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Using stencils with ceramic paint or stippling underglazes provides for striking visual and artistic effects. Although stencils are nothing more than cut-out silhouettes, by placing them strategically and adding shading they can provide an illusion of depth or motion to ceramic surfaces. Both negative (background of the stencil) and positive (solid shape cut out from the stencil) can be used to create images. The negative stencil reveals the original color of the clay; whereas the positive stencil masks the original clay color. Stencils should be made of a flexible, strong, non-porous material and be easily washable. Some examples of stencil materials are acetate sheets, vinyl fabric, frisket paper, contact paper, naugahyde, flat found items such as leaves, and commercial stencils such as those used in cake making. Using transparent or translucent stencil material, such as acetate, allows you to see through a positive stencil to make it easy to position on the piece; also acetate is durable and reusable. When creating your own stencil designs, it is a good idea to keep the shapes simple, since including delicate details can make for difficulties later on. You can make copies of your design with a copy machine (which can also be used to enlarge or reduce the size of your design). To make the stencil, put the selected image beneath a sheet of glass; place the acetate sheet over it, and cut out the shape with a craft knife. Cut along your drawing lines carefully to preserve both the positive and negative parts of the stencil.
Colors can be applied with an airbrush or liquid glazes sprayer. Don't forget to wear a mask while spraying. Rubber bands or strings can be used to hold the stencil in place on round pieces; and weights (or double stick tape) can be used to keep the stencil from blowing away on flat pieces. The sprayer should be held between eight and fourteen inches from the ceramic piece. Shaded, three-dimensional effects can be obtained by changing the color density as you spray - darker closer to the stencil edge and lighter moving outwards from it - by varying the distance or number of passes made with the sprayer or airbrush. The illusion of depth is achieved by overlapping and shading stencils in a particular sequence. Spraying the stencil; then moving it slightly and varying the density of the spray; can create an illusion of movement or dimensional space. Using a combination of the negative stencil with its positive can also create the illusion of dimensionality.
One of the more difficult aspects of using stencils is keeping in mind that the stencil which is used first is what will appear to be in front - closest to the viewer. This is because the first stencil prevents the underlying clay from ceramic colors, so it stays blank. Surrounding areas will be colored, and therefore will seem to be underneath in the final image.
