"Identifying Toys" (for beginners)

Toys are often graffiti artists who have just started graffiti and are trying to establish an identity and develop a style. Their lack of skill is often criticized by established artists. They also don't fully understand the culture and the untaught rules like respecting elders and the notion "don't cap what you can't burn".

A classic toy mistake is getting the proportion of a piece wrong. Start the lettering large and shrinking or enlarge the letters as the piece goes on. 

This is an average graffiti piece. Maybe acceptable in a regional town but not in the dog eat dog world of Melbourne. It lacks total imagination each letter has the same shape. 

This piece displays a bold attempt to create a aesthetic piece. There is most of the core elements of a piece (fill, highlights, outlines). However it has poorly executed can control and spatial awareness. As many people learn in kindergarten colour in between the lines not over them.... 

Kings destory toys

It may come as a surprise but graffiti does have boundaries. Many writers have places where they'd never paint. This could be private property, graves, cars etc. Some people however have no code of conduct at all. If that's your style then rock it, but learn to deal with the consequences. The artist/s in question of painting a space which is "socially not acceptable" receive some negative energy from the community, but are often most strongly condemned by the graffiti community as a whole.  

Some artists paint for quantity others paint for quality and some paint with elements of both. This photo however shows a very limited understanding of graffiti culture. Why repetitively tag the one space especially when your tag is simple and basic.

Toys will be toys

Toy in graffiti is a term commonly used for a unskilled writer. Usually an experienced artist will tag the work with toy. Often artists will begin as toys but some are too old to remember what it was like. Over time you develop your style and maybe lose your toy status.

Lush in Fitzroy

Bayswater

Showing strong disrespect to artist by writing on the piece. 

Turf war with toys

One artist has called a piece a toy and then another artist has said "NO WAY".