Bogotá has a side you won’t see from the usual photos. This hands-on graffiti workshop teaches aerosol control in a friendly, beginner-friendly way. The goal is simple: invent a graffiti name and paint it as a throwup 3D style on real wall space.

What I like most is how the class starts with fundamentals first, then quickly turns into a finished piece you can be proud of. You’ll also get a taste of the local street-art scene through the cultural house at OCIO Gallery, including murals, photos, and Colombian art prints you can take home. One thing to consider: it’s a mixed group setting, so if you’re hoping for total quiet focus, families can add some energy to the room.

Key Highlights You’ll Actually Use

• Throwup 3D style from scratch: you’ll learn how to shape your letters so they pop.
• Short warm-up and hand prep: a stretch routine before you start spraying.
• Real practice drills first: dots, lines, spirals, then a tag.
• Planning on paper: you sketch out your idea before committing to colors.
• A small group: capped at 10 people, so you get coaching.
• OCIO Gallery stop included: murals, photos, and printed art to browse.

Why Bogotá Street Art Works as a Beginner Workshop

Graffiti can look chaotic from the outside. This experience is designed to take that energy and translate it into steps you can follow. You start with the purpose right away: invent a graffiti name and paint it as a throwup 3D piece. That clarity matters. When you know what you’re building, the practice drills feel purposeful instead of random.

The workshop also treats aerosol like a skill, not a lucky spray. The instructor shows materials and quantities, requests consent for taking pictures, and models technique before you do it. Then you practice controlled moves—small marks that build into letters—so your final tag looks planned, not accidental.

Still, graffiti is physical and messy by nature. You’ll be shaking cans, aiming, and working close to a wall. Plan to stay patient if a few supplies run out or if your color choice gets limited. That’s not the instructor’s fault; it’s just the reality of hands-on art classes.

OCIO Gallery Meeting Point: Easy to Find, Nice to Wait

The class meets at Ocio Gallery on Cra. 5 #26b – 26 in Bogotá. It’s a straightforward start point, and it’s near public transportation, which helps a lot when you’re mixing this with market stops and dinner.

OCIO isn’t just a check-in spot. The gallery is part of the experience: you’re encouraged to explore the space with its Colombian prints and an on-site line of printed clothing. Even if you’re not the sort of person who buys souvenirs, it’s worth seeing because it gives context for what you’re about to do. You’re not just painting in a vacuum; you’re stepping into a place where artists’ work is presented and sold.

If you arrive early, use that time to get comfortable with the atmosphere. This kind of workshop runs best when you’re relaxed and ready to try. Also, with consent being requested for photos, it’s a good sign that the space respects participants and the art process.

The 2-Hour Flow: Stretch, Learn, Plan, Spray

This workshop runs about two hours. In that window, you’ll do four main phases: warm-up, fundamentals, planning, then painting. The order is smart. Your hands are warmed up before you spray, and your idea is sketched before it’s painted big.

You’ll begin with a stretch of your body and hands. That may sound small, but it makes a difference when you’re trying to control short bursts and steady lines. Next, the instructor explains the main objective and shows what you’ll use: spray cans, graphic markers, nozzles, and thick paper for planning. Then you practice basic moves like dots, lines, and spirals—exactly the building blocks for graffiti lettering.

A key part is planning your design on paper first. That’s where beginners often struggle: jumping straight to the wall. Here, you get a chance to refine how your name will be spelled and how the throwup 3D effect will show up before color hits the surface.

Fundamentals Drills: Dots, Lines, Spirals, Then a Tag

The most praised part of this workshop is how it walks you up the ladder from simple motions to a readable graffiti tag. In the class, you start with small exercises—dots, lines, spirals—and then work your way toward creating a tag.

These drills help you understand three things quickly:

1. How long you can spray for a clean mark
2. How to angle the can so your line doesn’t wobble
3. How the nozzle affects thickness and control

Cali—known professionally as TET—is one of the instructors described in the workshop experience. Their role is practical: get you started with simple exercises, offer ideas and pointers, and coach you as you work so you’re not stuck guessing.

Then, you’ll plan your project on paper before choosing colors. That step matters because throwup 3D lettering often depends on contrast—highlight and shadow zones that make the letters look like they pop forward.

From Name to Throwup 3D: Making Letters Pop

Once you have your name concept, you move into the fun part: creating a throwup 3D style version of your graffiti letters. The instructor coaches you through shaping the tag so it really pops.

Here’s what that means in plain terms. You’re not just coloring in letters. You’re building an effect: letter outlines, fill, and the 3D illusion that makes the forms look dimensional. If you’ve never sprayed before, this is the part you’ll probably enjoy most because it turns a sketch into something with real presence.

The workshop also includes a creative presentation moment where the instructor mimics a giant signature with a can in the air. It’s more than theater. It helps you understand scale and motion—how to move smoothly, how to vary your pressure, and how to keep your spray consistent while moving across the wall.

One thing to keep in mind: color availability can affect your final look. In one shared experience, some participants found cans empty or near-empty, which meant fewer color options. If you’re someone who has a precise palette in mind, it’s smart to stay flexible.

Painting in the Courtyard: Real Wall Space, Real Atmosphere

After the planning stage, you choose colors and head to the wall space. The painting happens in a courtyard behind the OCIO building, with walls covered in experiments, tags, and past marks. That setting does two things: it gives you inspiration, and it removes the fear of messing up. You’re joining an ongoing visual conversation.

You’ll also learn the basics of can handling. Cans are shaken well, and nozzles are used as part of the equipment setup. That might sound obvious, but small prep steps like shaking the can are essential for consistent spray and even coverage.

The coaching style seems aimed at helping you adjust mid-stroke. As you paint, the instructor helps shape your design so your letters read and the 3D effect comes through. With a maximum group size of 10, it’s easier for the instructor to check in on individuals rather than just offering one-size-fits-all advice.

What’s Included (and Why the Price Feels Fair)

The workshop costs $58 per person and lasts about two hours. For that money, you get more than just “time in a class.” You’re provided with the materials: spray cans, graphic markers, nozzles, thick paper, and wall space. You’re also included in the visit to the cultural house where you can see unique murals and pictures of the experience.

That bundled approach is where the value is. You don’t have to buy supplies, you don’t have to figure out where to paint legally, and you get guided instruction focused on beginners. In a city like Bogotá—where street art is everywhere—having a safe, structured setting is a big deal.

What’s not included is transportation, food, and tips. So budget for getting yourself to OCIO and eating before or after. If you’re doing this as a short stop between neighborhoods, it’s easy to keep it light: two hours plus a gallery browse can fit cleanly into a day.

Group Mix Reality: Adults, Families, and How to Plan for It

This is a shared workshop with a small group size, and it can include families. One experience mentions sharing the workshop with two families; adults mostly focused on painting names, while kids had more roaming energy.

What does that mean for you? If you’re booking for a calm, focused art-session vibe, arrive with flexible expectations. The instruction is still hands-on, but the environment can have extra movement when families are included. If you’re there for learning technique—how to control the spray, how to build 3D letters—you’ll likely still get plenty out of it.

Also, because the workshop is aimed at beginners or enthusiasts with no previous spray paint experience, the overall tone tends to stay patient. The main goal is creative participation and skill building, not judgment.

OCIO Gallery Browsing: Prints, Murals, and a Worthwhile Detour

One of the best reasons to book this workshop is that the gallery visit isn’t filler. OCIO is described as a cultural house with prints by Colombian artists, plus printed clothing you can buy and take home. There are also pictures showing the experience itself, which helps you understand the workshop’s place inside a larger art community.

If you skip the workshop portion, the gallery still sounds worth visiting. It’s close to La Perseverancia Market, and there are lots of eating options around for before or after your class.

In other words: you’re not just paying for a wall session. You’re pairing street-art technique with a real arts-and-culture stop. That combination helps the workshop feel connected to Bogotá, instead of feeling like a tourist activity stuck onto a day.

Who Should Book This Workshop in Bogotá

You’ll enjoy this most if you:

• are a beginner who wants guided aerosol basics
• like making something tangible in a short time
• want a creative entry point into Bogotá street art culture
• appreciate a small-group workshop with coaching

It also works well for short-stay travelers because two hours is enough to learn fundamentals, practice, and finish a throwup 3D tag. And if you’re the kind of person who likes buying art—or at least browsing it—OCIO adds extra value.

If you’re strictly looking for performance art or a museum-style history lesson, this may not be your main event. This is about doing. You’ll spray, you’ll plan, and you’ll put your name onto the wall.

Should You Book It?

If you want a beginner-friendly way to try Bogotá’s graffiti culture without guessing your way through materials, this workshop is a solid pick. The main strengths are clear: step-by-step coaching, a process that starts with simple drills and ends with a throwup 3D piece, and an added cultural visit at OCIO.

I’d book it if you can handle a hands-on, slightly unpredictable environment (like any creative class with limited supplies and mixed group energy). And I’d think twice only if you’re aiming for total quiet or you need a very specific color plan.

If that sounds like you, reserve your spot, show up ready to learn, and focus on the process. Your first tag won’t be perfect. But it will be yours.

FAQ

Where does the Fun Graffiti Workshop start?

It starts at Ocio Gallery, Cra. 5 #26b – 26, Bogotá, Colombia. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long is the graffiti workshop?

The duration is about 2 hours.

What does the $58 price include?

The price includes spray cans, graphic markers, nozzles, thick paper, and wall space, plus a visit to a cultural house with unique murals and pictures of the experience.

What is not included in the workshop price?

Transportation, food, and tips are not included.

Do I need prior experience with spray paint?

No. The workshop is designed for beginners and enthusiasts with no previous spray paint experience.

How big are the groups?

This activity has a maximum of 10 travelers.

What’s the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience’s start time. If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

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