We’re also delivering tons of Copic programming for all skill levels in the Copic Classroom - Room #302. Imagine a 800 square foot room dedicated to Copic fans. It’ll be fun, so join us!

AnimeExpo™ 2012 will be held June 29 – July 2, 2012 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. 

More info on Anime Expo: Held annually in Los Angeles, Anime Expo is North America’s largest anime and manga celebration. Anime Expo™ gives fans the rare opportunity to meet and hear from some of the most famous anime, manga and musical artists from Japan and get into the action through everything from costume play, karaoke and video competitions to exclusive screenings, non-stop video gaming competitions and the wildly popular Masquerade, in which fans transform themselves into their favorite characters through creative costuming, accessories and make-up and put on their own show before an audience of thousands.

Kristy Dalman is the talented owner/artist/designer of Some Odd Girl digital stamps and co-founder of Created from Color. Read on as Kristy demonstrates how to add a special touch to your gift wrap this wedding season!

Whether you are putting on a wedding or attending one, you know that presentation is EVERYTHING. I’ve seen people try to outdo one another at the gift table for that reason – the bigger the better! But that’s not always true. Why not put a smidge more thought into your gift packaging and coordinate the colors? Brides can do it for gifts to their bridal party or guests can do it for the happy couple. Since Copic has 358 colors, the chances are really good that you’ll find that matching hue. I’m going to show you one way you can coordinate your gift box:

To complete this project you will need:

- Copic ABS
- Copic Various Ink refill and Sketch marker of the same color (I’m using BG11)
- White glitter
- Paper doily
- Box with resist printing (you can see how I made the box at my blog www.theoddgirl.com)
- Colorless Blender Various Ink refill and marker
- Stamps appropriate for the occassion (To/From and sentiment)
- Acrylic block
- Sheer white ribbon
- Wet adhesive
- Paper towel
- Sandwich baggie

One of the great things about Copic markers and the refills is that the Various Ink will adhere to any nonporous surface. We are going to use that to our advantage by color coordinating everything we need.

The first thing we are doing is to take our glitter, BG11 Various Ink and our baggie for some prep, as this needs to dry. Pour some of the BG11 Various Ink into the baggie and add in a small amount of glitter. Knead the glitter and ink together to get a nice coating on the glitter. Once this is done, pour it onto a piece of paper towel and allow to dry. Next take the baggie, place the ribbon inside and repeat. I didn’t say we could color anything

Next we are going to take our Copic ABS and BG11 Sketch Marker and spray our box, giving it a liberal coating. An even coat is not necessary, though you don’t want it blotchy. Remember that our box was made with a paper that has a resist pattern (make your own pattern with clear embossing!). After your box has been colored, the magic happens! Pour a little of your Colorless Blender Various Ink onto some paper towel and wipe off the ink that was sprayed onto the resist pattern. This is going to give the box a fun pattern, move that color off the resist and onto the paper, and give it a soft look too. If your color isn’t dark enough, you can go back and repeat these steps as many times as you need. Let it dry between to prevent the paper from warping.

We are going to use our paper doily to put our sentiment and our “To/From” on. Instead of stamp ink we are going to use our BG11 and 0 Sketch markers to ink up our stamps. First place your stamp on the block and color over the stamp with BG11. The clear stamps are great for this as you can easily see the color being added, especially lighter colors (make sure your stamps are clean of old ink before hand). Once you get a good coat, take your Colorless Blender and give a coat to the area on the doily where you want to stamp. Soaking the doily in Colorless Blender “reactivates” the ink, allowing it to transfer. Now we have the perfect ink color too!

Every wedding needs a little glitter, so next we are taking our wet adhesive and the now dry glitter we prepared earlier to add a little extra touch to our doily. Trace a circle around the inner edge and press it into the glitter. Pressing rather than sprinkling gets the glitter in the adhesive more securely (and makes less of a mess ) Once the glue is dry, write your message and adhere the doily to the center of the top of our box and tie with our colored ribbon. Make sure you put your gift inside before tying it though!

Ta-Dah! Our gift is wrapped, gorgeous and coordinating! What more could a bride ask for?

Materials Used:
Copic ABS System
Colorless Blender Marker and Various Ink
BG11 Sketch Marker and Various Ink
Stamps – Some Odd Girl (Gifty Gwen and Celebration Mae sentiments)
Resist Paper (that the box was made from) – Heidi Swapp
Glitter – Doodlebug Designs
Adhesive – Ranger Glossy Accents
Ribbon – Celebrate It (Michael’s)

Find Kristy on the web:
Copic Color: http://www.copiccolor.com/SomeOddGirl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SomeOddGirls
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SomeOddGirls
Blog: http://www.theoddgirl.com/
Some Odd Girl Shop: http://www.someoddgirl.com/

Kristy’s Copic classes:
Created from Color: http://www.createdfromcolor.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/createdfromcolor

We are now very pleased to announce the second and third place winners in our Park Your Art contest! The Grand Prize winner announcement is happening June 2nd.

Without further ado, congratulations to second place winner Jessica Thomas and third place winner A.J. Reinhart – enjoy your new Copic prizes!

2nd Place - Jessica Thomas

3rd Place - A.J. Reinhart

If you’re in the Eugene, Oregon area, be sure to join us on June 2nd for the Grand Prize winner announcement and unveiling!

This week, New York City-based fashion illustrator Brooke Hagel shares her bridal illustration process. Enjoy!

Hello, I’m Brooke Hagel, a freelance fashion illustrator with two successful Etsy shops, Brooklit and BrooklitBride, that I run from my home based in New York City. The vast majority of my custom commissions are bridal illustrations that friends and family give as wedding and/or anniversary gifts to brides.

For the past few years my marker of choice has been Copic and I was thrilled when Copic contacted me contribute to their blog. I also author my own blog about fashion illustration called Fabulous Doodles. Here’s a breakdown of how my illustration process and how I use my Copic brush tip markers.

All my artwork starts off with a detailed pencil sketch. Here I decide what the bride will look like, determine the pose that best flatters her gown silhouette and add all of the appropriate details and accessories. The pencil sketch is the ground work that I build upon with my markers. Once the sketch is perfected I take a kneaded eraser and basically erase the whole thing to color. I leave just faint lines so I can see where to apply color. I keep the whole under-sketch light because any dark lines that are there will just be intensified once the marker ink is on top of it.

The next step is my favorite, this is where I take my Copic markers and apply the color and shading. I pretty much solely use the brush tip end of the marker. With this tip you can create a heavy saturated look by pressing hard, pulling the color up and releasing it for a painterly effect. You can also create shadows by adding second coats of the marker. The layers of marker ink work as though it’s a second coat of paint and the color becomes significantly more saturated. Besides multiple coats of the same color, I also use varying shades of a color to create more depth. You can see examples of this in how I rendered the hair and wedding gown. For the hair I used two different browns (E59 and E49), and with the dress I used two different gray values (C1 and C2) to create the folds and shadows.
Once all the color and shadows have been rendered with my Copics, I finish off the illustration with a white charcoal pencil to add some highlights and a cool gray 90% colored pencil to outline.

Now the illustration is finished and ready to ship out to clients, be added to my bridal print shop or framed! I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial. Have a happy wedding season, and hopefully you can try out some on my illustration techniques on the brides in your life.

For this bridal illustration I used the following Copic markers: 

C1 Cool Gray No.1 (dress)
C2 Cool Gray No.2 (dress)
100 Black (sash)
E53 Raw Silk (skin tone)
E59 Walnut (hair)
E49 Dark Bark (hair shadows)
BG93 Green Gray (leaves)
RV000 Pale Purple (flowers)

Find Brooke on the web:
Blog: Fabulous Doodles
Etsy Shops: Brooklit & Brooklit Bride
Facebook: Fan Page
Twitter: Brooklit

Share your fashion illustrations with us on Facebook and Twitter!

Terryl is considered the foremost creature designer in the world and is known for her work on Star Wars, The Katurran Odyssey, Jumanji, The Polar Express and more.

Her latest Star Wars project, Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side was released in February.

Interested in learning creature design with Terryl from the comfort of your own home?
Sign up on the Tales of Amalthea site for first access to an upcoming free lesson!

Features:
- Step-by-step instruction with professional creature designer Terryl Whitlach.
- In-depth lessons for drawing real and imaginary creatures according to anatomically accurate zoological references.
- Color application techniques and rendering tips using Copic markers.

Join the journey. Sign up today!

Read more about Terryl in our interview with the famed illustrator.

TIPS
Monday: In the typical American home, 10% of all electricity is wasted on “vampire power.” Calculate how much energy your household is wasting, then make a plan to unplug devices and chargers or purchase “smart” power strips that stop the flow of vampire power.

Tuesday: Reduce your power bill by installing an energy-saving LED lighting system in your art studio or workspace. The Studio Slim Light uses 50% less power compared to traditional fluorescent bulbs, and provides smooth, even LED lighting for at least 50,000 hours. If you left it on for 12 hours a day every day, it would last over 10 years!

Wednesday:  Cut down on paper waste by opting out of direct mail and credit card offers at DMAchoice.org and OptOutPrescreen.com. Have some junk mail around the house? Use it as scratch paper or a protective barrier between your paper and work surface before tossing it in the recycle bin.

Thursday: Don’t forget that your Copic markers are refillable! One recyclable bottle of Various Ink  will refill your marker up to 15 times. No need to throw that empty marker away!



Friday: Skip the plastic shopping bags. If you’re only purchasing a few items, it’s easy to carry them out without a bag. For larger purchases, bring your own reusable bag. Learn more about the pollution caused by plastics at GlobalStewards.org

GIVEAWAY

THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED, AND THE WINNERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED VIA EMAIL. CONGRATS!

In celebration of Earth Week, we’re giving away Copic Sketch markers to 5 lucky winners! All Copic markers are refillable, and Various Ink refill bottles are recyclable.

Two Ways to Enter:
1) Fill out the entry form on our Facebook page!
2) Share an Earth-friendly tip in the comments below!

You can enter once per day, so come back each day this week for a new tip and another chance to win! 

Rules:
- You may submit one entry per day through April 27th, 2012 (giveaway ends at 11:59pm PST).
- Entries may be shared on Copic Marker web properties.*
- Winners will be randomly selected, contacted via email and announced by May 4th, 2012.
- Prize colors will be selected at random by Copic staff.
- Everyone may participate, but only residents of the United States and Canada are eligible to win.**`

*Web properties include Copic Marker, Copic Color, the Copic Marker Facebook page, the Copic Marker Twitter page, and the Copic Marker Tumblr page.

**This contest is run by Imagination International, Inc., the distributor of Copic Markers in the United States and Canada. We are legally prohibited from sending product to other countries.

The Copic 25th Anniversary Set includes 36 of our most popular colors.

Coming Fall 2012: Limited Edition Copic Sketch 25th Anniversary Set!

- 36 colors
- Special black marker bodies
- Super brush nib
- Standard fine nib (previously available for Copic markers only)
- Pre-order at your favorite Copic retailer today! 

Commemorate Copic’s 25th anniversary with this limited edition 36-marker set, available Fall 2012. A limited number of these sets are available, so contact your favorite Copic retailer to place your pre-order!

Flowers and botanical images are my favorite things to color and one of the most requested tutorials, so today I’ll show you a few tips for achieving realistic coloring, shading and shadows for flowers and leaves.

Roses:

1.  Stamp image with Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Copic X-Press It Blending Card.

2. Choose a 3-color blending group (here I used R20, R22, R27) and quickly base coat the roses with the lightest color.  You don’t need to be concerned with taking your time and coloring in small circular motion; you’ll be doing enough blending later!  You can even leave the a few areas white, like the very tip ends of the petals. Here, I’m using R20:

3. The illustrator will usually give you an idea of where the shading, or deeper/darker colors should be; those areas will usually be cross-hatched or indicated with lines or stippling. Color those areas with your mid-tone color (R22):

4. Go back with your first, lightest marker (R20) and blend the colors together:

5. Also, keep in mind that areas/petals that are closer to you will appear lighter and petals that are towards the back or bottom of the flower will naturally appear darker; color those areas with either your mid-tone or your darkest color (I used R22 and R27):

The rose on the left has the darkest R27 color added, while the rose on the right does not — you can really tell the depth this adds, can’t you?

6. Go back and add some depth to your mid-tones and deepest recesses of the flowers with your darkest color (R27). Also, where some petals cast a shadow on other petals, use your darkest color to indicate shadows. Blend with your mid-tone color, if necessary.

Leaves:

7. Again, choose a 3-color blending group (I used G21, G24, G28). Quickly base coat the leaves and stems with the lightest color in your blending group (G21), leaving a few white spaces as highlights if you wish:

8. Use your mid-tone color to add depth to the areas indicated by the illustrator (usually on the lower half of the leaf) and on leaves that are further away from you or towards the back of the plant (G24):

9. Go back and use the lightest G20 to blend the two colors together, if needed.

10. (Above) – Use the darkest color in your blending group (G28) to add depth to the leaves and where any leaves might be turned away from you, showing the bottoms of the leaves (where they would naturally have less sunlight cast on them). Do the same on the stems and other leaves, where some leaves might cast a shadow on the stems and leaves below them.

Note: White seam binding ribbon was custom colored with Copic R22 and R24 Various Ink Refills. Roses were cut out and popped up on Copic High-Tack Foam Tape.

Find more Copic papercrafting inspiration from Sharon:
Blog: www.PaperFections.com
Copic Color Gallery: http://www.copiccolor.com/SharonHarnist

Supplies:
Copic Sketch Markers: R20, R22, R24, G21, G24, G28
Copic Various Ink Refills: R22, R24
Stamps: JustRite Papercraft-With Sympathy clear stamp set
Paper: Copic X-Press It Blending Card; Lily Bee Design-Head Over Heels 6×6 Tiny Tablet;
Gina K Lipstick Red Heavy Base Weight cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic Double-Sided Foam Tape; Spellbinders Romantic Rectangles die; white paper doily; white seam binding; sewing machine + thread

Last time, we covered unusual, fantasy skin tones with our little goblin.  This time, we’re going to look at her blue hair with ringlet pigtails.

As always, I’m using the Bleed-resistant Copic Sketchbook and Copic Sketch markers.

Unusual hair color, like unusual skin tones from our last tutorial, take a bit of experimenting to find the right combinations.  Take some time to layer various colors together to find the right combination of lights and darks before starting on your actual piece.

I start with B45, laying in the basic pattern of her hair, my strokes following the direction of the hair.  Remember, draw every direction, not every hair.  With the brush tip of the Sketch markers, this is much more easily achieved.  Go back over it once or twice to help create a bit a definition in the chunks of hair and value as the hair rounds around the head and the ringlets.  Start big and work down to smaller chunks. You’ll notice it’s pretty rough, but that’s okay.  Our next colors and layers will help refine it down.

Switching to BV23, I lay in some simple shadows, again following the direction of the chunks of hair.  Use that brush tip to your advantage.  You can get thick and thin lines in one stroke, breaking up the areas nicely.

Next comes the BV25, emphasizing the darker spots of the hair, around the curls and in the deeper chunks of hair.  I also go back to the B45 to soften the edges and tie it all in together.

I use a bit of BV17 to add a bit more depth and color into the shadows of the hair, stroking in the direction of the hair.  Sometimes adding other colors in the shadows can help create a sense of depth, as well as tie other colors from the piece in, making everything work together.

With a bit of practice, patience and of course, the right paper, the layering will all come together and you’ll have a lovely rendering of whatever your subject, whatever the strange and fantastical skin and hair color may be!

See more of Brandi’s fantastic illustrations on Copic Color, and add your own work while you’re there!

The idea started after seeing weeks of wildly colorful #CopicART tweets from graffiti artist NoverNYC. (Here’s a colorful Twitter gallery showcasing his recent work.)

We’ve got the whole crew sharing wisdom: NoverNYC, TESKoner, CortesNYC and Viper625.   

Viper625

1. How did you get started with art, who were your earliest inspirations for creating artwork?

Viper625: I got started sketching letters after seeing the fourth issue of 12OZ Prophet. I had always been interested in graffiti but really didn’t know how to start. That is when I began to practice calligraphy. From calligraphy I became familiar with letter structures and somehow it turned into graffiti. From then on it’s been letters, letters and more letters.

CortesNYC: I used to admire the art of Mode2, Seen, Simon Bisley, Giger, Dali, Diego Rivera. My art was also inspired a lot by musicians like Eric B and Rakim, Public Enemy, Cypress Hill, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, all that early 90′s rap and rock.

TESKoner: I’ve been into art as long as I can remember, so I have no clue. Whatever it was, I’m glad it happened. As for early inspirations, the first thing that jumps to my head was reading about the Sistine Chapel paintings as a youth. That scale and scope of work floored me.

NoverNYC: I got started with art by drawing from comic books. Owning so many comic books, I was drawn to start drawing, myself. Besides comic books, I was always interested in graffiti. Coming from the Bronx, I was always inspired by graffiti. One person that inspired me to do graffiti was kase2, who lived in the same neighborhood, and I used to watch him paint all the time.

CortesNYC

2. Who inspires you now, how do you stay creative, what keeps you going?

Viper625: There are so many artists that inspire me. Graffiti artists all over, graphic designers, traditional artists – it’s difficult to name them all. I find a lot of inspiration in colorful nature photos and architecture. Nature is a great place to find effects for letters as well as fill color combos. I have been through different names looking for the letter sequence that I enjoy. I believe there can be a balance of crazy detailed letters and creative art. I try to keep moving and not be an artist that has the same style for 20 years LOL (not that there is anything wrong with that). That is what keeps me going.

CortesNYC: Nowadays, I’m inspired by movies, social media, and traveling. I’m very active on YouTube. My channel is a big part of my creative growth. I have a series called GraffTour that documents all my projects, traveling and painting in different states and countries. I have also gained an appreciation for music acts like Pearl Jam, Sadat-X and KRS who continue persevere even after the spotlight fades. Their careers demonstrate the importance of continuing to mature and inspire the next generations of artists.

TESKoner: There’s really too many to list. I feel creativity is nurtured by just sketching every day, and when your not sketching, thinking about sketching. staying in the grind whenever possible. As for keeping me going, its definitely my need to create a better piece than my last. Its such a great feeling when that is accomplished, at the same time, a crushing defeat when I fail. It’s a double edged sword mastered only with stubborn discipline.

NoverNYC: Right now I get my inspiration from so many peple, some are: Totem2, Daim, Peeta. I also gain inspiration from the other members of the group I’m a part of. They all do really amazing work. What keeps me going is how far I can take what I’m working on, what kind of effects I can create. When it comes to graffiti, it’s a form of art you can only get better at over time.

TESKoner

3. What role do black books play in your art making process?

Viper625: Black books/sketch books are the foundation of all my pieces. It is the place where I am able to experiment with styles and ideas that can later be turned into crazy pieces of art. Practice makes perfect.

CortesNYC: Black books are everything to me, they are where I found my creative voice. My father was an architect and he had markers at home, so I learned quickly to use them in black books. It’s where I document my feelings and inspirations. It’s a sacred creative space for me. Growin up sharing space all my life with my brother or roommates, I never had space to paint or create big projects. So, I knew I could escape into my black books and feel like I was communicating on a large scale with the world. No idea was too small or silly to be explored in my black books.

TESKoner: The book is the drafting table, the work out room and the think tank. Its a place to hone your ideas, create new style, develop existing style, and most importantly just to exercise your art.

NoverNYC: Black books are something to keep the edge going, a sketchbook to perfect my skill before I put it onto a wall.

4. Do you consider filled black books stand alone works of art, or part of a larger process?

Viper625: Black book pieces are definitely pieces of art, but they’re just practice for a larger creation.

CortesNYC: To me, black book artistry is it’s own genre. Just like custom airbrushing cars, If black book art is done right, it can leave a stronger impression than a polished canvas. Black books can communicate directly and intimately from author to reader in a way that public street art can’t. Nowadays, I approach my black books like a musician entering a recording studio, and I approach my graffiti walls like it’s a public concert. I don’t put one over the other, I need them both to continue growing as an artist. When I paint walls, I am fueled by the memory of the experience, sharing the time with my peers, the challenge of the scale and working with the environment. Black books are a technical exploration of my ideas. I am working alone, composing layouts, and storing my memories. My books are a resource I can always go back to and revisit easily, whenever I need inspiration.

TESKoner: Absolutely, it’s a work of art just to fill one if you ask me. That alone is an act of discipline – mainly because, by the time I’m nearing the end of a book, I usually dislike the work in front of it. For me, that makes it difficult to even continue the book, it’s easier to just get a new one. I had been writing for a good bit of time before I ever attempted to fill one book straight through.

NoverNYC: It isn’t only a filled sketchbook, but a blueprint to what we plan on doing. It’s also part of a bigger process because for most artists, it’s the foundation of most wall art, where a wall piece might start from.

NoverNYC

NoverNYC

5. Have you always been drawing in sketchbooks this way?

Viper625: Yes. Since I started drawing letters they’ve all gone in sketchbooks. It’s just the way it goes. I have had over twenty sketchbooks over the years. Some have been filled all the way while others have only had a couple of crazy 2-pagers. Most of them are out somewhere making their rounds.

CortesNYC: I have many types of black books, I have books filled with doodles and random notes, ideas, scribbles and tags. I have books in which I’ve forced myself to complete ideas and finish entire compositions, page for page. I have other books filled from front to back with life drawing and nude figure sessions all done in straight ink. I have other books that I carry with me on paint tours to have my peers sign and to take notes along my trip. I try to designate a task for each book in order to learn new skills and keep my inspirations organized.

TESKoner: I’ve been writing for 15 years, I’ve filled eight books completely.

NoverNYC: You get better as you progress. That said, I haven’t always worked on black books, but over the years I have filled some. I’ve also put a lot of work in other writers’ black books.

6. Do you do any planning sketches before you start hitting the books?

Viper625: When I start a sketch I use pencil. That allows me change lines as I please. Most of my sketches start as basic letters and I change/erase lines as needed. When I feel a piece is finished I start coloring and then ink it. My sketchbook has tons of messy sketches and notes in it sprinkled with crazy sharp colored pieces.

CortesNYC: I usually just hit the books straight up, sometimes straight with ink. Other times I sketch lightly with pencil and doodle quickly to come to a solid concept. I’ve even tried sketching with my eyes closed, just to jot down a messy idea. Afterwards, I can analyze the sketch strictly for the content, not how it looks. If the idea is still valid, I try to sketch it in a good book properly.

TESKoner: Sometimes I’ll get an idea when I don’t have access to my book, so I’ll start planning it in my head. But most of the time, the sketch evolves in the book.

NoverNYC: The sketches in the book are the planning process before I begin the real work on a wall, that’s where I see what colors work best, and try out new or different styles, such as 3D, wildstyle, or characters.

Viper625

7. Is there anything you’d like to say about the recent increase in awareness about street art?

Viper625: It’s great that street art is becoming more accepted by society as an art form. 

CortesNYC: I’m glad that Street art is becoming so popular, it’s a huge change from what I used to experience in the 90′s. I’ve had to get used to the spectators at walls, and the questions from fans. I was brought up in a world of graffiti that was very private and secluded.

TESKoner: It’s not going anywhere.

NoverNYC: It’s great that it’s being paid attention to on a regular basis worldwide. It’s being used by different high fashion designers, and that’s opening doors to all graffiti writers to use their art as a means to make a profit off of their own work, and gain a platform of respect as a widely accepted form of art.

CortesNYC

8. Anything you’d like to say to people who simply perceive street art as vandalism?

Viper625: Meh, good for them.

CortesNYC: I don’t understand how anyone in 2012 would not be aware of all the different types of Street Art/Graffiti. I feel that anyone who is against street art nowadays is just playing devil’s advocate to create controversy. In the 70′s-80′s, New York was truly covered in random graffiti art and other vandalism, and I understood why a spectator would be confused. But nowadays, most major cities have cleaned themselves up and graffiti art has found places to evolve with pop art, muralism & commercial illustration. Graffiti in 2012 looks NOTHING like the scrawled main streets of the 80′s.

TESKoner: Not particularly. People who have those feelings have their minds made up and I couldn’t care less to change it.

NoverNYC: For those who have that kind of opinion, I don’t have much to say. If it wasn’t for the vandalism that started out graffiti, it wouldn’t have reached the magnitude it’s at today, and I myself probably wouldn’t have had a part in it.

TESKoner

9. Do you ever consider your work to be at the cutting edge of typography?

Viper625: Not really. It is a passion, I’m not out to prove anything.

CortesNYC: Some of my graphic treatments and logo style treatments are definitely experimenting with typography. I’ve done lettering for rappers like Jeru The Damaja, Lords of the Underground, Mad Skillz, and Keith Murray. My graffiti letter forms are born out of organic handwriting styles. I mix tags, with serifs and Old English flares. I also warp the letter shapes to become more animated. My graffiti piecing style letters have been described as Metallica-esque because of the razor like tips and arrows.

TESKoner: I don’t consider my work to be the cutting edge of anything. I’m just a humble guy who has this fascination with letters, nothing more, nothing less.

NoverNYC: Yes, one of my main goals is to manipulate my tools of choice to create realistic scenes or effects like 3D, steel, water, rocks, metal, etc.

10. How can an untrained viewer learn to decipher some of the wilder letterforms?

Viper625: Most of the time “wildstyle” letters have more of an abstract letter structure. Sometimes they’re an “idea” of a letter. Try to look at the letter without all the add-ons if possible.

CortesNYC: Just like in any art genre, you have to first become familiar with the movement, and then with the artist’s individual contribution to it. Once you inquire about the artist’s name, then you can begin to find the letter forms. There is a misconception that graffiti is a hidden code. Graffiti is not supposed to be a trick. Graffiti is a genre of lettering, and once the viewer embraces the genre, and discovers the artist’s name and style, they can begin to decipher the letters and appreciate the craftsmanship. 

TESKoner: That can be difficult. Every style is different, some more legible than others. I suppose one way would be to acclimate yourself to the art form, perhaps starting a black book for writing graffiti yourself.

NoverNYC: From an untrained eye, it can be visible, for some people it isn’t. The best way to decipher what that work of art represents, you have to take in everything you’re looking at. Its colors, its shapes, the mood it puts you in, or what it makes you think of, as it would be with any other form of art. But it can be taught to be legible.

Nover NYC

11. Do you ever find yourself obsessing over letters, like bending and warping them in your mind?

Viper625: Yes. Before I start a sketch I imagine a basic letter in a way I haven’t done before. Slanted up, down, backwards, etc. Sometimes I get a headache before anything is on the page! I try not to use letters I have done before. Recreating letters will not get me anywhere. Sometimes the first part of the sketch is the most difficult.

CortesNYC: Only when I freestyle off the top of my head. That’s when I occupy my mind with the different letter movement to best fit and interlock the entire piece before even touching the paper or wall.

TESKoner: Frequently. That’s pretty close to what happens.

NoverNYC: Yes, all of the time, that is my goal, to create an individual style and call it my own. That is one of the main concepts of graffiti, to be known individually for our own craft, to bring something to the table.

12. Should people give graffiti writers respect from an artistic calligraphy and lettering design perspective?

Viper625: Of course. Graff artists are letter designers above anything else.

CortesNYC: I have personally applied a lot of the calligraphy and typography concepts that I’ve learned into my graffiti style. I feel non-graffiti artists see the craftsmanship and appreciate technical skill but don’t realize that most graff writers incorporate formal design principles fluidly into their street style. 

TESKoner: They’re really different processes, so that’s up to the beholder. Personally, I usually only hold the respect from other writers in any relevant regard.

NoverNYC: Of course, even if you don’t agree with the illegal aspect of graffiti it deserves its respect from all aspects of the lettering or calligraphy perspective.

CortesNYC Art

13. Do you ever consider graffiti writing to be contemporary calligraphy?

Viper625: That is what graffiti is all about – the letters.

CortesNYC: When it’s hand scrawled tags, I can definitely see the expressive nature of their calligraphy.

TESKoner: There are some similarities indeed, particularly in certain handstyles. However graffiti and contemporary calligraphy doesn’t seem like a reasonable comparison to me, just my opinion.

NoverNYC: It is already considered contemporary calligraphy, right now it’s being used in all forms of mainstream art and fashion, fonts being created to look like different types of graffiti styles.

14. What’s the future of graffiti, where is street art heading?

Viper625: I see street art getting more colorful and abstract. Styles will continue to evolve and become more technical. It would evolve a lot quicker if artists would get out of their comfort zones.

CortesNYC: I am guessing it will continue to gain mass appeal and become more corporate. I have never seen so many products and merchandise in the graffiti scene, as i do now. There are so many brands of paint and other vendors clinging on to street art. This new commercial environment is raising up a young crop of street artists that never experienced the old stigma of vandalism or gangs. So i’m looking forward to seeing what the next wave of artists bring to the movement.

TESKoner: (no comment)

NoverNYC: The future of graffiti is heading into becoming something more accepted, it’s heading in the right direction. I hope it opens more doors for graff writers to be able to express their work. I also hope that the future of graffiti is headed into a time where people with a prejudice against street art can understand it and business owners will be more open to having graffiti on more walls.

TESKOner

15. Why do you like using Copic markers in your black books?

Viper625: The rich colors, amount of colors available and they blend easily. Good solid color is what I look for. They are a great tool for any artist. Other markers don’t compare as far as quality.

CortesNYC: Copics tend to leave a smooth coat of rich color where other markers might streak. I love the variety of tones and tips. The brush tip is my favorite for fast marker comps. I’ve been slowly building up my set. I hope to have a complete set by the end of this year.

TESKoner: They’re the best markers I’ve run in to at this point. Refillable, excellent color choice, and the versatility of the brush tip is the icing on the cake. I also love the fact that their shape prevents them from rolling off my table. In short they’re the best, period.

NoverNYC: Out of all the markers I use, Copic markers give me the most control, I get the best effects and illusions out of them. They bleed the least from all the other brands I use. They also have the best color selection I’ve seen. Most of my greatest pieces have been done with Copic markers.

GWB on Tumblr

Find Viper625 here.
Find CortesNYC here, on Twitter and YouTube.
Find TESKoner here.
Find Nover NYC here and on Twitter.