The stencils in this collection are all inspired by my nature prints, actual prints done by directly inking and printing the visible woodgrains in tree stumps, logs, and lumber ends! I love these natural textures and the ways that the patterns echo other natural elements like the whorls of fingerprints or ripples on the surface of the water. The stencils can lean more industrial with the lumber ends, or more organic with the full tree cross sections.
I do a lot of collage – whether in acrylic or encaustic - and am always looking for interesting textures to add interest and depth. And I’m a symbolism junkie . . . Woodgrain represents years of growth and the passage of time. Trees and wood provide us with shelter and warmth. As I’ve been playing with these stencils, I began to see them not only as background textures for a forest-themed encaustic piece or fabric for a cabin quilt but as clock faces and the sands of time in an hourglass! I hope you are similarly inspired.
Stacked Lumber Cross Section (L959)
These woodgrain patterns, taken from scrap lumber ends, are both organic and industrial. Stack or stagger the lumber shapes, and you can create the look of rough boards, floors, or walls. Focus on just the curving lines, and you’ll see they resemble the whorls of fingerprints, the ripples on the surface of the water, or even topographic maps. Ideal for creating textured papers for collage, printing fabric, and creating backgrounds for art journals. Use with paint, gel plate printing, stitching, and encaustic.
Post Lumber Cross Section (S952)
Stacked 4x4 lumber, intended for fenceposts, became the inspiration for this stencil! The whorls of woodgrain come straight from nature, the strong square shapes straight from the hardware store. Ideal for creating textured papers for collage, printing fabric, and creating backgrounds for art journals. Use with paint, gel plate printing, stitching, and encaustic.
Big Tree Cross Section (L960)
Based on a nature print done by directly inking and printing the visible wood grain in an old tree stump, this captures the rough texture of the bark and the variation of the tree rings. This stencil is so full of possibilities. Woodgrain represents years of growth and the passage of time. Trees and wood provide us with shelter and warmth. Use this gorgeous texture to enhance any nature-based project, to call in the essence of home, or celebrate a major milestone. Ideal for creating textured papers for collage, printing fabric, and creating backgrounds for art journals. Use with paint, gel plate printing, stitching, and encaustic.
Small Tree Cross Section (S951)
This stencil was adapted from a nature print created by directly inking the cross-section of a small log. It captures not only the visible wood grain of the tree rings but also calls to mind labyrinths, halos, spinning wheels, a vibrating aura, and even a glowing sun! Ideal for creating textured papers for collage, printing fabric, and creating backgrounds for art journals. Use with paint, gel plate printing, stitching, and
encaustic.
About Bridget
Bridget Benton loves making stuff, and helping other people make stuff! She has been a working artist and teacher for over 20 years.
Bridget has always been drawn to mediums that support working intuitively and building layers - printmaking, photography and collage, fiber, and assemblage. In 2006, she began incorporating encaustic into her work, and found her “perfect medium.” She comes to encaustic with a collage sensibility, combining encaustic with nature print, her original photography, and joyful mark-making.
Her work has appeared in Wax Fusion, Mixed Media Art Magazine, Professional Artist Magazine, and in galleries from coast to coast. She has taught for Art Unraveled, The Nature Printing Society, and the Painting with Fire online encaustic masterclass.
Bridget’s passion as a teacher is helping people discover and develop their own creative voice. Her workshops focus on techniques and processes that facilitate self-discovery and creative exploration. Her workshop-in-a-book, The Creative Conversation: ArtMaking as Playful Prayer, is a guide to creating flow in your creative work and building intuitive artmaking skills. In 2012, the book was awarded a Nautilus Book Award Gold Medal as the best book of the year on Creative Process. Bridget is currently the lead encaustic instructor at 310 Art in the historic River Arts District in Asheville, NC.
