How To Draw Any Name in Graffiti!
Title: How to Write Any Name in Graffiti: Step-by-Step Graffiti Tutorial for Beginners
If you've ever wondered how to draw graffiti letters or how to write your name in graffiti, this comprehensive graffiti tutorial will walk you through everything you need to know. Whether you're just getting started or want a structured way to build your skills, this guide will show you exactly how to do graffiti, from pencil sketch to final outline and even 3D effects.
Tools You'll Need
Before diving into how to do graffiti, gather your tools:
A pencil (mechanical or standard)
A sketchbook or drawing paper
An eraser for fixing mistakes
An outlining pen or marker (like a Pigma Graphic 1 or Sharpie)
These simple materials will be all you need to begin practicing and sketching graffiti.
Step 1: Start with the Base Sketch
To learn how to draw any name in graffiti, begin by writing the name a little larger but otherwise just as you would with normal print font. In the video tutorial, we used the word "ART" as an example, but you can substitute any name you want.
Write Each Letter Large and Wide: Make sure the letters are spaced with room between them.
Keep It Light: Sketch lightly so you can erase later.
This initial sketch will serve as the foundation for your graffiti piece.
Step 2: Create Letter Structure with Rectangles
Now that your base letters are sketched:
Draw Rectangle Shapes Around Each Letter Stroke: These shapes will define the structure for our piece.
Maintain Consistent Spacing: Try to keep the same width on both sides of each stroke, as seen with the blue and red markings.
Go All the Way Around the Letters: This gives your name a bold, blocky look typical of graffiti.
Here are a few tutorials you can watch to learn more about structure in graffiti.
Step By Step Guide To Drawing Graffiti
Step 3: Clean Up and Adjust
This is where the graffiti really starts to come together:
Erase the Initial Sketch: Remove the original print-style letters inside the blocks.
Clean Overlaps: Erase any overlapping lines you don’t want to keep.
Make Adjustments: Now’s the time to tweak the shape of your letters as you see fit. We didn’t do any of that here in this example as it’s best for those new to the art form to keep things simple. if you do decide to make adjustments to your letters, try and keep the changes small till you learn more about the basics. You can also add stylistic elements like tapers (making a part of the letter thinner or thicker), curves, or small extensions.
Step 4: Add Depth with Drop Shadows
To add dimension to your graffiti letters, you can apply a drop shadow:
Pick a Direction: For example, down and to the left.
Repeat the Letter Form in That Direction: Redraw the letter as exactly as possible to the original, but this time position it so that it’s slightly offset, in this case, down and to the left.
Stay Consistent: Every shadow on every letter should go in the same direction.
Inconsistencies in direction will ruin the illusion of depth.
For a full breakdown of how to draw graffiti shadows, watch the linked video tutorial linked here.
Step 5: Add 3D Effect
Another option to add dimension is to create a 3D version of your letters:
Choose a Direction (e.g., down and to the right).
From Each Vertex (Corner), Draw a Line in That Direction.
Keep Length and Angle Consistent: This is crucial for a clean 3D effect.
Ignore Hidden Lines: Don’t draw lines that would be hidden behind the structure.
Connect the Ends: Complete the 3D by linking the ends of these lines.
Rounded parts (like the curve in an R) can be tricky, but just follow the bend consistently.
Reminder: Consistency in direction and length makes or breaks your 3D effect, check our our video that teaches 3D here.
Step 6: Final Outline and Color
I drew this quick example to show outlining a little more traditionally since I had been working in black on Pro Create till this point. After you’ve completed the sketch and added drop shadow or 3D effects:
Outline the Entire Piece: Use a pen or marker.
Experiment with Line Direction: Try pulling the pen toward or away from your body to see what feels best.
Erase the Under Sketch: Clean up your lines.
Add Color: Use any colors you like. Start simple with black or go bold with multiple shades.
Congratulations—you’ve just completed your first graffiti name sketch!
Common Beginner Mistakes to Watch Out For
While this graffiti tutorial is great for getting started, there are a few pitfalls to avoid as you advance:
1. Inconsistent Letter Spacing
You may accidentally leave too much space between some letters and too little between others, making the piece feel unbalanced.
2. Running Out of Room
It’s easy to misjudge how much space your letters will take up, especially with longer names. You may start drawing and run out of paper.
3. Poor Letter Anatomy
If lines and angles between letters don’t align, your graffiti will look off. This comes from building your letter structure on top of print letters instead of using the standard method of sketching, the basic boxes.
4. No Baseline or Cap Line
Not establishing a baseline, mean line, or cap line leads to uneven letters that don’t sit properly together.
These issues may seem small now, but if they become habits, they’ll hold you back from developing.
What to Do Instead: The Basic Boxes Method
The method in this tutorial is perfect for getting your feet wet, but eventually you’ll want to level up. That’s where the basic boxes method comes in. It teaches you how to build consistent, well-balanced graffiti letters from scratch, without relying on printed letters underneath.
To learn that technique, check out our videos.
Step By Step Guide To Drawing Graffiti
Ready to Learn More Graffiti Techniques?
If you’re serious about learning how to do graffiti the right way, we’ve created the Ultimate Graffiti Guide Book Part 1: Fundamentals. It’s the only graffiti tutorial book that breaks down every element of graffiti in extreme detail—perfect for both beginners and seasoned writers.
What’s inside:
Lessons on structure, negative space management, letter name weight, letter name positioning, flow, how to add style, how to practice, and much more.
Hundreds of visual examples
Step-by-step graffiti tutorials for every fundamental
Use code Tag10 for 10% off your entire order.
Also, check out our free downloadable bonus lesson.
Watch the Full Video Tutorial
If you haven’t already, be sure to watch the full video that this blog post is based on:
How to Write Any Name in Graffiti - YouTube
It’s packed with visual demonstrations, extra tips, and links to even more graffiti how-to content.
Thanks for reading—and keep sketching!
