Stencils, Masks & Mark Making Tools

Stencils

I love stencils and mark making tools!  It's a quick way to add color, texture, layers and pattern to your art whether it be for the background or the focal point.

Stencil Finds From Home

The photos are of some of the things I use including needlepoint canvas, drawer liner, berry containers(green thing), letter stencils, a sponge, punchinella (sequin waste), anything with holes punched out, sink liners, washer and even part of a silk flower.

Mark Making Tools

Now on to mark making tools.  Same thing, look around your house and rubberbands are an easy addition to anything round you can roll across the canvas.  You can also glue items on to craft foam including bubble wrap, rubberbands, hot glue and dry wall tape.

Mark Making Tools

Also included is a purchased brayer, sponges, hand cut rubber stamps, toothbrush, bamboo stick, woodblock letter, film canister (makes cool circles) and some type of spreader from the hardware store. Basically, anything that can ADD paint or take AWAY paint. 

Of course you can buy stencils and mark making tools from craft stores and online.  But, if you look around your house, garage, junk drawer or craft bin there are tons of things you can use as stencils and mark making tools as shown in these photos.

Stencil vs. Mask

One last thing.  What is a stencil vs a mask??  If you think of it this way, it helps.  A stencil is anything that produces a design from the paint going THROUGH an opening.  A mask is anything that leaves a design from the paint going AROUND a solid object.  Also referred to as negative painting sometimes. See photo below for an example of each.  (Technically parts of a stencil are actually a mask, but you get what I mean.) 

Stencil vs. Mask

So, look around and see what you can find. Post your ideas below and share with the group, I'm always looking for new ones!

Next time, how to use stencils, masks and mark making tools with paint, watercolor, pastels, stencil paste, joint compound and anything else I can think of!

As always, thanks for stopping by!