Cutting Stencils and Spraypainting

A video of Banksy's street art to inspire you!

This is one of Banksy's most famous street artworks, created in 2004 in Old London. It was painted over. 

These are great step-by-step instructions if you want to create a more complicated stencil:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Creating-Complex-Spraypaint-Stencils-by-Hand/?ALLSTEPS

Creating a Stencil

• When you're working out your stencil, you can follow an image on your computer or do it freehand. 

• Work it out on rough paper first, then transfer it onto thicker card or glue it directly onto the card. 

• I always make the areas black that I want to cut out, so I don't get confused and cut out the wrong part.

• The important thing to check is that there are no ISLANDS on your stencil. These are areas you want to leave behind and not cut out, but if they're floating on their own they'll be lost. In this case, you need to add a BRIDGE so they don't disappear. Here's an example:

Spraypainting

Always spray paint outside. The fumes are really toxic and bad to breathe, so avoid getting too close (I hold my breath!) Make sure the can is angled upright, not facing the ground. If there are parts of the stencil lifting up you can use small pieces of tape to keep them down. Hold the can an arm's length away from the stencil or the paint will be too thick and it will drip.