Try spray paint, stencils, paste-ups and different cap styles in a low-pressure beginner workshop, then take home your own custom-painted 18 × 24-inch wood panel.

• Try The Tools: Get hands-on with spray cans, fat caps, skinny caps, needle caps, paint markers and stencil materials.
• Learn The Basics: Practise spray control, stencil cutting, paste-ups, layering and common troubleshooting techniques.
• Work Safely: Learn respirator use, eye protection and workspace setup before spraying.
• Make A Finished Piece: Build a custom 18 × 24-inch painted wood panel to take home.

A low-pressure, hands-on trial session built for anyone who wants to pick up a spray can, test out different nozzles, and get a taste of street art tools without a long-term commitment. Students get comfortable with safety gear, learn stencil cutting and paste-up basics, and walk away with a custom-painted 18 × 24-inch wood panel.

Workshop Rundown

Hour 1: Safety Setup & Stencil Basics

• Respirator fit-testing, eye protection, and workspace setup.
• Quick demo on street art techniques: stencils, paste-ups, and freehand work.
• Hand-cutting a custom single-layer stencil on heavy stock.

Hour 2: Aerosol Control & First Spray

• Hands-on time with spray cans: practising line width, distance, and hand speed.
• Swapping caps: testing fat caps, skinny caps, and needle caps to see how paint behaves.
• Prepping an 18 × 24-inch wood panel and laying down base layers and stencils.

Hour 3: Paste-Ups & Layering

• Brewing wheatpaste and preparing paper elements.
• Combining paste-up graphics with spray paint and paint markers on the panels to build depth.
• Troubleshooting common mistakes like paint runs, overspray, and bleeding edges.

Hour 4: Group Display, Teardown & What’s Next

• Lining up all finished panels into a collaborative gallery wall for photos.
• A quick look at how these exact techniques scale up to 8-foot walls and site builds in the 6-week program.
• Pack-down, tool cleaning, and taking home your finished artwork.

By The End Of This Workshop, You Will:

• Understand basic spray paint safety, setup, and respirator use.
• Practise controlling spray cans using distance, hand speed, and different cap styles.
• Create and use a custom single-layer stencil.
• Learn the basics of paste-ups, wheatpaste, layering, and mixed street art techniques.
• Recognize and troubleshoot common spray-paint issues such as runs, overspray, and bleeding edges.
• Complete a custom-painted 18 × 24-inch wood panel to take home.

What We Provide

• Safety Equipment: Fit-tested respirators, eye protection, and protective gloves.
• Aerosol Supplies: A wide selection of spray paint and specialty caps (fat caps, skinny caps, and needle caps).
• Art Materials: Heavy stock for stencil cutting, paper elements, wheatpaste, and paint markers.
• Substrate: An 18 × 24-inch wood panel for your finished takeaway piece.

What To Bring & Requirements

• Clothing: Wear clothes and shoes you don't mind getting paint on. Spray paint is permanent.
• No Experience Required: Open to absolute beginners, curious creators, youth, and adults.

Event Details

• Location: Urban Art Collective Art Hub, 50 Bayswater Avenue, Ottawa
• Instructor: larkhino5
• Level: Beginner / All Levels
• Maximum Capacity: 12 attendees
• Minimum Enrolment: This workshop runs with a minimum of 6 attendees.