Graffiti lettering styles are an essential aspect of graffiti art. These styles often involve unique and intricate designs. With various elements such as curves, arrows, and exaggerated proportions. Here are some popular graffiti lettering styles:
Wildstyle:
Wildstyle is one of the most complex and intricate graffiti letter styles. It is characterized by interweaving, overlapping, and interconnected letters, often with arrows, curves, and extensions. Wildstyle can be challenging to read, as it prioritizes style over legibility.
Bubble Letters:
Bubble letters are rounded, inflated-looking letters. They are usually outlined and have a 3D effect, giving them a bubbly appearance. Bubble letters are often used by graffiti artists, especially beginners, as they are relatively easy to create and read.
Check out our post on bubble letter inventor Phase 2
Block Letters:
Block letters are simple, bold, and heavily influenced by traditional typography. Each letter is formed by straight lines and angles, creating a strong and legible style. Block letters are often used for large-scale graffiti pieces and tags.
Throw-up:
Throw-up is a quick and simple graffiti style characterized by fast execution. It involves quickly painting the outline of each letter with one or two colours, usually using fat caps on spray paint cans. Throw-ups are commonly used for graffiti tags and are often done in a hurry to avoid detection.
Stencil:
Stencil lettering involves using stencils to create precise and consistent letter forms. Artists cut out the desired letters on a stencil material, place it on the surface, and then spray paint over it. Stencil graffiti allows for replication of the same design multiple times. It can also be used to create intricate and detailed artworks.
Calligraffiti:
Calligraffiti combines graffiti art with calligraphy. It blends expressive and flowing lettering styles with the boldness and urban edge of graffiti. Calligraffiti artists focus on the aesthetic qualities of the letters while maintaining legibility.
Gothic/Blackletter:
Gothic or blackletter styles draw inspiration from medieval calligraphy. They feature elaborate, angular, and ornamental letterforms with sharp edges and intricate details. This style can be seen in both traditional calligraphy and graffiti art.
These are just a few examples of the many graffiti lettering styles that exist. Graffiti artists often develop their own unique styles by combining elements from various styles or creating entirely new ones, pushing the boundaries of creativity within the art form.
Check out some other variations below. Done by our own crew.
