Try writing a collection of inspirational words and placing a painted image on top of them (like the frog below).

You may be curious about what type of paper works best for creating stencil art prints. You want a paper that has a smooth finish to allow the stencil to lay flat on the surface so that the edges of the painting will be clean and crisp. Also, you want a matte finish that will readily accept paint. Make sure it is heavyweight and thick so that the wet paint won’t cause the paper to bubble and stretch.

I would recommend Strathmore Windpower Bristol Pads (either the smooth or the vellum). This is what I use. Just a fun note about the Strathmore Windpower line of Artist Papers, they are made with 100% wind power – a pollution-free, renewable energy resource.

I hope that now you have some great ideas about how you can decorate with stencil art prints. You are only limited by your own imagination (and I know there is no limit there). You can choose the size, colors, theme, framing…Let’s face it – you are in charge. So go get ‘em!

The designs above were just screaming out for bold colors and I caved in. Of course, it wasn’t a stretch because I like being bold with colors. However, the point is that since you are creating your own art, be yourself. Have a good time!

The definition of a stencil is “a template used to produce identical shapes every time it is used.” How boring is that? But by creatively adding different colors we add excitement. And we add a little of our own personalities. Remember when we were kids, one of the first questions we asked one another was, “what is your favorite color?” Well, that’s just it. By putting the colors that appeal most to us in our art, we make it personal.

Look around you right now. You are surrounded (hopefully) by things that you brought into your space. And you did that for some good reasons. One may have been that you liked the color. So, transfer that knowledge to the art you are going to create.

It’s really quite simple. Stencils give us a nudge in the sense that they help us put an image on a piece of paper but they still allow us to be creative. They allow us to add whatever colors we want. You are creative and you have a good eye for what’s pleasing. That’s all you need. So, go forth and create some great art!

Join in next week when we explore adding words to stencil art. It’ll be great fun!

The prints above were created using a variety of techniques which I’ll tell you all about. First, though, each one features several stencils – one image (cranes and bamboo) and four symbols. A larger image was used as a focal point and the smaller symbols are lined up along the edge.

They appear to be painted on grass paper that has a weave texture. Believe me, it’s just plain, smooth vellum (thick and smooth with no texture). Here’s how it was done. The entire surface of the paper was painted a very light off white or cream color. When the paint was thoroughly dry, a thick coat of tan (a darker color than the first color) was applied to the entire surface. Working quickly before the paint dried, a flat comb was run in horizontal and then vertical lines. You can buy a tool at most craft supply stores to create this effect but a flat comb works too.

As for the tree and grass surrounding the cranes, this is just a simple technique using a fan brush and several colors of paint.

For the tree trunk, pour several colors of browns and tans (and maybe a little black) on your palette. Run the fan brush bristles through the colors capturing some of each color. Hold the brush about one third from the top of the page and pull the brush down along the paper, holding so that the bristles are following each other and not each making a line of its own. It’s even better if you rock the brush slightly from side to side, allowing the bristles to cross each others line. This technique will let the brush create the texture of the tree trunk by allowing each bristle to leave traces of the colors they picked up off of the palette.

For the grass and tree branches, pour several greens onto your palette. Run the fan brush through the greens making sure to get some of each color. With the fan open, brush up in a wispy, light motion. For the tree branches, at the end of the motion, pull the brush to the left or right but keep the bristles open (horizontal). This will close off the branch of leaves. For the grass, just use the brushing motion (up or down).

By the way, the tree and branches were done after the crane stencils were completed.

By the way, don’t confine yourself to themes. Be bold and search around for designs that might help you create some eclectic art. You know, rarely are our spaces well defined as falling into one exact style. After all, House and Gardens isn’t coming to film next month. So, be creative and pull several styles together.

Art is about being free to create. Now! Go! Create!

Join in next week while we talk a little about color in stencil art prints.

Notice the prints above the armoire in the picture above. They are taken from the images painted on the cabinet door. This is a great way to carry out a theme in a room. If you’ve used stencils to embellish a piece of furniture, pillows or some other accent in the room, consider hanging some matching prints on the wall. These have a solid pale yellow background to make the images stand out and also to coordinate with the rooms color palette.

One of the best benefits of creating hanging wall art stencils to frame instead of painting the stencils on the wall is that you can always change the print. For instance, as a child grows up you can just put another picture in the frame instead of painting the walls.

You want a paper that has a smooth finish to allow the stencil to lay flat on the surface so that the edges of the painting will be clean and crisp. Also, you want a matte finish that will readily accept paint. Make sure it is heavyweight and thick so that the wet paint won’t cause the paper to bubble and stretch.

I would recommend Strathmore Windpower Bristol Pads (either the smooth or the vellum). This is what I use. Just a fun note about the Strathmore Windpower line of Artist Papers, they are made with 100% wind power – a pollution-free, renewable energy resource.

Well, that’s it for now. Tune in next week for some tips on using multiple stencils in one print.

For the next few weeks, we’re going to explore the many ways to create art prints with stencils. For this week, let’s start with the basics. It’s always good to keep it simple, right? So, the easiest way to create stencil art is by using a single design.

The prints above were made with simple three overlay designs (one overlay for each color). They were painted on a plain white background, matted with a double matt and framed. The paint colors were chosen to accent the surrounding décor. It was a very easy project and they definitely make a statement.

These Fleur de lis match well in a classic or traditional setting. Here are some other ideas if you are into a different style: if you have a tropical décor, find a palm tree or shell stencil pattern; for a feminine surrounding, try a single rose bud stencil; for a child’s room, paint some farm or zoo animals. By creating your own art, you are in complete control of the style, themes, colors and size.

You may be curious about what type of paper works best for creating stencil art prints. You want a paper that has a smooth finish to allow the stencil to lay flat on the surface so that the edges of the painting will be clean and crisp. Also, you want a matte finish that will readily accept paint. Make sure it is heavyweight and thick so that the wet paint won’t cause the paper to bubble and stretch.

I would recommend Strathmore Windpower Bristol Pads (either the smooth or the vellum). This is what I use. Just a fun note about the Strathmore Windpower line of Artist Papers, they are made with 100% wind power – a pollution-free, renewable energy resource.

Well, I hope this article has started your creative juices flowing. Go ahead and try this out and have some fun! Tune in next week for some ideas on using themed stencil groups.

The challenge with spray paint stencils is getting crisp edges and clean lines. Most commonly the end result is a fuzzy image. That is just the nature of spray paint. If your project is going to be OK with fuzzy edges then you’re in business. In fact, if that is what you are trying to achieve, then you should know that the further you hold a stencil from the surface the fuzzier it gets.

However, if you still want to spray paint stencils and need crisp edges then read on for all the tricks you’ll need to know. Plus, follow along with two projects.

To get clean lines, you need to make sure that the stencil is as close to the surface as possible. If any part of the stencil is lifted it can allow paint to spray under (which is called “overspray”).

One way to make sure that your stencil is in good contact with the surface is for the stencil to have an adhesive backing. There are a couple of ways to do that. You can copy your stencil onto a piece of full page label paper and cut it out. Or you can coat the back of the stencil with spray adhesive or a glue stick.

I need to tell you that if you use a sticky back stencil you may have a problem with the background paint or finish being lifted off with the stencil when you are finished painting. Make sure to read all instructions on any products you use and test before doing your project.

If you have decided to use spray glue, place your stencil face down on a piece of newspaper and spray the back side that will be placed on your surface. I know this sounds silly because of course you are going to spray the back side, right? But how many times are we doing something with our minds somewhere else and before we know it… Well, anyway, I just wanted to remind you. Also, make sure to spray with newspaper underneath. Spray glue is like spray paint – it goes everywhere!

Let’s say you want to work with a glue stick. It’s best to tap the glue around the islands and bridges. If you drag the glue stick you will likely get globs of glue around the edges of the islands. In order to get crisp edges on your painting the islands have to be clear of glue.

Follow along with me as I spray paint a fleur de lis stencil on this stool.

Here are some of the things that you’ll need.

Of course, you’ll need paint. I’m not going to recommend any brands because what works for me may not be what works for you. All I can say is to experiment with different ones until you find a brand you can stick with.

Some of the qualities you want to look for in a spray paint is truthfulness of color and a consistency that is not too thin. It just needs to spray on a nice color. Experiment with a few brands until you find the one you like.

You also want to find a brand that can offer some reliability of the nozzle. There is nothing worse than having a nozzle that clogs and sputters out large blobs of paint.

I have found that just because a paint is more expensive does not necessarily mean it is the better choice. A can of discount brand paint may not go as far as a more expensive brand. So, you need to buy more of the discount brand paint. However, you may still come out ahead in the long run. You be the judge.

Also, I have had some paints create a crackling effect when sprayed. The best way to keep this from happening is to apply a thin layer of spray paint and let it dry thoroughly before another coat. It’s better to apply many thin coats of paint than to try and finish it quickly with one or two thick globs of paint. Spraying a thick coat of paint can cause a number of problems besides cracking paint (like running, pooling, dripping…).

And you’ll need stencils – hence the spray paint stencils part! The variety of stencils available to you is mind numbing. So, it’s next to impossible for me to recommend any one kind of stencil because I don’t know anything about your project. My best advice is to experiment and test different stencils and materials.

I would like to share with you a comparison of stencils made from thick and thin materials.

When using a stencil made of thick materials (like plastic) you need to spray at a perfect 90 degree angle especially around the edges. If you spray from a side angle, the edge closest to the sprayer will be fuzzy because the spray of paint is blocked by the thickness of the stencil. On the other hand, a thick stencil which is durable and heavy will cover your surface better and prevent overspray.

A stencil made from a thin material (like paper) doesn’t have an edge thick enough to block the paint as it is sprayed. So the edges should be crisp even if you are not holding the can at an exact 90 degree angle from the surface. However, a thin material (like paper) might be flimsy allowing paint to get under the edges if it curls or gets blown by the spray. If you are using paper, you may want to consider an adhesive backing option as described above to keep this from happening.

You will need an object to paint. It can be anything you want – a t-shirt, furniture, floor, rug, cardboard…whatever! Just make sure that the surface to be stenciled is prepared properly. If it has a previous layer of paint, make sure it is dry. Paints do not stick well to semi-gloss or gloss paints. So, if you are painting the entire surface of the item before you stencil, use a flat paint. If it has already been painted, you may need to sand it down to rough the finish. If you are stenciling a t-shirt or other fabrics, make sure they are washed so that any surface treatment which may discourage paint from sticking has been removed.

I do not advocate illegal graffiti so if you plan to use spray paint stencils on a train or a building, make sure you own it!

I am going to recommend safety gear like a face mask or respirator, eye protection and rubber gloves. You need to be aware that spray paint is very toxic and you don’t want to breathe it in especially over long periods of time. If you are spray painting inside, get a good respirator. Remember it’s always good to be safe than sorry!

You will also want to have some old newspaper to cover the areas around the stencil from overspray. Spray paint has a way of going everywhere. It gets carried in the wind and lands on any exposed surface. So it’s important to cover anything you don’t want to have a painted haze.

You will need some masking tape to secure the stencil and any newspaper that you use.

You will need a good place to apply the spray paint. Hopefully you have a room with good ventilation. However, you don’t want to be in an area where there is a breeze and dust is blowing around.

Well, on to the spray painting of the stencil. First, you want to secure your stencil to the object to be painted and cover all exposed areas outside of the stencil with newspaper. If you don’t use an adhesive on the back of the stencil as described above, then tape down all the edges so that your stencil will not move during the entire process of painting.

For the fleur de lis stencil, I tapped a glue stick on the back side of the stencil over the thin bridges and around the edges of the fleur de lis. This made the stencil adhere better to the surface and helped in preventing overspray. When the stencil is in place on your surface to be painted, run a finger firmly around all of the edges.

When spraying paint, hold the can 8 to 10 inches from the stencil. Use a gentle waving motion, spraying paint in horizontal lines from side to side. Release the nozzle at the end of each row and move down far enough so that when you start to paint your next line in the other direction, you are starting a new line and not repainting over the last line. You are looking for a slow and gradual build up of color with even coverage. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly after each thin layer. Be careful not to let the paint build up too fast because it will run, drip, create ripples like in a pool or start a crackle effect as it dries. Remember, it is going to take several layers of paint with a time period for thorough drying in between. No rushing!

Don’t try to paint the outline of the stencil. Just stick to the back and forth motion described above. Forget that you are working with a spray paint stencil and just sweep across the entire stencil as though you are painting the whole area. Again, this is going to help you build up a gradual and even layer of color.

Make sure to hold the can upright at all times and spray toward your surface at a 90-degree angle. Holding the can upright keeps the flow of paint consistent.

Let the paint dry thoroughly before lifting the stencil. Removing a wet stencil can cause smudging. Try to pull the stencil straight up or hold down at one end and roll it up carefully from the other end. The idea is to avoid dragging the stencil over a wet surface.

And Voila! It’s finished. How was that for the first spray paint stencil project?

Display your artwork proudly! Here is the finished Fleur de lis stool. It was a simple project, but it think it will at least show you the steps needed to spray paint stencils on your own.

Well, stay tuned because next time on spray paint stencils I’m going to paint a Chinese Harmony Symbol on a Black T-Shirt.

If you want to continue your Stencil Education then click here to go back to How To Stencil.

And of course, art is all about decorating our lives. We want color and pictures everywhere we look. Otherwise our eyes would have nothing to gaze upon and our spirits would be bored.

You’ve come to the right place for great stenciling ideas and how to information. If you think that stencils are just for walls, you’ll be surprised.

You can liven up any room by decorating a piece of furniture to match the theme of the space or create one of its own.

I bet you have a worn out old dresser or out of style cabinet sitting around your house or collecting dust in the attic. Can you imagine it as the new focal point in your living room? Alright, so it might take a little imagination but put your mind to it and I bet you’ll be dragging it out to the garage and slathering paint on it before you know what’s gotten into you.

Using stencils while furniture painting is a great way to decorate! Custom hand painted furniture adds an exclusive feel to any room whether it’s a formal living area or a child’s room. Stencils can be applied to parts of the furniture as an accent or spread over the whole piece to create an entire scene.

We all like to be unique. And since we were all created to be different, we should all have our own style. As Clairee so eloquently put it in Steel Magnolias, “The ability to accessorize is what separates us from the animals.”

Well, anytime you pick something off the rack at a store notice that it is also available in four different colors and 10 different sizes. In other words about 500 other people can be wearing the same thing. What a dilemma!

Oh wait! I have a great idea. Use a stencil to personalize your clothes (well not all of them). You can paint one large image on the front and center of a t-shirt or maybe just a small design on a pocket. Can you think of a better way to make team or sport shirts? If iit’s for a kids group, getting them involved can be great fun not to mention a good team spirit building experience.

Stencils can help you create some great art for faming too! I bet you didn’t even think about that. You can customize the art in a room to really suit the décor. Choose the theme, color, size and combine stencils to make a scene!

What about the walls? Using stencils to add pizzazz to walls opens up so many opportunities. You can create borders up at the ceiling level or near the chair railing. Combine several designs to create a mural. Or just add one small image to add a little fun and mischief to a room (like a fairy hovering around a light switch).

As you can see, decorating with stencils is a great way to enhance the beauty in our homes, our closets and ourselves! I hope you enjoy the ideas and information on this page. Come back often because I will elaborate on some of the ideas above and adding many other great ways to use stencils.

If you want to continue your Stencil Education then click here to go back to How To Stencil.

Well, a stencil is defined as a template that produces an exact image at every use. Of course, in decorative painting, that’s just not going to work. The idea is to end up with an image that looks hand painted. So, I put together a few of the stencil techniques that I use to personalize a painting. Here they are:

Add some highlights where you might see light on your image. This will add some depth and dimension to your painting. Lighten a paint color by adding white paint and use a small bristle brush to run lines where you want highlights. Don’t add to much white because you just want a subtle effect.

Don’t forget to blend shadowed areas with the lighter areas together where the lines meet to have a smoother finish. Pour a little of the two paint colors used and just start to work them together on the image. I like to use a small, round, soft bristle brush with the stippling or pouncing technique used to stencil and work along the line of differing colors until I reach the desired amount of blending.

Be careful to leave those areas needing the separation with contrast. See the reindeer below. Note how the shaded area on each leg has been blended together with the lower, lighter section. But the individual legs are still separated with a crisp definition of color.

I always like to add a white dot in the iris of eyes to bring out a more realistic effect. The nature of painting stencils is to produce an exact image multiple times. But chances are you want each image to have an individual hand painted effect so little tips like this go a long way.

After completing the picture, you can lightly water down some of the paint colors that you have used to run a translucent shadow or top color where you want to add depth or light. Use an artist’s paintbrush to apply these translucent colors and a paper or cloth towel to blot the colors for a blending effect. Be careful because if you make the paint too watery it may take off some of the paint of the image.

A good way to add texture, variation in depth (like curves) or just some interest is to use two or more colors in one opening (island). Just dab the brush or sponge in the different colors and maybe get the colors to fade from one side of the opening to the other. I recommend doing this while the stencil is still in place to keep a sharp edge. Note the blue background of the Anchor Lines Travel Poster Stencil below.

Again, practice and experiment! As you play around with painting stencils, you will discover many techniques for customizing your work.

Hints and Tips:
If you have a paper stencil it can be used again but make sure to let it dry thoroughly on a flat surface between uses. After the paint dries you can place the stencils in a heavy book temporarily to flatten out the edges that may have curled.

Invest in good paints. Using inexpensive paints that are thin will require too many coats. This will mean more work and more opportunity for paint smudging under the edges. Watery paints will also do more to weaken a paper stencil.

If you run into a situation where two openings (islands) on a stencil are very close but require different colors use a sheet of paper or thin cardboard to cover one opening while applying paint to the other. This is called a mask.

If your stencil is located in a high traffic area, you may wish to apply a protective finish. Allow the stenciled area to dry for approximately 3-5 days. Then apply a water-based acrylic varnish (flat or satin finish).

Well, that’s about it for Stenciling Techniques to Create Your Own Masterpiece. I hope you picked up on some great ideas for your next stenciling project.

If you want to continue your Stencil Education then click here to go back to How To Stencil.

Alright, let’s get to it.

Pour paint onto your palette. Dab the tips of your brush in the paint and then work the paint into the brush by dipping it firmly. With a circular motion, dab the brush several times on a paper towel or piece of paper to get out any excess paint. It’s important to have a brush that is on the dry side in order to keep paint from seeping under the stencil and smearing or running if you are working on a vertical project. If paint is seeping under the stencil or you are not getting clean edges than you are using too much paint. This will most likely happen to some degree anyway so be prepared to do some touching up. Resist the temptation to load the brush up with paint so that you don’t have to do a second coat. More color is achieved by repeated coverage, not by using more paint. When your brush is properly loaded, an even powdering of paint is left when blotted on the paper towel.

Apply the paint to the stencil openings (islands) using a downward or dabbing motion over the edges of the stencil so as not to push paint under the stencil. If you use a back and forth brushing motion, the brush will push paint under the stencil and cause smearing. Apply paint with this dabbing and blotting motion in all the cut out areas of your stencil overlay. Start at the edges of each opening and work your way to the center. Allow to dry and apply additional coats of paint, if necessary.

Allow paint to thoroughly dry between coats. When you are satisfied with the color achieved and the paint is dry, then carefully remove the stencil and do any touching up that needs to be done. If you are using a Multiple Overlay Stencil please read the section below before removing the stencil.

For Multiple Overlay Stencils:
Let’s assume that the instructions above were referring to your first overlay of a Multiple Overlay Stencil. Before you remove the stencil, did you mark your registration holes so that you can line up your next overlay? If not, do it now. OK – the paint is dry, you have removed the first overlay and did any touching up that had to be done.

When all the paint for overlay #1 is thoroughly dry, put overlay #2 in place and line up with the registration marks. When the overlay is lined up, tape and apply paint.

Continue in this same manner with each overlay until you have a completed picture.

Don’t forget to eliminate the registration marks.

Well, that’s it! Now it’s time to sit back and admire. Ahhhhhhhhhhh!

It sure seems like the stencil painting went by quickly and smoothly, right? Well, that’s what all the preparation and planning was for – to insure your success.

I hope you had a great time stencil painting with us! Now you should be looking around for your next project! Happy stenciling!

If you want to continue your Stencil Education then click here to go back to How To Stencil.

Stenciling 101

So, what exactly are stencils? Think of a stencil as a series of holes cut into a sheet of resilient, waterproof material (like paper or plastic). When paint is applied through the cut out areas to the surface beneath, an image is formed. A stencil can be used to draw or paint identical shapes, letters, patterns or symbols.

Open sections of the stencil are called islands. These are the areas that allow color to be applied on the surface under the stencil. Bridges are the stencil material that separates the islands and keeps the shape of a stencil. These areas block color or paint from reaching the surface.

So, now you know about stencils. But, what is stenciling? Stenciling is the creation of an image through the application of color on a stencil and through the removed sections (islands), leaving a reproduction of the image on the underlying surface. This can also be referred to as stencil painting.

Whew! There’s the definition. I hate definitions. I like visuals (if you haven’t figured that out yet you will soon). Here is what the stencil example from above looks like when you apply paint:

Stencils allow us to decorate with our own personal style even if we are not Leonardo da Vinci (or Picasso - if that’s more your style). If you find it difficult to sit down with paints and brushes and come away with a picture you’re satisfied with, then stencils are for you. They eliminate problems with proportion (a fleur de lis will always be perfectly symmetrical), or perspective (objects will be consistent in depth or dimension and show whether they are near or far).

With stencils, you decide where you want an image and you pick the colors. You are the designer of your project. It’s just that you have a little help along the way. And don’t worry - I won’t tell anyone.

If you want to continue your Stencil Education then click here to go back to How To Stencil.