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C in Graffiti Letters

By Maya Chen, lettering designer and type educator · Checked by Jordan Hale · · How we review content

Capital C
Lowercase c

Rendered in the Sedgwick Ave Display typeface, an open-source font. It is a reference shape, not a hand-drawn letter.

C is a single open curve, and the curve is where the character lives. In graffiti it can be a tight bubble, a squared block with rounded corners, or a swooping arc with arrow terminals. The trouble is that C has no inner structure to hold it up, so weight and terminals have to do all the work. It is also a letter that links easily to the next one, because its open mouth faces right.

Outline version to colour or trace

Open in the graffiti generator →

How to draw a graffiti capital C

  1. 1Draw a circle skeleton, then cut out a wedge on the right to leave an open C, tilted slightly forward.
  2. 2Choose the terminals: sharp cut ends, round blobs or arrows that point back into the opening.
  3. 3Thicken the skeleton so the stroke is widest on the left and thinner at the two ends, giving a swelling curve.
  4. 4Outline the shape and keep the inner counter open, wide enough that the mouth does not close up when the fill goes in.
  5. 5Extend the bottom terminal into a flick that runs under the next letter, then fill, highlight the top-left curve and add depth.

Tip: Shade or thicken the outside curve on the left, then leave the terminals thin. A C that swells in the middle looks like it has motion even before you add colour.

How to draw a graffiti lowercase c

  1. 1Draw a small oval that is open on the right and leans forward, keeping it the same height as the other lowercase letters.
  2. 2Thicken the oval so the wall is the same width all the way round, except at the terminals.
  3. 3Round the top terminal into a blob and give the bottom terminal a short flick for energy.
  4. 4Outline, keep the counter open and fill with a single colour.
  5. 5Add a highlight to the upper left of the curve and a thin shadow along the bottom.

Tip: A lowercase c is almost a bubble o with a gap. Keep the gap wide enough to read, or it turns into an o.

What makes C awkward or easy

C is open, so there is nothing inside it to prop up its identity. If the gap closes it becomes an O; if it widens too much it looks like a bracket. Its terminals are the main design opportunity, and the open mouth is a handy docking point for the next letter. Squared C shapes need rounded corners or they feel stiff against softer neighbours.

Variations

A tag C is a one-stroke arc with a flick at the end. A throw-up C is a thick bubble ring with a clear mouth. A piece C might use block terminals with a highlight along the inner curve, or an arrow that tucks back in. Wildstyle C often loops past itself and wraps around the next letter's top.

Common mistakes with graffiti C

  • The mouth is so narrow that the letter reads as an O.

    Open the gap to about a third of the letter's height so the shape stays unmistakably a C.

  • Both terminals end in identical blobs and the letter looks lifeless.

    Change one end into a flick or an arrow so the two terminals have different weights.

  • The curve is a perfect circle with a bite taken out.

    Flatten the left side slightly or lean the whole shape forward to give it a gesture.

  • The inner counter shrinks after outlining.

    Draw the outline outward from the skeleton instead of inward, so the counter is not eaten up.

Ideas for graffiti C

C is the starting letter of Cool, Cat, Chris and countless crew names, and its open mouth makes it perfect for holding a little star or a spark. Try drawing a C where the counter is shaped like another letter's curve, and see how the pair nests together in a word.

Printable graffiti C sheet

Trace the outlines, then fill the empty rows with your own letters.

Graffiti C you can copy and paste

No graffiti alphabet exists in Unicode, so there is nothing to copy for real graffiti. For nearby effects use bold gothic 𝕮 𝖈, the black square 🅲, or bubble forms Ⓒ ⓒ. A copied C will be a fixed glyph with none of your flicks or arrows.

Graffiti C: questions

How do you draw a graffiti letter C?
Draw an open circle leaning forward, thicken it so the stroke swells on the left, and choose terminals such as blobs, flicks or arrows. Outline, keep the counter open, fill with colour and add a highlight on the upper left. Let the bottom terminal reach toward the next letter for a link.
How do I keep a graffiti C from looking like an O?
Leave the mouth wide, about a third of the letter's height, and keep the terminals distinct rather than curling them shut. If the outline narrows the gap, redraw the terminals shorter. A recognisable opening on the right is the one feature that separates a C from an O.
What are good terminals for a graffiti C?
Rounded blobs are the simplest, sharp cuts look more aggressive, and flicks give motion. For a piece, an arrowhead on one end and a blob on the other gives contrast. Keep the two ends different in weight so the curve looks drawn by hand rather than a stamped ring.
Can C connect to the next letter?
Yes, because its mouth opens toward the next letter. Extend the lower terminal into a flick that slides under the next letter's base, or let the upper terminal overlap its top. Keep the join light so both letters can still be read separately.