G2TZ

History & Apparel 

G2TZ is an apparel and merchandise company that sells uniquely designed graffiti art with a  play on words and designs. Dreamt up by a seasoned rebelling fine artist/illustrator, this company started as a joke and solely exists for fun while the owner/artist explores a different area of art, graffiti. The art on this site illustrates the History of Graffiti, and the artists that have evolved the art form. 

Have you ever wondered where the word “graffiti” comes from? 

It’s derived from the Italian word “graffiato” which means; scratched. Art historians think its because the first drawings appeared in caves thousands of years ago; scribbles and marks left behind by ancestors/artists since the beginning of time, depicting the history of life that once was.

Tools of survival evolved and  soon sculpted the world in which we live today, allowing a playground of discovery and expression. 

Who invented the spray can?

Historic events of war also led to the inventions of new tools. Aerosol canisters filled with insecticide and propellants used to protect U.S. servicemen from insects carrying diseases such as malaria during World War II. Sometime in nineteen forty nine, after the war, Ed Seymour, the proprietor of a paint company, was in search of an easy way to demonstrate his aluminum coating for painting radiators. His wife suggested a makeshift spray gun, like those used for deodorizers. And so, he mixed paint and aerosol in a can with a spray head making the first spray can.  It became the main tool of the trade in graffiti, not always respected as an art form.  

Is Graffiti Art or vandalism?

For the majority of its existence graffiti has been considered vandalism and a criminal felony, as people deface property with “tags” of paint.  Most of the art has been  sprayed on subway trains, billboards, walls, or places with minimal traffic at night to allow optimal time from the authorities to finish a piece. Since the beginning, graffiti was mostly associated with gangs, who used it for a variety of purposes, such as: identifying or claiming territory, memorializing dead gang members in an informal “obituary.” They would also boast about crimes committed, and challenge rival gangs as a prelude to violent confrontations. Not all graffiti is gang related tho, it can be viewed as a form of visual communication, done through the proper channels, ie competitions and community mural projects, street art can be a way to beautify a community and bring it together. 

Who were the artists that led Street Art?

Graffiti has come a long way in s short time from its origins.  The OG writer of modern graffiti is widely considered CORNBREAD.  Originating in Philly  during the late nineteen sixties,  CORNBREAD and COOL EARL started ”tagging” Philadelphia by writing their nicknames on walls all across the city to catch the attention of girls, but attracted the media instead. 

What is the History of Graffiti?

With the new decade of the seventies, the history of graffiti boomed! Both as an art moment  and what stood against it. 

WHAT TYPES OF GRAFFITI STYLES ARE THERE?

1. Tags or Tagging

Tagging is the easiest, simplest, and most recognized style of graffiti. A tag is essentially the artist’s “signature” using a pseudonym. 

A tag is usually created with spray paint cans, includes only one color, and writes the artist’s tag name or identifying symbol. 

Famous taggers include the legendary Cornbread, who broke into the Philadelphia Zoo in the 1960s and spray-painted “Cornbread Lives” onto the side of an elephant. 

2. Throw Ups

A throw-up is another form of tagging. It is usually a more significant size that is more sophisticated and may use more paints and colors.

Throw-ups are often written with bubble-style writing using spray paint cans. Famous artists working in this style include Eine, Twist, and Iz the Wiz.
 

3. Blockbuster

A blockbuster goes up one more level of sophistication from a throw up. It is much bigger and often fills up an entire space, such as a wall. 

However, like a tag and a throw-up, a blockbuster is still produced in a relatively short period. 

The lettering of a blockbuster is often created in a block style, and the writer may use rollers. Eggs, Nekst, and Katsu, are examples of famous graffiti artists who create blockbuster works.
 

4. Wildstyle

Wildstyle graffiti is also text-based, but it uses elaborate font styles that can be difficult to read. 

The legibility doesn’t make wildstyle graffiti unappealing; it is generally perceived as one of the most visually attractive tagging styles. 

Complicated and interlocked letters, spikes, arrows, and other decorative elements are incorporated into this complex artwork. 
 


Multiple colors are used to create wildstyle graffiti, and the artist may also paint a background. Famous wildstyle artists include Dondi White, Daze, Saber, Comet, Blade, and Futura 2000.
 

5. Heaven or Heaven-spot

Heaven is very hard to get into, at least in the graffiti world. Heaven or the heaven-spot refers to graffiti art in hard-to-reach places. 

These artworks are typically found very high up on buildings that are very difficult to get to, bridges, roofs, etc. 

Graffiti artists who manage to create graffiti in a heaven-spot gain credibility from their peers.
 

6. Stencil

Stencil graffiti has become incredibly popular. The artist known as “Banksy” has utilized the stencil style and brought it into the mainstream. 

Stencils are shapes made of cardboard, paper, metal, plastic, or other materials. An artist will then spray against the stencil to create an image or text. 

They can take the stencil and reproduce the picture again and again. Some stencils get rolled onto walls and other surfaces. 

Some of the most recognizable graffiti names today are stencil artists, such as Banksy, Blek le Rat, Shepard Fairey, and Vhils.
 

7. Poster or Paste-up

Posters or paste-ups are a quick and easy way to put up pieces. These artists will create their artwork at home and then paste it up on walls and other public places. 

Like stencil graffiti, you can replicate and mass-produce posters or paste-ups. 

Unlike commercial posters, this artwork gets put up without permission, which classifies it as graffiti art. Famous poster artists include Eddie Colla, Lost Hills, and Pyramid Oracle.
 

8. Sticker or Slap

Stickers are similar to posters in that they can be mass-produced and are not created “in the field.” 

However, stickers are smaller than posters and do not require paste. Some stickers are simply tags drawn onto sticky labels, while other more sophisticated stickers are created using computer graphics and are more elaborate. Well-known sticker artists include Sheppard Fairy, ObeyGiant, and Ben Frost.
 

9. Piece 

A ‘piece is a graffiti picture that has been painted freehand. The name, as you may have guessed, is short for a masterpiece. 

These artworks contain at least three colors and usually take longer to paint than a tag. A ‘piece will often reach a level of public acceptability that most graffiti does not achieve.

A ‘piece created in an obvious place will gain respect from both the public and other artists. 

It may be perceived as street art, assumed to have been painted with permission. 

However, it is still illegal and gains respect from graffiti artists – because standing in public places painting walls without permission takes a significant risk. 

Famous artists using this style include Daze, Lady Pink, Taps & Moses, and Horfe.
 

10. 3D Graffiti

3D graffiti creates an elaborate illusion and is also well perceived by the public. 3D graffiti pieces are usually visual scenes that create the illusion of a third dimension. 

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