Computer Arts Projects issue 104

It may not seem like it, but graffiti is already way into its third decade. While for many, the look and style of street art is something that will always be equated to the new, the daring and the irreverent, there are those close to the art form which see it in a different way. They see it as a deeply conservative movement: clinging on to the icons of the past while being unwilling to embrace change, move forwards or break out of its strict codes and practices.

While this is true to a certain extent – graffiti does honour its heroes in the same way that all art movements do – this issue of Computer Arts Projects sets out to demonstrate just what a forward-thinking movement street art really is.

From the lasers and other projects developed by New York’s Graffiti Research Lab to the 3D graffiti on show in our showcase and in Cypher ONE’s stunning 3D piece on page 100, to all the artists featured in our Street Art feature, there are plenty of people out there looking to push street art forwards.

So, if you’re part of the graffiti underground, have a long-held interest in the subject or are a graphic designer trying to find out more about street art, we’ve got something here for you.

Dom Hall, Editor

IN THE MAG

FEATURES

Beyond graffiti
Street art has always been about more than writing your name on a wall. Scrawl Collective’s Ric Blackshaw meets some of the innovators

Graf legends
SEEN, MARE 139 and Eric Orr are legends of graffiti’s old school, but they’re still moving the art form forwards. Find out how…

Strictly business
Graffiti has always had an uneasy relationship with commercial design. We talk to the artists walking the tight-rope between art and money

Inside sketchbooks
Writer’s black books were once closely guarded secrets, now a new book is offering a look inside

PROFILES

Graffiti Research Lab
Founded by a software engineer and a robotics scientist, the Graffiti Research Lab has been busy injecting street art with a massive dose of technology, and its laser tags and LED graffiti have got everyone talking

Mr Jago
Typifying the current generation of in-demand artists that grew up enthralled by graffiti culture, Bristol’s Mr Jago has taken his distinctive style of illustration worldwide and produced work for clients including Nike, Xbox and Microsoft. Ed Ricketts finds out how he did it

TUTORIALS

From sketch to wall
London-based street artist Luca Bratsi shows you how to design a graffiti piece in Photoshop and then recreate the work with spray cans

Spray paint to pixel
Incorporating an authentic street-art look into your work can be difficult and might not fool anyone. Here, graffiti writer Rough tells you how

Graffiti stamp art
Find out how to use Photoshop’s Brush tool to create fantastic looking stencils and stamps

Illustrating graffiti
Graffiti writer Elph guides you through the creation of an urban art masterpiece using Photoshop. His artwork incorporates natural textures and a great-looking character

Laser tagging
How the Graffiti Research Lab creates those laser tags in ten simple steps

Street art in 3D
Turn your tag into a multi-dimensional work of art using Illustrator and Cinema 4D

ON THE CD
Cinema 4D 10.5 trial
All City Style subway car template
Fantastic graffiti book extracts
Bomb It! film trailer