3 stencil cutting tips for gelatin printmaking
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| ©2012 linda germain – cutting masking stencils for more gelatin prints |
I would rather be playing with ink and mark making tools than cutting stencils but I have to do it to create some new imagery. These are a few more of my Ellsworth Kelly inspired line drawings.
I cut the paper first and then coat with mat medium. The paper is easier to cut that way, but it is more challenging to coat the stencils with mat medium. They want to curl and stick to the table.
Also the mat medium really saturates the edged this way too. The helpful ideas are:
- Use a fresh sharp blade. This is not the place to be frugal.
- When cutting along a line turn the paper instead of turning the knife. This will give you a smoother cut.
- Cut the tiny details first. The stability of the rest of the paper will make it easier to cut these details.
Oh.. Remember to breathe. I use wax paper and coat both sides of the masking stencil several times so that it becomes very strong.
We make stencils as part of the Make Monotypes, online class. Join the list to hear about the next session.
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