How To Do Throwies FASTER In Graffiti!
Throwies are a staple of graffiti art, offering a quick and effective way to create bold, recognizable designs. However, many beginner graffiti artists often struggle with balancing speed and quality, resulting in rushed, uneven throwies. In this guide, we'll dive into how to do graffiti throwies faster while maintaining clean lines, proper flow, and overall style. Let’s break it down step by step.
Don’t Rush: Quality Over Speed
Before diving into techniques to improve your speed, it’s essential to get your throwy down first. When you’re just starting, it’s common to feel nervous or anxious while painting on a wall, causing you to make quick, sporadic movements. This results in uneven lines, poorly formed letters, and a lack of flow. It’s also all too common for a new artist to think that they have to be fast, resulting in them intentionally speeding up their movements. When you combine this with their nervousness, you get a perfect storm for sloppy letters.
Instead, aim for consistency. Watch videos of experienced graffiti writers, and you'll notice they maintain a steady, controlled pace—whether they’re doing hand styles, throwies, or tags. This consistent rhythm ensures clean, crisp lines, giving their throwies a professional look.
Master Your Throwie First
If you’re unfamiliar with your throwie or trying a new design for the first time, it’s natural to hesitate while working on a wall. Hesitation disrupts your flow and slows you down. To avoid this, practice your throwy repeatedly on paper or a practice surface until it becomes muscle memory. Knowing exactly how your letters work will make you faster and more confident when painting on a wall.
Optimize Your Line Order
One of the most effective ways to speed up your graffiti throw-ups is by optimizing your line order. This technique doesn’t just save time—it improves the overall flow of your design.
What is line order? It’s the sequence in which you paint the lines. Poor line order causes unnecessary pauses and breaks your momentum. For example, if you finish the bottom of one letter but need to start the next letter at the top, you waste time moving your spray can from the bottom to the top of your next letter.
How to optimize line order:
Start and end your lines in a way that naturally flows into the next letter.
Use smooth, continuous motions wherever possible.
Take Inspiration from One-Liners
One-liner throwies and handstyles are great examples of efficient line order. These designs are created with continuous lines that flow from one letter to the next without stopping. While you don’t need to make every throwy a one-liner, incorporating similar techniques—like hairpin turns can help you maintain momentum and speed.
For instance, if a letter like "O" ends on the left side, use a quick hairpin turn to transition into the next letter on the right. This approach saves time and keeps your design smooth.
Stick to Hollows for Speed
If time is really tight, consider sticking to hollow throwies (outlines only) instead of filling them in. Hollows are faster to complete, and they still offer strong visual impact.
Practice Makes Perfect
Speeding up your throwies doesn’t happen overnight. Regular practice will not only help you perfect your line order but also build muscle memory, making your movements more fluid and efficient. As you practice, you’ll naturally develop your own shortcuts and techniques to speed up your process.
Conclusion: How to Do Graffiti Throwies Faster
Improving your throw-up speed is all about practice, and proper technique. By mastering your throwie, optimizing your line order, and maintaining a steady pace, you can create graffiti throwies that are both fast and high-quality. Whether you’re hitting a wall or practicing at home, these tips will help you take your throwies to the next level.
