Name: Personal Logo – Graffiti Style Public ArtArt Visual art is a type of language meant to be seen, just like music is a type of language that is meant to be heard. Visual art communicates ideas using symbols and/or words and can be meant for audiences of all sizes. Creators of public art hope for large audiences; they want to reach many people. What are some examples of public art? Is all public art purposeful? Graffiti Art – Whether graffiti is art or just nuisance vandalism is a hot debate in many urban communities. The Internet is a wealth of information on the history and purpose of graffiti, as well as a visual resource. (Visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graffiti for an unbiased look at the history and function of graffiti.) There are thousands of websites dedicated to displaying the work created by ‘graf artists’ all over the world. It is important to note that many sources describe two different types of graffiti: gang graffiti and graffiti art. Gang graffiti is intended to mark territories and is created quickly with little concern for artistic elements. The purpose of graffiti art, on the other hand, is self-expression and creativity. It is defined by highly stylized (often indecipherable) letters, and colorful patterns and designs. AntiAnti-Graffiti - The negative side of graffiti is that it is vandalism. Graffiti is illegal when done without the property owner’s consent. Many people believe that graffiti affects the quality of life in a neighborhood or community because it encourages crime and a fear of crime. It often involves trespassing and is very expensive to remove or cover up. Some cities have tried to reduce this vandalism by designating public walls or spaces specifically for graffiti artists. Unfortunately, for some graffiti artists there is a thrill in finding the more dangerous or unusual illegal locations to “tag” or create a “piece.” Handout created by S. Wagner-Marx Tagging – A graffiti artist is known by his or her nickname, or tag. Tags are similar to a computer screen name and often reflect some aspect of the artist’s interests or personality. In the early stages of graffiti history, tagging was gang related and used to mark gang boundaries. It evolved, however, and graffiti (or aerosol) artists began putting up their tag as often as possible to increase their reputation. Piecing – More elaborate forms of aerosol art are referred to as pieces. (What might “piece” be short for?) A piece will usually involve more time and is likely to include imagery with the creative lettering. A piece may often have a message the artist is trying to get across. As you look at examples of graffiti, what do you notice about the style of the lettering and the images? Handout created by S. Wagner-Marx TypographyTypography The arrangement of type, or letters, is an important part of graphic design. “A graphic artist selects and arranges different elements –such as words, images, symbols and colors- to convey a message.” (www.brittanica.com) Computer fonts are an example of typography. What types of graphic art use typography in their designs? Where do we find them and what is their purpose? What about this art grabs our attention and makes us notice it? Research Following are several resources on graffiti-style typography. • http://www.jam2dis.com/j2dgraffitifonts.htm and • http://www.graffitifonts.com/ to see examples of computer generated graffiti typography. • http://www.graffiticreator.net to play around with a couple different graffiti fonts. Project Planning Logo Design – For this project you will be designing a Personal Logo. Your logo should reflect you and your interests. It must include some form of typography or creative lettering, and can include symbols and designs. FIRST, think about important things you would like to represent, or share, about yourself. Do you have particular interests that define who you are? Are there specific shapes, colors, textures, or patterns that hint at your personality? Handout created by S. Wagner-Marx 1. Use the box below to brainstorm a few of your ideas. (Just list your ideas. Do NOT worry about designing your logo yet!) 2. Using the above ideas, begin creating thumbnail sketches of possible logos. How will your lettering resemble graffiti style typography? How will your logo reflect strong design elements? Consider how you are using: Your name or nickname (tag) Balance (symmetry, asymmetry, radial) Shape(s) Color Outlining Overlapping Shadows/3-D effects Pattern Texture Emphasis (what stands out) Variety (differences) Proportion (size) Unity (goes together) 3. When you have a design that you feel strongly about, transfer your drawing lightly to a large sheet of good drawing paper and color. Handout created by S. Wagner-Marx