In Which the Bleach Stencil Process is Demystified

As nice as fabric paint is for stenciling shirts, it will always eventually fade/flake off. If you're looking for a more permanent design or if you're just looking for a different look for your designs, then bleaching might be the way to go. I've made several shirts using this method before, and I now reveal all the secrets involved therein.

Process Walkthrough, Disturbed Stencil

I made a piece for my brother for his birthday. He's a fan of the band Disturbed, so I grabbed some imagery from them and started up on a stencil. Figured I'd finally post some process work.  More after the jump:

More Samus

For a friend's birthday gift. Approx 29" x 12"

A Few More

Did a few of these splatter ones. Gave the other ones away.



A cleaner Rorschach, in comparison to my previous splattered version:

Einstein and Comic Books

Einstein shows up thanks to some fabric paint:






Rorschach appears with some bleach spray action:

In the year 20XX...

Newest Shirt, featuring the blue bomber. Also, the first shirt I've done two colors on.

An Update

Stencil works featured in the "Monochromaddicts" show. Held at the Godine Family Gallery at the Massachusetts College of Art & Design, Spring 2008. All works done with acrylic paint.


"Forward", ( Particle board, 3' x 2' each)


"Forward" top panel


"Forward" middle panel


"Forward" bottom panel




"You'll Be Laughing", ( Particle board, 3' x 2' each)


"You'll Be Laughing" top panel


"You'll Be Laughing" middle panel


"You'll Be Laughing" bottom panel




"Motion Study: Hop, Skip, Tumble", ( Particle board, 3' x 2' each)


"Motion Study: Hop, Skip, Tumble", skip panel


"Motion Study: Hop, Skip, Tumble", tumble panel


"Motion Study: Hop, Skip, Tumble", hop panel





"Brothers", ( Particle board, 3" x 2" each)


"Brothers" top panel


"Brothers" middle panel


"Brothers" bottom panel






"Inspirations: Brendan's Panel" ( Masonite, 18" x 24")


"Inspirations: Danny's Panel" ( Masonite, 18" x 24")


"Inspirations: Adam's Panel" ( Masonite, 18" x 24")

2007: A Shirt Odyssey

It's Not Multiple Choice

So, I'm a big fan of comic books, as if you can't tell already. This week's "52" (issue number 48) had this on the cover:



And of course, I couldn't resist, though I took the liberty of making the hand less confusing:

Metroid and Fixing Past Mistakes

The shirt's base looks stained because it was still wet from the rinsing, and i was impatient to take the photo.







Redid the shirt from this earlier post. This time, I laid down fabric paint first, then sprayed the orange on top. I enjoy the result immensely.