HOW TO STENCIL

Stenciling isn’t hard to pick up, though it takes time to build skill. Here are some tips to get you started:
 

●  For your first stencil, pick a simple image rather than one with lots of intricate detail. Lay a transparency over the image and using a thick marker, trace over the image. The plastic transparency is your stencil. Cut out the colored areas. Block off a border, spray paint and presto!

●  You can use almost anything to create your stencil. Transparencies work well but you can also use manila folders or cardboard beer boxes.

●  Spray paint outside, not in an enclosed space. If you plan to make a lot of copies, invest in a $30 respirator at the hardware store.

●  You need less spray paint than you think you do. Err on the side of less to avoid the possibility that the paint will pool and drip (which is fine if you like that sort of thing).

●  Experiment with how you apply the spray paint. Short bursts shot from an angle will give you a different look than a full-frontal constant blast.