Progress Photos: PaperMonster “From Experience” Painting
Each one of my paintings starts off with a simple idea followed by a more detailed sketch You can read more in my Stencil Art Tutorial (HERE). For my “From Experience” painting I started with the sketch you see below. These drawings are so important because they give me a reference point for what will or wont work as a stencil. Below you can some process and progress photos and see how the…
Each one of my paintings starts off with a simple idea followed by a more detailed sketch You can read more in my Stencil Art Tutorial (HERE). For my “From Experience” painting I started with the sketch you see below. These drawings are so important because they give me a reference point for what will or wont work as a stencil. Below you can some process and progress photos and see how the initial sketch turned out as a final painting.
Above you can see the initial sketch. The initial idea started out as a lion/woman combination but after sketching out the concept I realized I wanted the painting to have more symmetry. When I re-drew the sketch prior to cutting the stencil I removed the lion’s mane and turn the lion into a tiger.
Above you can see the final piece. You can see the symmetry and calculated placement of shapes. In the original drawing there were too many shapes that would clutter the stencil and were removed. See if you can spot what was kept and what never made it into the final piece.
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PaperMonster
PaperMonster Stencil Art Tutorial
Below is a quick and simple tutorial on how to make a stencil and develop a painting. Leave a comment below if you would like to see more or with any questions!! Enjoy PaperMonster https://www.instagram.com/paper_monster/ The first and most crucial step is really to start with a good drawing. If it looks great as just black and white then you are in great shape. Above is my original working image…
Below is a quick and simple tutorial on how to make a stencil and develop a painting. Leave a comment below if you would like to see more or with any questions!!
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PaperMonster
https://www.instagram.com/paper_monster/
The first and most crucial step is really to start with a good drawing. If it looks great as just black and white then you are in great shape. Above is my original working image of a mask with some cool patterns. Usually I use poster paper from your local Staples or even small sheets of paper a little bit thicker than printer paper will work just fine.
Now you can see in the image above that if all of the parts that are black are cut out then the entire piece falls apart and you end up with huge holes for eyes. This is where the concept of “bridges” comes into play. I originally learned about creating these bridges from Blek le Rat while visiting him in Paris. He showed me that you can have these bridges in the stencil and once the piece was ready to be finished you could just cover the bridges by using spraypaint and a brush or even a cotton swap. You don’t need tons of money or materials to make a beautiful piece.
Above is a progress shot of some of the first cuts. For me I always begin with the eyes. If the eyes don’t look good then it is a waste to continue. Now take a look at the photo. You can see very small bridges created near the eyes that prevent it from falling apart. Go slowly. Don’t be afraid to make too many bridges. They will go away in the final piece.
Here is that stencil developing some more. By the look of the blade you can see that this stencil is very small but it may be more helpful to start with a large stencil and not have to worry about making tiny cuts the first time around. The key is practice!!! 
Next is a huge jump. So above you see a final piece. I developed the background and added some pattern and texture with just simple paper and spraypaint. You can create your own style and play with different colors until you see something you like. For me it is always good to show friends and see their response. If it ugly you will see it in their eyes.
Speaking of eyes, look at the canvas. You can see that those bridges over the eyes have been covered up. This is quick and easy to do. You take an empty cup and spray inside of it with your can of spraypaint until it is watery. Take a small brush or cotton swab and complete the bridge. Make sure you use the same color and stay consistent. 
Above and below are two other versions of the same stencil. You can make the stencil larger or smaller and play with the colors and patterns until you find something that fits. Once again, you don’t need expensive equipment or even expensive paint to make something beautiful.
I hope you enjoyed this short tutorial.Leave a comment and stay posted for more!!!
PaperMonster
Via World Graffiti:
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WG – Where do you draw influence from?
PM – I don’t directly draw my influence from one source. I think as an artist you have to create what you want. There are pieces that I make that you will never see because I don’t think they say anything about me growing as an artists. The whole goal is to grow and push your own self yet at the same time you need to know what is going on around you and learn from people around you.
If you don’t feed off the creative vibe around you and use it in a productive way then you will never run out of ideas. REPETITION KILLS. I can NOT stand people who repeat the same image over and over and over. Always the same, no evolution, no new ideas!!! I HATE IT. People get really tired of that and it is what is killing the urban art and gallery scene. It is just bad news overall.
You see more and more galleries just use the same artists who do the same exact thing and the entire scene just needs new life. The same goes for magazines. Over and over you see the same artists and that prevents any new talent from gaining exposure and recognition that they rightfully deserve. It is super sad and one of the main reasons people are not buying magazines. Why,when I can see something new every day online since you have not for the past 2 years.
For me I see it this way; If I wanted to have a quick way out of course I could just repeat a stencil 100 times but what does that say about me and about the time I put into what I do and consider a profession.
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WG – Did you always combine the stencils with the collage stuff or did it develop over time?
PM – It was a major evolution process from the very beginning. The collage work has just become this huge chaotic mess of newspaper, textured paper, comics, money, paper from Tibet, and a bunch of other elements that I collage together.
In each painting I always put something that you can connect with immediate, whether it is you see Spiderman, Ninja Turtles, Ren and Stimpy, Robocop, etc. Once I create that connection then I develop a whole story within the painting so one you are sucked in to the painting you can explore on your own.
The goal now is to take that experience and develop it to something that is stronger and allows the audience to go through more emotions.
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Enjoy
PaperMonster Stencil Graffiti Artist 