Graffiti Terminology

To steal another artist's ideas or lettering schemes. Seasoned artists will often complain about artists who bite their work

To bomb or hit is to paint many surfaces in an area. Bombers often choose throw-ups or tags over complex pieces, as they can be executed more quickly

A stylized signature, normally done in one color. The simplest and most prevalent type of graffiti, a tag is often done in a color that contrasts sharply with its background. Tag can also be used as a verb meaning "to sign". Writers often tag on or beside their pieces, following the practice of traditional artists who sign their artwork

A throw-up or "throwie" sits between a tag and a piece in terms of complexity and time investment. It generally consists of a one-color outline and one layer of fill-color. Easy-to-paint bubble shapes often form the letters. A throw-up is designed for quick execution, to avoid attracting attention and to out number the tags of a rival.

an acronym meaning "tag over your s***" used to describe poor work, or as a noun meaning an inexperienced or unskilled writer.

a graffiti artist

To remove painted graffiti with chemicals and other instruments, or to paint over it with a flat color

A large, more elaborate type of piece. The piece could be said to be "burning" out of the wall or train-side. A piece that has not been removed.

Pieces that are painted in hard-to-reach places such as rooftops and freeway signs, thus making them hard to remove. Double meaning- the writer could die while creating them.

similar to a king or queen, a "head" is a writer who has much skill and a high reputation among other writers in his area.

also referred to as "outlines" and "shells". A hollow is a piece of graffiti that contains no fill.

A large and labor-intensive graffiti painting. Pieces often incorporate 3-D effects, arrows, and many colors and color-transitions, as well as various other effects.

An enormous piece done with a paint roller instead of aerosol.
run

The length of time graffiti remains up before being covered or removed. If a piece has been up for a year, it is said to have "run for a year".

Pieces on trains that cover the whole height of the car. A top-to-bottom, end-to-end combined production is called a whole-car.