Spray Paint Graffiti has always been associated with vandalism. But did you know that spray painting is also considered an art form? In fact, some artists even sell their artwork at galleries.
Graffiti is a form of street art that involves using aerosol cans to create images on walls, buildings, and other surfaces. The term ‘Graffiti’ was first used by The New York Times and the novelist Norman Mailer.
Spray painting is often seen as a way to express oneself through artistic expression. Some people see it as a harmless hobby, while others consider it a crime.
The History of Spray Painting
In the early days of spray painting, there were very few regulations. People would just go out into the streets and start spraying. They didn’t have any idea about what they were doing.
Modern graffiti appears to have originated in Philadelphia in the early 1960s and had spread to New York by the late 1960s. The new art style exploded in popularity throughout the 1970s, when individuals began writing their names, or ‘tags,’ on buildings throughout the city.
In the mid-1970s, it was occasionally difficult to see out of subway car windows due to the trains being totally covered in spray paintings dubbed ‘masterpieces.’
Today, most cities have strict laws against spray painting. It is illegal to create graffiti on public properties or to even cover up graffiti with another piece of graffiti. If you are caught spray painting graffiti, you can be fined heavily.
When the first aerosols became available in the 1950s, the public began to use them for different purposes. Artists started creating works of art using aerosols.
Related: Why do spray paint artist use fire?
What is spray paint graffiti?
Spray paint Graffiti is an art genre that means writing and drawings made on walls, usually without permission and in public view. It ranges from simple written words and simple drawings to elaborate wall paintings. Examples date back to ancient times, including ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, and the Roman Empire.

Graffiti is a highly controversial topic. Most countries consider unauthorized marking or painting of property as vandalism, which is a criminal offense.
Graffiti has become an urban problem for many cities in industrialized countries, spreading from New York City subway systems in the early 1970s throughout the United States and Europe.
What kind of spray paint do graffiti artists use?
The graffiti artists mostly use two types of spray paints: oil-based and water-based. Oil-based paints contain oils that dry quickly. Water-based paints contain solvents that evaporate more slowly.
Oil-based paints tend to leave behind a hard finish. This makes them ideal for outdoor projects. However, if your project is indoors, then water-based paints will work better.
Oil-based paints are more expensive than water-based ones. Most artists prefer water-based paints because they cost less and don’t require special equipment.
Oil-based spray paints are usually thicker than water-based ones, which means they take longer to dry. This can cause problems when working outdoors.
Water-based paints are thinner than oil-based ones. You only need one bottle of water-based paint to complete a project.
Water-based paints are much easier to clean off after you are done. Unlike oil-based paints, they do not leave behind a residue.
Related: Why do graffiti artist use spray paint?
What type of art is spray paint?
Spray paint art is a combination of fine arts and graffiti. Artists use aerosol cans to spray paint onto canvas, wood, metal, glass, plastic, paper, and even clothing.
Some artists also use stencils to make their designs. Stenciling involves cutting shapes out of cardboard and placing them over a surface before spraying. The artist uses a stencil brush to apply paint to the cutout shape.
Spray paint arts are done on canvas and are not considered vandalism as Graffiti. You can draw any beautiful art using spray paint on a canvas without any worry or limitations.
What are the three types of graffiti?
There are three types of graffiti: street art, taggers, and tags. Street art is graffiti that is painted on buildings, walls, fences, and other surfaces. Taggers write names or symbols on walls or other surfaces. Tags are letters, numbers, or symbols written by taggers.
Street Art
Street art is often called tagging or graffitti. It is the most common form of graffiti. Street artists create their artwork in public places such as city streets, parks, parking lots, sidewalks, and train stations. They usually use aerosol cans to paint on surfaces.

Tagger
A Tagger is someone who writes his name or symbol on walls or other surfaces with spray paint. He may also write messages on walls or other surfaces, but he does not add artistic elements like colors or images.
Tags
A tagger creates letters, numbers, or other symbols. He may also write words or phrases on walls or other surfaces but doesn’t add artistic elements.
Is graffiti considered an art or vandalism?
Graffiti is not considered an art. It is mostly considered vandalism. Some people think it is fun to vandalize property. Others believe that it is disrespectful toward others. There are strict laws against vandalism. If you commit vandalism, you could be arrested and fined.
If you want to create beautiful art, you should choose a different medium. For example, you could use spray paint on canvas to create your artworks.
You can find many online tutorials for beginners. These will help you learn how to create your own art.
Conclusion
Spray Paint art and Graffiti are two different things. While Spray Paint arts are mostly created on canvas, Graffiti is mostly created on walls and streets.
Spray paint arts are totally fine and even get bought and sold by various art lovers. Whereas as Spray paint graffiti created on walls and streets without permission are considered vandalism and are illegal.
If you want to create a Graffiti make sure that you create it on your own property or take proper permission of the owner of the property.
FAQs
What do I need to know about Spray Painting Canvas?
You need to understand the basics of painting canvas first. Once you have mastered these basic skills, you can move on to more advanced techniques.
How long does it take to paint a canvas?
Depending on the size of the canvas, it takes anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours to complete.
Is there anything special I need to know about spray painting canvas?
Yes, you must always wear protective clothing when spraying paint on canvas. This includes gloves, goggles, ear plugs, and a respirator mask.
Is Spray Painting Graffiti illegal?
Yes, it is illegal to spray paint graffiti on any surface without permission.