M.I.A. Graffiti

How to make a stenciled graffiti piece.

Posted by Robert T.

I just love M.I.A., and I saw this image and knew I had to do something. So fun and easy, its almost common sense... unless you suck at photoshop.

1

Find a photo that you think will be real fun to stencil.
Like this one
2

Make sure you get the correct colors. Unfortunately, i didn't have purple, and when i took these photos, I really did the face in black.
3

Alright, so now you need some time of photo editing software where you can edit the photo, take away color, dodge away, and make it like this. If you have no idea what you're doing, contact me and I can make it for you!

Make sure there is no close offs, where black connects and creates a white island (like her face would be an island if there wasn't that bridge connecting to her neck).

Here, i edited out where it said M I A in Metallica font so I could spray it a different colour.
4

I only used two separate stencils. Make sure they are the same size so that they fit like a puzzle.
5

Next, after you print them out, Start cutting! cut out only black, because cutting out white would be pointless and ruin things. :)
6

Find a place to spray, A garage, back yard, just not inside people. Thats asking for lung problems!
7

Be sure to put some things on your papers to way it down. The more room under the spaces where you cut, the more it bleeds out, giving it a foggy look.
8

Peel away and Voila!

Yeah, I did silver triangles as well.