Friday, July 2, 2021

Creating Wearable Art with StencilGirl® Stencils

Creating Wearable Art with StencilGirl® Stencils


Hello there, our stencil lovin’ friend!

Have you ever considered using stencils to create wearable art? I have and let me tell you, I’m so glad I took the leap into doing so because my creativity has soared! I’m constantly thinking up fun new ways on how I can transform my paintings on paper into art for the body!

I’m Martice, one of StencilGirl®’s Creative Team members and today I’m sharing three wearable art projects I’ve created just to show you the incredible versatility of StencilGirl® stencils.

My art style is very bold with vibrant colors, abstract patterns inspired by nature/florals, and mark-making with a graffiti twist. I also like to incorporate this into my home, office, and studio decor as much as I can because it makes me happy and it’s a continuous source of inspiration in my everyday lifestyle.
 
Here is a list of basic supplies you’ll need to get started creating your very own wearable art pieces:

Supplies:
  • Acrylic paints
  • Fabric medium (optional)
  • Canvas fabric (I like to use a medium weight)
  • Sponges (cosmetic and/or a stencil pouncer)
  • Sewing machine
  • Shoe inserts
  • Scissors
  • Painter’s tape (optional)

First Project: Fabric Design



One of my favorite projects is to create a collection of handbags. (These are inspired by the exploration and wild imagination of my art journal pages.)

I’ve created over 15 unique handbags using a combination of StencilGirl® stencils and a few of my own handmade stencils made from thin cardboard. 

I took 2 yards of canvas fabric and pinned it to my wall. For a large-scale painting like this, I recommend putting on your favorite dance playlist and getting your entire body in motion! Paint with large, gestural strokes, first. Focus on details last.


One thing I love about StencilGirl® stencils? Besides the exceptional quality, I’m able to build layers upon layers of paint and texture paste without worrying about them buckling or tearing apart. They’re super durable!

Stencils used:
Boho Striped Circle

Clustered Leaves

Deconstructed Floral Bouquet

Hash Marks 

Scribble scratch



Second Project: Fabric Necklace



Using a stenciled design instantly makes you stand out! It’s unexpected, fun and is a prime example of putting your art on display.

In this project, I combined canvas and denim fabrics to really boost the wow factor. I only used one stencil but mixing the two fabric textures with small beads made the stenciled areas pop.



Keep your technique simple. Use two colors - one light and one a shade darker - to get an ombre effect. To add more visual texture, I chose a stencil with a geometric design, angular shapes and a variety of line thicknesses.

Stencil used:

Kilim Patterns 



Third Project: Shoe inserts



Don’t forget your feet need stencil lovin’ too! All you need are a pair of shoe inserts, acrylic paints, and your choice of stencils. I found that the smaller designs like the 4”x4” and 6”x6” were the perfect size.

Other ideas while designing your fabric:
  • arrange the stencils in a random kind of way or be a little bit more precise on how you lay them down
  • combine two or five stencil designs to make a totally different pattern.



I like to use a small cosmetic sponge because it allows me to have more control with paint application. Just remember, to get those nice, crisp lines, you don’t need that much paint on the sponge. Too much paint will seep underneath the stencil and blur your image. Pounce the sponge up and down to remove excess paint. If you struggle with holding the stencil in place with your fingers, tape it down with painter’s tape to keep it from sliding around while you’re applying the paint.

Stencils used:

Deconstructed Della Robbia Cluster Mask and Stencil

Hash Marks 


Hopefully, with these examples, you were able to see just how easy and fun it is to create wearable art using stencils on fabric. The possibilities are endless!

Have you ever tried stenciling on fabric? Tell us about your experience in the comment section below! Be sure to tag me on Instagram with your fabric creations. Happy stenciling!


To learn more about Martice and her mixed media art tutorials, please follow

the inspiration trail in her newsletter!


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2 comments:

  1. These projects are really fun ways to perk up a wardrobe. Thanks for sharing, Martice!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Matrice, thank you so much for including my stencil Clustered Leaves in this gorgeous project! These purses are above and beyond beautiful! May I have your permission to re-post one of these photos on my blog?--giving full credit to you, of course. If you would first like to check out my blog, it's here.... ceciliaswatton.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

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