Walls have ears and a soul. 5 non-banal tips for budding street artists
Miscellaneous / / February 03, 2022
White snow, gray ice, cracked facade. In urban concrete, some see a mute decoration, while others see it as a living canvas. We have collected tips for those who want to become a street art artist.
1. Look at the details and experiment with the form
An easy way to start a creative experiment is to explore the variety of street art forms. Street art uses not only spray cans and brushes: you can paint with stencils or stickers, come up with three-dimensional installations, and even add interactive elements to your drawings. So, for example, artists from Yekaterinburg did it in the Street Dirt project. It is dedicated to the attitude of society towards the homeless. With the help of a special projector and adhesive tape, the craftsmen applied photographs of homeless people to white billboards. The portraits were simply left on the busy streets of the city. Faces appeared over time, when mud from under the wheels, dust and small debris stuck to them. So the street and passers-by turned into the authors of an acutely social drawing.
It is equally important to learn to develop observation and imagination. Rusty stains on garage doors can look like drops of acid rain. Cracks on the facade of the house are reminiscent of baobab branches or fern leaves. The future street art artist needs to feel the city, to find new details even in familiar routes and landscapes. Lanterns, trash cans, dilapidated bricks, traces of advertisements on the walls - everything has a story that can be shown and supplemented with art.
Street artists work in completely different genres. Someone is closer to realistic murals, and someone is closer to miniature abstraction. Some paint plant graffiti, others transform real "wounded" trees. Therefore, do not stop training and find your own style.
2. Build a connection with the community
Sometimes the best way to find your way is to turn to the experience of colleagues. When looking at the work of other artists, try asking yourself questions. How was it done? How can you do better? What is missing? Why do I like it? Or do you still not like it? The answers will help you find your own style and inspire you to experiment.
Watch instructional videos. Follow famous artists on social media. Follow the updates in the profile groups. It is easy to find out the latest news, show your work and meet other artists there. Someone will definitely be ready to share their experience, talk about cool locations and life hacks. And in such communities you can find like-minded people and create your own art team.
Those who prefer offline communication will appreciate street art exhibitions. At such events, it is easy to find “colleagues” and enlist the support of the community.
3. Assess risks
It is important to understand: the work is likely to be painted over if it is not agreed with the administration of your city. Unauthorized creativity can count offenseCode of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation Article 7.17. "Destruction or damage to another's property". In special cases, street art falls under criminal articleCriminal Code Article 214. "Vandalism", for example, if you decide to exercise on the walls of historical and cultural value. There is no federal law that would regulate the relationship of street artists with the state. If you want to keep the drawing for a long time, you will have to contact the local housing and communal services and clarify the terms of cooperation.
For example, in MoscowStreet art: how to coordinate graffiti in Moscow / Official website of the Mayor of Moscow you need to collect a package of documents, submit an application to the Department of Housing and Communal Services and Improvement. In addition to the passport, written consent of the residents or the owner of the non-residential building, a technical report on the condition of the wall, a design project and an explanatory note will be required.
In order not to waste time and not be upset because of the rejection, it is worth reviewing the list of approved street painting topics in advance and checking if your idea falls into the list. strictly prohibitedDecree of the Government of Moscow of July 16, 2019 N 877-PP "On the application of inscriptions, images by painting, stickers, painting in graffiti technique and other methods on the external surfaces of non-residential buildings, structures, structures, apartment buildings in the city Moscow". Among the latter is the image of everything related to smoking and alcohol, advertising, calls for violence and cruelty. Athletes, scientists, outstanding personalities - that's who will climb the city walls without barriers. Care should be taken with the heading "Historical Events" - it is included in the list of approved ones, but it is important that the sketch does not contain political propaganda.
4. Respect the laws of the street
Even the cherished permission is not a panacea. It is not uncommon for artists with honestly received approval from the administration to suffer from the disapproval of the people. In such situations, it is better to avoid conflicts and remember that the street belongs to everyone and the townspeople are not obliged to share the aesthetic views of the author. Prepare for unpleasant comments and learn to focus on the process, not on the evaluation of results.
A safe and quite profitable way to start painting on the walls is to cooperate with developers and owners of premises. Customers, of course, will limit the creator in ideas, but the artist is also free to choose with whom to work. In the case of commercial painting, all approvals from city services are taken over by the employer - a nice bonus to the paid creative process.
5. Participate in festivals and competitions
For those who do not want to collect documents or draw to order, there is a third way - to participate in specialized events. Competitions, festivals and biennials - finding a platform for your ambitions and resources is not as difficult as it seems. Contemporary art is now valuable, so many organizers are ready to support emerging artists and give them the opportunity to develop in a safe environment. Competitions are a place for acquaintances and realization of talent. And also the opportunity to express yourself and earn money, because the prizes can be grants or large commercial orders.
Art is no longer locked in the walls of galleries and museums, it is ready to enter the urban space. Modern street artists can even leave their mark on the walls of the Tretyakov Gallery and in Gorky Park. Together with these venues, the Russian Movement of Schoolchildren and the Moscow International Biennale of Contemporary Art launched an open all-Russian competition street art. The laureates will participate in decorating the facades of famous Moscow sights. The selection of participants is carried out among both adult artists and children. You can join until February 28th.