I don’t know about you, but sometimes I just can’t get stencils to cooperate. The paint bleeds underneath, the stencil shifts during the process, the images doesn’t come out cleanly. Whatever the problem may be, stencils can be a headache when it doesn’t go according to plan. For this method, we’re embracing imperfections and defining the design with paint pens. It’s not about getting every little detail clean and precise, but instead about creating a cumulative masterpiece with plenty of visual impact.
This project is part of Tina Walker’s Stencilfied Journal project. It is prompt 1: Stencil a page. Cover it with circles.
For this project I used (contains affiliate links):
This art journal page starts with just scribbling soft pastels onto the page and blending with your finger or a blending tool. At this point you can spray with fixative, but I blended it well enough that it wasn’t really transferring, so you may not need any fixative.
Place the stencil in place and sponge a solid blue color through the stencil.
When the paint has dried completely, it’s time to start playing! The Wink Markers are perfect for adding in details to the stencil. Start with the largest circles and outline them in the brightest color, gold or yellow. Add in more details with each color. You really can’t go wrong because you are just tracing the blue paint and making it more vibrant.
Feel free to add more details to the stencil, building out the mandala shape or adding in new parts within the existing pattern.
This should be relaxing, meditative, and a calming activity that you can do after work or when you need a rest. Don’t stress about getting every single line drawn correctly. Remember, it is about the cumulative effect, not the details.
Optional: You can add some words or sentiments to the art journal page for a finishing touch.
Check out this video for the complete time lapse process of adding details to the art journal page.