Graffiti Verite 4: Basic Techniques for Creating Graffiti Art on Walls and Canvas

The fourth entry in the Graffiti Verite series (see review of Graffiti Verite [VL-5/96]) covers the basics of becoming a graffiti artist, with instruction by graffiti artist Sano in the techniques of sketching, outlining and fading, highlighting and shadowing, "can" control, 3D effects, and more. Declaring his absolute love of the genre, Sano sketches ideas on a pad while sitting in the sun, and talks about translating his vision onto the wall of somebody else's property (just kidding!) Actually, Sano demonstrates his considerable artistic gifts on sanctioned al fresco surfaces: a 50-foot long wall at the Venice, California Graffiti Pit, and a canvas in a park. A far cry from the flamboyant if illegible tags that constitute the bulk of graffiti art in many locales, Sano's larger work is nonetheless semi-traditional, centered on his name, but with some really nice adjoining elements like a colorful mushroom cloud. His smaller work is a portrait of Tupac Shakur which, given the black background, looks something like a hip-hop equivalent of an Elvis on black velvet masterpiece, albeit a very artistic one. Attention to detail and clarity of instruction are plusses here, but no doubt the subject matter will raise issues for some collections, Sano's obvious talents notwithstanding, since graffiti art is not universally esteemed as desirable public art. However, as either art instruction or social document this is a worthy addition, and is therefore recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (M. Tribby)