How to Airbrush With Snake Stencils

Stencils allow artists to create clean, crisp lines in their designs.

Airbrush painting is the art of applying paint to surfaces using a compressor-powered airbrush gun. Airbrush snake stencils can be used on a variety of surfaces including canvas, T-shirts, walls and vehicles. You can use a snake stencil as your only design element, or embellish the picture once the stencil work is done. For best results, use plastic, laser-cut stencils. Laser-cut stencils are thick, have crisp, sharp edges and can be used repeatedly with good results.

Things You'll Need

• Double action airbrush gun
• Airbrush hose
• Airbrush paint
• Snake stencil
• Masking tape
• Compressor
• Respirator

Instructions

1. Load airbrush gun with paint(s) per manufacturer's guidelines.

2. Prepare surface to be painted by ensuring it is clean of dust or debris. If airbrushing a T-shirt, position it smoothly and tightly over a thick piece of cardboard.

3. Cover work surfaces, furniture and floors in the vicinity of the painting area to ensure they are protected from paint splatters.

4. Turn on the air compressor and allow it to warm up and put on the respirator.

5. Secure the stencil to the surface being painted, framing the snake stencil using masking tape. This will help control unintentional over-spray of paint.

6. Apply paint in short bursts, using the lowest amount of pressure necessary to provide good paint atomization. Spray into the center of the stencil and work from left to right and from top to bottom. Starting at an edge of the stencil may lift the stencil from the surface and allow paint to bleed under the form.

7. Gently lift the bottom of the stencil straight up to look at the design underneath. To add more color or shading, return the stencil to its original position and secure with masking tape.

8. Remove stencil. Free-hand airbrush additional embellishments or other design elements around the stenciled snake if desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Test your airbrush gun before using to ensure there are no clogs in the line.

• The closer the airbrush is to the painting surface, the darker the mist of paint will be. Test the distance before painting to get a feel for the color levels that can be achieved through various positioning.

• For a softer stenciled snake, hold the stencil in your hand a few inches over the surface to be painted rather than securing it to the surface. Use short, directed bursts of air to fill in the stencil.

• Always work in a well-ventilated, draft-free area.

References

• How to Airbrush: Airbrush Using Stencils