Born and raised in Los Angeles California USA
Im 23, started when I was 12.
Out here in L.A. you got giant freeway systems and endless streets. The graff game is crowded but you kick your shit fresh and right and youll make a name for yourself.
Its been 11 years, and I can say the first 4 or 5 years you absorb the most knowledge and basics of graffiti. From learning about every type of marker invented. to different spray caps and types of paint. and also your local stores to rack them from.
I think as your grow older you keep learning and adapting to the graff game.
When your young you want to write on Everything thats on street level, As you grow older you notice rooftops and other spots that will run longer and take some climbing to pull off, which means the buff will have to climb to get to it. But end result is your shit will run longer if it takes some parkour type shit to get to it.
I started in a neighborhood street crew called 222nd crew for about 1 or 2 years, then moved on to other names. You will find a name that sticks, Usually the first 2 or 3 dont flow, be uniuqe and stay original and you will find a good name.
After about 3 years I found a name that stuck and have been writing ever since, I took a semi break 8 years in and started getting into glass etching and scribes. Just etching mirrors and leaving landmarks. But the spray paint will always find a way back into your hand...
To develop style it takes practice, an older head once told me if you do 3 sketch pieces a day on paper, your style and skill will develop at a faster pace.
Practice makes perfect.