The (Street) Art of Stencil Graffiti
Taking Art to the Streets
Stencil graffiti is growing in popularity worldwide. This street art can be a few simple words, or a grand scale art piece. Because it is cheap, quick, and easy, this style of graffiti has grown tremendously. Often the stencils express political and social opinions of the artist, or are simply images of pop culture icons. Stencil street art adorns public areas around the world. It has become part of urban living.
Love it or hate it, stencils aren't going away soon.
About Stencil Graffiti
Because stencils are prepared ahead of time, and spraying (or rolling) over them is quite quick, a street artist can make a detailed piece in seconds. And now, with the use of computers, it is easier then ever for street artists to create their masterpiece, often using familiar symbols and faces. This has all lead to an increase in the activity, exposing it to more and more people each day.
Stencil graffiti includes images or text cut into paper, cardboard, plastic, or other material such that, when painted over, the image is transferred onto the surface.
Political Commentary
Political issues of the specific time and region are often the subjects of stenciled street art...a bit like political cartoons.
curated content from Flickr
Stencil Pirates
Stencil Pirates is the first comprehensive book dedicated to stencil street art. Included are artist profiles, an in-depth history of stencil graffiti, its political context, and how stencils fit into the larger pantheon of street expression. Also here are a detailed “how-to” manual with designing, cutting, and painting tips from the artists, as well as 20 perforated cardstock stencil templates for readers who can’t wait to hit the streets.
Vids
These videos show a lot of stenciled street art. They show you some of the most famous marks, and even let you see them being created. Also, learn a bit about the artist themselves, like Banksy, and others.
Your Thoughts... - Anyone can vote!
What is your opinion of grafitti overall?
A World of Graffiti
These books have a lot of information on stencil graffiti and amazing photos of art from around the world. They'd make a great gift.
Street Art Stencil Links
- Welcome to the Stencil Revolution
The largest stencil artist resource on the web - Stencil galleries, Tutorials, Forums, Fonts, Shop, Artist Profiles, EPS stencil downloads and much more - stencilry.org
Tutorials, galleries, forums, and more... - World of Stencils
Good stencils make the life in a city much more interesting and also give the city a special touch. Most of the stencils are to be seen as a message - so watch out! This weblog is a collection of stencils from all over the world. Balloon Girl Buy T
Banksy - The Master Stencil Street Artist
Banksy is probably the most famous stencil graffiti artist - certainly the most famous in England. His work can be seen all over London. Often incorporating rats and policemen into his work, Banksy art is quite the socio-political commentary. He is an elusive artist who maintains his anonomity quite well. Banksy's website gives us an insight as to what he is thinking, and keeps us informed on his lasest ventures. He has also struck Palestine, and America.
A London wall upon which a mural by the legendary graffiti artist Banksy sits, sold on January 14, 2008 on eBay for $407,000. Buyer must pay to remove the wall. Check out the whole story:
- Traces of Banksy worth a motza
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - £200000 online bid for graffiti, plus wall
Times Online, UK - Banksy graffiti wall auctioned
Reuters UK, UK - Banksy painting on exterior wall draws huge bids on eBay
USA Today Keep Britain Tidy Buy This at Allposters.com
Graffiti World
Ever since anonymous spray-can art began appearing on city walls in New York and Philadelphia in the late 1960s, graffiti has been a ubiquitous presence in the urban landscape, its artists largely unsung heroes. As hip-hop culture spread from America, graffiti became a worldwide phenomenon, emerging in the 1980s as the symbolic artistic language of young people everywhere and one of the most potent influences on youth-oriented marketing and design. With more than 2,000 illustrations by over 150 artists from all over the world and interviews with many of them, this visually arresting book is the most comprehensive survey of graffiti art ever published.
People
Street Portraits
Musicians, Politicians, Artists, Pop-culture icons, Historical Figures, and Fictional Characters have all been memorialized by street art.
curated content from Flickr
The Cans Festival
Organized by the elusive Banksy, and held May 3-5, 2008, a dark and dingy tunnel underneath an old train platform at Waterloo Station in London was transformed.
Dozens of street artists from around the world contributed to stenciled masterpieces. In addition, it was open to the public to add their stenciled pieces.
"Graffiti doesn't always spoil buildings. In fact, it's the only way to improve a lot of them," said Banksy. "In the space of a few hours with a couple of hundred cans of paint I'm hoping we can transform a dark, forgotten filth pit into an oasis of beautiful art - in a dark, forgotten filth pit."
- Banksy covers entire London street with graffiti
Sky News Pictures - Banksy Hosts The Cans Festival
CoolHunting.com - Banksy throws London stencil party
The Associated Press - The Cans Festival
thecansfestival.com
How to Create a Stencil
(Art in Photo by Banksy)
Depending on the desired result, there are different ways to make a stencil.
A computer can be used to help make detailed designs, designs with downloaded fonts, or designs from photos. If you wish to simply draw a graphic by hand, that works too. Also, photoshop shapes are a stencil waiting to happen.
In order to make a design from a photo, you will need a photo editor that allows you to adjust the threshold, and brightness and contrast of the photo. Basically, you want to get rid of the unneeded background of the photo, giving you just the subject you desire. Then adjust the contrast and brightness, or adjust the threshold, of the picture to the point of having a picture that is two colors - black and white - and still recognizable. Make any needed touch-ups, or adjustments to keep there from being areas inside of holes (that would fall out of the stencil). You could also preform this step while cutting, but it may be more difficult.
Add a border around the picture and print. Once printed, just put your stencil over the item you wish to use as the stencil...cardboard, paper, thin plastic, contact paper, whatever. Next you must cut out the design. An x-acto knife is best as it makes a clean cut and is easy to work with.
To use the stencil, hold or tape to the surface, and spray or roll paint over it. Remove the stencil (by lifting off, not sliding). If it needs any touchups, use your finger or a brush. Tada!
Stick Your Two Cents In
What do you think of graffiti?
"How To" Videos - Step-By-Step Guides to Digitally Making Stencils From Photos
Watching a video is the easiest way to get a grasp of how these stencils are made. I suggest the first one, as it is a great step-by-step. The second video is a great explanation on how to print the stencils very large using multiple sheets of paper that you can line up.
Photoshop Shapes - Download them free
The shapes tool in photoshop, and the fact that so many amazing shapes are available for free to download, are ideal for stenciling. Download some free shape sets and see the versatility they lend you.
- Free Photoshop - Free Photoshop Shapes and demos for download.
Adobe Photoshop plugins and filters for the PC, commercial and freeware, all listed, tested, reviewed and linked, with free filters and plugins to download - Free Downloads for Adobe Photoshop
Free downloads of brushes, custom shapes, layer styles, presets, utilities, templates, add-ons, palettes, and other resources for Adobe Photoshop. - BioRUST.com :: Downloads >> Adobe Photoshop Custom Shapes
Indulge your creative appetite with our extensive range of Photoshop resources! Includes brushes, custom shapes, layer styles, gradients, and even funky graphical fonts! - Custom shapes for Photoshop (R) and Photoshop (R) Elements - 12000 shapes collection + unique themed
Custom shapes for Photoshop (R) and Photoshop (R) Elements. 12000 shapes collection + unique themed shapes sets, many different designs including zigzag custom shapes, line custom shapes, pattern custom shapes, torus custom shapes, horseshoe custom s - Adobe - Adobe Exchange
From the Adobe share exchange.
Other Stenciled Street Art
From Around the World
Worldwide, these limited color graphics are marking a time and a place, giving commentary on it as well. They are leaving their mark on the world, making a strong statement.
curated content from Flickr
Stencil Graffiti (Street Graphics / Street Art)
City streets abound with billboards, posters, and corporate advertising that almost invite a subversive response ...and increasingly are getting one. Many of today's graffiti artists have adopted the stencil and spray can, and are using the street as a giant creative forum for their arresting artwork. "The image," says San Diego artist Shepard Fairey, "is integrated with the texture of the street." This book showcases the work of the originators, the innovators, and the new generation who, as UK artist Nylon puts it, are "breathing life into derelict spaces." Stencil graffiti is beginning to filter off the street too, as artists are inspired to use stencils on canvas, clothing, and metal. Tristan Manco has chosen over 400 of the most visually exuberant, subtle, and creative examples of the genre from cities all over the world. With subject matter ranging from the political to the poetic, from the funky to the frankly curious, stencil graffiti is graphic innovation on an international scale. Inspirational in form and content, this book is an essential record for everyone with an interest in design or in contemporary urban culture. 405 illustrations, 400 in color.
Cutting a Stencil
An x-acto knife is the best way to cut a stencil. The razer edge makes the easiest and cleanest cut.
Stencil Fonts
These sites provide many fonts that work well for stencils. From military style, to pixelated fonts, to modern and gothic, hundreds of fonts lend themselves to stenciling.
- SimplytheBest Fonts Stencil Section
Simply the Best stencil fonts. A collection of the best free stencil fonts on the Web. - Resources - Stencil Revolution
Download fonts perfect for stencil graffiti. - Abstract Fonts - Stencils
50+ Stencil fonts - Fancy > Stencil, Army fonts | dafont.com
Download free and shareware fonts. - fonts.com stencil fonts
Pay fonts - STENCIL FONTS
Download FREE FONTS - Stencil Typefaces for mac and windows - FREE Download - Army, Navy, Air Force, Aircraft Font
Barack Obama
Obama Also Won in Street Art
Barack Obama has brought in a whole new wave of street artists. His grassroots popularity led to some amazing stencils.
Check out some great Obama street art:
How can I make a page like this?
(and earn money doing it?)
And, if you were interested in how to publish a page like this, it is really quite easy. Just Click Here to begin...open a free account and start your own "lens" here on squidoo on any topic of your choice.
Disclaimers
I am in no way encouraging you to vandalize or cause damage to other people's property. This lens is for the appreciation of street art, and for the use of its style in legal mediums. Stencil your own property or inside your house. Stencil on your bench or picnic table. Stencil on wood and hang it. Stencil with permission of the owner. Stencil your kid's bedroom. Do not stencil on public property or other people's property who did not give you permission.
Stenciled Squid
Leave your random comments and internet graffiti here:
Graffiti Guestbook
Great Lense. I liked the video!
Where I live there is a lot of graffiti, most of it is very good. Unfortunately there is also the graffiti that is no more than vandalism. My reaction to it being on MY wall would be based on that. Does it add something - yes, then great.
Really enjoyed the Banksy video. I'm on the fence with whether or not I agree with unsolicited graffiti, but I'd be pretty pleased with Banksy's work on the side of my wall.
Perfect lens. Really enjoyable.
I enjoy the kind of graffiti that show artist design, I do not appreciate graffiti as a form of destruction to property. I think there is a fine line between the two.
I just watched all your videos & had a really good time. I love graffiti & take photos of any that I find. Sometimes it's erased very quickly by 'the authorities'. Fabulous lens :)
Excellent lens! Squidlike
What a surprising lens about a very surprising subject! Thanks.
Graffiti can be great. Interestingly, I was in a carpark in Eastern France last nighte and there was a huge Obama Graffiti on the wall. His influence is extensive.
Great Lens. Stencil graffiti has it's place and I love Bansky. Personally I prefer free form, murals. tromp lei and am in awe of 3D Street Art. I live near Asheville, NC home of some great graffiti. My Tag...https://hubpages.com/art/graffiti-unrestricted-art
One of the best lenses I've ever read. Challenging subject beautifully curated. Congrats!
I have been playing around with some stencils on cotton canvas and keep getting over and under spray no matter how much I try to keep it flat and using tape n paper to avoid this but still can't get those clean lines ... Any help would be much appreciated
beautiful and very informative lens...thanks for sharing
nice lens, i really like the how to video on photoshop stencils
Nice lens! Very informative.
The designs are simple but very nice.
Very nice lens, great job! Squidlike
Cat in the Hat is my favourite, cool lens
Wow, you sure found a lot of information on street graffiti. Well done!
I like it! Thumbs up for stencil graffiti:-)
please check out my stencil time lapse . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5_1uGnInxI
Interesting subject and very well done.
Original stencils, yes, Like. Derivative copycat stuff for the sake of tagging? Not so much. This is an excellent lens!
Really cool art. Nice lens!
Interesting lens!
Hey there - Loving the lens! And I love stencilling! I'm new to squidoo, but I have a blog called happygraffiti.com which encourages people to upload the positive graffiti they see out and about. Have a peek :)
Jen x
Grafitti is impressive on its own, but stencil graffiti really takes the craft to a whole new level.
The cat in the hat one is so cute!
That is a great art form. Underrated. Excellent Lens.
Great idea for a lens! This was very interesting.
I love Banksy. A great documentary to watch is "Exit through the Gift Shop". Have you seen it?
I love doing graffiti in chalk with kids. Fun activity, but we're nowhere close to be great at it. This is a fantastic resource. ~ Blessed!
Awesome lens!
Incredible lens! Thank you for creating it!
Hi everybody...I love the creative graffiti... I LIKE THIS LENS... success and blessings always
It's unfortunate that vandalism has become so closely associated with Graffiti since it can be such a wonderful means of expression. As the many examples you've highlighted in this lens, I've seen some amazing works. Very nice lens!
lens for wall artist this is good!
Nice lens. Thanks for the video showing how to make stencils from digital photos, interesting stuff.
nice...
I have seen some incredible graffiti. If graffiti is non-violent in nature, and, if it adds important social commentary, it can be a valuable art and powerful art form. I am against graffiti that violates people or property in a way that is harmful.
Great Lens !
Some of it is great. I like the Dutch graffiti artist Hugo Kaagman's work - like stenciled Delft tiles.
Some graffiti artists are incredibly talented - it's marvelous to look at when it's good! Thumbs up and an Angel blessing for you!
Some graffiti is really amazing...both the art itself and the placement. In Cleveland, OH, an artist with the tag "Sym" would often hit the upper-right-hand corner of a billboard the day after the billboard went up. Many of these feats involved scaling hundred-feet-high billboards.
Interesting. Thanks for your info.
I sometimes marvel at some graffitti but those that are just foul, I don't really care for. That's not art. Enjoyed your lens and blessed it.
Great lens on stencil graffiti, I like it.
Great lens...I think there are some great potential artists that use Graffiti as a way to so off their work..I just wish it was done a little more tastefully.
I've seen some of these, look like they are becoming more popular.
Wow this is something. So well organized!
Graffiti is a very cool art form! It actually sounds pretty fun to create, especially using a stencil. :)
Great lens! Always been ambivalent about graffiti; love some of the art and messages but it often leaves a depressing mood in public spaces. Now your lens has given me something more to think about, thanks!
I think graffiti and street art is the most popular art movement of the past thirty plus years, until something new comes around it's just going to gain popularity. I love street art and it's edgy quick wit...ckeck out some of my pieces if you get a chance...:)rwjr
But don't you think stenciling is cheating? LOL Just kidding. Great lens! Very informative on a not-so-popular subject. Great disclaimer, too.
I stumbled on your lens by accident. It's been one of the best accidents I've ever had...& I've had a few! Thanks for the share!
This is probably the most thorough lens I have seen so far. Great work by the way.
Awesome cannot describe this lense!
Very informative lens. Well done
Nice lens!
glad I browsed into your lens, gave you a 'thumbs up' too!
I like this lens!
Interesting and throught provoking lens - particularly liked the use of the debate module.
Ahhhhh. I do love good street art. Thanks. Blessed. Back to my tour of this great lens.
Right up my alley, no pun intended, Great Lens...I dig the stencil art and murals, tags to me are an eyesore for the most part unless they mean something...Blessed by an Angel...RWJR
Squidoo graffiti rocks
Wow great lens.My favorite is Squdoo graphite on the wall. I want to have a t-shirt with Squidoo sign:)
You know that you are have made it as a graffiti artist when someone buys the wall.... Thanks for the information, I can't even imagine the possibilities of using computers now to design stencils and street art. Amazing.
I have a book on Banksy's art. This article reminded me of it. Very cool lens.
Real cool lens!
Nice art I could never do this not as artistic. much respect
Looking great!
All though I don't agree with the subject matter, this is an informative lens. Blessed.
I love stencil art. I have a lens about Banksy, and am intrigued by the way in which many street artists convey their political beliefs in their art.
Great lens very interesting, like the images too!
Love this lens fab job!:-)
nice lens, I have liked it and be sure to check out my Banksy lens so far and like it if you want:
cool lens thanks for sharing...rwjr
Thank you! I really have a fascination for this work. It's great to have a solid source to learn more about it!
for anyone who is interested in street art I would highly recommend watching the Banksy film "Exit Through the Gift shop" makes you want to go out and make some street art and it also has that confusing twist that Banksy of course set up :) so cool LOVE the lens! <3
Great lens! I'm particularly fond of graffiti art, though I see very little actual art here, more scrawling of nonsense or obscene things.
street art also a kind of art, still need good drawing skills
What a great lens. Loved seeing the graffiti art. Makes me wonder what it's next incarnation will be.
I love the work of Banksy. Glad I found this lens.
Wow! I love graffiti even more now. Great lens
Simply very cool.
Awesome lens! This is near to my heart. I was happy to come across this lens.
Terrific lens and what an interesting character - Banksy.
Very well written lens on Banksy. Have a look on my lens and site about banksy art and banksy canvas prints.
Nicely done & great resource. ***Angel blessed*** as part of the April Fools' Quest & featured on "My Life with Angel Wings" lens ... :)
Nice thought-provoking lens. Very interesting topic.
fantastic lens. ~blessed by a squid angel~
What a great lens! I love street art, especially stencil graffiti. There used to be loads of it where I used to live Brighton, UK) & it seemed to give the atmosphere there an extra something. I thought it was great :)
What better way to brighten a drab day and surroundings, good job like your lens, thanks.
I can see that a blank wall would be calling out to an artist, just begging to be brightened up. I have seen some schools and public buildings back in NZ that have been offered to graffiti artists (not taggers) and they look incredible. I am not so sure that I consider the stencil method as much art though. All in the eye of the beholder, as they say. SquidAngel Blessed!
Great Graffiti lens....It's certainly something I want to get into more and the street art scene interests me more on pavements and such.....A nice detaile lens about stencil graffiti, Well done!
I like stamp-like graffiti best.
I always love seeing the graffiti on train cars. It's like a moving billboard. Although it may be illegal, these artists are still very talented.
Really cool lens-love it!
I love when people decorate the walls with their personalities. Tasteful in flavor is the only request ;)
Though I'm not good at arts, I like graffiti very much, in particular, the ones printed on T-shirts.
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