History of appearance
The first graffiti on the walls dates back to ancient times. They were most widespread in Ancient Rome, Greece, and the East. A striking example of this is the famous paintings of the catacombs in the capital of Italy. In addition, such drawings gained wide popularity in Mesoamerica back in pre-Columbian times. The Mayans were the most successful in this. Just look at their city of Tikal with its unique and clear wall paintings. Also, graffiti is still found in ancient Scandinavian and Romanesque churches, on burial mounds in Ireland. During the Renaissance, all famous artists made inscriptions on the walls, even Raphael, Lippi, Michelangelo, Pinturicchio and others. They came up with their own grotesque styles, which were subsequently repeated by their students. At the beginning of the 20th century, numerous graffiti on the walls were discovered in the Egyptian pyramids (see photo below). Traditionally, traces were left behind by Napoleon's soldiers during the campaign of conquest. Lord Byron also scratched his initials several times. Soviet soldiers left their mark on the walls of the Reichstag on the day the Second World War ended.
Today, graffiti on the walls of houses is a street subtype of art, which many compare to acts of vandalism. Nevertheless, this is a very popular form of self-expression among today's youth. It is not for nothing that she is considered closely related to hip-hop culture. By the way, in many civilized cities, street artists are allocated huge areas for their undoubtedly complex and labor-intensive art.
Graffiti as an identity of street art
The first graffiti-style drawings appeared on walls back in antiquity. Most often they could be found in the East, in Ancient Greece and Rome.
Important! The most striking example of such “painting” is the painting of the catacombs located in the capital of Italy. Another example is the ancient Scandinavian and Romanesque paintings that still survive in the mound churches of Ireland.
No less popular, graffiti was also used in pre-Columbian times in Mesoamerica. The Mayan Indians painted the whole city of Tikal with such drawings. During the Renaissance, graffiti on the walls of houses was already done by all famous artists, including Michelangelo, Raphael and Lippi. They introduced their own styles into the art of that time, which were later passed on to their students.
Important! At the beginning of the twentieth century, during archaeological research in the Egyptian pyramids, a large amount of graffiti was discovered. Such traces were traditionally left behind by Napoleon's soldiers during his campaign of conquest. Soviet soldiers did the same during World War II on the walls of the Reichstag.
Quite often, Lord Byron resorted to this art and scratched out his initials in graffiti style. Today, such drawings have smoothly migrated into the street form of modern art and are a unique form of self-expression for young people.
Important! Today, in many modern cities, street artists are specially allocated entire areas for the implementation of such art.
Becoming graffiti
Art came to South America through the Brazilian slums. It’s not for nothing that today Sao Paulo is considered the center of street culture. This is where graffiti appeared on a brick wall for the first time. Since ancient times, thousands of young and promising artists have come to Brazil, seeking recognition through their mesmerizing images and inscriptions. Interestingly, New York competes with Sao Paulo for the right to be considered the capital of graffiti. In the Middle East, street art is developing at a slow pace. The largest concentrations of alternative artists are observed in the big cities of Israel, the UAE and Iran. It is noteworthy that it is in these countries that graffiti artists are considered illegal, and their work is considered vandalism. In Israel, huge amounts of money are allocated to combat this type of art. In this region, graffiti on walls often takes a religious form.
In Russia, the so-called bombing trend is developing - illegal images or inscriptions on state or private property. Both law enforcement agencies and social services are fighting against such manifestations of vandalism. The graffiti movement in the country began in the 1980s.
Variety of styles
Some people find it difficult to make major changes in interior style. Bright colors and unusual forms of graffiti designs may seem too shocking for their living space. In such cases, you can give preference to more comfortable styles of this art. Graffiti on the wall in an apartment can look bold and defiant, and sometimes, on the contrary, soft and calm. Much depends on the owner of the room, his temperament and taste preferences.
The variety of graffiti styles is always explained by the personalities of those who paint them. Therefore, a calm person who prefers the classics, but, nevertheless, in the depths of his soul dreams of shocking, can choose a drawing that will look like a painting. Such drawings do not necessarily have to be painted on the walls. They can be applied to any surfaces, frames and interior items. Since they will be limited in space, the owner of the house will feel up to date, but at the same time remain true to his preferences.
Graffiti on the wall in an apartment can look like unique and original works of street art. You just need to draw it on a white canvas and place it in one of the rooms. When placing such pictures, you should give preference to walk-through rooms. Such a picture will look most advantageous in the hall, living room or dining room.
Graffiti styles
Today, there are several main variations of street art. One of the most common styles is called tagging. Such inscriptions contain a meaningful message from the author or his initials, identifying him among many other artists. Sometimes mysterious messages are encrypted in tags. An offshoot of the style is pissing. It is characterized by the use of a fire extinguisher filled with paint to create tags up to 5-6 m high. Bombing is considered the most common style of wall graffiti in Eastern Europe (see photo below). Such inscriptions or images are applied quickly. A minimum of colors is used, sometimes artists resort to stencils. This type of street art is illegal in most countries around the world.
"Wild Style" is a complex variation of graffiti on a wall. Its distinctive features are sharp corners and endless interweaving of letters.
Popularity of graffiti
The origins of the modern form of graffiti originate in New York. It was there that this art gained its popularity and from there it began to spread throughout the world. For drawings, people used markers, paint aerosols, and any other coloring compositions. Now graffiti refers to any drawings on street buildings, inscriptions on surfaces, painted with bright colors. Sometimes street artists create real masterpieces and works of art. Many of them leave inscriptions on the walls that carry an important message to society. Graffiti on the wall has become a symbol of freedom of expression and extraordinary art, the desire to express one’s uniqueness and significance.
Application Basics
To create graffiti on the wall, artists use a whole arsenal of devices and tools that an inexperienced beginner does not even know about. The main attribute of application is aerosol paint. It is sold in special cans. The second important nuance is the caps. These are paint sprayers that differ in hole diameter. An experienced artist has a whole set of spray cans and caps in his arsenal. Also, do not forget about a respirator and safety glasses so that the fumes do not corrode your eyes. Some artists use prepared stencils for individual elements of the design. They can be quickly made from any dense material. It is recommended to spray paint in the immediate vicinity of the stencil so as not to stain the rest of the surface. To work on large drawings, you should take several pairs of thick gloves with you.
Fashionable bedrooms in graffiti style
Even a sleeping place can look very attractive with graffiti on the wall. Some people decide to decorate their living room or kitchen in this way, and only the bravest ones decide to decorate their own bedroom. This choice is due to the fact that each person strives to express something personal in the place where he feels most safe.
In modern bedroom interiors, graffiti on the walls seems to come to life. This design would be appropriate in the rooms of creative people who strive to explore new trends and are not afraid to be original. Graffiti will fit perfectly into the design of a room for teenagers who are interested in sports.
Home graffiti
In an apartment, it is best to use aerosol paints to apply a picture or inscription. They are harmless and dry quickly. Graffiti on the wall in an apartment will not only diversify the interior, but will also help disguise flaws in the layout.
The advantages of such drawings are that they are able to zone and increase space. The theme of home graffiti can be different: from children's to alternative chaos. Aerosol designs are durable and bright. The paint lays down in a perfectly thin layer on the surface. If necessary, the wall can be repainted at any time.
History of graffiti
The name of this style is translated from Italian as “scratched”. At the very beginning of time, cavemen painted graffiti on walls. They left rock inscriptions, which were the same way of expressing thoughts as modern graffiti. However, there is a huge difference in the paintings of the old days and modern works on the walls. Their main difference lies in the motive. Ancient people wanted to leave knowledge for their ancestors, and modern art involves personal expression. Artists paint on the walls what resonates in their hearts.
Where to start applying
First, you should prepare the surface. For optimal paint atomization, the wall must be primed. At the next stage, it is important to choose the color scheme of the picture and decide on its size. All aspects of the image must be thought out to the smallest detail. Once you start applying there is no turning back. It will be worth taking care of a sketch of the drawing on paper or a tablet. Beginning artists can transfer the image onto a surface using a projector to trace important contours and lines.
To create graffiti on the wall you will need brushes, paint, working spray cans, caps of different sizes, a respirator and gloves. Before you start drawing a picture on the surface, you can practice on the side: test your strength; see what the colors look like; what line width is needed, etc. It is important to understand that graffiti does not like to be rushed. You should draw measuredly, with smooth movements.
Graffiti indoors in loft style
Leafing through fashion magazines, you will notice that the loft style is at the peak of popularity. In a room with this style, graffiti will look especially relevant. One of the highlights of this art is the ability to contrast with the walls on which it is made. The message it sends to others depends on the style of the room where you plan to paint graffiti. Brick and steel in the interior of the room will only emphasize the beauty and motif of the design.
You can use any type of paint to apply graffiti to a wall. Any color combination will look great on brickwork. But it's best to play with contrast. Use bright colors on black and white brickwork, and monochrome designs on red and white brickwork.
Recommendations for beginners
To protect your hands from paint, it is better to use rubber gloves. They make the brush more sensitive to the spray can. Don't skimp on paint. High-quality spray cans are the key to durable and beautiful graffiti on the wall.
It is not recommended to apply the design to the surface in severe frost, rain or hot weather. Shake the can well before using it. The solvent and paint should mix well. When drawing, the can should only be held vertically.
Graffiti or airbrush?
When thinking about the interior of their own home, many begin to confuse airbrushing with graffiti. But these are two completely different directions. Airbrush is painting on walls with paint. The procedure is performed using a special device - an airbrush. The drawing is applied to the wall using one of the methods of fine art. Airbrush will help you recreate the perfect picture that will appeal to any connoisseur of art painting.
Graffiti is the absolute opposite of airbrushing. This is the freedom to draw what comes out of the depths of the soul, this is courage, a bundle of energy and audacity. If you want to bring something new to your home, fill it with life and personality, you should pay attention to this type of wall covering. Any person can like graffiti on the wall, since it is not at all necessary to draw chaotic figures in your home that cause shock, or make provocative inscriptions. Thanks to the variety of its styles, everyone can choose a suitable design for themselves.
The purpose of graffiti in the interior
The main purpose of graffiti in the rooms of a house or apartment is not to pay tribute to fashion, but to express your feelings and show them to loved ones. Drawings on the walls make the home bright and give joy to all the people living in it. Decorating walls with graffiti allows you to expand the space of one room to infinity. Three-dimensional drawings can carry you far forward, into the depths of their stories.
Graffiti in the interior becomes the owner's calling card. It reflects his vision of life, art, desires, shows strength of character or hints at his weaknesses. Everyone draws on the wall something that reflects his thoughts, capabilities and even emotional experiences. A unique interior is more of a bonus than a goal. Before you paint graffiti on a wall, it's worth taking a few lessons from an artist who specializes in this form of art. He will not teach you what exactly needs to be painted, but will only tell you how to work with paint correctly and what materials are best to paint.
Important nuances of graffiti in home interiors
Before you start decorating your own home, you need to take into account several important nuances:
- When you grab a paint can, you should know exactly what kind of result you ultimately want to get. If you are planning a drawing on the entire wall, you need to first cover it with white paint. When the pattern transitions smoothly into the walls, you should also paint them in the appropriate tone.
- You can apply graffiti to concrete, mirror, plaster, acrylic painted wall, metal, wood or plastic surface.
- Large drawings will help disguise unevenness on the wall surface.
Street graffiti on the walls of houses has long been common; now it has migrated to the interior of city apartments. It brings dynamics and breathes life into any room. Most designers are increasingly beginning to use more modern and artistic forms of drawings in their practice. They customize the graffiti to suit each homeowner's personality. The drawings look just as extravagant in homes, but at the same time they are more comfortable and do not get boring.
