfort. I would highly suggest sticking with the more simple projects and work your way up to the more advance street art methods such as sculptures, lock-ons, video projections, and yarn bombing.
A great site to begin shopping:
Shop for Graffiti Supplies on BombingScience.com.
Use the direct link^^ to shop and it helps you obtain greater savings.
Street Art Tools
What is your favorite top of street art/artists and why?
Yarn bombing streetart is nice but i like the iron lock on sculpture bombing better.
My absolute favorite is Blek Le Rat. He did stencils before Banksy. Obey is also so cool!
My favorite street artist is Tejn ( tejnibyen.dk ), because of the "lock on" sculptures he welds from rusty iron found in the city and delivers it back to the same street as art. I think it is so cool and original and I also like how there´s always some kind of message to find in his street art. The video is cooler than cool! I also like Shephard Fairey a lot and El Bocho from germany. Greate style!
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