Anchor – a symbolic American icon
With a culture as rich as ours, it isn’t uncommon for physical objects to hold significance beyond their intended purpose, whether it’s three arrows in eternally chasing each other reminding us to protect our planet and recycle, or a heart with no intention of pumping blood throughout the body but rather showing affection and care to those we love.
Such symbolism appears in emojis and doodles, and holds significance in art and design. When used amongst decor, these signs can be be powerful and beautiful, not to mention a simple DIY accent.
The anchor is a common symbol of the sea. In practice, an anchor holds a oceanic vessel steady keeping it safe, secure, and tethered. In design, it’s a cross of four points resting in a bowl or crescent shape with arrow accents. The anchor, as a symbol, holds the power of hope and steadfastness.
Hope
The lifting of the anchor from the ocean floor signifies a new voyage. This new beginning is a journey into the blue beyond, no matter how big the ship or how small the passage.
Steadfastness
Once the anchor is dropped, the vessel is stopped. Despite waves and weather, there is no moving that ship.
These two powerful images cultivate a juxtaposition of stubbornness towards movement or change and the progression to a new place or position. No wonder it’s an image seen all over from paper to cloth to skin!
The anchor symbol can easily be added to your home, with your Preval Sprayer, paint of choice, and stencil.
Stencils can be found in craft stores, Amazon, or your DIY destination of choice. It is also possible to print out your favorite anchor image, but it is important to choose a solid colored, 2D image with limited intricate detail (unless you are handy with an X-Acto Knife).
Some great homemade stencil DIYs by All Things Thrify can be found here:
After you have mixed your paint with water and poured into the Sprayer’s product container based on the directions, you are ready to prep your stencil.
STEP 1
Secure stencil to wall with painters tape. It is important that stencil is flush with wall and securely taped. You don’t want any space between the wall and stencil to ensure lines are clean.
STEP 2
With sweeping motions, begin before the cut out and extend slightly beyond the edge. If the stencil cut out is close to the edge, freezer paper can be used to give an extra buffer for the Sprayer’s sweeping motions.
STEP 3
For best results, spray the stencil with quick, light strokes. It is better to paint multiple layers than one thick coat.
Different size stencils and different layouts can create varying visual effects, all that matters is that the design you choose speaks to you!
