How To

Creating Spray Paint Stencils

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Spray Paint Stencil masterpieces can be quite challenging, especially when creating your own from scratch. However, adding multiple layers and making the artwork look professional does take quite a lot of work, and it can be hard to understand the technique too but this is all completely achievable. It all comes down to planning. I’ll teach you how here!

Start Planning

At first, you need to make sure that you pick the source image. This can either be sketched by yourself or chosen via the internet. Please be careful of copyright issues, though and get permission to use specific pieces of work to save from legal issues later on. You will also have to figure out how many colours you need and based on that, you will work out how many stencil layers you’ll need complete your art work. Not only this but you’ll need to decide what size you want to use. A4 is typically the most common due to being able to print these out on a common standard printer.

Digital Alterations

After you select the image, you’ll need to edit it a little bit in an image editor, such as Photoshop. You can use your chosen software to alter the Brightness and Contrast. First, change the image to Black and white using a grayscale filter. Raise the Contrast all of the way up to 100%. This will remove all of the colours but it’s very important to do this. You should keep a copy of the original piece so that you can refer pack to it later on for colours, shadowing etc

 

Draw/Sketch it

Once the templates are ready to go, you should draw your stencil. Most people go straight to Photoshop to do that but if you do then you may include far more detail than necessary. For example, if there is a small area (island) that needs to be painted then this will be removed as soon as you cut out the stencil. That is unless you include a small bridge that connects the island to the main part of the layer.

Everything needs to be connected and if you can’t do that then it needs to be removed! You can do this by editing each layer on software like Adobe Illustrator, or, manually do it by drawing out the stencil onto tracing paper and sketching where needed. The main thing to bear in mind is that you need the stencil to be sturdy and not flimsy, especially if you plan on re-using the layers.

 

Choose the Right Material

A really good idea here is to opt for quality stencils. Some people will want metal sheeting or cardboard and some artists opt for paper. Personally, I go for acetate sheets every time. These are easy to cut, transparent so you can see exactly what’s underneath, fairly cheap and very easy to roll up, carry around and re-use. As you can imagine, each environment comes with its own ups and downs. So you really have to take your time and figure out which are the right options in this regard. In the end it’s always worth the effort, so you totally need to at least check out multiple options and see which one works for you. Do remember that thinner materials make it easier for the stencils to spray.

Get Cutting

You may want a strong cutting tool like an artists scalpel to do that, depending on what material you used. That being said, a powerful cutter can do wonders and it certainly brings in front some nifty features for you to enjoy in here. Cut the most detailed areas at first, and then go for the others.

Creating Spraypaint Stencils is not as simple as you would imagine at first. But while it can be tricky, it’s also very fun and interesting. It all comes down to using the best approach you can in here, but it will certainly be worth the effort!

 

Crypto

Graffiti Art and Cryptocurrency

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DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a professional financial adviser. All information in this article are my opinions alone. It is strongly advised that you do your own research before becoming a crypto holder. Links to sites and products are my personal referral/affiliate links. Invest wisely!

Graffiti is an art form that goes beyond the stereotype of a pointless tagging on a derelict wall in a crime ridden street. I’d like to think that this portrayal of graffiti art is now in the past and with the help of iconic artists like Blek le Rat, Shepard Fairey and Banksy, people are viewing these creations not as vandalism but as art in a complex form. There’s an ever growing amount of people that love this particular art form for many reasons. For example the political statements, creativity, and protesting against the system shown in each piece of art. People love it so much that the amount of graffiti art collectors is growing every single day. However, the fact that many creators of graffiti want to maintain their anonymity, makes giving away their bank account details, or PayPal addresses for transfers, unfeasible.

This article delves into whether graffiti art and cryptocurrency (AKA digital currency), for example, Bitcoin and TRON, could link together to benefit the trade and allow growth. I’ll be trying to figure out if this relatively new wave of payment could bring graffiti art further into the mainstream, what other advantages there are and on the other side of the coin, what are the possible disadvantages?

Potential Income

Graffiti is typically not an easy art form to sell, unless you’re someone like Banksy. Cryptocurrency could drastically change this though! Imagine walking down a street and seeing an incredible piece of graffiti, more than often you won’t even know who it’s created by. As an artist, you could simply tag your piece of art with a QR code which can be scanned using a mobile phone. Once scanned, it could potentially take you to the artist’s website or app where you could read all about them, their reasons behind the piece of art, maybe even a bio (unless they’d rather remain anonymous), but more importantly an online shop! In the shop, using crypto, you could purchase pieces of art created by the artist and have it posted directly to you. No middleman taking a huge cut but a direct link to the artist!

Let’s say someone doesn’t want to buy a piece of art but wants to contribute a little bit to the artist just like dropping a bit of cash in a hat for a busker on the street. Well, this can easily be done too. Once on the artist’s website, there could be a crypto wallet address which would allow you to quickly and simply transfer an amount of your choice straight to the artist.

How to Protect your Art

There are possible risks that need to be addressed; one of which is what’s stopping another artist from going around and tagging other artist’s work with their own QR code and falsely claiming ownership for it? Your artwork could become your sole earnings or at least a decent chunk of your overall income so you need to protect it. Here’s a potential solution…

Once you’ve completed your artwork, you could take a photo of it (including the QR code) and upload it onto your app or website which registers the artwork using image recognition software embedded into it. If someone else uploads the same or extremely similar photo onto the internet then this would flag up and notify the original creator immediately.

Copyrighting your graffiti artwork falls into a very grey area and brings in a few legal issues. If you are painting onto someone else’s property without permission then this can be considered as vandalism. If you try to copyright it then you’re just admitting to an offence and are open to the consequences. If you have been granted permission by the owner and can prove this (ideally in writing), then technically copyrighting the artwork is achievable and a wise choice to make.

This is all a very interesting and exciting aspect of the future of graffiti, however, as soon as legalities are brought into the equation then it tends to become a little off-putting to some but in my opinion, well worth the potential returns.

Changing Times

Selling art for cryptocurrency rather than centralised currency like pounds and dollars (AKA ‘Fiat’ Currency) could be seen as an investment to artists. They could sell a piece of art for £/$1,000 worth of Bitcoin or TRON but that same amount of crypto could be worth far more in days, months or years. On the flip side it could be worth far less so this certainly needs to be taken into consideration. This brings into equation, once the seller has received the crypto from the buyer, do they hold (AKA ‘Hodl‘) for the long term or do they transfer to fiat currency immediately?

As I write this article, The Dadiani Fine Art Gallery in Mayfair, London is hosting Requiem for the Emblem of Power; the first exhibition in the world to solely accept cryptocurrency for the sale of art. This is amazing promotion for Bitcoin which is being accepted in the exhibition.

Final Words

I personally think that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages for the use of crypto compared to current fiat money. It just seems very fitting to use decentralised currency that’s not in the hands of a bank or government to trade graffiti art which is often a very anti-establishment art form.

Having a platform for potential new customers to get immediate access to the artist is a brilliant thing. This could spur artists on to do this on a more regular basis and turn it into a career. The potential is there, the tools just need to be utilised. 

  • Written by James Farina

 

– Article Featured Image: The artwork, ‘R.I.P Banking System’, was created by LUDO in Paris. Photograph by streetartnews.net

Graffiti, History, Stencil Art

The Origins of Stencil Graffiti Art

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Stencil Graffiti Art has become increasingly popular in modern times, and for a very good reason. But what are the origins of stencil graffiti art? As you can imagine, it all stems from the concept of spraying paint on items to show that particular item belongs to you. This first started in the US Army, where spraying buildings and items was a way to mark belongings for various divisions.

Image via: http://olive-drab.com

Aside from that, the WWII soldiers would also add spray tags on their vehicles with the idea of scaring the enemy with intimidating images and also boosting the overall group morale. So yes, the Stencil Graffiti Art was quite important even during WWII, although it didn’t become as important for quite a lot of time.

However, it wasn’t until the 1960s when this unique current migrated to the rest of the US. The interesting thing here is that the US was dealing with various civil aspects at that particular time. The simple fact that there was quite the instability at that time was extremely challenging for a lot of people. But artists found that Stencil Graffiti Art allowed them to express themselves in a much simpler and easier manner than ever before.

Punk rock bands in general saw the Stencil Graffiti Art as an opportunity. This art form became an incredibly strong tool for protesting and because of the short amount of time it took to paint their artwork onto a desired “canvas”, it would be very easy to evade the authority and remain anonymous.

Image via: http://johnfekner.com

A good reference would be 1968, when John Fekner started to work outdoors for the first time. He worked in New York at first, and he immediately started to develop an underground strategy. This brought in front quite an interesting set of ideas to the table, and there are plenty of artworks to show that.

The Wheels Over Indian Trails at the Pulasky Bridge Queens Midtown Tunnel is by far one of the most well known pieces of work that he did, and it’s quite special and intriguing to say the least. But at least at that time, John was one of the few people that saw the benefits of Stencil Graffiti Art and that was a shame. It was clear that people found it easier to express themselves this way, and it really goes to show that at some point it would be easier just to connect with others and create a community with it!

Image via: http://artisticthings.com

Yet the Stencil Graffiti Art scene did go onward thanks to Blek le Rat. This was one of the early practitioners that did manage to create unique stencil art projects all over Paris. Of course, he did have a lot of influence from the New York street art, and that’s maybe the thing that led him to the unique style he created for himself.

At first, he started with stencil rats, hence his name. He is known as one of the first people that transformed Stencil Graffiti Art from lettering to systematical imagery. It was a huge deal at that time, since most people thought about getting simplistic graffiti art and nothing too spectacular. But things did change towards the better with Blek le Rat, and that’s why he is a key moment and hugely influential in the Stencil Graffiti Art history. Being able to make so many changes to an art you are representing is quite amazing and certainly very refreshing. It goes to show the true power of graffiti art and how this continues to represent our society and the way we think about it. Plus, these techniques are extremely popular and among some of the best out there at this time.

Once Blek le Rat became very popular, many other people started to experiment in this type of art form too. A good example here would be Rennie Ellis’s documented stencil art in Australia. He also corresponded with Charles Gatewood, which managed to showcase the power of American graffiti at its best. Ellis in particular got to showcase the street art in a unique, meaningful way, exactly the way it should be represented all over the world. The thing to note here is that the internet managed to push the Stencil Graffiti Art to the next level. Modern artists tried to find some new and creative options to share their ideas, and the best thing for them is that they got to showcase stencil graffiti art in some rather amazing ways.

Credit: MF GRAFFITI (Matt Farina)

One thing to keep in mind here is that many of the methods used today are modern. Yet there are some that still take inspiration from the old school methods we listed above. Yet as Stencil Graffiti Art started to spread, so did the problems with local authorities. Initially, this shouldn’t be any kind of problem. But it is, and for a very specific reason. The idea here is that Stencil Graffiti Art became much more than just a way for artists to represent themselves. In many locations, local authorities got to deal with unwanted depictions of representatives and important political figures. From here to banning these artists was just a simple step. That’s one of the reasons why many of the key graffiti artists are working under their aliases.

Image via: www.newyorker.com

Some of the major modern practitioners include Banksy, Dolk, Pobel, Evol, Icy and Shot, Boxi and Samina. Strok, Emess and Rero or Sten and Lex are also great examples of how amazing stencil graffiti art can be. And these artists actually took things to the next level by making stencil art distinct, unique and also pretty easy to perform too.

They actually got to create their own style, to the point where you can easily recognize a piece of art from Evol, Banksy or Boxi just by looking at it. This is amazing, considering the fact that these are anonymous artists. If anything, it goes to show just how astonishing their work really is and how they get to create amazing work pieces that withstand the test of time. And that’s stencil graffiti art in the first place. It’s a type of art that surpasses time and space. It enables us to breathe life into our ideas and bring them to reality. That on its own is why artists continue to showcase their ideas in the form of stencil graffiti art, because it’s unique, vivid and visually impressive! We have a lot to be appreciative of the origins of stencil graffiti art and it’s something we should be actively teaching others so that future generations of artists are aware of where this fascinating art form evolved from.

How to Create Stencil Graffiti Art – Banksy Example

Health & Safety

Why You Should Use SAFETY GEAR When Creating Stencil Graffiti Art

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You, the artist is far more valuable than your tools so in this article I’m going to give you the reasoning behind why you should use safety gear when creating stencil graffiti art! If you want to create outstanding art that lasts for a very long time, then you should also consider using the best protective gear that you can find out there. The reason is simple, you have to focus your entire attention on the end result. The more you do that, the more interesting and distinct the result will be. But you have to understand that it can be a lot easier for you to obtain great results if you know exactly what protection you need to have. Safety matters and if your health is compromised then the chances of losing the ability to express yourself through your art decreases substantially.

 

RESPIRATOR MASK

If you do lots of graffiti work, then the first thing you want to focus on is getting a high quality mask. Sure, the mask will make you look cool but that’s not why you need one, so don’t just focus on the appearance on the mask. An awesome looking mask is pointless if it’s main purpose of protecting you is lacking. The reason why you need it is because you have to deal with lots of toxins in the spray paint while creating your artwork and this can be for hundreds or thousands of hours if you were to do this long term. Short term spray painting without a mask will lead to headaches, dizziness, and nausea. However, long term use can be far worse. This can include throat and lung cancer, fertility problems, damage to the central nervous system and more! Click to view on Amazon.

 

GLOVES

Gloves are also great if you do a lot of graffiti work. Your skin is very soft and sometimes you can spray paint on your skin by mistake. Since the paint is full of toxins, it can be very problematic for you to get rid of those toxins. This is hard to do, and many times it can lead to some major skin problems in the long run. That’s especially true if you mishandle these paints and you don’t know how to use them correctly and in a reliable manner. Click to view on Amazon

 

GOGGLES

Just like gloves and masks, goggles are necessary for people that do graffiti often. You can spray some paint on your eyes by mistake as you try to get that perfect angle. But paint on your eyes can lead to blindness, so the last thing you want is to stay without any protective gear like this. Goggles and a mask are mandatory, not to mention that gloves will be necessary so you can keep your skin safe at all times! Click to view on Amazon.

 

Conclusion

But yes, think about your personal health and wellbeing and why you should use protective gear when creating stencil graffiti art. This way you can channel your mind and focus into creating outstanding pieces. The last thing you want is to waste time worrying about your protection when you can get quality protective gear in the first place. It’s a very good idea to use all these protective tools right away if you want to ensure that no harm comes from this entire process. While it can be tricky to find the right protection gear, don’t hesitate to scout the market and even try some of these items out before you buy. This is the best way to make an informed purchase!

How to Create Stencil Graffiti Art – Banksy Example

Graffiti, Stencil Art, The Law

The Law on Graffiti Art

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Not enough people are aware about the law on Graffiti Art until it’s too late and they’re in trouble. So this article will dig deep into not only what is legal or illegal but what is morally right too.

Graffiti art has always been considered one of a kind and very distinct. There are many reasons why graffiti art stands out, and it all comes down to the ideas that it represents, the very distinct visuals and the astonishing attention to detail. All of that makes the entire experience very interesting here. Yet the reality is that graffiti art also has its own share of controversy.

Stormtrooper Confronting Riot Police

While artists are showcasing their ideas publicly, they do that in less than ideal locations most of the time. In fact, most urban culture isn’t appreciated by lawmakers. That’s especially true when things like graffiti art can be seen as vandalizing buildings and peppery. At least that’s how most local authorities tend to see this. Whether they are right or not, that remains to be seen. But there’s no denying that graffiti art is very controversial, and it’s always very hard to showcase it as an art piece when it’s created on public domain.

Stencil graffiti art was and still is heavily used as a tool for protest. After all, using a eye catching, quiet and law abiding protest is has its huge advantages.

The Visual Arts Right Act states that the artists are allowed to claim authorship, to prevent the use of their name and to prevent any mutilation of their name. They can also prevent the destruction of their work if needed. Yet despite all of that, most authorities are either painting over the Graffiti art or they try to find some adjacent ways to eliminate those pieces of art.

Sometimes these are created by newcomers in the industry. Other times they are created by people that have a lot of knowledge when it comes to art, yet they want to try out some new ideas and things. Regardless of the situation, there are plenty of options to be had and the benefits on their own can be just as amazing. But there are obvious challenges that block this type of approach as well.

Graffiti art will always remain at the boundary between legality and illegality. There’s no clear way to put it in one specific category. But it doesn’t have to be a part of any category. As long as you know how to create and adapt the graffiti art, the results can be quite astonishing. It’s definitely a challenging type of art, but one that can bring in front some really good benefits for a huge range of user categories. That’s maybe the thing that entices people the most, the fact that graffiti art will always exist, regardless of the regulations and the law on graffiti art.

Of course, governments will always try to impose new laws, some may even try to stop graffiti art from existing. But we know that will never happen. As long as people will always want to express themselves, they will surely find a way to do it. And yes, graffiti art is maybe one of the best methods people can use to showcase their ideas in a visual manner and in some instances in protest!

How to Create Stencil Graffiti Art – Banksy Example

Graffiti

Benefits of Stencil Graffiti Art

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One of the most recognisable forms of street art is definitely Stencil Graffiti art, but what are the benefits of stencil graffiti art compared to other art forms. Thanks to artists like Banksy, this art type has managed to grow quite a lot and it continues to be like that all the time. More and more artists are embracing the Stencil Graffiti style, with all of its ups and downs. But why should you choose Stencil Graffiti art styles and not anything else?

It all comes down to ease of use. It’s a lot easier to use stencils when compared to the doorway painting free hand without any stencil. The process is better for you and you get to be in control all the time, which is extremely important to be honest. It’s an important opportunity for you to take into consideration and it’s certainly one of the better options that you need to think about.

And then you have to think about durability. Some people state that Stencil Graffiti art is actually more durable, based on the way it’s created. While a lot of people believe that it’s quite the difference depending on the situation, it’s safe to say that the overall results can be quite convenient and that’s the thing that matters quite a lot in the end.

By using Stencils for your art, you get to have complete creative control. Free hand painting may be good, but it does open up the door to various types of problems. It’s important to know how to tackle things like this and the results can indeed be more than distinct in the end. You definitely have to take all the options into consideration when it comes to something like this. But yes, the benefits of stencil graffiti art are massive and can be astonishing and durable, it all comes down to the way you harness it and how you use it, of course. 

Also, you have to realize that stencils tend to stay uniform while using it. As a result, replicating a piece is a lot easier. You don’t have to spend a lot of time replicating a piece, instead you can easily replicate anything you want without that much of an effort. Yes, it makes sense a lot more than before here, and the value can definitely be quite astonishing in the end. 

Remember, your art needs to stand out, so it doesn’t mean if it’s Stencil Graffiti art or not. It all comes down to knowing how and when to tackle these things and to try it out in a meaningful way. As long as you know how to stand out as an artist, it doesn’t really matter what type of art you create. But you do need to have your own style and you have to make it appealing and more meaningful. The more you focus on that, the better the results can be. Plus, great art is all about becoming important for its viewers. It’s not all about who creates art, you also need to spark a sense of emotion in the hearts of your viewers. Once you manage to do that, you will have no problem creating high standard art that does make a lot of sense for you in the end!

How to Create Stencil Graffiti Art – Banksy Example

Maintenance

Maintaining Spray Paint Cans and Nozzles

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Have you ever gone to use a can and it’s blocked up? This is a far more common problem than you may think. In this article we’ll look into maintaining spray paint cans and nozzles which will keep your gear in great condition at all times. If you want to create graffiti art, you need to be creative, but you also need the right equipment too. The point is that you never get to obtain the results you want if you don’t have the best kit out there and maintain it as well. Sure, non-maintained low quality cans and nozzles can still work, for a short period of time, but the end result will not be anywhere near as good as you want or deserve!

In this article I’ll walk you through each step of maintaining your kit and trust me it’s quick and easy! I’ll also provide handy links to where you can get hold of the equipment.

Step 1: Shake the can thoroughly! This is seriously crucial. Whether you’re about to use a new can or one that’s not been used for a while then the paint inside will be quite gloopy and cause blotching, especially if you’re in a cold climate. Blotching is when the paint comes out in thick blobs instead of a fine spray. Shaking the can will disperse the pigments and make the paint much more usable.

If you don’t look after your kit regularly and replace when you should then your artwork will suffer.

Step 2: When spraying, keep the can upright! If you don’t then the flow won’t be anywhere near as smooth as it could be!

Step 3: Spray in short bursts instead of long ones. This will ensure that the paint remains at the same consistency without getting thinner or fading.

Step 4: Once you’ve finished with a can, turn it upside down and spray until the paint runs totally clear. This clears the can canal and prevents clogging.

Step 5: Before putting the can away, make sure you click the cap back on to stop the paint drying out. This one simple and quick procedure will save you a lot of money! Let’s face it, you’re going to need to replace your equipment and it’s not cheap, so why not slow down the inevitable and save some pennies.

Step 6: A lot of people just chuck away their caps after finishing a stencil layer, after all, they’re cheap and easy to get hold of. However, plastic isn’t great for the environment and there’s an alternative. This is to use a cleaning solution that extends the life of the nozzles massively. Personally this is what I’d go for.

Should you replace the nozzles and cans from time to time? Sure, but cleaning them is also extremely important. Proper cleaning and maintenance can definitely go a long way, and yes, opting for replacements is still a viable option. It’s certainly something that you should take into consideration, all you have to do is to know how to tackle all these situations and the outcome can definitely be more than amazing.

Just remember, your focus has to be on expressing yourself and showing your art. Doing this in a meaningful way can always be worth it, so keep maintaining spray paint cans and nozzles to achieve those results you deserve.

How to Create Stencil Graffiti Art – Banksy Example

Canvas, Graffiti

Where to Create Stencil Graffiti Art

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The old saying, “The world is your canvas” maybe true, but at the same time you need to know specifically here to create stencil graffiti art safely, legally and in the right setting for your piece of art. One of the most important things about creative people is that they always want to explore new avenues, ideas and opportunities. Many times, one of the best methods you can use to achieve those goals is via stencil graffiti. A lot of artists opt for stencil graffiti as the perfect means to create unique, one of a kind experiences that really bring in front outstanding pieces of art you just can’t find anywhere else.

And the best thing about stencil graffiti artists is that the world is indeed their canvas. They can try to showcase their craft anywhere they want, and there aren’t that many restrictions pertaining to that, which is exactly what makes the world a massive canvas full of unique opportunities.

Where can you start your stencil graffiti experience? The possibilities are indeed limitless here, it can be anywhere from your walls, canvas or a derelict building in an industrial estate. The idea is to try and find multiple places where you can showcase your work. It doesn’t have to be public, you just want to put as much work as you can in order to improve your craft. Let’s face it, the result may not be perfect all the time, but the idea is to continually improve your work and try to obtain the best possible results that you can from your own. 

Banksy. Image via www.canvas101.co.uk

If you want, you can also try out your stencil graffiti skills at the top of a skyscraper, in an old train carriage and so on. It’s important to continually strive to be better and to break the boundaries as much as you possibly can. After all, there are no real limits when it comes to stencil graffiti. It all depends on your personal boundaries. 

However, you do need to think about morals. After all, morals are playing a huge part in this, and that’s why you need to keep things like these in mind as much as you can. It’s important to be focused on value and to continually try to improve yourself as an artist. But remember, you shouldn’t paint over someone else’s property or create damages for any person out there. Ask for consent, outline your ideas and they may offer you the ability to paint there anyways. 

Of course, you also need to think about safety. Yes, the entire world is your canvas, but that doesn’t mean it’s a safe one. That’s especially true when you are going to various dangerous locations like skyscrapers just to create some art.

BIAFRA INC. (TheLost&Found)
Image via hiveminer.com

It’s never worth risking your life or someone else’s just to finish an art piece. Remember, art can be replaced, you are unique and you should take care of yourself as much as you possibly can. That’s what matters the most in the end. 

So, try to keep in mind the morality of where to create stencil graffiti art and at the same time, make sure that you integrate the very best security options too. It’s important to know how to tackle all these things if you want to stay safe. It’s certainly a huge challenge to paint within these restraints, but remember, your safety and the legal aspect of this practice need to be put in perspective. The legal side must be looked into as well so check out our page ‘The Law on Stencil Graffiti Art‘ to find out more and to not be caught out!

HOW TO CREATE STENCIL GRAFFITI ART – BANKSY EXAMPLE

BANKSY

Importance of BANKSY and the Stencil Graffiti Art Scene

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Banksy, born and raised in Bristol, UK, is more than just an artist, he managed to evolve a form of art that enables people to express themselves in any way they see fit. In this article we’ll look into the importance of Banksy and the stencil graffiti art scene. Not only is Banksy amazing as a graffiti artist, but he has managed to this day to stay away from the public eye and remain anonymous as a political activist. All of these things add up to show just how impressive and focused his work really is.

Artwork depicted by Banksy isn’t exactly simple. In fact, they are quite controversial and they do end up sparking quite a lot of debate on this topic. Which is exactly what something like this should do in the first place. Whether you love it or hate it, his work has managed to revolutionise the way artists showcase their ideas.
Not a lot of people thought that showing your art in the street would be great. But that’s definitely an inspiration to have, and Banksy does show just how well you can express your ideas in a visual format.

Some people think that Banksy is an over hyped artist and his pieces shouldn’t be receiving the attention that they do, however, the very fact that people are discussing this matter pushes Banksy and his art further into the spotlight and empowering him even more. This seems to give people a lot of hope! Everyone has a voice, however the vast majority of the population believe that their voice will never be heard. This is proven to be untrue! Just like Banksy, if you protest in the right way, instead of just scribbling on walls, with smart and well thought out stencil graffiti art then your message will be seen and heard loud and clear.

The importance of Banksy and the stencil graffiti art scene sparks a lot of debate with his work is why he became popular in the first place. If you really want to stand out, you want to generate controversy and you want to work as hard as you can in order to achieve some amazing and exciting new opportunities. It’s definitely a huge challenge and one that can bring in front some major problems. But artists like Banksy manage to make the entire process a lot more thoughtful and meaningful.

We must be clear, although Banksy who is now a household name, has pushed stencil graffiti art into the mainstream media, he was far from the first person to start this art form. Banksy drew inspiration from a french stencil graffiti artist called Blek le Rat (Xavier Prou) in the 1980’s, especially with his political messages. Banksy once explained  “I was quite crap with a spray can, so I started cutting out stencils instead”. Read The Origins of Stencil Graffiti Art to see where it’s originated from. Living in Bristol myself, I’m proud that Banksy was born in this great multicultural amazing city, however the reason why I’ve written a post on the History of this medium is to give credit where credit is truly due.

How to Create Stencil Graffiti Art – Banksy Example

Tagging

Tag your Stencil Graffiti Art

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Image via: https://jacquelinemhadel.com

In this article, we’ll discuss how and why you should tag your stencil graffiti art. As long as you have creativity and the right tools, you can create some astonishing works of art. That being said, there are some challenges and limitations for you to take into consideration. You need to be very creative and you have to do whatever you can in order to make your work stand out. It’s not that simple as you can imagine, but it’s certainly going to bring in front a huge array of benefits that you want to have at all times.

That’s why you have to think about anonymity. Some artists want to stay anonymous, they do their artwork just for practice. But if you are really serious and the stuff you create is a work of art, then you definitely have to think about protecting it in any way you can. Protecting artwork like this is far from easy, in fact it can be quite challenging, but it does come with its own set of benefits to be honest.

And that’s where tagging comes into play. Tags are signatures created by artists as the means to protect their graffiti. You can be as creative as you want with your tag, as it enables you to showcase what art you created and so on. It’s the best way you can stay recognizable out there, and it’s definitely the best method you can use to stand out of the crowd for sure. You don’t have to opt for tags that are way too big. On the other hand, tags that are too much in your face aren’t that good either. Making the tag subtle and trying to seamlessly add it can definitely be an amazing opportunity for you!

Aside from that, you do want to remember what pieces you worked on and so on. So yes, tagging does make a lot of sense. That doesn’t mean all artists need tagging. A good example is Bansky. He doesn’t always use a tag, but he does have a distinct style, so it’s really easy for him to create an artwork and people will know who created it.

Yes, you will end up with a debate most of the time. How important is it to tag your stencil graffiti art? Is this mandatory or not? Some people say that it can be mandatory, others not so much! The idea here is to create a tag as a beginner, so you can make a name for yourself. And once you establish yourself you will have no problem ditching the tag if you want to. It’s the best option but in the end it all comes down to you as an artist.

After all, each artist has their own personal preference, so trying to integrate something very specific may or may not work. As long as you know how to tackle all these things, you won’t have a problem reaching the best outcome. But remember, tagging is a good option for newcomers that want to make a name for themselves and to improve their portfolios.

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