Chop-Shop Time with MIMOSA 6, IT'S A JUNGLE OUT THERE, PRAYER FLAGS & PALM FRONDS SILHOUETTE SMALL

I've posted before about the fun I have when I cut up stencils that are stained from earlier art projects, then use them in collage on canvas.  Well, I've done it again ...

To create the frame on this 12" x 12" stretched canvas, I used Golden High Flow acrylics and the following stencils:

Mimosa 6 (6" x 6")

It's a Jungle Out There (9" x 12")

Prayer Flags (9" x 12")

Palm Fronds Silhouette Small (6" x 6")

I covered the central area of the canvas with a layer of Titanium White acrylic paint, to provide a bright white background for the cut-up, stained stencils.  Once the paint was dry, I used gel matte medium to add the stencil bits -- except for Palm Fronds Silhouette Small, which I used in its entirety.

With the exception of Mimosa 6, the stained pieces that became collage elements are all of the stencils listed above.

The cut-up stencils used in today's post looked like this, originally --

Above (9" x 12"):  It's a Jungle Out There

Above:  Prayer Flags (9" x 12")

And Mimosa 6, used in making the border, looks like this:

Mimosa 6 measures 6" x 6" and has a big cousin measuring 9" x 12" --

Above:  Mimosa Stencil (9" x 12")

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

To see the multiple pages of my 70+ StencilGirl stencils, please check here.

Doodling on Stencil Prints with 6" x 6" CATS and Two Other Favorite Stencils

I don't doodle often, but when in the mood, I use stenciled prints as the basis.  I like having something already done that can work as a launching point.  Below are three pieces that have been doodled on -- none is necessarily finished, but each has reached a temporary stopping point.  My approach was to mindlessly lift a pen and just start, going in whatever direction the Spirit led me...

Above:  Trivet A (6" x 6") was the starting point for these random doodles.

Above:  This doodle started with an old map and, on it, a print made with Cats Stencil.

Above:  This doodle started with an old map and, on it, a print made with Mimosa 6 Stencil.

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To check out the multiple pages of my 70+ StencilGirl stencils, please visit here.

CLUSTERED LEAVES Stencil in Three Fantastic Artworks

Clustered Leaves, a 9" x 12" stencil that I've designed, has found its way into the talented hands of three artists I feature in today's post.  In these artworks, other StencilGirl stencils were also used; they can be found here.

The artwork above is a two-page journal spread by UK artist Frieda Oxenham.  I'm dazzled by the combination of images suggesting, to me, that Frieda may have developed this idea during one of her walks in the scenic countryside near her home!

Today's second image, below, is an eye-catching, eye-delighting encaustic work by Mary Marley.

The third artwork I'm featuring today comes from artist Amy Shawley Paquette --

I strongly encourage you to check out this link to follow Amy through the steps she has taken in creating the artworks above.  Well worth your time!

The Clustered Leaves stencil itself looks like this--

My sincere thanks to the three artists who chose Clustered Leaves Stencil (9" x 12") as tools in creating their masterpieces!

Note:  A more in-depth post featuring this artwork by Amy Shawley Paquette will be appearing in a future post here on my blog.

Thanks also to you, for visiting my blog today!

To see all my StencilGirl stencils, please visit here.

Easter Greeting Cards

Today's post features a collection of Easter greeting cards.

One of these techniques used in creating them was to (1) spread light modeling paste thru a stencil; (2) while the paste was still wet, I sprayed on liquid colors.  (3) I lifted off the stencil and right away put it into a water-filled basin.  I don't mind stencils stained with paints, but I don't want modeling paste to dry on my stencils because it can interfere with the crisp clean lines of the design.

Another technique I used was to simply spray thru the stencil itself, without using modeling paste.

Still another was to use Distress Ink pads and a brush applicator to apply this oil-based ink thru the stencil openings.  

On some cards, I added several layers of spray colors, choosing a different color each time and allowing dry time between layers.

You can click on any of the images above to enlarge them.

Today's post was created with these stencils:

Boxed Vines (9" x 12")

Budding Branches (6" x 6")

Swatton Flowers Version 1 (6" x 6")

Silhouette of a Wildflower Bouquet (6" x 6")

Pressed Leaves (6" x 6")

Thanks for visiting here today!

FACETS and MIMOSA 9" x 12" stencils

At an estate sale, I bought an ancient set of encyclopedias -- gaining a plethora of vintage papers as well as a number of green marble-patterned end papers.
I've used of those end papers to make a print with yellow acrylic paint and my 9" x 12" stencil Facets... 

Some of those vintage pages got painted over; below is one example.  Its first coat of acrylic paint was a bright gold.  For its second layer, I again used Facets, with red paint.  After that dried, I chose a translucent white (Zinc White mixed with extra-heavy matte medium) to add a top layer with the 9" x 12" version of my Mimosa stencil (which also comes in 6" x 6".)

The Facets stencil looks like this --

-- and  the 9" x 12" Mimosa stencil looks like this --

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To see the multiple web pages of my stencils, start here.

9" X 12" NOSEGAY Stencil with a Think Spring Theme

Spring is coming!  Let the flowers bloom -- if not yet outdoors in the garden, then indoors in the art journal!

Today's post features Nosegay, a 9" x 12" stencil, which I used on two papers, one a white-painted page from an old encyclopedia, and another a paper dyed with watered-down leftover paints.

In printing both papers, I used the quick and easy approach of loading a sponge brayer with heavy-bodied acrylic paint.

Below is an example showing the way I load the sponge brayer.
   

But this time, instead of running the brayer thru just one color, I ran it over several colors that I'd lined up on a disposable foam plate.

This is the way I got the multi-colored results shown above.  

Similar results could be achieved using a Gelli Plate spread with a "rainbow" of acrylic colors.

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I'm happy to say that I've designed 70 stencils for StencilGirl.  The multiple pages of my stencils start here.  You'll find lots of flower stencils included!

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

6" x 6" Stencil ORNAMENTAL IRON CURLS

Ornamental Iron Curls is a 6" x 6" stencil that looks like this, before it's become paint-stained and cut into pieces! --

I've used many Ornamental Iron Curls  stencils in mixed-media collages, always after they've been stained from previous use and cut into a variety of shapes:

 

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I'm happy to say that I've designed 70 stencils for StencilGirl.  The multiple pages of my stencils start here.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

6" x 6" stencils BAMBOO WALL and TRIVET C

One of my pet-favorite stencils is the 6" x 6" stencil Bamboo Wall.  This is one of the stencils that was based on an ink drawing that I did, using a Chinese calligraphic brush.  

Below are some prints I made with my sponge brayer, loaded with heavy-body acrylic paint:

Above:  I used the brayer with brown paint to make the lower print.  Then I flipped the still-wet stencil over and pressed it to the old map right above the first print -- using the "inked" stencil as if it were a rubber stamp.

 

Above:  This print was created with Bamboo Wall, over an earlier print that I'd made with another 6" x 6" stencil, Trivet C.

Trivet C stencil, by itself, looks like this:

Above:  This is an example of how I load a sponge brayer with heavy-body acrylic paint.  For me, this method works better than a pouncing tool.  But it did take me some time to learn the right "touch" -- to add just enough paint thru the stencil, and to avoid adding too much.  

I'm happy to say that I've designed 70 stencils for StencilGirl.  The multiple pages of my stencils start here.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

UK Artist Frieda Oxenham with StencilGuts created in the making of HERON and OSPREY WINGS Stencils

Check out this blog post by UK artist Frieda Oxenham to see how  Frieda used Washi Tape with StencilGuts bird shapes in a two-page art journal spread.  

These StencilGuts bird shapes were created from my 6" x 6" stencils Heron and Osprey Wings.  Here's a sneak-peek of Frieda's art:

Frieda's leaf imprints were created with StencilGirl's StencilClub October 2017 stencil set.

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To follow this blog by email, please use the option in the upper right.

I'm happy to say that I've designed over 70 stencils for StencilGirl.  The multiple web pages of my stencils start here.
  

First Step in Preparing Collage Papers for Art Journal Pages -- Using FEATHERS 6 STENCIL

My older stencils include two that feature feathers -- one is 9" x 12" and the other is 6" x 6".  It's the smaller one that I'm featuring in today's post.  

Some time ago, at an estate sale, I had bought a collection of pre-1929 encyclopedias.  For today's project, I decided to take out a page featuring birds in one of the background illustrations.

The traditional sponge-daubing technique would have worked for this project; likewise, a Gelli Plate could have been used.

But I chose the method easiest for me -- loading a sponge brayer with a heavy-body acrylic paint and running the brayer over the stencil (while holding the stencil in place with my other hand.)
  

The print above is part of a series that emerged from the idea of using these old papers with theme-related stencils -- using this as a first step in creating collage papers for art journal pages.  After these prepared papers (used whole, or torn into pieces) are collaged into journal pages, more artwork is layered over them.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

To check out the multiple pages of my other stencils for StencilGirl, please visit here.  

One Upload of Paint; Two Stencil Prints ... with WEBBED MEDALLION

Using an old nautical map (garage sale purchase) as my substrate, I laid down my 6" x 6" stencil Webbed Medallion, then went over it with a sponge roller loaded with heavy body acrylic paint --

Above:  an example of rolling a sponge brayer across heavy body acrylic paint to collect a generous load of paint.

-- with the result below --

When a sponge brayer is loaded with heavy body acrylic paint, just one application leaves the stencil heavily covered with paint, after it's been used to make the original print.  

So I can quickly lift the stencil, flip it over, and press it to another area on the substrate.  Below is the print that resulted.

One application of paint; two very different results.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

To follow this blog by email, please use the option in the upper right.

I'm happy to say that I've designed 70 stencils for StencilGirl.  The multiple web pages of my stencils start here.