Stenciling is a key technique in a mixed-media arsenal because they’re so incredibly versatile. Artists never have to settle for a cookie cutter look, thanks to the huge array of gorgeous designs and mediums that can be used with them, including acrylic paint, watercolor, pencils, resists, bleach, and inks. These 10 tips for stenciling are geared to up your stencil game and ensure maximum fun and creativity. Here are the first 5.
1. Layer it on. Combining stencil designs, spray paint, and encaustic wax creates layered artwork that truly pops. In her article “Adventures in Encaustic Collage and Spray Paint,” in the January/Feburary 2016 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors magazine, Lisa Thorpe says adding spray-paint patterns made with stencils to encaustic collage art enhances the depth of the piece. After coating wood panels with a layer of gesso, she glues on a strip of decorative paper. Next, she creates a bold pattern with vivid shades of spray paint and stencils, building up the layers. To that Lisa adds more paper and washi tape, then a coat of encaustic wax. On top of that goes lightweight tissue or rice papers, then—yes—more patterning with stencils if desired. The effect is stunning, drawing the eye in and around the piece.
Combining stencil designs with collage and encaustic wax produces a beautiful layered look. (Art and photo by Lisa Thorpe
2. Make your mark. To give stencil designs a painterly look, Margaret Peot recommends using Derwent Inktense Blocks. In her book Stencil Craft: Techniques for Fashion, Art & Home, she notes that these pigment-rich blocks of vibrant color are water-soluble, but waterproof once dry. “The very rough and active mark of these blocks looks great when used with a stencil,” she writes. “The stencil gives the rather granular mark a neat edge, and the texture gives the stencil a new life.” Margaret adds that if used on fabric, the blocks do not need to be heat set, and they hold up well to washings.
3. Burn, baby, burn. Leave it to Mary Beth Shaw, founder of StencilGirl Products, to discover that using a wood-burning tool with stencils is a recipe for artistic excellence. In her book Stencil Girl: Mixed-Media Techniques for Making and Using Stencils, she notes that the wood burning gives stencil designs a lovely rustic look. To start, trace a design onto a wood panel, and go over the traced outline with a wood-burning tool (remove the stencil before using the tool, or the stencil will melt). The design can be colored with watered-down fluid acrylic paint applied with a damp paper towel, which gives the appearance of a stain. Add details with a Derwent Inktense pencil in black.
A stencil was used as a template to create this stunning wood burned design by Mary Beth Shaw. (Photo by Christine Polomsky)
4. Get in shape. Stencils make great jumping-off points for doodling. In the Winter 2016 issue of Zen Doodle Workshop magazine, Susan Ste. Marie starts her doodle designs with a bold stencil; in this case, a scallop shell was her inspiration shape. She uses the segments of the stencil as areas to doodle in, then divides those into even smaller areas. Using fine pens and markers she creates her patterns, adding emphasis to the black-and-white designs by filling in some areas, and shading others. Here’s another tip: Let the stencil design influence your doodle patterns. Susan used the scallop shell to create organic patterns that referenced the beach, such as waves, fish, and bubbles.
Stencils make great templates for doodling. (Art by Susan Ste. Marie, photo by Sharon White Photography)
5. To the letter. Pam Garrison saw potential in the outline borders of large sticker letters, turning those into stencil shapes that she embellished with color, plus her own doodles and drawings. In Lettering Lesson Volume 5: Lettering Jump Starts, she carefully removed the outline borders from the sticker backing sheet, and adhered them to cardstock. Next, she filled in the letters with color and a variety of designs, using markers. From there Pam added marks, doodles and drawings, staying with a defined color palette, and then removed the stencil border. Repeating some elements lends a cohesive look to the lettering.
Letter sticker borders, which normally get thrown out, become stencils for doodled and drawn letters. (Art and photo by Pam Garrison)