Reddit mentions of The Art of Getting Over

Started late in high school (1999-2000). Kept at it up until around junior/senior year of undergrad.

Started drawing in my blackbook, mostly biting the hell out stuff I saw in mags (mostly Life Sucks Die and some Euro mags I can't remember the name of) and the internet. The Espo (Stephen Powers) book The Art of Getting Over is a must read for anyone starting. Reading the rules at the back of the book really helped me from being a little shit vandal (writing on schools, garage doors, churches, ect.) to trying to at least be a competent writer.

Finally picked up a can and practiced the hell out of doing block letters and basic can control in my basement. Later I set up plywood in the backyard to practice. My parents were cool as hell about letting me do that. Once I wasn't too embarrassed by my letters I starting hitting really chill spots- under bridges and abandoned building.

Fuck the kids that I see now-a-days scribbling on a super high profile spot with something that doesn't even look as good as shitty gang graffiti. And especially fuck the kids who go over something they clearly can't burn in a super high profile spot. Learn your shit before you make that big public debut.

Went bombing in the city/town a little bit, but never really anything heavy. The yards are what drew my attention and made me fall in love with going out writing. Nothing like riding your bike into a yard and creeping around until you knew you were alone and found that perfect freight (what, a line of flat box cars and holy rollers!). I never got down with a crew and mostly rode solo to the yards in the summer. The quality of my painted work always dipped when college was going on, but I tried to always end the summer a little better from the last. I was never a great writer in my area, but got along with and had mutual respect with the better writers in the area. My college note books are full of graffiti at the top of each page.

Eventually I got really serious about school and started doing summer research projects and internships instead of hitting the yard every chance I got. Graffiti was cool as hell, but I was making a career. Got really serious with a girl (my soon to be wife) and that also took up a lot of my graffiti time. Also, the risk of getting caught was less and less appealing the older I got. Finally, I went to grad school and kind of just stopped picking up a can.

It's been 3-4 year since I've been to a yard. 2-3 years since I last seriously picked up a can.

I still love the art form and culture behind it. I still get excited when a burner, full car, or just a nice style rolls by when I'm railroaded. If I am in a class or meeting that is losing my interest next thing I know I'm writing some graffiti at the top of my notes. It keeps me busy enough that I can listen and not have my mind wonder.

To the kids that are coming up: learn your local and wider graffiti history, try to be ethical in picking your spots, respect your elders, don't go over a piece unless you can burn it, and practice, practice, practice. Don't get mad when someone bites your style. That only means you've been recognized and have influenced the next generation of writers.

ESPO's rules of graffiti (originally published in this book):

You suck until further notice.

It's gonna take a long time before we even acknowledge your existence, even longer before we can bear to look at that foul scribble you call your name. To speed the process of acceptance, you can A) Choose a clever name that defies the norm of simple-minded slang. An example of a good name is "ARGUE" (RIP). It looks good when written, sounds cool when spoken, and conveys a combative attitude. On the other hand, "ENEMA" (actual name) looks, sounds, and conveys a shitty attitude. BE CHOOSY. B) Use paint, gain a thorough knowledge of supplies, remember that permission walls, stickers, and dust tags are small parts of a balanced diet, be bold, learn a style of writing for every occasion, and write your name bigger every time you go out.

Jealousy is a disease for the weak. Your heart is your greatest possession, dont let it get taken from you. Dont write on houses of worship, people's houses in general, other writer's names, and tombstones. Writing on memorial walls and cars is beef beyond belief. Furthermore, involving civilians in your beef is grounds for dismissal. These are are the five fingers of your right hand. Get to know them well. Give soul claps, firm handshakes, and throw smooth bolo punches.

Although being a toy seems undesirable, you should enjoy it while you can. At this stage you can bite all you want with no remorse. All your elders will say is, "Awww isn't that cute, kootchie kootchie koo." So steal that dope connection, rob that color scheme. and loot whole letterforms. Dont worry about giving any credit, we'll pat ourselves on the back and brag how we're influencing the next generation.

However, style isnt a crutch or a schtick. It is understanding why that connection you bit flows, or why that color scheme bumps. Style is the process to an appealing end. Once you got it down to a science, you can reinvent letterforms to suit yourself. This creative growth will amaze the old and young alike. Pretty soon somebody will steal your secret sauce and the cycle will be renewed. If this happens to you, don't bitch about not getting your due. Graffiti is the language of the ignored. If your style is stolen, someone heard you speaking. You got what you wanted from the beginning, some attention, you big baby.

It must be noted that the vandal squad loves graffiti. Their job requires them to fiend for graff as much as you do. When you wreck enough walls, they'll want to meet you. Just like the ball huggers outside the graff shop, they'll recite every spot you hit, with the difference being you'll also hear the Miranda Warning. To postpone this, go solo as much as possible. Dont write with anyone that wont fight for you. Don't be paranoid, but be careful. If you avoid writing on pristine properties, you'll stay in misdemeanor territory, and you wont divert the cops' attention from pastry and caffiene consumption (consult local laws to be sure). Remember, if they didn't see you do it, it's almost impossible for them to win a conviction without your own damming testimony. Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP! Giving a cop info on another writer will doom you to a life of ridicule, from cops and kids alike, with no parole.

There's nothing wrong with knowing you're the shit as long as you are. But once you reach that conclusion, your one foot over the edge of falling off. Watch your step fathead, there's no shortage of people chanting, "JUMP JUMP JUMP!" There are plenty of writers that have been painting well for the better part of 20 years, and your posing and fronting looks retarded next to them. Get back to work, you "never was" slouch. In conclusion, graffiti is free, impresses the girls, is heroic in our couch potato culture, will provide you with a million stories to tell at parties, and a sure cure for the inner-city blues. If it's not fun, you're doing it wrong or have been doing it too long. So get going, fame awaits the fly among you."

Nice. Got a copy of his book, The Art of Getting Over, when it came out, but, like an idiot, I lent it out and never saw it again. Recommended reading if you can snag a copy (at least a $100 for a used copy these days).