Our own drawing, from the Alphabet Atlas letter set.
Graffiti letter Y (and y)
A graffiti letter Y is a plain block Y that has been slanted, thickened, outlined twice and given a hard shadow, and you can draw one by sketching the block letter, adding the outline, then the shadow on the lower right.
Y and y in 6 colours
About the graffiti letter Y
Graffiti Y and y sit at position 25 of 26 in the alphabet. Writers think about each letter as a shape that has to fit its neighbours, so y is usually drawn with sharp angled arms that can stretch into the next letter.
The lowercase y is an open shape, so writers often extend one end into an arrow, a curl or a drip to give the letter attitude. The tail of y drops below the line and is a good place for a flick or a drip.
Most beginners start with the capital Y because the larger shape is easier to outline. Its straight arms make the slant easy: lean every vertical line the same amount and the letter will feel fast.
How to draw it, step by step
- Sketch a plain block Y with a pencil, starting on the top line at the left side. Draw a straight line straight down, ending on the dashed midline at the middle.
- Lean the whole letter forward about ten degrees and make every stroke twice as thick.
- Draw a second outline around the first, a thumb-width away, and join the corners.
- Add a hard shadow: copy the outline a short step down and to the right, and join the corners with straight lines.
- Fill the letter with one bright colour, add a white highlight stripe near the top left, and ink the outline last.
The thin letter underneath
Every display letter starts as a plain letter. These are the strokes of the thin version:
- Start on the top line at the left side. Draw a straight line straight down, ending on the dashed midline at the middle.
- Lift your pen and start again on the top line at the right side. Draw a straight line straight down, ending on the dashed midline at the middle.
- Lift your pen and start again on the dashed midline at the middle. Draw a straight line straight down, ending on the baseline at the middle.
Tips for graffiti letters
- Choose one light direction and keep the shadow on the opposite side of every letter.
- Draw faster than you think you should; slow lines wobble, and graffiti wants confident lines.
- Practise on paper before a wall: legal walls and canvas are the places to try the real thing.
Words that start with Y
More about this letter
See the same letter in other styles: cursive y, cursive capital Y, print y. Or use the graffiti letters generator for a whole word.
Questions about the graffiti letter Y
How do you draw a graffiti letter Y?
A graffiti letter Y is a plain block Y that has been slanted, thickened, outlined twice and given a hard shadow, and you can draw one by sketching the block letter, adding the outline, then the shadow on the lower right.
Is the graffiti letter Y free to use?
Yes. The y on this page was drawn for Alphabet Atlas, so you can print it and use it for school projects, posters, cards and notes. Please do not resell the artwork as a font.
How do I make a whole word in graffiti letters?
Open the graffiti letters generator, type your text, choose colours and download a PNG with a transparent background.