This online Graffiti 101 session led by Asad “ultra” Walker covers the history of graffiti, its cultural significance and practical elements like creating tags and throwies and the evolution of graffiti styles.

About the Teacher

Assad Walker, also known as Ultra, is a graffiti artist and a teacher at the Word Beats and Life Academy. He started writing graffiti about 38-39 years ago and was deeply involved with the early hip-hop scene in DC. He started DC's first graffiti crew, Krazy Graffiti Brothers (KGB), in 1983.

Topics reviewed

Introduction to Graffiti

• Graffiti is a form of self-expression and identity, especially among youth.

• Graffiti's roots in many cities, including DC, Baltimore, Philly, LA and New York.

• The importance of graffiti in hip-hop culture

Evolution of Graffiti Styles

• The transition from simple tags to more complex and artistic pieces over the years.

• The shift from tagging names to creating art was highlighted.

• Using graffiti as a means of representation and identity was emphasized.

Practical elements of Graffiti

• Participants were guided on how to create their own tags and throwies.

• The concept of one-liners and straight letters was explained.

• Using different elements such as 3D, forcefields and Kirby bubbles was demonstrated.

Key learnings

• Graffiti is a form of self-identity and a graphic expression created in public space.

• Graffiti has deep roots in hip-hop culture and has evolved from simple tags to more complex, artistic pieces.

• The importance of practicing to perfect your tag, throwy, one-liner or straight letter was emphasized.

• The use of different elements like 3D, forcefields and Kirby bubbles can add depth and style to your graffiti.

• Graffiti is now a global art form, with artists adopting and adapting styles from different cultures.