Visual diagram of a basic stencil.

A stencil is a template used to draw or paint identical letters, symbols, shapes, or patterns every time it is used. Stencil technique in visual art is also referred to as pochoir. Stencils are formed by removing sections from template material in the form of text or an image. This creates what is essentially a physical negative. The template can then be used to create impressions of the stenciled image, by applying pigment on the surface of the template and through the removed sections, leaving a reproduction of the stencil on the underlying surface. Aerosol or painting stencils must remain contiguous after the image is removed, in order for the template to remain functional. Sections of the remaining template which are isolated inside removed parts of the image are called islands. All islands must be connected to other parts of the template with bridges, or additional sections of narrow template material which are not removed. Image File history File links StencilTemplate. ... Image File history File links StencilTemplate. ... For the handwriting system, see Graffiti (Palm OS). ... For the handwriting system, see Graffiti (Palm OS). ... Example of spray paint art Spray paint art is an artform utilizing spray paint and performed on posterboard or wood. ... Silkscreen redirects here. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Street art. ... an example of Wood-Block Graffiti, the bottom portion of the image displaying the bolts at the back having been bent to prevent tampering Woodblock graffiti is a type of graffiti that originated in Chicago as a direct reaction to the resources of the Chicago graffiti blasters. ... Look up template in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For scale drawings or plans, see Plans (drawings). ... For other uses , see Painting (disambiguation). ... A Specimen of typeset fonts and languages, by William Caslon, letter founder; from the 1728 Cyclopaedia. ... A symbol or (in many senses) token is a representation of something — an idea, object, concept, quality, etc. ... This article is about describing the shape of an object. ... For other uses, see Pattern (disambiguation). ... Color, positive picture (A) and negative (B), monochrome positive picture (C) and negative (D) In photography, a negative may refer to 3 different things, although they are all related. ... Natural Ultramarine pigment in powdered form. ... Aerosol paint can. ...

A related technique (which has found applicability in some surrealist compositions) is aerography, in which spray-painting is done around a three-dimensional object. This technique is comparable to the paintings in caves dating over +10,000BC, where hands were used to create hand print outlines amongst other artwork, such as paintings of animals. The artist would spray pigment around his hand with his mouth. A hollow bone or reed may have also been employed to direct the stream of pigment. Surrealism in art, poetry, and literature utilizes numerous unique techniques and games to provide inspiration. ... Aerography is a surrealist method in which a stencil, which would have been used in spraypainting, is replaced by a three-dimensional object. ...

Silk-screen printing also uses a stencil process, as does mimeography. The masters from which mimeographed pages are printed are often called "stencils." Stencils can be made with one or many colour layers using different techniques, with most stencils designed to be applied as solid colours. Screen-printing, also known as silkscreening or serigraphy, is a printmaking technique that creates a sharp-edged single-color image using a stencil and a porous fabric. ... Mimeograph machine The mimeograph machine (commonly abbreviated to mimeo) or stencil duplicator was a printing machine that was far cheaper per copy than any other process in runs of several hundred to several thousand copies. ...

During silk-screening and mimeography the images for stenciling are broken down into color layers. Multiple layers of stencils are used on the same surface to produce multi-colored images.

Aerosol stencils

Stenciled warning sign in Singapore

Aerosol stencils have many practical applications and the stencil concept is used frequently in industrial, commercial, artistic, residential and recreational settings, as well as by the military, government and infrastructure management. A template is used to create an outline for the image. Stencils templates can be made from any material which will hold its form, ranging from plain paper, cardboard, plastic sheets, metals and wood. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2592x1944, 968 KB) Summary Licensing I, Gabriel Ehrnst Grundin, took this photo on Maundy Thursday, April 13, 2006. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2592x1944, 968 KB) Summary Licensing I, Gabriel Ehrnst Grundin, took this photo on Maundy Thursday, April 13, 2006. ...

Official use

"Happy 1984" - Stencil graffiti found on the Berlin Wall in 2005. The object depicted is a DualShock video game controller.

Stencils are frequently used by official organizations, including the military, utility companies and governments, to quickly and clearly label objects, vehicles and locations. Stencils for official application can be customized, or purchased as individual letters, numbers and symbols. This allows the user to arrange words, phrases and other labels from one set of templates, unique to the item being labeled. When objects are labeled using a single template alphabet, it makes it easier to identify their affiliation or source. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1232x1632, 704 KB) Summary self made, from berlin germany. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1232x1632, 704 KB) Summary self made, from berlin germany. ... For other uses, see Graffiti (disambiguation). ... View in 1986 from the west side of graffiti art on the walls infamous death strip Walls poster in memory of the fall. ... The DualShock (officially DUALSHOCK and occasionally referred to as Dual Shock) is the standard game controller available for the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 video game consoles. ...

Stencil graffiti

Main article: Stencil graffiti

Stencils have also become popular for graffiti, since stencil art using spray-paint can be produced quickly and easily. These qualities are important for graffiti artists where stenciling is illegal or quasi-legal, depending on the city and stenciling surface. The extensive lettering possible with stencils makes it especially attractive to political artists. For example, the anarcho-punk band Crass used stencils of anti-war, anarchist, feminist and anti-consumerist messages in a long-term graffiti campaign around the London Underground system and on advertising billboards.^[1] Also well known for their use of stencil art are Blek le Rat from France, Banksy, a British artist and New York artist John Fekner. Stencil graffiti makes use of a paper, cardboard, or other media to create an image or text that is easily reproduceable. ... For other uses, see Graffiti (disambiguation). ... Aerosol paint can. ... The anarchy symbol commonly used by anarcho-punks Anarcho-punk (sometimes known as peace-punk) is a subgenre of the punk rock movement consisting of groups and bands promoting specifically anarchist ideas. ... For information about the anarchist writer, see Chris Crass Crass was an English anarchist punk rock band, formed in 1977[1][2] and based around Dial House, an open house community near Epping, Essex. ... Anti war protest in Melbourne, Australia, 2003 Anti_war is a name that is widely adopted by any social movement or person that seeks to end or oppose a future or current war. ... Anarchist redirects here. ... Feminists redirects here. ... Consumerist redirects here. ... The London Underground is a rapid transit system that serves a large part of Greater London and some neighbouring areas of Essex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. ... Banksy is a well-known pseudo-anonymous[1] English graffiti artist. ... John Fekner (b. ...

Home stenciling

A common tradition for stencils is in home decorating and arts & crafts. Home decor stencils are an important part of the DIY (Do It Yourself) industry. There are prefabricated stencil templates available for home decoration projects from hardware stores, arts & crafts stores and through the internet. Stencils are usually applied in the home with a paint or roller brush along wall borders and as trim. They can also be applied with a painted sponge for a textured effect. The Concept Of Decoration in Islamic architecture Decoration is a major unifying factor in Islamic architecture and design. ... Logo for the Arts & Crafts label Arts & Crafts is a Toronto, Ontario based independent record label. ...

Stencil templates can be purchased or constructed individually. Typically they are constructed of flexible plastics, including acetate, mylar and vinyl. Stencils can be used as childrens' toys.

Other stencil forms

Main article: Screen-printing

A stencil, intended for street art being cut. Note the scalpel as a cutting tool.

A stencil technique is employed in screenprinting which uses a tightly woven mesh screen coated in a thin layer of emulsion to reproduce the original image. As the stencil is attached to the screen, a contiguous template is not necessary. Screen-printing, also known as silkscreening or serigraphy, is a printmaking technique that creates a sharp-edged single-color image using a stencil and a porous fabric. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (2,848 × 2,136 pixels, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (2,848 × 2,136 pixels, file size: 1. ... Street art is any art developed in public spaces — that is, in the streets — though the term usually refers to art of an illicit nature, as opposed to government sponsored initiatives. ... For other uses, see Scalpel (disambiguation). ... Screen-printing, also known as silkscreening or serigraphy, is a printmaking technique that creates a sharp-edged single-color image using a stencil and a porous fabric. ...

Main article: Airbrush

A stencil used in airbrushing called a frisket is pressed directly on the artwork. It can be used control or contain overspray, create sharp or complex shapes, but is not designed to be used more than once. Paasche F#1 Single Action External Mix Airbrush An airbrush is a small, air-operated tool that sprays various media including ink and dye, but most often paint by a process of atomization. ... The airbrush is a small, highly precise spray gun for applying paint. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into letterpress printing. ...

A multi-layer multi-colored stencil

Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2848 × 2136 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2848 × 2136 pixel, file size: 1. ...

History

Stencils may have been used to color cloth for a very long time; the technique probably reached its peak of sophistication in Katazome and other techniques used on silks for clothes during the Edo period in Japan. In Europe, from about 1450 they were very commonly used to colour old master prints printed in black and white, usually woodcuts. This was especially the case with playing-cards, which continued to be coloured by stencil long after most other subjects for prints were left in black and white. Stenciling back in the 2600 BC's was different. They used color from plants and flowers such as indigo (which extracts blue). Stencils were used for mass publications, as the type didn't have to be hand-written. The first book to be printed using stencils was the bible. Katazome is a Japanese method of dyeing fabrics using a resist paste applied through a stencil. ... The Edo period ), also called Tokugawa period, is a division of Japanese history running from 1603 to 1868. ... The term Old Master Print is used to describe works of art produced by a printing process within the Western tradition (European or New World). ... Four horsemen of the Apocalypse by Albrecht Dürer Ukiyo-e woodcut, Ishiyama Moon by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1889) Woodcut is a relief printing artistic technique in printmaking in which an image is carved into the surface of a block of wood, with the printing parts remaining level with the surface...

See also

Growth Decay, Original stencil graffiti done in 1978 at Grand Central Terminal, Park Avenue elevated roadway, NYC. Estate of John Fekner © 2007.

Political stencil graffiti by Josh MacPhee

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Stencil

• Street Art
• Wheatpaste
• ROSTA Windows
• Theorem Stencil
• Banksy

John Fekner (b. ... Stencil art by Josh McPhee From the Center for the Study of Political Graphics, based in Los Angeles, California. ... Stencil art by Josh McPhee From the Center for the Study of Political Graphics, based in Los Angeles, California. ... Josh MacPhee is an artist and activist in upstate New York, USA. He established a distribution system called justseeds in order get more radical art projects out to the public back in 1998. ... Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Street art is any art developed in public spaces — that is, in the streets — though the term usually refers to art of an illicit nature, as opposed to government sponsored initiatives. ... It has been suggested that Street poster art be merged into this article or section. ... ROSTA or Russian Telegraph Agency (Russian: РОСТА, Российское телеграфное агенство) was the first state news agency in Soviet Russia and Soviet Union (1918-1935). ... The art of theorem stencils began at the turn of the 18th century. ... Banksy is a well-known pseudo-anonymous[1] English graffiti artist. ...

Footnotes

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Spray Paint Stencils
• Blade Diary. Stencil Blog
• Stencilry. Stencils and tutorials
• Stencil Punks
• A Brief History of the Stenso Lettering Company