Using a Stencil for Art Fundamentals

Hi Everyone!  I hope you had a wonderful holiday! Mary Beth here with a special blog post for you. 

Are you seeking a set of rules for your work? I know I was, especially when I first started out. Being self-taught, I sooooo wanted to organize the mixed media process into a reasonable list of dos and don’ts. I tend to be a researcher by nature and I bought and studied book after book on art fundamentals. I figured this knowledge would guarantee I produce successful work. You are probably laughing out loud by now as you, like me, realize art is such a subjective topic that it isn’t easy to define what even makes a piece successful, let alone trying to produce one on demand. 

Perhaps it is the color and texture. Or lack of color. Or off the charts texture. The disappearing lines, broken lines, bold lines or tiny scribbles, what kind of line is best!? The unity among shapes or total discord between shapes. Aaack, I was overwhelmed. 

See what I mean? Students of Art Fundamentals are often guided by the Elements and Principles of Art but sadly, they are not consistent within the arts or crafts industries. Typically, the Elements refer to the things each of us use to make our art; call these building blocks if you want. The Principles describe what we do with these things. But why can’t everyone just agree as to what they are – my research turned up so many options!!! Can you hear me smacking my head against my desk?

Here is my version, you will see other references online and in books 

Elements

1. Line

2. Shape

3. Color

4. Texture

5. Space 

6. Value

Principles

1. Balance

2. Contrast

3. Rhythm/Repetition/Movement

4. Emphasis/Focus/Contrast

5. Unity/Harmony/Variety

A stencil, by its nature, is a tool that can give us the Elements of line and shape; I contend a stencil may also help us utilize techniques within the Principles as well. Specifically, Rhythm/Repetition/Movement. 

In order to flush out my supposition, I decided to select just one single stencil to create a variety of parts using multiple techniques involving stencils. Next, I would make a piece of art. Actually I made two small paintings; I used the parts I had made and then also used the stencils with paint. 

Supplies 

White paper, text weight

Black paper, text weight

Vintage paper, old book pages

White crayon, pencil or China Marker

91% alcohol

Inexpensive brush to use with alcohol ink

Duralar or Yupo

Sponge for stenciling, brushes for painting

Limited paint palette, I used Golden Permanent Maroon, Daniel Smith Gold Gesso, Golden Black Gesso, Paper Artsy Heavy Cream

Alcohol ink within the color scheme – Tim Holtz Crimson, Pitch Black and Alloy Gilded

Scissors

Brayer

Bristol, Cardstock or Matboard for the actual art Substrate

Matte Medium or Glue Stick

1 stencil with interesting shapes and lines (S869, StencilGirl®Products)

Before I started the project, I tested out my colors to make sure they would provide an interesting punch and work well together. Taking a minute to do that will make an enormous difference in your result.

1. Be aware that Alcohol Ink stains your hands, so you might want to wear rubber gloves. 

2. Use the selected acrylic colors and a sponge to pounce over the stencil on top of your papers. You may tape off part of the stencil to hone in on part of the design. This will also allow you to repeat the same limited area over and over. Try all your colors on different backgrounds. Make sure you have more collage materials than you will need. You can always save them for later.

3. Place the stencil underneath the black paper and make a rubbing with either a white crayon or pencil. 

4. Cut a piece of Duralar or Yupo to the size of your stencil. Flood the surface with alcohol making sure more than half is covered. Place the stencil on top of the alcohol covered surface. Dribble alcohol ink on top. You may add Gold if you like. Blow with a straw, tilt the Duralar, do whatever you like to move the ink around. You may also like to dribble more alcohol or use a brush to add drops of alcohol which will create ‘blooms’. Allow the ink to mix on its own and wait until it is dry before removing the stencil.

5. Clean the alcohol ink-stained stencil by placing it on top of white paper. Swipe over it with a cleaning tool or a cloth covered with alcohol. Continue until you are satisfied with the result. I ended up with two sheets of paper this way. 

6. Prepare the substrate as desired. This might involve painting sections of background color, gluing neutral collage or whatever you might normally do to start a painting. I did a little bit of painting and collage. 

7. Cut up your parts and start moving them around the substrate like puzzle pieces. Try layering them in different ways. When you are satisfied glue them down.

8. Stencil directly onto the background continuing to use the one stencil. I went back and forth from gluing to painting. It was fun to glue down a collage element and then try to stencil a continued line to achieve continuity in the painting. 

Confession Time. 

I had never tried this prior to writing the article. I wasn’t quite sure what would happen, but I suppose that pretty much defines the art process, right? Truly, I was exhilarated with the result and want to try it again with other stencils. This particular stencil, designed by Jennifer Evans for StencilGirl® Products offered up a beautiful blend of organic effects. I chose it because it had different areas – the squarish shapes, the flower, the linear parts – and I thought it had great opportunity. If you decide to try this on your own, I would suggest you also consider a stencil with diverse sections. I know this won’t be the last time I do this project!!