Stencil painting is a great way to add a variety of creative design looks to your home. From fun and whimsical to upscale looks with damask design and scrolling, you can create patterns or artistic accents that add new life and colour. Stencil patterns can be applied by spraying or stippling with a stenciling brush. Spraying is particularly useful when applying over textured surfaces. The main advantage of a stencil brush over a normal paint brush is that it reduces the chances of paint getting under the edge of the stencil because of its shorter, stiffer bristles. If your stencil design calls for different colours, you may want to have a separate brush for each colour rather than rinsing the brush each time.
Basic Stenciling/Brush Technique:
1. Prepare and prime surface to be painted.
2. Apply base coat and allow to dry.
3. Hold stencil firmly against surface, or attach it with masking tape.
4. Dip stencil brush into paint can, wipe off excess paint. The paint should not be too liquid and the brush shouldn’t be too wet.
5. Apply brush to stencil, using a dabbing or tapping motion until entire stencil is filled in.
6. Use the fingers of your free hand to keep small parts of the stencil down while you apply the paint.
7. With a steady hand, remove stencil being careful not to smear the freshly applied paint.
8. Wipe stencil clean with a cloth after each application.
9. Repeat steps 3-8 until desired effect is achieved.
Tips:
Practice on cardboard before applying to actual surface.
Make sure stencil is clean before applying to surface.
If you make a mistake, reapply base coat over area to be corrected, let dry, and reapply stencil.