Stencil Poetry - "Have You Earned Your Tomorow"

Hi friend. It's Belen with Art & Whimsy here and today I'd like to share an art journal spread inspired by a poem that I enjoy called "Have You Earned Your Tomorrow" by Edgar Guest.

I started with a base layer of inks and acrylic paint over gessoed pages.

I added a layer of gesso in random places to help unify the colors. Once that was done I used various stencils, like this one from the December 2015 exclusive StencilClub kit, and wiped off the gesso with a baby wipe to add great texture.

Deconstructed Della Robbia Cluster

Warped Holes 6 stencil

Next, I added some contrasting color with the Bittersweet Mini stencil.

Next, I used an exclusive trade show stencil by Seth Apter for more texture. Similar stencils are Numbers and Inside Out.

 For my main focal point, I used the Remember Face stencil by Pam Carriker.

To finish it off, I stamped out the title of the poem and added some mark making with the Grid A1 stencil and some markers.

Thank you for following along in my creative process. I hope you enjoy the poem. Belen

"Have You Earned Your Tomorrow"

Is anybody happier because you passed his way?

Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today?

This day is almost over, and its toiling time is through;

Is there anyone to utter now a kindly word of you?

Did you give a cheerful greeting to the friend who came along?

Or a churlish sort of "Howdy" and then vanish in the throng?

Were you selfish pure and simple as you rushed along the way,

Or is someone mighty grateful for a deed you did today?

Can you say tonight, in parting with the days that's slipping fast,

That you helped a single brother of the many that you passed?

Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said;

Does a man whose hopes were fading now with courage look ahead?

Did you waste the day, or lose it, was it well or sorely spent?

Did you leave a trail of kindness or a scar of discontent?

As you close your eyes in slumber do you think that He would say,

You have earned one more tomorrow by the work you did today?

  

Happy stenciling!

-Belen