Embrace Your Flaws | StencilGirl®

Hi everyone!

I was thrilled to recently share my first official project created for the StencilGirl® Creative Team over on the StencilGirl® blog . I was tasked with the theme of "an abstract or summer artwork". Both of these sounded fun to me, so I was torn between the two. My answer? Combine aspects of both themes into a single project!

I began my artwork by gathering a variety of papers to create a collaged background - book paper, music paper and tissue paper; and tore them into pieces. Working on an A4 sized piece of 270 gsm cardstock, I adhered them randomly around the page using matte gel medium. The collage provides an interesting background to work over, adding extra depth and texture to the piece.

Now it was time for colour! When I think of summer I picture the tropics. Lush greenery, brightly coloured flowers, and the sun shining down. I decided to translate this imagery into my piece by using bright acrylic paints. I chose warm tones to start - pinks, orange and yellow - and applied the paint using a silicone spatula in an entirely random fashion. 

With my abstract colour layer complete, it was time to think about the composition of my piece. I wanted to introduce some of the imagery that came to my mind when I thought of summer. I started with the Dream of Palms Mask to begin building my foreground layers. I applied green acrylic paint using a sponge in the diagonally opposing corners. 

To build further on the foreground, I applied a darker shade of green paint with my spatula around some of the edges of the page.

After the paint had dried, it was time to switch to ink to further build my layers. I selected the Floral Mandala Lace stencil, as it had a section I thought would add some interesting detail to my piece. 

Using only a selected area of a stencil, rather than the image as whole, is something I often do when creating artwork like this. It also influences my choice when purchasing stencils; as I find smaller details within larger designs that I know will give me more value from my stencils.

I used a sponge to apply teal ink through the section of my stencil; layering it over the green paint to mimic the foliage of my summer-inspired lush greenery.

I then repeated the same process, this time masking off a single image from the Blades stencil to represent a flower; which I stencilled several times on my piece. 

Now it was time for a focal image for my artwork. I had a printed paper napkin that featured beautiful coloured parrots on it that I thought would be ideal for my tropical inspired piece. (I have some of these available for sale in my mixed napkin bundle on my Facebook page - just click on the "shop" button to find them.) I carefully cut around the larger parrot and a few of the leaves before separating them from the backing layer.

To ensure that the image was not lost against the background, I lightly sponged some white acrylic paint onto the page where the parrot's head would be. I also sponged some randomly over several areas in the centre of my page, just to strip back a little of the colour.

The parrot and leaves were then adhered to the page using matte gel medium.

To add further depth and variation to the foreground, I used a small paintbrush to add some teal paint amongst the foliage.

At this point the page was all quite flat and needed some dimension to help lift it. I chose the Heartfelt stencil, as it had some leaf shapes I wanted to use to finish off the foliage. 

I masked off the first leaf I wanted to use and applied Colour Blast 'Envy' Colour Paste through the stencil using a palette knife. I repeated the same leaf several times on each of the foliage areas before drying it off with a heat gun.

I then repeated the process with the other leaf design and 'Apple of My Eye' Colour Paste, layering it over the other paste before again drying it off with a heat gun.

From the same stencil, I was also drawn to the cluster of abstract style flowers and decided to use this shape to add further textured detail and some contrast in colour using Colour Blast Lovely Lilac Colour Paste. I repeated the same flowers on three separate areas of my piece. 

After the lilac paste had dried I could see the piece needed some shadowing to help bring the focal image to the front. I used a water soluble pencil to draw around the outline of the parrot, then blended it out with water. 

I also added some stamped detail using my fave Doodle Dots stamp from Viva Las VegaStamps to the background using black ink, which helped to tie in the black from the shadow outline.

At this point I wanted to add some extra stencilled detail to help lighten the piece and tie it all together. I used the Organized Chaos stencil and white acrylic paint to sponge some random spots over the top. 

To finish off, I felt it needed some text, so I added the large embrace your flaws quote and the two smaller phrase stickers from Flutterby Designs. I also added some hand drawn scribbles with black pencil.

I am so happy with the result of this piece - all the bright colours and layers just make my heart sing! 

Despite my love for this piece, I decided that keeping it for myself wasn't the best use of it. Anita from Flutterby Designs will be running a charity art auction at her annual "Create by the Lake" retreat next month to raise funds for 'United in Compassion'. This Australian organisation advocate on behalf of cancer patients for better access to medicinal cannabis as an alternative therapy to alleviate their suffering. 

Here is my finished framed piece, which has been passed onto Anita to be auctioned and will hopefully raise some funds for this very worthy cause. (If you are attending the retreat, you will have a chance to bid on it - please help my piece go to a good home!) 

The Flutterby Designs "Create by the Lake" retreat is being held from the 18th - 21st of July at Lake Keepit Sport & Rec Centre in Gunnedah, New South Wales. If you have never been before, do yourself a favour and go! It's a super fun weekend with lots of like-minded people. (And at the time of writing this, there are only 3 spots remaining!) Click on the event page HERE for all the info.

If you love the stencils I used in this piece, they are available to purchase direct from the StencilGirl® website or you can contact your favourite crafty retailer to enquire. 

Thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you. Until next time, happy creating! X