I have been playing with new materials and finding printmaking tools that are good for making stencils and some that I just don’t care for.
First let me tell you I never use to like cutting stencils because it seemed to take a long time and I really would rather be pulling prints. But these new tools are making creating stencils a little easier and more fun.
If you struggle with your exacto knife then download my new Cutting SKILLS Worksheet by Linda Germain Print it out on copy paper and card stock, then cut exactly on the lines and see what you learn.
Printmaking tools
- Yupo paper is a polypropylene material. I got the translucent style and used it to cut traditional hole stencil to use with a stretched screen. Loved it!
- Small pointed wood burning tool – worked great when cutting the Yupo stencil.
- Sand paper to sand off the burr created by the wood burning tool
Love Yupo paper for stencils, sand paper for removing the burr created by the wood burning tool to cut the stencil - Hot Knife – did not work well for me. Ergonomically the angles were off. And the tip length was too long for me to be comfortable.
- Pivoting finger knife was not comfortable to use
- Straight finger knife was not at the best angle for me.
Cutting tools that I did not care for when making stencils for printmaking If you would love to benefit from all my mistakes, knowledge and experience with making stencils for mixed media projects then you are just in time.
Registration opened today and you can join us in the 4 week Make Stencils Workshop. Read the details here.
Stencils are the foundation of gelatin printmaking and screen printing. You will complete this class a confident stencil maker ready to make your message clear through the imagery that you make.
Hope to see you in the next class.