Banksy and Stencil Graffiti
Stencilling has actually been around for 25 years, even though many people think Banksy contrived it. You can apply paper, cardboard or other forms of media (such as plastics) to produced templated imagery and text. You simply cut out the design from your cardboard/paper/other surface, put then place this surface against a wall (for example), and roll-on paint or spray into the cut-out shapes.
In essence, the art of stencilling involves applying paint across a stencil to form a picture on a surface underneath. It’s also possible to employ multiple layers of stencils to create an illusion of depth or even add colours.
So why do some people opt to be a stencil artist? For some, it is a great platform to communicate a political point. Other stencil artists appreciate the publicity that their art can acquire. Some only wish their work to be seen. Since the stencil remains uniform throughout its use, it is easier for an artist to rapidly copy what could be a complicated artwork at a very speedy pace, when compared to other traditional tagging methods, so without question, there is also a persuasive self-promoting reason to prefer stencilling.
Banksy has applied stencilling as a means to put a point across, often quite succinctly, leaving the viewer to get the message themselves. This is oftentimes why people enjoy his work so much, as they make the viewer think. Banksy artwork is being reprinted on canvas, t-shirts and posters, such is the popularity of Banksy.
