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Graffiti Stencils

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Published: October 12, 2006

Whether you are walking on a sidewalk, standing at a bus stop, grabbing a newspaper from a local dispenser or staring at a road sign on the side of a highway, it is likely you will see a form of graffiti stenciling.

What is Graffiti Stenciling?

Graffiti stenciling, which makes use of paper, cardboard or any other type of media to create an easily reproduced image or text, can be viewed as both vandalism and art. According to Wikipedia.com, “graffiti is the application of media on publicly viewable surfaces.” It is defined as being "a drawing or writing scratched on a wall or other surface.”

Stenciling is the easiest and cheapest way to repeat images continuously on various surfaces. Graffiti stenciling commonly is recognized as the poor person’s printmaking. Those who participate in this particular art form either appreciate the various types of attention their artwork can receive, or just want others to be able to view their work.

Graffiti stencil artists create their designs either by spraying or painting images onto a stencil held above the surface of their choice. These stencils, which can be made out of cardboard or metal, can be used either singly or in multiple layers to produce shading, highlighting or depth effects. Because stencils can be quickly applied and painted to a wall, many artists can easily avoid prosecution.

Creating a Stencil

One of the most important items included in graffiti stenciling is the stencil itself. For many stencil artists, creating a customized pattern is a cheaper and more imaginative way to stencil graffiti, as opposed to buying a pre-cut design. However, for those who do not like to draw and would prefer to use something already made, pre-cut stencil designs are available. No matter if you are going to create your own stencil for graffiti stenciling, or are going to purchase your design from a local store, you should be aware of a few important tips.

Cutting the Design
  • Any type of knife or scissors can be used to cut a stencil design.
  • Be sure to practice cutting with your selected tool before cutting out the actual stencil.
  • While cutting, hold the tool tightly to prevent cutting outside of the lines.

The Material
  • The type of material you choose for your stencil greatly depends on a variety of factors, such as the design and size.
  • 6-ply card stock, which can be found at most craft stores, is not the easiest paper to cut, but it is perhaps one of the most durable.
  • To help prevent the stencil from buckling under heavy usage, consider making a support frame.
  • A frame should be only a few inches larger than the actual stencil.
  • Using stencil adhesive, rubber cement or glue, attach the frame to the side of the stencil.
Outdoor Stencils
  • Before graffiti stenciling, figure out what size you want your stencil.
  • Manila file folders work best for smaller stenciling projects.
  • Even though cardboard seems sturdier, it folds easily and can be difficult to cut.
  • Though file folders will not last forever, they are durable and inexpensive.
  • Because of its durability, 6-ply poster board works best for stencils larger than 12x18.
  • Make sure you lay your stencils flat so you can get a clean print.


Sources:
How to Instructions. Stencil1. 8 Oct 2006.
http://www.stencil1.com/how_to.html
Ortega, Marcella. Vandalism or Art? 6-12 July 2006. New Mexico Daily Lobo. 8 Oct 2006.
http://www.spraypaintstencils.com/stencilarticle s/stencilarticle1.html
Stencil Graffiti. Unriddled.com. 8 Oct 2006.
http://flyservers.registerfly.com/members5/unrid dled.com/stencil_graffiti_how_to.htm
Stencil graffiti. Wikipedia.com: The Free Encyclopedia. 8 Oct 2006.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stencil_graffiti
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