It’s probably not a secret that I love creating grungy background papers. I use these papers to add to the mixed media layers in my artwork.
However, these papers aren’t just for future art. One of my favorite ways to “meet” a new stencil is to spend time getting to know it through creative play. A stencil always looks different unused and even in another artist’s work. It’s through using my own style, color palette and creativity that I discover new ideas and the wheels start turning on how I might use it in the future.
To begin, I always lightly gesso whatever papers I’m going to use. I use white gesso as it helps tone down some of the yellowing in old book pages, and because I like how it mingles with the paint and ephemera. You could also use clear gesso if you want to keep the page as is.
The process is simple, and I don’t really worry if I have the entire page covered. I just add a dollop of gesso on the page, spray with water and quickly spread it with a large flat brush.
Do you have to use gesso? That’s completely up to you. My answer would be yes, because it not only adds a bit of integrity to the old pages, but it helps seal them for all the paint, water and mess that will be layered on top!
For this entire play time, I’m using papers from an old ledger. It’s important that you use papers that aren’t brittle or too thin. If you aren’t sure if the papers you have will work, use several types to get to know them, too! Ledgers aren’t always easy to find, so if you want to add that fun handwriting layer, you could always stamp all over paper before adding the stencil. I also often use old book pages as well. They look just as neat as the ledger pages.
Once all the gessoed pages were dry, I grabbed my paints of choice, an applicator, my stabilo all pencils, palette paper and a spray bottle to begin.
A lot of my play is intuitive, paint-throwing, fun!
You can watch the play in my video below:
And, here are a few short and simple instructions. For each one the general rule is to use an applicator with paint through the stencil, add water + watered down paint, scruff up the stenciled image to distress it, sometimes add walnut ink, and use a hair dryer on the cool setting to move the paint around + help dry. Sometimes instead of drying completely, I mop up the puddles with other gessoed pages. This adds a first awesome layer of grunge to stencil over.
Once dry, layer the other stencils on top (two of the stencils I’m using are ones that layer) or even add additional marks with my stabilo pencils. Most important, however, is to have fun and be creative.
Paper One:
I began by stenciling with Payne's gray on the top and bottom. Before each one dried, I added watery paint for some grunge. Then, I flipped the stencil for layering. I added titan green pale to the larger side and sepia India ink on the smaller. I finished with some loose stabilo traces around the shapes.
First, I prepped the pages with some walnut ink. Then, I added Payne's gray through each stencil and lots of grungy water and ended by topping it off with more walnut ink splatters. I love that these papers are going to be ready for me to rip out a "listen" or "dream" when I need to add it to my art.
Decorative Flower Stamen Medallion S577
First Set:
For this first paper, I stenciled with titan green pale and then added partial stenciled images with Payne's gray.
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-Nicole
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Decorative Flower Stamen Medallion S577
Supplies
- Gesso
- Golden So Flat (Payne's gray & titan green pale)
- Ink (sepia & Payne's gray)
- Stabilo all (black & graphite)
- Ledger pages or old book pages
- Walnut ink & Walnut ink crystals
- Sponge applicator
- pipette
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