|
Miy Teen Graffiti Decor Project
Graffiti Chill-Out Table“Tag this teen decor project” 
Materials & Tools: (Materials for this project are available at arts, craft stores and hardware stores.)
School brake…. is a great time for young creative minds to explore and express themselves through art and decor. Our teenage son has a passion for graffiti art, I supplied him with canvas, paints, and assorted paint markers… encouraging him to try different mediums and to further explore his art and creativity. We have really enjoyed seeing the variety of pieces that he has created. I have to share with you his latest project. Spencer transformed an old kitchen table into a “Chill Out Time” coffee table. He personalized it with his graffiti style with sharpie paint markers using his last name and all the names of the members of the Aitchison clan, like a family tree tribute. He now enjoys a very cool modern-contemporary table in his room. Sharpie paint markers are permanent oil-based, opaque valve-action paint markers. They can be applied to mat or glossy surfaces. They work well on light or dark surfaces and can be applied to metal, pottery, wood, rubber, glass, plastic, stone, etc. They are fade, water and abrasion resistant for a long lasting durable mark. Which means you can use them on virtually any surface. Start out using an old kitchen table of standard height and simply cut off the legs to a shorter length using a handsaw. Saw only after double-checking your measurements, use sandpaper to clean up the cuts and fine tune for level. To ensure a grease free surface, wash the table’s surface and legs with TSP cleaner using manufactures mixing and application instructions found on the box. Pat dry using a lint free cloth. 
You can freestyle it buy using a pencil, and draw the text, letters directly onto the coffee table’s surface. Alternatively you can pre design on paper. Draw, write or print graffiti style words to use as your design template. Cut the design around the edges then cut a piece of graphite paper in the same size. Put the graphite paper under the cutout design; attach both to the surface of the table with painter’s tape. Use a pencil or pen to trace the design onto the table. Once completed remove the paper and tape. Once the graffiti designs are penciled onto the table’s top, sides, and legs, you are ready to start coloring in your designs using 4 to 5 different colors of bold to extra bold tipped Sharpie paint markers. If you prefer you can opt to omit the pencil outlines and directly apply the paint marker graffiti all around the table. (Which is what most teens will do). Color in the words or letters, the paint markers will glide smoothly onto the table’s surface. Overlap some of the words around the surface. Add a color border around the letters; shade in the areas around the edges of the letters or contour them using medium to fine tipped paint markers, or metallic markers. You can also use the wide markers for outlines, experiment or practice on paper first. To protect the now very cool graffiti art table and give it a durable surface finish, apply two coats of matt or gloss water-based varnish finish using a paintbrush or a small roller. Several coats can be applied, letting each coat dry between applications. To protect the now very cool graffiti art table and give it a durable surface finish, apply two coats of matt or gloss water-based varnish finish using a paintbrush or a small roller. Several coats can be applied, letting each coat dry between applications. Sit back and relax with friends for a little chill out time, or do some homework on your awesome new graffiti table.
Miy Variations: •Other back to school items that can be funked up with graffiti styling, are chairs, bookshelves, book covers, work desks, desk top accessories, back-packs, pencil to CD case carriers, MP3 player, cell phones, magazine racks, picture frames etc. I’m sure your teen will come up with their own items to personalize with their own style.
|
