Linda Edkins Wyatt: October 2019

When StencilGirl® columnist Tina Walker suggested a new challenge--using one stencil but creating three very different projects--I was intrigued. We were asked to select only one stencil and use it for a journal spread, a home decor item, and a project of our own choosing. We could not use any other stencils on the project.

The hard part was choosing which stencil from my stash. I needed something that was versatile and distinctive but could translate across three categories. I settled on a small design from the June 2019 exclusive StencilClub collection from June Pfaff Daley called Aboriginal, which was inspired by Aboriginal artwork from Australia. I chose the medium sized stencil, which has traditional marks and patterns.

For the home decor project, I stenciled (and collaged and embossed and painted) an inexpensive wooden picture frame that I picked up at Michael's for $1. First, I covered it with matte medium and layered on recycled turmeric teabags. They have a lovely golden color and give a warm, earthy feeling. Next, I used the Aboriginal 6" x 6" stencil with a fine white embossing powder.

The frame looked pretty good with the golden background and white embossing, but I decided to push the envelope a little and add more to it. I sponged some Distress Ink and Lumiere paints on top and it began to take on a feeling of the ocean. I decided to add a compass stamp to enhance the nautical feel. I stamped them onto deli paper, carefully cut them out, and adhered them with heavy matte medium.

I had intended to put a family photo in the frame, but it didn't look quite right. I found a favorite ATC, combined it with a pretty piece of scrapbook paper, and mounted it on a black background. It was just the right thing for my nautical/Aboriginal frame!

Next up: my journal page. Here's how it developed:

I used strips of Jane Davenport's washi tape for the facial features, then painted in skin color to match.

I added wild hair with Derwent watercolor pencils.

I wanted to use a favorite quote by Maggie Kuhn, and tried a combination of stamped letters and handwritten words.

On the final version, I threw caution to the wind and hand-wrote the quote, making the words FEAR and TRUTH extra large and bold. To fill in the middle, I used watercolor pencils to create swirly lines.

The third project was Artist's Choice so I chose one of my go-to projects: a paper doll. I used a template from Retro Cafe Arts and mix and matched papers, vintage images from The Graphics Fairy, and a stamped face from PaperArtsy designed by Lynne Perrella.

First, I used the stencil on black paper with white embossing powder.

Next, I cut some paper doll parts from it using my template. I gathered up some doll parts that I had already cut and selected some pieces that would go well with the Aboriginal black and white design. I decided to lean toward a black and white doll, but in the end, did use a pop of color on the wings.

The final paper doll

Detail shot

Isn't it amazing how very different the projects turned out?

And don't forget to check out Tina's blogpost, and the work from the other artists involved in the project!

For about 20 years, our family lived within walking distance of a beach. We went to it in all seasons--not just the bright, sunny, peaceful days of summer--but on the days that it was freezing, and there were big chunks of ice cluttering the beach...or the crisp fall days when it was too cold to swim and the leaves were golden and covered with frost. In any weather, the beach was a place to rest, gather our thoughts, meditate, and recharge.

Now we live in a small city apartment and that beach, on the eastern end of Long Island, lives in our memories. My daughter was recently redecorating her city bedroom. The gauzy curtains and green plants she chose reminded me somehow of that serene beach. I realized that her walls were bare, so I thought: "Why not gift her with a painting of our favorite beach?"

I didn't want to start with a plain white canvas. To add texture and color, I used my go-to supply--recycled turmeric teabags. (I save all kinds of teabags, dry them, empty out the contents, then flatten the teabags and use them in my paintings and mixed media projects. You can see my tutorial on using teabags by clicking here.)

First, I chose a 12"x12" stretched canvas. Next, using a spatula, I covered the canvas with matte medium, added teabags, and covered them with a layer of matte medium.

I like to use the tops that are cut off the teabags to create visual interest, forming X, L or + marks.

Next, I pulled out acrylic colors that reminded me of the sun and sea and sand, and a whole bunch of StencilGirl® stencils. I looked for designs that would hint at waves, rocks, clouds or the sun.

The lacy lotus design by Jessica Sporn and Gwen Lafluer's decorative medallion gave the feel of clouds.The golden ochre of the turmeric background gave a sense of sunshine.

A design from the September 2018 StencilClub® set by Carol Wiebe was perfect for rocks--since the beach is on the bay side of Long Island's South Fork there are quite a few rocks mixed in with the sand.

The painting was starting to shape up!

I added layer after layer until I got the look I wanted.

I wanted to create a feeling of the little hill on the right side of the beach and the rocky paths leading to the shore. When I added the dark teal wavy marks, I realized it was too much. The color was too dark, and the shapes to obvious. So, I just stenciled over it with a lighter color and the dark teal receded into the background.

There are also wooden fences here and there to help prevent erosion, and also to keep people from trampling delicate beach grasses and flowers, so I used brown paint with a medium sized StencilClub® mash up set from January 2019 designed by Seth Apter and Mary Beth Shaw to give the worn fence effect.

Another StencilClub® set, Mary Beth Shaw's February 2019 private collection, was used to add the feeling of rocks and water.

A final touch was adding little brush marks and dots with the dark brown paint to make the viewer's eye follow the Z shaped path from the sand and rocks, through the fence opening, and down to the waterline.