Blog Hop with Crossed Rounds & Squares & a Giveaway!!

Hello and welcome to a fun tutorial on using layers of paints and primarily one stencil to create a rich looking, layered canvas!  In this lesson, I will be using Andrew Borloz Crossed Rounds & Squares Stencil L159 as my main stencil with different colors of paint to create a magical scene of wonder and whimsy. The process is a little long but worth it and if you don't have a ton of stencils at your disposal, this is a good method to learn to get your creative on!

(1) I took a 16x20 canvas and glued down handmade tissue paper I had previously created that was in my stash.  This part is just to give you some texture and interest in your background.

(2) I sketch out some ideas on my very teeny tiny sketch book.  I decide on a girl reaching up for the stars.

 (3) I add some creative paint swirls and strokes to the top of my canvas.  I am primarily working with warm colors to start.

(4) I spray and allow dripping and allow the warm colors to meet one another and make interesting marks of their own.

 (5) I pull out Andrew's stencil and still using my warm color palette, I randomly dab through different shapes all over the side of the canvas.

(6) After my warm colors have made their mark and are mostly dry, I start doing the same with a cool color palette of greens and blues.

This is what I have when I am done.  What do you think?  I am loving all the layers and just think, we have only used ONE stencil!

(7) I think hand cut out stars from scrap paper and sketch my "vision" on to the canvas with a Stabilo pencil. I play with the layout until I am pleased.

 (8) I then decide to create some "grass" for the girl and begin to blot out some of the busy background with paint.  I paint in my sketched out grass area and then lay the Rafters Stencil by Marth Beth Shaw over my paint, and rub off the paint in the stencil areas.  Some people call this reverse stenciling. It is a fun technique and gives you a different look.  Be sure to use a damp (not wet) towel or a baby wipe to rub off the paint.  You will need to work quickly for this step as acrylics dry fast.

See how you can see parts of the background peeking through but there is still a predominant green grass area?

(9) I trace my stars with the Stabilo pencil and then outline again with a white wash.  I mostly do this because I can "see" the scene better this way.

 (10) I then add in some teal and blue paints to "fill in" the sky.  I use the same reverse stenciling technique as in step 8 with Andrew's stencil again scraping paint off through the circles.

It is beginning to come together.

 (11) Now I start adding details and dimension with my Faber Castell pens.  I also go over the grass area again with Andrew's stencil only in a darker green.  I don't want my painting to look too flat. I want it to have some depth.

(12) I use Andrew's stencil to add some interest to my girl's dress.  I give her dress a checkered look with some blue paint through the squares.

(12) I add some more texture to the sky with a darker blue around the stars and through the small square part of Andrew's stencil.  I added some white in to the grass.

(13) I mix some Titanium white with teal and blend my sky, covering up some of my circles, leaving others more obvious.

(14) I then add details with my pen.

Don't you just love how the stars pop out of the sky with all that warm color and texture!?!

There you have a completed canvas ( I will be adding a quote to mine) using two stencils, but primarily one.  Have fun creating and check back with me ~ I'd love to see you stuff!

Before you go, leave a comment and sign up for my blog via email if you aren't already and you will be entered to win Mary Beth Shaw's book ~ Flavor for Mixed Media.  I will draw a winner July 30th ~ so make sure you enter before midnight July 29th.

Also be sure to check out other fun ways to use Andrew Borloz's stencil 

with the rest of the StencilGirl team!

Blog Hoppers

StencilGirl Talk 

Marjie Kemper

Kirsten Reed ...you are here now

Leslie Jenison....next stop

Sami Harding

Corrine Gilman

Janet Joehlin

Linda Kittmer

Carolyn Dube 

Paula Phillips

Mary C. Nasser

Maria McGuire