Lesson video

Hello, my name is Mrs. Tipping.

And I'm really looking forward to learning with you today about street art through digital and new media.

We're going to do lots of thinking, talking, and exploring together in this lesson.

So shall we get started? Let's go.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to create a graffiti-style letter design using digital tools to express your own personal style.

Before we start, I would like to introduce you to some keywords.

We'll be using these keywords during the lesson, so it might be a good idea to write these words down.

The keywords we'll be using today are graffiti, typography, layering, and gradient.

I'm gonna say those again, and I'd like you to repeat them after me, graffiti, typography, layering, gradient.

Good job.

Now, let's think in more detail about what these keywords mean by taking a look at their definitions.

So graffiti is writing or images that have been sprayed, stencilled, painted, scratched, or drawn on a public space.

Typography is the art and technique of arranging letters and text to make written language visually appealing.

Layering is a technique in digital media where different elements are stacked on top of each other.

And a gradient is a gradual transition from one colour to another.

Pause the video here to make a note of these keywords.

And when you're ready to continue, press Play.

These are the learning cycles we'll be working through together in today's lesson, graffiti and digital media, and creating your digital graffiti letter design.

In this first learning cycle, we're going to explore graffiti and digital media.

How can artists communicate their ideas and messages to others? Pause the video here and have a discussion with your partner, and press Play when you're ready to continue.

What did you think? How can artists communicate their ideas and messages to other people? Well, graffiti is a form of street art that uses text, images, and symbols to communicate.

Often created in public spaces, graffiti has evolved into various styles, including digital graffiti.

Now, do remember, while some graffiti and street art is created without permission, many artists are commissioned to produce their artworks in public spaces.

Digital platforms, tools, and media allow artists to experiment and refine their typographic designs without the constraints of physical walls and the challenges of working in public spaces.

Graffiti can express ideas, personal identity, social messages, or cultural movements.

Whether it's on a wall or on a computer screen, graffiti allows artists to make their mark and share their voice.

Bold letters, vibrant colours, and stylized fonts, different elements can be used in graffiti to make typography designs bold and expressive.

Take a look at this image here of some graffiti tag designs on paper.

You see some of those bright colours and the stylized fonts.

Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

Why is colour important in graffiti art? It helps to make the design bold and expressive.

It is used only to fill in the background.

Graffiti artists always use the same colour palette.

Pause the video here and give yourself a moment to think about the answer to this question.

And press Play when you are ready to continue.

What did you think? If you said, "It helps to make the design bold and expressive," you're absolutely right.

That's why colour is important in graffiti art.

Digital media allows graffiti artists to experiment with different tools to create a broader range of styles, effects, and results.

Although there may be different software applications or hardware devices available, there are certain digital tools and techniques that can be used on each.

Tools like layering and gradients can be used to help create digital graffiti letters.

Using them can help to add depth and personality to your designs.

Layering is a technique in digital media where different elements are stacked on top of each other.

So you can see here, this bottom layer is this yellow triangle, and then the middle layer here is this blue rectangle, and the top layer here is this pink circle.

So layering is where you stack different elements on top of each other.

Can you see how the triangle, the rectangle, and the circle are stacked? Layering is a bit like drawing or painting onto separate plastic sheets, which are then stacked on top of each other.

Each layer in the stack can be moved, reordered, or edited without affecting the other layers in the stack.

So can you see here? We've shuffled those different layers around and stacked them differently, and also here.

So we're creating different designs by stacking and layering these items differently.

A gradient is a gradual transition from one colour to another.

So, here, we've got some examples.

Can you see the stark colour and what it's gradually transitioned into? Gradients can be used in digital designs to create smooth blends and interesting colour combinations.

Which one do you like out of these three? I quite like the middle.

It looks a bit like sunrise or a sunset with that orange, pink, and yellow.

Remember that in typography, graffiti letters are often large, bold, and stylized.

So be sure to explore options and experiment with your design choices throughout the process.

Take a look here at this colourful graffiti that's beside a staircase.

Which elements of that do you like? Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

What is missing from this space here? Something are a key feature of graffiti-style letters.

Thin, delicate lines, large, bold, and stylized letters, subtle pastel colours.

So which of these sits in that gap? Pause the video here and give yourself enough time to think about this, and press Play when you're ready to continue.

What did you think? If you said, "Large, bold, and stylized letters are a key feature of graffiti-style letters," you're absolutely right, well done.

This brings us to our first learning task.

I'd like you to choose one letter, or your initials, to create in a graffiti-style.

Draw your chosen letter using the digital tools available, and then experiment with the letters design by using effects like colour gradients or shadows.

Pause the video here and give yourself enough time to have a go at creating your own graffiti-style letter, and press Play when you're ready to continue.

How did that go? Did you go for your initials or just a letter? Well, here we've gone for the letter A.

This typo graphic letter A design was made digitally using sharp, angular outlines, a drop shadow to make it look more realistic, and a colour gradient to give it a distinctive graffiti-style effect.

Hopefully, you were able to use those digital tools to experiment with your letters design using effects like colour gradients, shadows, or texture overlays.

Well done for having a go at creating your own graffiti-style letter.

This now brings us to the second part of our lesson.

We're going to explore creating your digital graffiti letter design.

And many artists work with digital tools as part of their process to making graffiti and street art.

Sandra Fabara, AKA Lady Pink, creates bold, vibrant, and colourful street art that combines graffiti lettering with visual imagery.

Ben Eine draws from different styles of typography when painting large, impactful murals in public spaces.

And Tavar Zawacki, AKA Above, creates graphic-design-inspired murals with lettering.

Looking at the graffiti styles of artists, such as these, discuss with a partner the style you might bring to your own graffiti art.

Pause the video here and give yourself a moment to have that discussion, and press Play when you're ready to continue.

What did you think? Whose style might you take some ideas from? Well, Izzy says, "I love the vibrant colours and free-flowing abstract letters used by some graffiti artists.

I'll experiment with these elements in my own designs." And Sam says, "I like how geometric some of the lettering can look.

I will try to use lots of straight lines and angular shapes with block letters in my typography." One way of starting a digital graffiti letter design is to use the text tool with a basic font for spacing the letters.

So, here, this word paint has been made with the text tool.

Then you can draw around the text, and you see how we've used that to help us draw these more graffiti-style letters.

So you can then use shapes, lines, and details for more stylized effects and personal expression.

If you create each of your letters as separate layers, you can reposition them and try out different compositions.

So, here, we've got some larger spacing between letters, and then we've got some smaller spacing, and you see how they're overlapping those letters.

It can be helpful to create a new layer for each part of your digital graffiti letter design.

So you can start with the outline layer, the background layer, the colours or gradients layer, the shadows layer, the highlights layer.

Each of these layers can be worked on and edited without affecting the other layers.

Izzy says, "I renamed each layer, so I know which layer is which." When creating art digitally, there will be a range of different brush types, sizes, and settings to choose from.

Look for a brush size setting similar to this to change line thickness.

Think about which brushes and brush sizes will be most effective for outlines, fine details, or filling in large areas.

Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

What does layering in digital art allow you to do, create a flat, 2D design, only use one colour in your design, separate different elements of your design for easier editing? Pause the video here and have a discussion with your partner, and press Play when you're ready to continue.

What did you think? If you said, "Separate different elements of your design for easier editing," you are absolutely right.

That's what layering a digital arts allows you to do.

Graffiti arts often uses bright colours that pop, helping to make the letters the focal points of the design.

And you see in these colourful graffiti tags and typographic arts here, we can really see the word peace popping out due to those bright colours.

You can make your letters stand out with colours.

The paint bucket fill tool lets you choose a colour and drop it in any closed shape with one click.

Choose bold contrasting colours to fill your letters and add personality.

So can you see, we've got some bright colours there used for the word paint.

You might apply a gradient to your letter to give it a 3D effect.

Look for the gradient fill tool in your digital art application.

Gradients help the letter appear as if it's lit from one side, adding dimension and making it stand out.

You can also experiment with colours and gradients.

Choose a combination that evokes a style, mood, or quality that you like.

Looking at these three, which one do you like? I think I'd have to go for the middle one.

I like the purple into that red and orange and pink.

Now, drop shadows help to make letters look like they are floating above the background.

You can create a separate layer for drop shadows and experiment with the angle and distance of the shadow for a realistic effect.

Now, you can add a background behind your letters.

Use colours or textures that compliment the letter without overpowering it.

So you can see here, we've got a bit of a paint spatter going on behind the word paint in the background.

Now, backgrounds help to set the mood for your design, so think carefully about what you'd like to put behind your letter.

Now, finally, you can add any finishing touches and refine your design by adjusting the colours to ensure all layers work together.

Make sure your graffiti letter design pops and stands out clearly.

Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

Graffiti art is only about using spray paints on walls.

Is this statement true or false? Pause the video here and give yourself a moment to think, and press Play when you're ready to continue.

What did you think? If you said, "That statement is false," you're absolutely right.

But why is that statement false? Pause the video here and have a discussion with your partner, and press Play when you're ready to continue.

What did you discuss? If you said something like, "Graffiti can be done using many mediums, including digital media and digital tools, as they allow us to explore and refine our designs without needing physical walls.

Graffiti is about expression, regardless of the medium." Well done.

You're absolutely right.

This brings us to our final learning task.

I'd like you to digitally create a word or short name, for example, your own name or a word that expresses something, like creative or vibes.

Your design should be influenced by graffiti-style typography.

You could use a combination of techniques to enhance the personality and expressive quality of your word design.

Think about multiple layers, outlining, shadows, and gradients, and different colour combinations.

Pause the video here and give yourself enough time to digitally create a word or a short name, and press Play when you are ready to continue.

How did that go? Did you try some different techniques to enhance your personality and expressive quality of your word design? Well, like the word paint, you've maybe used multiple layers, and the design combines different techniques like gradients, drop shadows, and maybe a spray paint spatter effect works for your word or name.

Your design should have been influenced by graffiti-style typography.

So, hopefully, you've chosen something that is really expressive and that you've outlined, or you've used shadows or those bold colours.

Well done for having a go at creating your own digital graffiti letter design.

Before we finish this lesson, let's summarise what we've learned about designing hand-drawn graffiti letters.

Graffiti is more than traditional spray paint techniques.

It may be created using digital tools and media.

Graffiti is a form of typography that often features bold, stylized letters that are expressive.

Digital tools, like gradients, shadows, and layers, can be used to help make letters pop and look more three-dimensional.

Thank you for joining me in this lesson today.

I hope to see you in the next one.

See you next time.