Self Portrait StencilIn this assignment you will create a series of spray painted stencils of your own face. You will need to turn in at least three prints. Two of which have interesting backgrounds or multiple colors. You may turn in more for extra credit. This is a project that you need to explore, experiment and push the envelope.

Grid off your tracing paper drawing in 1” squares. Make sure they are perfectly square by starting your measure-ments from the same edge.

Step 2:

Step 3:Grid off your stencil paper into 2” squares. Mark off how many squares you will need based on your photo grid. MAKE SURE THERE IS A BOR-DER ALL THE WAY AROUND YOUR PAPER. It does not have to be 2”.

Step 1:

This is the hardest step...Using a piece of tracing paper, you need to decide what part of your portrait will show with spray paint and what parts will block out the spray paint. Usually black areas represent areas to be cut out (hence, show with paint). Anything that is white is to stay and block out the paint. The hard-est part about this is that the white areas need to somehow connect to the border. The stencil needs to remain as one piece. Any areas that are gray on your photo you need to decide whether they should be cut out or not.

For example: This white area somehow needs to connect to an outside border.

Also, the whites in the eyes need to be connected.

Step 4:Now you need to take your tracing paper grid and translate it into your 2” grid on your stencil paper. TRUST THE GRID!!

Step 6:Once your stencil is all cut out, you need to spray a LIGHT coating of spray adhesive on the BACK of your stencil. This should be done on copious amounts of news-paper. DO NOT GET GLUE ON THE FLOOR! Let the adhesive dry until it’s just tacky.

Step 7:Now you are finally ready to spray paint! Choose colors and paper and head outside. Please make sure the drop cloth covers enough ground and is anchored down. Experiment with the paints....some have better coverage than others, some have better nozzles, etc. Holding the paint can close will cre-ate drips....farther away will create a feathery look.

Step 5:Carefully cut out your black areas with an x-acto knife on cardboard.