This Is Not Getting Up!

What Does “Getting Up” Mean in Graffiti? Graffiti Terminology Explained

In graffiti culture, getting up means taking your tag or piece to the streets or any public space. It’s all about making your name visible and gaining respect from the act of risking your life and freedom to get your name in more spots. It’s not about a single artwork on paper; it’s about presence. In short, it’s fame-building through taking risks: graffiti is one of the few art forms where fame comes from getting your moniker up on walls, billboards, rooftops, anywhere people can see it.

Getting up isn’t a legal gig, it’s risky and illegal. Simply drawing in a sketchbook or uploading art online usually doesn’t count as “getting up,” but some new artists seem to disagree. Newer artists believe that posting YouTube video about graffiti equates to getting up, and some think posting your black book, or i pad sketches on social media is getting up.

Graffiti Sketching vs Street Bombing: Is Digital Tagging Real Getting Up?

Today’s society has two worlds: the physical and the digital, and graffiti is no exception. Many beginners practice lettering in blackbooks (sketchbooks) or on tablets and share designs on Instagram or YouTube. But practitioners stress that online posting and legal murals are not the same as street bombing. A sketchbook is where style and letters are honed; practicing on paper saves paint, time, and frustration. Graffiti jams and legal walls (community art events) are great for practice, having a good time, and networking, but they happen with permission; they’re celebrated showcases, not illicit getting-up sessions. There’s no risk. Digital graffiti programs (tablet apps or computer tools) let you play with colors and effects safely. All of these (sketchbooks, legal walls, digital art) are valuable for learning and style-building, but none automatically give you the street fame that bombers chase; none of these have any risk involved.

Is Posting Graffiti Online Real “Getting Up”?

For most veterans, the answer is no. Uploading a picture of your graffiti, even an elaborate digital piece or a time-lapse YouTube video of you painting a wall, even if it’s not legal, is not getting up. In the case of the YouTube video of someone catching spots, let’s be clear, the act of them painting the wall certainly is “getting up”, but posting it online for thousands or even millions to see, that part is not getting up, that’s just publicity, and digital/social media marketing. Real getting up involves physical risk: getting chased by cops, sneaking into dangerous spots, and leaving your mark on public infrastructure. In other words, drawing safely at home and hitting “share” is not the same as painting walls you had to take risks to do. The respect of

Beyond Tags: Sketchbooks, Jams, and Online Tutorials

It’s worth noting that graffiti culture is adapting too. Graffiti jams, street art festivals, and legal murals have become popular. Many artists start in a supervised art class or community wall, and some even collaborate with city art programs. These venues often encourage youth to paint. Likewise, countless YouTube videos and books (like the Ultimate Graffiti Guidebook) teach fundamentals safely. All these resources supplement graffiti culture by teaching skills and style. However, seasoned writers usually make a distinction: creating art in a sketchbook or uploading a design is a positive step, but it doesn’t replace the ritual of “getting up” on the streets.

Nevertheless, sketchbooks and digital practice are important first steps. A strong blackbook can prepare you to hit the walls harder later. And today’s artists often refine their skills online before ever risking paint in public. This generational shift means some young writers use “getting up” more loosely, but that doesn’t change the definition.

When speaking to Webster’s Dictionary, they stress that a definition is changeable if and only if excess examples of the work can be shown being used in a new way for a prolonged period of time. Examples need to be from the community the word is associated with (in this case, graffiti), as well as in credible media (newspapers, magazines, textbooks, etc). The term getting up has always been used to describe the act of going out in public, risking your life, and or freedom to illegally write your name. So no, in short, getting up isn’t sitting at home drawing and posting it online.