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 18x24-inch wood panel.

Course Logistics

• Duration: 1 day (4 hours total)
• Class Size: 6 students minimum / 12 students maximum
• Target Audience: Absolute beginners, curious creators, and youth/adults who want to try aerosol art in a safe, guided setting.

Workshop Schedule (4 Hours)

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: practicing line width, distance, and hand speed.
• Swapping caps: testing fat caps, skinny caps, and needle caps to see how paint behaves.
• Prepping an 18x24-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.

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 18x24-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

• Dates: To be announced
• Format: 1 single session (4 hours)
• Location: Urban Art Collective Art Hub, 50 Bayswater Avenue, Ottawa
• Instructor: To be announced
• Level: Beginner / All Levels
• Maximum Capacity: 12 attendees
• Minimum Enrolment: 6 attendees required