How to Create Stunning Watercolor Floods with StencilGirl Stencils and Masks

Welcome back to the StencilGirlTalk Blog! My name is Jane Bellante, and I’m excited to share one of my favorite techniques with you: creating watercolor floods using the Chrysalis Stencil and Mask (L390) by Flora Bowley. This simple, playful method is perfect for creating beautiful backgrounds for your art projects.

Materials You'll Need

• Watercolor paper
• Water cup
• Spray bottle filled with water
• Watercolors (your choice of palette)
• Chrysalis Stencil and Mask (L390) by Flora Bowley
• Paintbrushes

Step 1: Prepare Your Paper

Begin by spraying your watercolor paper with water. This helps the paint flow beautifully across the surface. Choose your favorite colors and start laying them down loosely. For the first design, I used the stencil portion of the Chrysalis set. Don’t worry about precision—this is all about playful experimentation!

   

Step 2: Adding the Stencil

While the paint is still wet, place the stencil portion of the Chrysalis set onto your paper. Use a brush to fill in the stencil with your chosen colors. You can keep the application loose and watery to allow for natural blending and movement within the stencil shape. Once you’re satisfied, let the paper dry completely with the stencil on top.

Step 3: Experimenting with the Mask

For the mask portion, I experimented with a faux-rusty effect. First, lay down your colors as before, then place the mask onto the wet paint. Add more layers of color around the edges of the mask for extra depth. Spray with water to blend and soften the edges. When you’re happy with the coverage, let the paper dry with the mask on top.

Step 4: Adjusting Details After Drying

Once the paint is dry, remove the stencil or mask to reveal your design. If some areas lack definition or clarity, don’t worry! You can always reapply the stencil or mask and add more paint. For my stencil design, I deepened the tones around the stem to enhance visibility (for the stencil flood) while keeping the overall effect soft and vibrant. I also increased the rust tones (for the mask flood).  

Step 5: The Final Reveal

The most exciting step is revealing your finished watercolor floods! Carefully peel away the stencil or mask to uncover the design. If any areas feel too bold, you can easily adjust the colors—this is the beauty of working with watercolor. Add or subtract paint as needed until you’re happy with the final look.

You can watch the full video tutorial right here:

Why I Love Watercolor Floods

Watercolor floods are perfect for creating unique backgrounds for your projects. You can let them dry, store them in your paper stash, and use them whenever inspiration strikes. Their versatility allows you to revisit and modify them even after they’ve dried—perfect for evolving creative ideas!

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Give It a Try!

I hope this tutorial inspires you to experiment with StencilGirl stencils and masks to create your own watercolor floods. This technique is a wonderful way to play, explore, and let your creativity flow.

Thank you for joining me! You can find more of my work at janebellanteart.com.

Happy creating!

xoxo, 

Jane

NEW STENCIL DESIGNERS! Ann Barnes & Helen Shafer Garcia

StencilGirl Products is excited about the six new stencils our two new artists, Ann Barnes and Helen Shafer Garcia have designed. 

We are so happy you are here to check out Ann's whimsical patterned alphabet and Helen's beautiful succulents. Drumroll, please!

The multitude of patterns found among many of the StencilGirl stencil designs inspired Ann Barnes to create the ATC Mixup Alphabet A-I, J-R, and S-Z Stencils. Each letter has a different pattern and may be used to create personalized stationery or gift wrap or to add a monogram. Use the letters to spell out a word, or simply use that pattern itself to create interest in your art journal layouts or designs.

Complete your alphabet now.

L823

L824

L825

Just look at the variety of ways Ann used these stencils!
 

Gotta love a tote full of art supplies.

Layered letters in a nearly monochromatic art journal spread: 

Whoever is getting these darling gifts will be grateful :)

Washi anyone? Yay!

Show that you care: Make and mail a card!

Keep track of Ann's aksbarchitect CREATES blog for upcoming video tutorials with her stencils.

Helen Shafer Garcia says she is always looking for seedling and sprig shapes to include in her paintings and journal. 

Helen says, “I love the upward growth of plants in my garden. I constantly draw and paint succulents and other plants with pencils and paint. I designed these shapes based on seed pods and new growth on succulents. They can also represent ocean plants and seedlings. Now, with the Filigree Sprigs Stencil, you have a great resource to use to explore and grow!”

Filigree Sprigs, L822

Filigree Sprigs Dropped in Color Forest Painting

Step 1: Stencil the design onto hot pressed watercolor paper. I overlapped the images to create a forest.

Step 2: Wet the entire surface with Cadmium yellow watercolor paint.

Step 3: While the paint is very wet and shiny, drop in other colors. I used Quinacridone Rose, Spring Green, and Carbazole Purple. The Carbazole purple was the last color I dropped in under the sprigs to create a “forest floor.”

The Echeverias Stencil design derived from Helen’s fascination with succulent shapes.

Helen says, “These plants have been the main focus for many of my paintings in watercolor. Echeverias have rosette shapes with a large range of colors. Here in Southern California, I have an advantage of living in the best environment for these plants. Needless to say, I have an abundance of succulents on my 1half-acre property. The shapes on the stencil are separated out for you to design your own arrangement. You can add a ceramic pot or go wild and plant them in the ground!”

L815

Blooming Echeverias Painting

Step 1: Stencil the shapes you have selected onto hot pressed watercolor paper using a fairly dark color acrylic.

Step 2: Using a large round watercolor brush, wet the background with plenty of water. While the surface remains wet, drop in colors. I used Carbazole Purple and Ultramarine Blue. Let the colors mingle on their own, allow the water to move the colors.

Step 3: Start painting the succulent shapes separately using the dropped-in color method. Start with a light warm color on the shape and drop-in cooler colors to show the darker areas.

Step 4: Finish up with glazes: paint over dry painted areas with darker colors where needed.

This ballet of shapes will have you dancing in no time. The Echeveria Ballet Stencil design was derived from Helen’s fascination with succulent shapes. Echeverias have rosette shapes with a large range of colors. The seed pods are abstracted in the stencil for you to use as accents.

Echeveria Ballet Stencil, L821

You can see Helen's actual garden of inspiration HERE.

You can add these fine stencils to your collection by heading over to StencilGirlProducts.com.