The Occult Bot

Stencil graffiti, made famous by Banksy in the last 4 or 5 years, has actually been a form of street art for 25 years. You can employ paper, cardboard or other forms of media (such as plastics) to produced templated imagery and text. You merely cut out the shapes from your cardboard/paper/other surface, put said surface onto a wall (example), then spray or roll-on paint.

The definitive rule of stencilling is producing outlines via cutting shapes, and spraying paint within these cutout shapes – producing unmistakable graphics on the surface underneath. It’s also possible to use multiple layers of stencils to create an illusion of depth or even add colours.

So why do some individuals choose to be a stencil artist? For some, it is a great platform to communicate a political point. Many artists appreciate the PR that their artwork can acquire. Some simply wish their art to be seen. Since the stencil stays unchanged throughout its use, it is far easier for a stencil artist to promptly copy what could be a complex piece at a very speedy pace, when compared to other established tagging methods, so without question, there is also a compelling promotional reason to get involved with stencilling.

Banksy has applied stencilling as a way to make a political statement, often quite succinctly, leaving the witness to get the message themselves. This is oftentimes why people enjoy his artworks so much, as they make the viewer think. Banksy art is being reprinted as graffiti canvas artwork, t-shirts and posters, such is the popularity of Banksy.

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