Throw ups, [a] or throwies, are a form of graffiti that fall between tags and pieces in complexity. [1] The name comes from the way they are designed to be "thrown" onto a surface as quickly as possible. They are almost always done with aerosol paint. [2]
Throw ups are typically the writer's moniker in large "bubble-letters", with or without a fill. Throw ups without fills are called hollows. [3] Throw ups are sometimes done using only the first two or three letters of the moniker in a throw up to quicken the process, especially if the writer uses a longer name. [4] [5] Throw ups are done with fast, pre-planned body movements to enhance speed.[ citation needed] This speed means that writers can produce large amounts of throw ups in a short time, especially when compared with pieces. [6]
Defining characteristics of skilled throw up include letter height consistency, [7] letter shape conformity along the top and the bottom, [7] minimal negative space, [8] [9] and clean lines. The line between pieces and throw ups is sometimes blurred, but throw ups tend to be faster to paint, have fewer colours, and prioritise speed over style. [10]
Throw ups originated in the New York City Subway in the 1970s [11] [12] and started as larger versions of tags [13] before evolving into their own style. [4] [10] Compared to tags and pieces, throw ups have not changed as much since their origins. [14]
Throw ups, [a] or throwies, are a form of graffiti that fall between tags and pieces in complexity. [1] The name comes from the way they are designed to be "thrown" onto a surface as quickly as possible. They are almost always done with aerosol paint. [2]
Throw ups are typically the writer's moniker in large "bubble-letters", with or without a fill. Throw ups without fills are called hollows. [3] Throw ups are sometimes done using only the first two or three letters of the moniker in a throw up to quicken the process, especially if the writer uses a longer name. [4] [5] Throw ups are done with fast, pre-planned body movements to enhance speed.[ citation needed] This speed means that writers can produce large amounts of throw ups in a short time, especially when compared with pieces. [6]
Defining characteristics of skilled throw up include letter height consistency, [7] letter shape conformity along the top and the bottom, [7] minimal negative space, [8] [9] and clean lines. The line between pieces and throw ups is sometimes blurred, but throw ups tend to be faster to paint, have fewer colours, and prioritise speed over style. [10]
Throw ups originated in the New York City Subway in the 1970s [11] [12] and started as larger versions of tags [13] before evolving into their own style. [4] [10] Compared to tags and pieces, throw ups have not changed as much since their origins. [14]