Work on your straight letters and embrace the bar approach for now. I also suggest grabbing an envelope and tracing a box then keep your letters inside the box. This box is too long for 3 letters but you get the idea.

work on simple non-stylized straight letters with straight bars.

then look to add some curve bars in there.

then look to add Lil tabs and extensions from the ends of bars to take up some of the open spaces.

 

Thank you for your advice! what do you think of bubble letters in general? Are they good for beginners or nah?
Here's some I did a couple weeks ago but something still doesn't look right.

 

Good start. I like looking at new peoples stuff bc you haven’t conformed yet.

looks like spacing is an issue. The T takes up as much space as the I and M. Try not to have letters so squished and hidden like the I. Both left bars of the M are too hidden squished in.

with tbe white highlights on your blood … I find taking the marker and leaving streaks is better than going back with a white marker.

just rock the black book you’re on your way

 

Classic provided some great tips!

Anytime I try to teach anyone how to create graff letters I always tell them to go back to kindergarten. Im not saying that to be facetious but, as a real practical way of learning and one of the earliest rules I can recall is the K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid). So, with that basic application in mind what you'll need it some sort of "lined paper" or even graph paper would work as well.

Now, with the K.I.S.S. method in mind. Create letters or even the whole alphabet using regular block letters, the same kind you would have learned in Kindergarten. Once, you lay down those lines, create mirroring parallel lines, then complete the block letters with a connecting straight bar to both parallel lines. Now, this may not be the most "interesting" thing to look at but, if its done cleanly, with straight crispy lines then the result will be something pleasing to the eye. Once you have mastered this technique you can move on to more creative applications.

I created a quick reference for you. How to create the block letters and how block letters can be applied to create something pleasing to the eye.

As far as your bubble letter question is concerned. In theory, there's nothing really wrong with your bubble letters. That happens to be one of the styles that offers a more relaxed approach but, having said that, from a stylistic standpoint, in order for that to work, it should have some sort of fundamental structure. Meaning, nothing should look out of place, so in your instance, like Classic mentioned about the squishing of certain letters. If you intend on doing that, then you should do it more than once in your word. That way you are creating the illusion of a purposeful format and not something that can be interpreted as a mistake.

Finally, I always like to suggest using references. In this instance, your references should be studying different font styles. NOT graffiti but, real fonts. Real professional fonts are carefully created using a variety of techniques but, the most important one being the implementation of a grid. The grid allows for a sort of mathematical application to the process which in turn translates to perfectly formed letters.

Anyway - I hope this helps. Good luck and keep on working!

 

Like this

 

Thank you for your in-depth advice! BTW, I love what you did with the blocks on the second drawing.

 

Thats actually not my piece but, something that was done in an old blackbook of mine circa 1996 or 1997*

 

Well, writing has never been my powerful ability, but these tips for letters make me feel hopeful I'll write them good.

 

How I make the shadows, please? Yep, I'm a beginner.

 

Here is a video thats explains it really well. Hope it helps. Practice makes perfect. Good luck!!

 

Whoooaa dude .. is this from KELT In FFC crew from DC?

that was my homeboy right there grew up together

rip Santiago

 

Yup, I've watched it and this really works, at least for me.

 

My pieces come from many years of sketching and painting.
The letter structure evolves through out the yrs of sketching. Influences comes from other pieces.then you flip the script with your own letters structures.
Developing your own style that was influenced by other writers.

Sometimes a writer developes different styles of letter structures

So bite that letter a little but not alot then add your own style to it. Get a Graff mag and geek on it.
Your crew can help too.

Also color scheme is part of the structures of the piece.
It won't be easy but it could be a burner at the end .so don't give up on graffiti my peeps.

 

Do any of you use letter template examples like these to help you?

 

How do we stop relying on letter templates because that's still biting if my work looks too much like the letters...and I find myself doing so.

 

From my experience I do a quick google image search 'graffiti letter (your letter here)' and I use them as guidance. See images below. If something catches my eye I try to replicate it and add something of my own. I usually draw random letters and see what flows and fits together. Sometimes I switch up the same letter with different serifs/extensions just to make the next best letter than the previous one.

As to your second post above, you stop relying on letter templates if you are confident in each letter and develop your letter structure(serifs/extensions/chips/stars). It will take time but everyone works at their own pace.

Hope that was helpful!