Southwestern Art Stencils

Southwestern art is greatly influenced by nature and the region’s native culture. The Southwestern United States has a rich history affecting the look of the artwork. This history and craft of Southwestern art has been passed down through generations.

The Southwest is made up of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Oklahoma. Mexico and the Native Americans had a great influence on the culture of these states when America was first being developed. During America’s Colonial days, there was a vibrant mixture of cultures; Spanish settlers commingled with Mexicans and Native Americans. In those early days, much of the art dealt with the Spanish settler’s native Catholicism. As a mission, they converted many of the Native Americans and Mexicans to Christianity.

The region was greatly influenced by stories from the Bible, creating religious artwork. Outside the mission, the art was made by amateurs who had a different perspective than the European fine artists. These amateur artists were Spanish soldiers and civilians who painted what they saw around them. They were enamored by the beauty of the Southwest. It is a unique area with red rock, deep canyons and brittle cacti.

Southwestern stencils can transform your world into the dry hot region of the Southwest. Southwestern wall stencils are influenced by the area’s native art. Southwestern artwork is realistic and authentic, showing the life and the environment as it really is. Southwestern stencils echo this concept, often having a nature theme.

The region’s art can be of single objects, patterns or scenes. Southwestern stencils and the paint colors should show the true beauty of the Southwest, displaying large spans of clouds, vibrant red sunsets and unique cactus plant life.

Animals are important to the culture and make for great Southwestern stencils, as well. Bison, lizards, eagles, mustang, wild horses and cattle often are the images found Southwestern stencils.

Southwestern art deals with the hard work of a cowboy, including herding and camping. This can be shown by stenciling the image of cowboy at work, cowboy hats, boots and lassos. Southwestern stencils often will have the cowboy working outside, surrounded by the vast plains and red rock canyons.

Native American art had a huge impact on the Southwestern culture. Native Americans almost always used natural objects in their art, such as the mountains, streams and animals. Often their artwork was simplified in design and color, making great patterns for stenciling. Southwestern wall stencils make use of these Native American patterns. The images may be shapes and lines or a human silhouette. Also, the use of bows and arrows and feathers are examples of Southwestern stencil patterns.

Stencils can be used in many ways. They can be used on fabrics, furniture and walls. Southwestern wall stencils are popular for decorating a room. The rich patterns of Southwestern art make for great boarders around a room. Southwestern wall stencils can be used to accent a wall. They can be used to give one particular area something special. For example, a lovely Southwestern wall stencil of a sunset over a lake would look nice over the kitchen sink or above the stove. It is these little, extra touches personalizing a home.

Paint colors for stenciling in a Southwestern theme should remain soft. Light tones of tan, coral, brown, green, blue and yellow compliment each other nicely.

Southwestern stencils can make over any room in your home or business. It creates a theme taking homeowners back to nature. The colors are warm and calming, and the images take people back to simple times, when nature ruled the world’s beauty.





Sources:
Brown, Robert W. "Southwestern Colonial Art." 28 Oct. 2002. 2 Nov. 2006 .
Cox, Tim. "Online Gallery of Western and Southwestern Art." Art Out West. 2006. 2 Nov. 2006 .
"Southwestern Stencils." Stencil Planet. 2005. 2 Nov. 2006 .
"Southwestern U.S.A." Indian Nations. 2004. 2 Nov. 2006 .