New Architectural Stencils by Ann Barnes

Hello Stencil Enthusiast!

Build architecture into your art journal, greeting cards, and mixed media work with these four new stencils by Ann Barnes.

She says, "I am excited to share my newest SG stencil designs: architectural. These four stencils are based on residential architectural design, the foundation of my work in the field. I love the linear quality of architectural plans; each line type and width represent different elements found within the design. A concept is developed into a vision, which begins with a set of plans."

Master Suite Stencil, S871, 6" x 6"

One of Ann's favorite aspects of the Master Suite Stencil design is the unexpected, angled passage that splits the traditional plan. 

"Rectangular spaces throughout the residence sometimes need a shake-up.," Ann says. "Envision yourself encountering a passage that appears to go in an unintended direction, when followed, it brings you to a vaulted space with the finest finishes and the grandest views. This angled corridor brings a lot of interest to the plan as well as the experience and will also create interest when the stencil is used." 

Ann used the stencil as a framework for the design of the art journal spread below. 

Beginning with essentially blank pages and an inspired color scheme, she inked the entire stencil design onto the upper left and bottom right sections of the pages. 

Next, she tore various handmade papers and added them using the stenciled lines as edges and guides. 

She added painted lines and drew lines with paint to create a cohesive design. 

"This was a very different way for me to work in my art journal," Ann says. "I loved the idea of letting the plan layout dictate the design and not having to consider the areas generated, just allowing the creativity to flow. I will definitely be trying this method again in the future." 

Back Hall Stencil, M330, 4" x 4"

The Back Hall Stencil was derived from a floor plan of the more utilitarian areas of the residence. As one enters the back hall they can access the more personal spaces within the residence, a very different experience from the grand entrance of the foyer. These spaces are smaller and more functional. This stencil provides linear graphics with perpendicular intersections and dashed lines. Its small size can have a big impact and would work wonderfully within a linear or grid journaling format. Small sections of the stencil can also be used for mark making.

Ann envisions this stencil being used with inks and paints, perhaps even textural pastes to give the appearance of raised lines within a piece of art. 

Orientation Stencil, M331, 4" x 4"

Every set of architectural drawings references a building geographically as Ann's Orientation Stencil graphically depicts. The elevations are typically labeled north elevation, south elevation, and so forth. Each drawing then contains a graphic that relates the “building north” as depicted on the drawing labels to “true” north. These types of orientation graphics can be as simple as overlapping rotated axis or as complex as the architect desires it to be. 

"I like to include an aerial view of the structure atop geographically accurate compass points," Ann says. "The combination of the circular opening and the roof plan creates a unique graphic."

Foyer Stencil, S872, 6" x 6"

Some of Ann's favorite aspects in architectural design are portals that give glimpses into spaces beyond. She says, "Sometimes these offer only subtle hints while other times they can provide a full understanding of what lies beyond." 

The Foyer Stencil evolved from one of Ann's residential designs. The double story entry contained a barrel-vaulted passage through to the main living space as well as a turned staircase that, when ascended, provided sweeping views of the property all along the upper-level corridor.

This stencil contains both large and small openings. It can be used for the simple repetitive patterns that symbolize the stairs and railings or the more open geometric shapes that form the arched passage, trimmed paneling and cased openings, or as a complete architectural design. 

"The geometric nature of this stencil will lend itself to many different styles of art," Ann says. 

This stencil is perfect for use with all types of inks and paints, as well as different types of mediums. The larger openings are well suited to doodling or filling with color, images, or even ephemera. 

Access different projects by Ann with these stencils on her blog.

Discover these architectural stencils and wonderful alphabet stencils by Ann Barnes on StencilGirl Products.com.

StencilGirl® Stencils, Paints, Copper Leaf & Patina

Hello everyone, Ann here today, sharing my new painting entitled “Holding Onto Hope” that incorporates StencilGirl® stencils, paints, copper leaf and patina.

 

These days it seems, any way you turn there is chaos; so many terrible things happening around the world. Sometimes it's overwhelming and all encompassing; it is during these times that I do my best to get a firm grasp on Hope; hope for a brighter future, hope for peaceful understanding, hope for a more compassionate world. The one constant that I comprehend fully, is that all of these attributes must originate within ourselves; this is the inspiration behind my piece.

Perhaps it is due to my Irish heritage, or maybe it is simply the fact that the stencils are rich in detail and represent the timeless design of stone carvings, but either way, I simply love working with StencilGirl® stencils from Tina Walker. They are based on her travels to Ireland and contain some fabulous images. I have combined two of her stencils, Stone Face and Stone Statue, with Wing Stencil designed by Pam Carriker for StencilGirl®. My vision is to layer these three different stencils to create a whole, and then, experiment with metal leafing medium and copper leaf through the stencils to create an angelic appearance. This is what I consider my "plan".

I begin with a large sheet of Bristol and experiment with layering the pieces, trying to understand what sections will create the foreground and how I will fade into the background. I have a "thing" for scale, and I realize that the stone head is a bit small for the statue and wings; however, by adjusting the placement, I believe I should be able to make it fall into place. Using ink and a foam blending pad, I ink through the stencils to create my initial layout.

 Once I have the layout correct as I envision it, I go with it. Over my inked concept, I create a background of layers of paints and collage. Then I use the paints to highlight the areas beneath where the focal image will be. Once the layers have dried, I begin to add the stencil images back onto the page with paint and a foam wedge. I am careful to add the buff paint sparingly, and set aside to dry completely.

 The next layer focuses only on the wings. Shifting the stencil a bit off of the painted images previously applied, I apply metal leaf medium (adhesive) through the stencil's openings. Once the medium is tacky, I lay pieces of copper leaf over the medium and burnish. Next I use a stippling brush to remove the sections of copper leaf that are not adhered, and brush them away from the surface.

 I want to give the copper on the wings a subtle patina. To do this I add a bit of patina solution onto the copper details using a paint brush. 

 

The result was a bit more aggressive than I anticipated; however, I like the way that areas of the copper remained among the patina covered areas.

I repeat the leafing process through the stencil once more, focusing on the areas where the patina solution completely dissolved the leafing, to add back a bit of shine.

I also "draw" lines with the adhesive to create a halo effect, as well as draw a bit of attention to the carving at the top of the angel's head and add the copper leaf in the same manner as initially. 

When I have achieved the desired effect, I add some of the lines from Emily Dickinson's poem "Hope" along the top of her wings.

"Hope" is the thing with feathers - 

 That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words - 

And never stops - at all -

Emily Dickinson

I am thrilled to be sharing this piece with you today. When StencilGirl® asked if I would like to do a guest post, I was truly honored. My name is Ann Barnes, some of you may know me from my blog aksbarchitectCREATES. I am an architect and an artist, as well as a mom. I currently design for a few design teams and love experimenting with different mediums and finding unexpected outcomes. In addition to my blog, you can find me on Instagram (@aksbarchitect) and Facebook (Ann Sullivan Barnes). Thank you so much for taking the time to visit today. My heartfelt gratitude to StencilGirl® for allowing me this opportunity.

~Ann 

StencilGirl® stencils used:

Stone Face (S696) by Tina Walker

Stone Statue (L737) by Tina Walker

Wing stencil (L065) by Pam Carriker