Blog: Stencil

Golden Gate – Art Journal Page

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

Emma Lazarus

Lady Liberty is right at my front door …well I used to see her until last year from my studio window- but now a tall new building is blocking the way. I love to take the bike in the summer and go out to Liberty State Park and enjoy a view of her. What a wonderful symbol she is.

It was freeing and good to create this page springing from a crazy mash up of added paints, patterns, texture and colors. I thought that was fitting for this page.

Here are some of the supplies I used – some are affiliate links:


Nat

Comments (2)

  • Torsa Saha

    |

    Wow!! Stunningly beautiful!!

    Reply

Leave a comment

Look for Stars – Art Journal Spread

“When it rains, look for rainbows, when it’s dark, look for stars.”

The color scheme I used for this spread was actually inspired by a student using it in one of my classes at The InkPad a couple months ago. I so loved the mixture of ochre, blue and purple that I made a mental note to play with this some time. And there it is :)

I painted the background blue and then layered the Santiago 9×12 Stencil on top using yellow oxide spray paint . I layered the Stencil again on some of the areas – some on the previous stenciled areas, some slightly off and used some light purple paint which I stippled with cosmetic brush through the stencil here and there.

I used the Santiago Tile Foam Stamp which has the same pattern but in a smaller scale with purple acrylic paint and stamped on top of some tags. I love how the different scales of the same pattern- but also the different quality and texture of applications play with each other and tie the design together. I love Foam Stamps also for the texture the stamped image reveals when using a smaller amount of paint.

Here are the supplies I used for this spread – some links are affiliate links


I hope your day is filled with rainbows and stars today!

Nat

Comments (2)

  • Torsa Saha

    |

    Brilliant!! Love this page ??

    Reply

Leave a comment

Do Things Different – Art Journal Spread

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you’ve always got” attributed to many- including Albert Einstein. Regardless who said this…smart ! A good reminder to change things up once in a while!

I saturated the background with different colors of acrylic spray paints and used the back of a brush to scratch some marks into it. I layered the Santa Fe 9×12 Stencil on top and sprayed over it with black spray paint. As you can see some of the areas – on the right bottom – are a little bit blurred- that is because I did not wait until the background was totally dried …- I am so impatient sometimes. But, I am ok with this. This page was a 10 minute affair and it made me happy to just do something creative that morning that was followed by loads of paper- and computerwork. 

I tore a manilla shipping tag and added the journaling with my fountain pen. Anyone else still loves to write with a fountain pen, besides me? I just love the feel of a fountain pen.

I like how the black pops the pattern off the colorful background. This spread makes me long for some traveling in the South West, yummie food and summer :)

Here are the supplies I used for this super quick art journal spread- some links are affiliate links:


Wishing you a fantastic day!

Nat

Leave a comment

Don’t Stand Still – Art Journal

“It’s only cold if you are standing still!” – Let’s keep on moving :)

I painted the background with acrylic paint and then layered the New Orleans 9×12 Stencil onto it and moved it around using different colored spray paints. The New Orleans stencils were inspired by the beautiful wrought iron balconies, gates, and fences known as “Iron Lace” in and around the city of New Orleans. New Orleans was one of the cities I visited on my very first trip to the U.S. in 1994 – and I really have to go back – I loved it a lot.

I pushed back the background by scraping some gesso using an old gift card over certain areas of the spread and stenciled over those gesso-ed areas using the New Orleans 4×4 Stencil.

For the catalogue image that I pasted onto the spread I used markers and acrylic paints.

Which city have you been to once and really want to go back to?

Here are some of the supplies I used for the spread – some links are affiliate links


have a wonderful day!

Nat

Comments (4)

  • Julie

    |

    What lovely layers and great quote! thank you for the process….I have a page with too much gesso on it to push back the color. Laying down stencils over it is the perfect solution (I’m slapping my forehead as I can’t believe I did not think to do this LOL!) I love how the white marker makes the page & image pop (another “why didn’t I think of this). Thank you for the inspiration, as always.

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      Thank you Julie! Yeah- got and stencil over that spread- hope you share what you did!!! hugs, nat

      Reply

  • Sandi Miaskoff

    |

    This piece is beautiful. And the way you integrate pictures from different publications is awesome.
    I have a question about that, when you use a marker or paint on an image, does the paper warp?
    Keep ’em comin’. Sandi

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      Thank you so much Sandi! As for the wrapping – When I use an acrylic marker, I don’t have any problems at all as the flow of paint is pretty low. As for using paint – I make sure to dry brush the paint on and use not super fluid paint. So with all that I so far never had a problem with the paper warp. It can wrap more likely when I apply it to the background – so I try to do that slow and make sure I apply the gel medium evenly. Hope that helps Sandi! have a wonderful weekend, nat

      Reply

Leave a comment

A Stroll Through the Hood – Art Journaling Page

Strolling through my hood really makes me happy – I love my city and I love the inspiration I get from it. I wrote a little about these warm feelings towards my home city in this journaling spread. For the page I painted with white gesso over a spread which I had used before to clean off some paint during painting on a canvas. I applied the gesso in areas more like a wash, as I like to have the underlaying background showing through for visual interest, but it does look way better knocked back a lot.

I had used the Beacon 9×12 Stencil on a different art journal spread with spray paint and cleaned off the access paint on the stencil with a deli paper sheet, resulting in the negative imagery of the Beacon Stencil- I love it- I love both versions. I ripped out an area of the printed deli paper and applied it with Gel Medium to the Background.

I also used the Granada 9×12 Stencil after using it on a different spread to clean it off on this page. Since it has the same colored red spray paint those marks here and there add some nice marks.

I stamped  using black archival ink with the stamps included in the Stroll Through the Hood 1 and Stroll Through the Hood 2 and applied them around the page- I love how the black ink makes the images really pop off the page

I also used a red ink pad to stamp with the Love Knots Stamp here and there and to repeat the read color used yet again.

I like this spread a lot- it is a bit different from my usual very paint filled page – but I think you can still see me :)

Here are the supplies I used in this spread- note that some links are affiliate links:


Nat

Comments (4)

  • gerriejohnnic

    |

    Had to wipe my keyboard off…..I drooled on it staring at this print you made! Really, really love your work GF!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      LOL- Gerrie that made me laugh! Thank you so much for your sweet words! have a fantastic weekend!!!

      Reply

  • Joi@RR

    |

    Oh yes… even though it’s different – definitely can see YOU all over these pages Nat. And… this is SPECTACULAR. Love the openess but with so much dimension and hidden treasures to discover. One of my favorites now!! Xj.

    Reply

Leave a comment

Your Dreams Are Valid – Art Journal

“No matter where you are from, your dreams are valid” Lupita Nyong’o

I created this art journaling spread a couple weeks ago when I was making samples for my new stencil release and as I am writing this blogpost right now the quote resonates with me more than ever.

I used my new Kassel 9 x 12 Stencil with this spread. This stencil was inspired by the modern elements that can be found in Kassel, Germany (where I went to school for a couple years) , home to the Documenta art fair for modern and contemporary art.

I used this magazine image with Lupita and so I think a family member (I don’t remember anymore because I tore the image out of the magazine a while ago to use it later) and painted over it with acrylic paints and markers.

Hope you like the spread and the stencil :)

Here is what I used for it – some links are affiliate links:


Nat

Comments (6)

  • pandygirl12

    |

    I love this one, Nathalie. Your style really inspires me. I’m a self-taught novice when it comes to all of this. I did my first CJS this year and enjoyed it so much. Do you ever teach classes in the Raleigh, NC area?

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      Janice, thank you so much! So glad you enjoyed CJS. I would teach in NC if I would get invited. I am always open to travel to teach. Hopefully some day. I always post my classes on my blog or on my Facebook page. HOpefully we will meet each other some day. Have a wonderful rest of the week, nat

      Reply

  • aksusan

    |

    Nathalie,
    Thanks for sharing this awesome quote and your beautiful page with us!
    s

    Reply

  • Cheryl

    |

    Oh, this is just wowzers! I love the color pops and dresses. Especially love the scribble details on both dresses. Awesome journal spread!!❤

    Reply

  • Barb Charlotte, NC

    |

    Just a note to tell you how much I enjoy your work. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

Leave a comment

Be the Light – An Art Journal Spread

“Be the light you want to be in this world”

I love this quote – such a beautiful thought and call to action!

For this spread I used my new Beacon 9×12 Stencil . The stencil design itself was inspired by the gorgeous Art Deco era buildings known as The Beacon in Jersey City. It used to be a hospital and some people believe they are haunted. The Beacon towers sit on a hilltop not far from me and I can see them from the deck.

I used different colored spray paint through the stencil. I cleaned the access paint off the stencil by dabbing a deli paper onto it – you can see a torn out piece of the “clean up” deli paper as an collage element revealing the negative image of the stencil.

I added the journaling and some marks with a pencil.

Do you have a building close to where you live, that inspires you?

Here are some of the supplies I used in this spread- some of the links are affiliate links:

 

Nat

Comments (2)

  • Julie

    |

    I got this stencil but stumped for inspiration so thank you for this post. Love the layers, colors and message. There you go again with the spray paint LOL! I had so much fun playing with them in class. Thank you!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      Yeahhhh- so glad you liked the post and hey there will be more with that stencil to come :) And …do the spray paint —it is so much fun! So glad I was able to show you girls in the San Jose weather :)

      Reply

Leave a comment

Breathing Dreams Like Air

Dreams, we all have them, or so I hope ;) I have a couple more dreams, right now a very easy one … SUMMER – LOL. Yeah- that is one dream, but of course I have a couple more.

I used my new Manhattan Stencils on this page with acrylic paint- the 9×12 and the 4×4 – different sizes, same pattern- BLISS.

I also used the Grunge XXX Stamp with acrylic paint, yup, that’s how I roll. Just make sure to clean the stamp right away so that you don’t ruin it. Baby Wipe is your friend!

Hope you like my pattern play and you are breathing dreams like air today.

Here is a short list of supplies- some links are affiliate links:


Nat

Comments (2)

  • jbonomo

    |

    Love that stencil and the Manhattan stamp too……but seriously, how did i miss the Mark Maker Stamps in class. That’s been on my wish list for awhile….guess I will have to go shopping once again.

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      Thank you so much Julie – Yeah the Manhattan stencil and stamp are one of my faves – it feels to me super vibrant, just as Manhattan – LOL ! The Mark Maker stamps are out of stock but should be back in stock in a couple days again – I reordered them :)

      Reply

Leave a comment

Go ahead, underestimate me! – sassy Art Journal Spread ;)

I thought it was funny :) And I love Lupita Nyong’o and I wanted to use her image from a magazine.

I used my new Chicago Stencil and sprayed over it with acrylic spray paint.

I used different markers to paint over the magazine image. When I applied the magazine image, it crinkled up a bit, which I add to “oops, oh – good now it has some wrinkles and texture- good”

I added the journaling with a red and pink marker and traced the outside of the letters in black. I like the page- even though it is a pretty simple one in terms of layering

Here are the supplies I used – some links are affiliate links:


Wishing you a gorgeous day!!!!

Nat

Comments (6)

  • Julie B

    |

    Love this (and even better in person)……can’t wait for the stencil; love how clean the image from this stencil is with spray paint and the quote cracks me up. Thank you!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      Thank you Julie! HA and now that you played with spray paint in my class…maybe you are on it yourself ;)

      Reply

  • LauraB

    |

    yaaaassss, Queen, yaaaaasssss!

    Reply

  • Barb Charlotte, NC

    |

    Very creative. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

Leave a comment