Making Masks from Silhouette Stencils

Some time ago, I did a write-up at StencilGirlTalk on the topic of making your own masks using stencils, then applying the masks with the stencils in a technique that I call "Seeing Double."

Here on my own blog, I'm bringing out more greeting cards that I've made in much the same way....

Above: I've used masking tape to secure my 6"x 6" Heron and 6"x 6" Cats stencils to sturdy cardstock. 

Above:  Since this cardstock is black, I used a white pencil to trace around the shapes that I wanted to cut out to be used as masks.

Above:  I've used fine-detail scissors to cut out the three shapes I chose.  



Above:  I've placed the heron mask atop a greeting card blank.  On the left you can see the masking tape I used for covering the back of this card with scratch paper to protect it from the watercolor spray.  I used two spray colors (purple and orange), allowing the paint to dry between the two applications.



Above:  On the left, you can see the mask that I have lifted off. On the right is the card cover with its silhouette of the heron.

Above:  Here I have placed the stencil atop the masked-off silhouette.  In placing it, I made sure it was off-register with the image underneath.  After using masking tape to secure the stencil, I sponged on a layer of magenta acrylic paint blended with gel medium.  The reason I blended these two media was that I wanted a translucent paint that would allow the original image to remain visible.



Above:  Here, in the finished 6"x 6" greeting card cover, you can see that both images are clearly visible.



Above:  Here's another 6"x 6" greeting card, created with my Cats stencil and corresponding masks.  Again I used the masks first, followed by the stencil.  (I chose to mask off the stencil's upper left corner so that 4 cat shapes would appear; the stencil itself has 5 cat shapes.)  After the misty-look paints had dried, I used a marker to outline the two white shapes I had made with my two masks.

Above:  developed using Osprey Wings 6" x 6" stencil.

Thanks for visiting!  To scroll thru the pages of my StencilGirl stencils and masks, please start here.  To follow this blog via email, please use that option in the upper right sidebar.

MIKKI'S FLOWERS STENCIL and MASK (both 6"x 6")

Today's first art sample was developed in two steps:   

First, I placed Mikki's Flowers Mask (6" x 6") onto a near-black substrate (a greeting card blank) and ran a sponge brayer (loaded with heavy-body acrylic pink paint) over the mask.  

Because the original surface had been nearly black, and because the mask kept the areas behind its shapes from receiving paint, the result was a "shadow" image.  

After the surface dried, I placed Mikki's Flowers Stencil (also 6" x 6") over the shadow -- but a little to the right of it.  

Then I rolled another brayer (loaded with heavy-body blue acrylic paint) over the stencil.

The result was that the blue silhouette appears to have a shadow, which gives the image a 3-dimensional look.  

You can better see details in the image below by clicking on it to enlarge it.

Today's second image, below, is likewise a double-print.  In this case, I used Mikki's Flowers Stencil for both paint applications.

My background was an old encyclopedia page -- one that features the drawing of a flowering plant.

After making the pale blue print and allowing it to dry, I made a purple print, not immediately over the original; instead, it's off to one side.  This too creates the illusion of a 3-dimensional image.

Below is a detail close-up from another double print on a different page from an old encyclopedia.  This time, I tinted the old paper a pale green before applying  Mikki's Flowers Stencil twice, leaving drying time between the two applications.  Again, I made the prints over an old illustration of a flowering plant.

The art sample below started with a green paper that I first printed with my 9" x 12" stencil Facets.  After that layer of acrylic paint had dried, I used Mikki's Flowers Stencil in a high-contrast shade of red.

Although I could easily make my prints on a Gelli Plate, I find that, most of the time, I prefer loading a sponge brayer with acrylic paint, or even gesso, as shown below (this gesso is black) --

I place a dollop of paint onto a disposable plate and roll the sponge brayer over it till the brayer is loaded.  Then I roll the brayer over the stencil or mask.

Today's featured stencils include:

Facets Stencil (9" x 12")

Mikki's Flowers Stencil (6" x 6")

Mikki's Flowers Mask (6" x 6")

I really appreciate your stopping by my blog today!  To scroll thru the pages of my StencilGirl stencils and masks, please start here.  To follow my blog via email, please use that option in the upper right sidebar. 

PAIR O' PARROTS -- in Imitation Gold Leaf

I've long had on hand some sheets of multi-color imitation gold leaf and, to go with it, several kinds of foiling glue.  Back when my 6"x 6" stencil Pair O' Parrots was released, I decided it was time to bring out those aging art supplies ... inspired by the brightly iridescent feathers of these beautiful birds.  My take on that bright iridescence is decidedly an abstraction from what's seen in real life ...   

There are two basic kinds of foil on the market.  The kind I used is the ultra-thin type, called "imitation gold leaf" -- click here to see the type I used. 

There are several adhesives that work with imitation gold leaf.  Click here to see one of the most easy-to-find brands.

Above are four greeting cards all created the same way:  I applied the adhesive thru the stencil openings, then quickly placed the stencils into a basin of Windex-water mix, to keep leftover glue from drying on the stencils. 

After waiting for the foiling adhesive to reach its tacky stage -- about 10 minutes, depending on how heavily the glue has been applied -- I carefully lowered a multi-color sheet of imitation gold leaf over the entire surface.  

I applied pressure with my fingertips to secure the leaf to the tacky areas; then I continued to rub the other areas to lift off the larger unwanted pieces. 

My next step was to remove small leftover bits of imitation gold leaf with a soft brush.

Some artists use GAC 100 to seal the foil as a final step.  I skipped doing that since these are greeting cards, not artworks on canvas.  To see another type of sealant, click here. 

Thank you for stopping here today!  To scroll thru my StencilGirl stencils and masks, please start here.

Leftover Acrylic Paints?

Two acrylic paintings of mine ...

Above:  a three-dimensional work on canvas, developed with my 6" x 6" stencil Mimosa 6.

Above:  a painting developed with the help of my 9" x 12" stencil Blooming Where Planted.  You can click on the above image to enlarge it.  The stenciled areas are subtle.

Sometimes I finish a project -- like those two above -- to find leftover acrylic paint on my hands.  Well, not literally on my hands!  I use a white disposable plate as a palette and that's where the leftovers lay.  

The first day the paint has come out of the tube or bottle or jar, I spray the leftover paint lightly with water, then seal it, plate and all, in a zip-top bag.  (I use the zip-top bags that come in packages marked "freezer" because these are more nearly air-tight.  Later, after all leftover paint is gone, I re-use these bags in cleaning up after my cat ... you know what I mean!)

If a couple of days pass without any further need for that leftover paint, I consider it near the end of its lifespan -- so I put it to work making extra stencil prints that will end up in collages or art journal pages.
  

Above and below:  both made with 9" x 12" Blooming Where Planted stencil.  The print below has a three-dimensional look, which happened entirely by accident!

Below:  printed with 6" x 6" stencil-and-mask set, Dance of the Courting Cranes.

Note:  This silhouette stencil works well with old calendar pages -- see the "rising sun" in the central-left of this image?

 Above and below:  two prints made with Feathers 6 stencil, which measures 6" x 6" (but has a "big sister" measuring 9" x 12" -- Feathers 9 stencil.)

Below: Layers being developed with 6" x 6" Pavilion Shadows stencil and 6" x 6" Mikki's Flowers Mask (which also comes as Mikki's Flowers Stencil and prints an image that's the exact opposite of the mask.) 

  

A batch of leftover blended yellows went into making the print below...

... and the stencils that worked together to make this overall geometric pattern were 6" x 6" Pavilion Shadows and 6" x 6" Ski Lift Works.  


Thank you for taking time to stop here at my blog today!  To scroll thru the pages of my StencilGirl stencils and masks, please start here.  To subscribe to my blog by email, please use that option in the upper right sidebar.

Greeting Cards and Envelopes

Recently I stencil-printed a new batch of greeting cards and envelopes.  Usually when I do this, I match the envelopes with the cards.  But this time, my needs were different.  So here is the mis-matching collection ... starting with envelopes I've printed with Fern Fronds Silhouette Stencil Mini --

And here is a third envelope, this one covered with multiple prints from the same stencil ....

My two greeting cards most recently made are collages I've created with cut-out pieces of acrylic paint-stained masks by Trish McKenney's fantastic series of tree branch masks.

Thanks for visiting here today!  To scroll thru the pages of my StencilGirl stencils and masks, please start here.

Layering Stencils and Masks

I love putting orange and green together! -- they bring out the best in each other.   Today's first art sample is an intense orange-red acrylic print on sturdy tissue paper.  The stencil used for this background print is 6" x 6" Sprigs (a.k.a. "the stencil with the hidden angel!")

The dark green border was likewise printed with acrylic paint; and for this, the stencil put to work was 6" x 6" Ivy Frame 6.  (A similar border is available in a 9" x 12" size -- Ivy Frame 9.)

Another double-stencil-print is below.  Pavilion Shadows measures 6" x 6" and so does the mask Small Tangled Pods.  (Small Tangled Pods is just one in a series of pod-themed stencils and masks:  6" x 6" Small Dangled Pods stencil, 9" x 12" Dangled Pods stencil and 9" x 12" Tangled Pods.)

Above is a third double-stencil-print; the pale blue and green  background print was made with a homemade temporary cardboard stencil -- no longer in use since it lacked the durability and precision of a StencilGirl laser-cut stencil.  The top layer was made with my 6" x 6" stencil Kaleid. 

Below, in layers of acrylic paint, the two 6" x 6" stencils used were Sprigs and Tiger Lily-- 

Above:  Tiger Lily (6" x 6") and 9" x 12" Prayer Flags.

Many thanks for coming to visit here today!  To scroll thru the pages of my StencilGirl stencils and masks, please start here.

CLUSTERED LEAVES ... and Friends

I love it when someone else's stencil strikes me as a perfect match with one of my own!  This happened when I saw Jamie Fingal's 9" x 12" Leaf Zen Landscape Stencil!  

The scissors came out:  I trimmed Jamie's stencil and cut pieces from my 9" x 12" Clustered Leaves stencil.

Then I brought out the Golden's High Flow acrylics and got to work ... I mean, play!

The technique I used is the same as a technique in the Absentee Artist chapter of Creative Paper Art, a book by Nancy Welch.   And it's demonstrated in Pat Dews' DVD Designing Great Starts with Texture and Form. 

Clustered Leaves was also used by an artist whose last name I have, sadly, lost! -- Christy Anne.  Her artwork appears directly below.  If anyone knows Christy's last name, please leave it in the Comments section, so I can give credit where credit is due!

Another artist -- Dee Spillane -- has used Clustered Leaves in creating the artwork below --

Both of the above artists have shown us how stencils like Clustered Leaves can be art-tools for developing unique backgrounds!

Below are close-ups of a couple of artworks of mine, done on stretched canvas, using cut-apart pieces of Clustered Leaves and Loopy Ladders.  Once again, I've paired Clustered Leaves with another stencil that uses line-work in its overall design .... 

In a few of these pieces on canvas, I've added pieces of the stencils themselves, cut apart and stained with acrylic paints.

Thanks for stopping by here today!

To scroll thru the pages of my StencilGirl stencils and masks, please start here.