If you want to represent the real Hip Hop, you got to rock a Graffed-Out Denim Jacket. There ain’t nothing like a jacket with def colors and wild style funk! As a matter of fact you can burn your jeans, your hats, and your kicks, too, if you fiend for the over-kill! But let’s talk about the jacket. If you have some painting skills, or the patience to get some, let’s see if we can lead you in the right direction.
Go get a denim jacket with a large back panel. Wash and dry the jacket before you do anything and make sure you do not use any fabric softener. Softener will leave an oily film on the denim that will complicate priming the jacket with acrylic paint. The purpose of washing the jacket is to pre-shrink the material. Denim is cotton, which means it will shrink a little after a couple of washes even if it is advertised pre-shrunk. If you do not wash and dry your new jacket expect some buckling to occur under your paint job. If you have an old jacket then use that instead to get some more life out of it.
Next, iron the jacket out leaving no wrinkles whatsoever. This is very crucial so do not half-step on ironing! If you cannot iron get your Girl or your Mama to do it, and leave her a tip for doing a job you should already know how to do!
Get a hard large enough flat panel or wood board for firm resistance and wrap the jacket over it with the backside up. Make sure you pull it tight in all directions to create a flat smooth surface. This is very crucial, too, so no half-stepping here either! The denim has to be real taut because this is your canvas you will be painting on. Some people use tape, cords or extra large rubber bands to tie up the open side of the jacket and buckle down the sleeves. Make sure the “canvas” side is pulled tight to keep the backside stretched and taut. If you are not in a rush, mask around the panel area you are painting with light tack tape. You can use any kind of tape as long as you can pull it off with no mess. A wide strip of painter’s tape is good to go!
Next step, get a tube of titanium white or tiger white, a 2-inch wide brush, and a jar of water. Put a dab of paint in a plastic container to create a prime layer. Add enough water to create a thin solution of paint but do not make it too watery. This first layer is thin for the cotton fibers to absorb the paint before the next two layers. What you are to do now is paint this layer on the unmasked panel. When done, get a hair dryer and blow-dry it.
Now, apply two thick even coats of white straight from the tube, and paint it smooth leaving no bristles behind. Use smooth long strokes. Blow-dry between layers. This step of coating the canvas area is crucial because you are creating the foundation for your artwork to be produced. This is called the base coat so keep it clean and smooth.
When painting on denim, some people use fabric paint or appliqué but either way it is acrylic water-based paint. Simply put, just use acrylic paint so you won’t have to spend extra on specialty paints. Water-based acrylic is water-based acrylic. In this section you can airbrush or use aerosol methods, but I will reference to hand painting.
What you should do before you begin is obtain different brush sizes for varying lines of thicknesses, details and fills. Get a decent set from Wal-Mart from sizes 2-10 but do not get the cheapest due to shedding. Grab an old toothbrush to flick textures and cool star-like effects, and look online for other forms of techniques for other cool effects. For special illustration-style rendering, use paintball pens, but no sniffing! You might not get to finish your jacket from having a head buzz! Also, some people have used rapidiograph pens with permanent Indian inks for rendering as well including detailing. That is entirely up to you and your knowledge of tools and materials. Some experimentation may apply!
Also, get yourself an extra jar or two of water and avoid letting it get muddy. Dipping brushes in muddy water will affect the light paints. It is best to empty the water between colors and start fresh. Do not forget the paper towels to wipe your brushes every time you dip them.
Get your color selections out and a large smooth piece of tile as a palette. Use this tile to lay down your colors between stages. This will also allow you to mix effectively and it is easy to clean. Make sure you leave the tile clean in most parts to get you out of a mixing jam or to apply new colors as you work. Keep the color scheme simple or you will have a psychedelic mess!
Some people use stencils to lay out their shapes, and some use transfer paper to apply their designs. Some even freestyle their sketch on the white area. Whatever your method of madness is to lay-down the design, just do it. If you sketch your lines with pencils or carbon use some hairspray to fix the design from smearing when painting.
The usual method in painting is to start with your fills going from light colors then dark colors using a 1-inch wide brush. Always blow-dry between colors to avoid bleeding or a mess. Do not be in a rush! Take your time and do it right! Be mindful of you design’s line-work while maintaining a loose creative flow. Do all fills first from inside the subject to the background. From this point on you can layer your fills while deciding translucency to opacity. Mask your shapes when necessary.
Next start rendering the line-work with the finer brushes. If you want super detail get yourself a size 1 brush, and use acrylic medium in your paints to thin them out instead of water, depending on the piece itself. Water does have a tendency to crack over time unlike acrylic medium.
Once you are done trapping the fills with your rendered lines, you can do touch ups or any improvisations you come up with. Hey, this is Graff Writing! A little freestyling never hurt anybody! Once all is done, go back to the white paint and dab some highlights here and there. Mix a little bit of the colors from your palette and bump a few bright spots to show color popping. Whatever your method for madness is go ahead and touch it up with those funk accents. Do your final blow-dry, and let it ride!
For an optional finish, use a gloss or matte varnish as a protectant for your piece, and apply it evenly in two coats. Coat in long even strokes and let dry.
Keep in mind this is acrylic. It dries as you paint which is why it takes extra skill to paint with acrylic than oil. Have a spray bottle handy to mist the palette when necessary. Keep your brushes damp. Most of all practice on some scrap denim or canvas to get a feel on how to manipulate acrylic from laying down the base, to the fills, and then the fine little details. Get a feel for masking, too. Whatever you do find your flow; this will require patience.
Now go put your best foot forward and rock your masterpiece! Share your photos with us when you are done, and include an explanation of your methods!
For an authentic and traditional Bronx-Style approach, check out these two videos demonstrated by the all-purpose veteran, Mr. Wiggles, of the Rock Steady Crew and Zulu Nation fame. Check Mr. Wigz techniques at Trainwriters.com!
Mr. Wigz Part One
Mr. Wigz Part Two
