Stencils aren’t just for kids and beginners!
I recently came across this koi carp canvas that I made a while ago. It reminded me of how underrated and amazing stencils are! Some artists think that stencils stifle creativity by giving the same consistent image over and over again but I think you can make the most wonderful creations using stencils, especially in mixed media layering.
From 80’s home décor and cardmaking to journals and Banksy, the popularity of stencils comes and goes but they’ve been around for centuries. With the introduction of laser-cutting, stencils are easy to make and are readily available in a huge range of designs.
What’s so great about stencils?
Here’s why I think stencils are awesome:
You can use them again and again
It’s amazing the different effect you can get by using the same stencil on a different paintedbackground or a different base, like canvas, MDF, a sculpture or notebook, so there is no chance of getting bored with the same design. In fact, it’s really interesting to explore the different effects you can achieve in a series, using the same stencil with different colours, a different position, type of paint or a textured medium. Some artists don’t bother washing their stencils between uses but I like to keep mine clean with warm soapy water.
They are inexpensive
In the Artistic ReTreats art supplies shop online, there are loads of inexpensive stencil designs to give endless inspiration, from our ‘Dinky’ range at just £2.50 to a whole 30x30cm sheet of fossils or motivational quotes for just £9.00. Stencils are a great way to help children grow their creativity and they are readily available in art and craft shops. You can also easily make your own stencils with any simple image cut out on strong card.
You can create texture and 3D shapes
Stencils don’t just have to be used in a flat piece of artwork, I love to use Powertex Easy Structure with a stencil as it builds up texture and 3D shaping on a canvas, or any creation. Easy Structure is a paste that can be applied with a brush or palette knife and is a versatile base layer for a raised pattern that can be painted with inks or pigments. The paste dries quickly (or you can use a hairdryer to speed things up!) I like to have a bucket of warm soapy water to hand to wash the paste from my stencil quickly to be able to reuse it.
They give you control when freehand is tricky
Sometimes there’s an image or a shape that you’d love to use in a piece of artwork but it’s a little beyond your reach to create it perfectly freehand. That’s where a stencil comes in handy. Holding it steady can sometimes be tricky so I use masking tape to hold the stencil in place. The feeling of lifting the stencil up to reveal a perfectly clear, crisp image is tremendous!
So, whether you fancy yourself as the next Banksy or you’re just starting out without a clue of what you want to create, give stencils a go! You can decorate an object in your home, create a unique birthday card, paint a sunset background and use a black stencilled image on top or create a 3D shape with Powertex Easy Structure and a stencil.
The options are endless! Get your stencil inspiration at the Artistic ReTreats art supplies shop.
