I love stencils. I sometimes use them to create central figures in my art journal and mixed media paintings but most often I use them for background texture or added elements. I have found many stencils I like from various manufacturers but my favorite this year are by StencilGirl Products (http://www.stencilgirlproducts.com). The stencils are created by artists for artists and there are hundreds of stencils to choose from. If you join their monthly StencilClub, you will receive exclusive stencils each month that will never be released to the general public, as well as video tutorials on how the stencils could be used. I belong to their StencilClub.
Today I had no destination in mind except that I wanted to use the September StencilClub stencils. There are three stencils in that package, all designed by famed mixed media artist Andrew Borloz. The package contains a 9″x12″ stencil, a 6″x6″, and a 4″x4″ with coordinating designs. You can see a photo of the stencils here: http://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/category-s/1934.htm
I decided to start with a page out of my Canson 7″x10″ mixed media journal that I had used to clean off a StencilGirl stencil by Jessica Sporn (Namaste) from a different project. It is the lacy green paint that shows in the background. I also cleaned off my paintbrush from the same project on that page (swipes of white and lavendar acrylics). Unfortunately I did not take a photo of the page at the start but you can see the background in the finished product, below.
Starting at the left hand side of the page, I used purple Liquitex Basics acrylic paint and Andrew Borloz’s 9×12 stencil to create the large purple acrylic scallops as well as the lacy looking dots and scallops just to the right of it. I then used the outside of his 6×6 stencil to create the purple scallops at the top and bottom of the page. I still wasn’t sure where I was going at that point but the scallops and circles made me think of lacy butterflies. So I took a large chipboard butterfly mask I’ve had for ages (don’t remember the brand) and created two overlapping butterflies on the page using purple acrylic paint and outlining with purple gel pens. I then added the three small shapes from Andrew’s 4×4 stencil under the butterflies in green acrylic to bring more green into the page.
Seeing the page at that point made me think of the phrase “Dancing with Butterflies”. So I found a magazine photo of a dancer that would fit on the page and I cut it out and glued it to the page with gel medium. The colors of the figure were all wrong so I painted over the entire cut-out with acrylics in Paynes Gray and two different flesh tones. Then I doodled all over the page with a white Signo Broad UM-153 pen. I also added the journaled words “Dance with the butterflies” in white over the large purple scallops on the left side of the page.
Done! I always love the color combination of purple and green and I think the scalloped stencils by Andrew Borloz really frame the page. I can’t wait to use his stencils for other projects too!
I hope you do something creative today also!
October 6, 2014 at 5:45 pm
Wonderful result–so vibrant!
October 6, 2014 at 6:00 pm
The purple with the green does really zing. I’m new to stencilling and not very successful with it but seeing work like yours keeps me plugging away at trying it.
October 6, 2014 at 6:40 pm
Thanks to you both!
October 7, 2014 at 6:15 am
Like you, I often weave the stencils into the work in less obvious ways. I *love* it!!
Thank you so much for enjoying our products and we are so happy you are part of our club.
Have a great day, Denise!!
xo
October 7, 2014 at 8:13 am
Thanks so much for stopping by, MaryBeth! Your stencils rock!