Welcome to the new/updated site! Since 2002, your old-school website for all things stencils. Please consider donating what you can to support the much-needed upgrade. Photo, video, links, and exhibit info submissions always welcome. Enjoy and stay curious.

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Rest In Paint - Russell Short - aka Klutch

Klutch in 2004
Snapped during a Vinyl Killers 2 side event, this is probably the only photo of Klutch on the Stencil Archive site. He's doing what he loved to do: create shit and have a good time in the process.

Just hearing the sad news via Instagram, that artist and all-around lovable gruff, Klutch, has passed on to larger walls and bluer skies. 

10/08/61 to 06/08/23 03:47am. Rest in Power. It is with the greatest sadness, relief, and honor that I share with the world that our friend Klutch has passed. He joined the energy that surrounds us incredibly peacefully this morning. Thank you to every single person who shared any part of their spirit with him. Every single interaction you all had with him kept him going and filled with wonderment over how incredible his community is. With love and gratitude on behalf of Klutch.

Though he had dropped his stencil work years ago, his attitude, opinions, and love for creativity and positivity remained an inspiration here at Stencil Archive. His punk smartness and sick style didn't hurt either. 

Back in 2004, after Klutch's Vinyl Killers 2 weekend and show, the Stencil Archive got to interview him for the site. We just updated the older post of that interview with minor corrections of typos and grammar. Here is the link to the interview, which also has links to the Stencil Archive Vinyl Killers 1 and 2 archives.

Here are a few quotes from that interview that are still funny and 100% Klutch:

  • Money can be a very empty reward when you aren’t doing what makes you happy.
  • Roll that shit, light that shit, smoke that shit. And a good mix tape will put you in the right mood.
  • I have mad love and respect for anyone who has been at it for a while and are still loving it and giving it their all. 
  • Now I guess I am Portland’s Graffiti Geezer, minus the silver circle.

Klutch's art, energy, and smile will be missed. We have been blessed to know him, laugh with him, and enjoy his creativity. Having had many recent health issues, his death wasn't too surprising, but it is still sad to know that there will be no more art from his mind and hands.

Chris Stain Giving Away Stencil Printmaking Book

Just got word that Chris Stain (his Stencil Archive), long-time supporter of this project, has posted up his helpful and informative book "Stencil Printmaking: History / Info / How To" as a free pdf download.

This caused us to revisit the 2002 conversation we had with him, where we discussed stencils, screen printing, other bits and pieces. That old post has gone through more than one website upgrade, so we just refreshed and revised it to add on to this post about his free book download.

Here is the Justseeds page with a few photos of the book, and the link for the download.

stain book

Mega Monday Uploads

AK Berlin
A mother and her child in Berlin (ph: Adam K)


Thanks to: Adam K, Jaime Rojo and BSA, @mensch_huis; @GraffitiRadical; @Louniki_; r/streetart; @mensch_huis; @DJpedrorocks; @papissa2

Spinning: My first Dead show on tape

Canada (just one)

France

Germany

Greece (just one)

Hungary (just one)

Israel (just one)

New Zealand (just one)

United Kingdom (just one)

Banksy (just one)

The Rebel Bear (just one)

xoooox (just one)

Vuelvo a ti madrecita

Bolivia
A La Paz child in her pollera (ph: Maddie and Kellan)

Thanks to: Amanda, Adam K, Josiah, Maddie and Kellan, David Drexler, Jaime Rojo and BSA, @mensch_huis; @GraffitiRadical; @Louniki_; r/streetart; @mensch_huis; @DJpedrorocks; @papissa2

Spinning: The Heavy Heavy

>NEW< Tyler Street Art (India)

>NEW< Thailand (TH)

Argentina

Bolivia

Chile

Ecuador (just one)

Mexico (just one)

Peru (just one)

Cartooneros (just one)

Mama Told Me Not to Come

Hermosa
Making a power plant pretty in Hermosa Beach, LA (art: Herondo).

Thanks to: Amanda, Adam K, Josiah, Maddie and Kellan, David Drexler, Jaime Rojo and BSA, @mensch_huis; @GraffitiRadical; @Louniki_; r/streetart; @mensch_huis; @DJpedrorocks; @papissa2

Spinning: cassettes, Golden Brown, Blondshell

>NEW< Arkansas, USA

A visit to Los Angeles

One in Oakland

One in Fresno

One in Miami

NYC

Recreated hand stencils at the Smithsonian

Aiko (just one)

Praxis

Cherry Blossoms and Stencil Pics

weknow
No one knows who "we know" knows.... (ph: Josiah)

Thanks to: Josiah, Martha Cooper, @GraffitiRadical; r/streetart; 

Spinning: cassette tapes!

Thanks to: Amanda, Adam K, Josiah, Jaime Rojo and BSA, @mensch_huis; @GraffitiRadical; @Louniki_; r/streetart; 

Spinning: cassette tapes!

>NEW< One from Yemen

Two from Iran

Two from India (photos: Martha Cooper)

Valencia St., SF

Free Iran in Clarion Alley

In the Tenderloin

SoMa and at the Ferry Building

The Mission

In the Richmond

Western Addition

in North Beach