An Introduction to Stencil Graffiti
Stencil graffiti, made famous by Banksy over the last few years, has actually been a form of street art for 25 years. You can use cardboard, paper or other types of surfaces (such as plastics) to produced templated imagery and text. You merely cut out the design from your paper/cardboard/other surface, place said surface onto a wall (example), then spray or roll-on paint.
In effect, the method of stencilling involves applying paint across a stencil to form an outline on a surface underneath. It’s also possible to apply 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 put across a political message. Many artists value the PR that their art can receive. Some simply desire their art to be viewed. Since the stencil remains consistent during its use, it is far easier for an artist to speedily repeat what could be an involved artwork at a very quick pace, when compared to other conventional tagging methods, so without doubt, there is also a compelling self-promoting reason to prefer stencilling.
Banksy has applied stencilling as a method to put a point across, often quite succinctly, leaving the viewer to get the message themselves. This is oftentimes why people love his work so much, as they force the viewer to reflect on the meaning behind the artwork. Banksy art is now being reproduced as t-shirts, graffiti canvas art and posters, such is the popularity of the street artist.