a dragonfly stencil just for you

 Since I've been having so much fun playing with all of my hand cut stencils, I thought you'd like to try one too! At the end of this post, there's a cute dragonfly to download just for you! Print it out on 8.5 X 11 inch typing paper, cut it out and you're ready to go!

For my new paintings, I am using spray paint to add my stencils, which is fun but really smelly. I found it helps to have a fan to direct the fumes out the open windows. But you could also use a sponge or foam brush and acrylics to get a similar effect.  

I have the best luck when I don't use too many different stencils in one piece (try using 1 focal point image, and 2-3 subtle patterns).  Once I have my background colors in place, I layer on 2-3 subtly patterned stencils. You can try things like hole-punching a design into typing paper or folding the paper in half and just clipping ovals to create your subtle pattern design. Once I have a background I'm happy with, I add my focal point stencil. 

 TITLE: Believe. The Original Painting is available in my etsy shop. Prints available soon.

To create all of my stencils, I find simple photos of things I'd like as focal points. For my painting BELIEVE, I've used a bird, but you could use anything...stars, flowers, trees. Keep in mind though, that you'll be cutting out the image, so if it has a million little sunshine points, you'll be cutting out each and every one.

Using Photoshop, I cut out the image, fill it in, and erase the rest of the photo, so I'm left with just the focal point image. This way, all of my stencils are totally unique to me and the piece I'm working on, which I love!

Dragonfly Stencil. Click here to download it, just for you!

I print my stencil image, like this dragonfly, onto 8.5 x 11 inch typing paper. Then I get out my X-Acto knife and cut out the image. You'll be using paint to put the image onto your piece, so it's not super important to be exact with your cuts. Part of the fun for me is in the little mistakes that happen as I transfer the image and add more layers. Sometimes paint rubs off in unexpected places and it ends up adding something I might have been too timid to add in the first place! From there, I just keep adding more stencils and color, maybe paint in my character, then add more paint layers and just have fun with it all!

I haven't even tried this dragonfly yet, so if you create something fun with it, email me. I'd love to see it!