Stencil Guide – Utah Women's Mural

Creating Your First Stencil Portrait

In the instructions below, we will guide you through the process of creating your own hand stenciled image from a B&W photograph. If you have never stenciled before, understand that the process can be counter-intuitive. Typically, whenever we create a likeness of an image, we put down on paper what we see and where we want it. For example, I can draw an eyebrow with pencil on paper. When we create a stencil however, we are removing paper from the sections we want to see, leaving an image with holes. As an example, I can cut out a shape above an eye to create the impression of an eyebrow.

Most simply put, creating a stencil is as simple as cutting away all of the dark shapes that the printer has laid down, whether those be eyes, lips, hair, or glasses.

Study Your Subject

Spend some time studying the portrait of your subject. Hanging the picture up within sight for a day or two can help you familiarize yourself with the woman’s defining features. You can also do some research to learn more about the woman you are going to represent.

Focus your attention on the darkest points in your B&W portrait. These are what will be eventually cut away to form the stencil. Select the dark sections that you will be cutting out. It can be helpful to imagine the portrait’s shadows and black points as something else when preparing to cut. For example, the shadow under a nose could look like a tadpole, or an eyebrow the shape of a bird’s wing. This technique can help you to identify and cut the shapes more accurately.

Sometimes you will have to break up large spans of black or solid lines by creating “bridges” to the empty space around the subject. This allows you to maintain the stencil’s shape, while adding stability to the paper for when it is time for painting. This technique can also be used to cut out any small sections of white that are surrounded by large darker areas, like the highlight in your subject’s pupil.

In the example image of Georgia Mageras, the red lines indicate where we would make our cuts to create the stencil. The green lines show where we have chosen to place our “bridges.”

Feel free to use a pencil to outline your sections selected for cutting, or just dive right in. You can also use your pencil or even some white out to indicate where you will place any “bridges.” You are now ready to make your first cut!

Making Your First Cut

Prepare a work surface that you can safely make your cuts on. We suggest using a scrap piece of cardboard as backing. Clear the work surface around you so that you may freely rotate the portrait while cutting out the stencil.

When making your cuts, hold the knife like a pencil. Secure the paper in place with your other hand. Be sure to always cut towards yourself while keeping the blade straight. In order to cut along curves and corners, rotate the entire portrait to ensure the blade does not bend.

There is no right or wrong place to first set down your knife, but we do have some recommendations. If making your first cut seems daunting, start with the largest and simplest shapes. Often these are pieces like the eyebrows and nostrils. Save the fine details for the end when you are more comfortable using the knife.

Check Your Work

When creating a stencil, the final image is not always immediately clear. This can be particularly true for your first stencil, or portraits with no clear distinctions between dark and light areas. In order to verify that the stencil is conveying the image the way you designed, you will want to check your work at various intervals as you go.

This can most easily be done by flipping your stencil and holding it in front of any flat, dark surface. This contrast will allow you to imagine what the final, painted image will look like. Don’t panic if something hasn’t come out quite right. Just print the portrait again and give it another try! Tape can also help you to reattach any sections that you regret cutting off. Keep cutting out the darkest areas of the portrait until you are satisfied with the resulting stencil.

Pick Your Palette

With the stencil complete, it is time to pick your palette. Just because we are working with B&W portraits does not mean that you are resigned to using only those colors. Express yourself! Mix and match the colors of your paper and paint until you have a combination that you like. You can always use your stencil to try out multiple portraits, with a thorough drying time between uses. It is recommended that you stick with highly contrasting colors to ensure the stenciled portrait “pops.”

Your portrait paper should be high-quality and acid free for best results. Prepare a sheet, or several if you want to attempt multiple portraits, that is at minimum the same dimensions of your portrait. You may use oil or acrylic paints. Do not add water or solvents to your paint, as it should be about toothpaste consistency for best results. If the paint is too thin, it could leak underneath the stencil. It is recommended to use a paper plate or other flat, disposable surface for your paint.

Use a stencil brush if you have one. If not, any hog hair paint brush will suffice if you cut the tip flat.

Prepare Your Stencil

In order to create a clear portrait, we need to ensure that the stencil is secured in place. Use pieces of tape to stabilize the stencil. Be sure that the stencil is centered and taught when taped in place. If there are any large gaps between the stencil and the paper, your paint could potentially leak underneath.

Paint By Tapping

With your stencil stable and your supplies gathered, it’s finally time to paint! Painting with stencils requires very little paint on the brush. The depth of a color is built up by applying the paint in thin layers until the desired shade is achieved. This method requires a little more patience, but results in a crisp stenciled image. If you want a more weathered look, you can apply a single layer. For a bold, sharp portrait, the paint will need to be applied in several layers.

While holding the brush perpendicular to the plate, dip the end of the brush in your paint. Work the paint into only the lower part of the bristles. Be careful not over saturate your brush. If you do, paint away the excess on a piece of scrap paper. Too much paint will leak under your stencil, and will change the accuracy of your portrait.

To apply the paint, always hold the brush perpendicular to the paper. Tap the bristles into the holes left by your stencil. Light, up and down movements are best. Do not brush side to side or press too firmly. Do this carefully, being sure not to disrupt the stencil.

Don’t be afraid to get a little paint on your stencil to ensure that you are bringing the color all the way to the edge of your image. It is recommended to use a long, thin stick or skewer to hold down the edges of your stencil as you paint around them. Your paint brush can lift the stencil slightly if it is not completely stabilized. The stick will help hold any small stencil edges in place as you tap in the paint. Again, apply the paint in several layers to build up the color if a darker shade is desired. Your paper should not wrinkle from too much paint.

Reveal Your Portrait!

After you have finished paining over the stencil, allow the portrait adequate time to dry. Once the paint is completely dry, remove the tape and carefully lift the stencil. Check out your finished portrait!