Kirigami and making new stencils for Printmaking

I spent 3 hours at the bookstore seeking visual inspiration. I did not really think that I would buy any books, because I am a library girl. But I did find this Kiragami book, Everybody Kirigami! by Mitsuhiko Imamori.

So I cut some stencils from copy paper, while I was watching re-runs of the Doctor Blake Mysteries. I like to cut stencils from thin and easy to cut paper and then make them stronger with multiple coats of matt medium after the stencil is cut.

I know some folks don’t have the patience for this process. But it works for me. I lightly coat one side at a time and move it while it is drying so that it does not stick to the plastic page protector. The weak spots need extra coats.

I did have to print with them all before I even coated them. I get so excited and the I need to see what the stencil will do when I use it. So I tested each one on some fabric prints in process.

This frog just makes me smile. I am not  really sure how I will use this image. Maybe as a a card image.

I picked these up off the floor and could not throw them away. These “hole” stencils can be used as well to make bold shapes, with or with out the gelatin plate. I made these as a by product of the masking stencils and without specific intention.

Where do you look for inspiration for stencils? What materials do you like to use to cut your stencils from? If you would like to make a gelatin and glycerin plate to use with your stencils, get the FREE recipe below.