This week we're showing how cool it is to use PanPastels with stencils... I love PanPastels - there are so many different ways to use them. I had a few different ideas that I wanted to try, but I decided to keep it fairly simple. I love all the work with faces that I've seen online lately, but I haven't really tried it myself... I decided this was a great way to start doing some of my own since PanPastels blend so well and work perfectly for this type of thing. Here's my final art journal page for this project:
I thought about going realistic with the skin tones, but in the end I really wanted to use more of the fabulous colors they have... because I LOVE lots of color!
Here's how I did this one...
First, I laid down a layer of Golden Acrylic Ground for Pastels. I wanted to get a bit of texture on the paper (I'm using a Dylusions 9x12 journal) - you can see it in the finished product - the brush strokes from the application, and I really like the look.
Next, I laid down the Stitch a Circle stencil by Maria McGuire and pounced through the openings with a VersaMark pad. I pulled off the stencil (I wipe it off with a baby wipe as it's a bit sticky) and then used a Sofft sponge to apply gold PanPastels - the VersaMark grabs the pastel so that it's darker than the other areas where it's applied. (I gunked it up a bit in places, but I knew this was going to be in the background so I wasn't too precise.)
Next, I laid the Abigail, a Timeless Woman stencil on top and used PanPastels and a Sofft sponge and knife applicators to apply the pastels through the openings. I used different colors and blended them with the applicators. I love how sharp the lines were! (and the cool thing about PanPastels, they're erasable if you do happen to smudge or want to make changes.)
Next I took off the stencil and used my Sofft knives to apply the various colors to the face.
I wanted the design underneath to show through and give a bit of texture - the VersaMark picked up some of the new color which I loved.
Finally, I used just a touch of white acrylic paint in a fine tip bottle to add some highlighting and my Stabilo All Marks pencil to outline the eyes (you could do this with PanPastels too, but I need to practice more before I can do work that fine :) I sprayed the page with a fixative, then I added a strip of washi tape and some journaling - I added that before the gel medium (it seals the tape) so that it would smear a bit - I didn't want it to be legible. And it's done!
And a few close-ups so you can see the PanPastels more up close:
That's it for the project!
Make sure you hop through all of this week's blogs and comment in order to be eligible for this week's giveaway! Here are the blogs to visit:
Giveaway!
All comments on all 4 days of posts will be eligible for an awesome grand prize! Have you ever used PanPastels with stencils? If so, tell us your favorite ways to use them... if not, tell us what techniques you'd like to try if you win!
Edited to add the winner - Congrats to Dana!
If you're inspired to shop for some stencils this week, be sure to check out the Sofft sponges now on sale - they're awesome for stenciling and, of course, working with PanPastels (or both!) There's a variety pack of 4 small Sofft sponges as well as a package of 2 larger sponges great for doing large areas.
Finally, a super huge THANK YOU! to the wonderful people at PanPastel - they were incredibly generous in giving us some of their amazing products to work with this week. Check them out on the PanPastel website and on their Facebook page for more about their fabulous products.
to me she looks very dramatic I love her I have not got any pastels yet but when I do i am going to love trying them out through stencils and for background thanks for the tutorial
Posted by: ros | July 30, 2014 at 01:58 AM
This is fab! Very dramatic.
Posted by: Tasha F | July 30, 2014 at 04:59 AM
I love the dramatic look you've achieved. Thanks for the tutorial.
Posted by: Sandy Gregg | July 30, 2014 at 05:33 AM
Gwen, this is stunningly beautiful! Wow!
Love the richness of colors and all the value and volume you created! This is AMAZING! :)
Posted by: Mary C. Nasser | July 30, 2014 at 06:03 AM
Beautiful! you put a lot of work and effort into your project and it shows.
stamping sue
http://stampingsueinconnecticut.blogspot.com/
Posted by: stamping sue | July 30, 2014 at 07:37 AM
Gwen, she is gorgeous! I love the textures and colors. I just started playing with mine. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Denise Spillane | July 30, 2014 at 07:41 AM
You're really good at creating subtle blends of Pan Pastel colors, and this is a beautiful, dramatic example of just how well that pays off!
Posted by: Cecilia Swatton | July 30, 2014 at 07:45 AM
Absolutely LOVE her face Gwen! So much depth :) Thanks for the creative way you used my circle in the background!
Posted by: Maria McGuire | July 30, 2014 at 08:01 AM
Really dramatic face love it.....
Posted by: Pat Halligan | July 30, 2014 at 08:20 AM
Gwen, this is totally gorgeous! Can't wait to give it a try. Thanks!
Posted by: Judy Millard | July 30, 2014 at 08:28 AM
Absolutely amazing. Love what you've shown us here!
Posted by: Tanya Phenis | July 30, 2014 at 09:08 AM
Fabulous work! I've always been afraid to try pan pastels! Now I can't wait! thanks so much for the opportunity to win!
Posted by: Vick Robinson | July 30, 2014 at 09:24 AM
That is so gorgeous, I cant believe the process and the outcome of this project. Stunning.
Posted by: Heather Thompson | July 30, 2014 at 09:31 AM
Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful tutorial! I love the look of the pan pastels!
Posted by: Pam Hall | July 30, 2014 at 10:02 AM
Your work is amazing. The deep colors on her face are beautiful. Pan pastels are so versatile and I am going to get some of the ground for pastels.
Posted by: Glenda Hoagland | July 30, 2014 at 10:09 AM
great work gwen!
Posted by: stephanie | July 30, 2014 at 11:06 AM
Your portraits this week are amazing! Love your work and pinned it for future reference!
Posted by: Shari Czerwinski | July 30, 2014 at 11:25 AM
My favorite hop post to date! The creating process explained so well, any of us "out here" could follow :) Absolutely stunning stencils, Timeless Woman...one of my favorites next to Seth :)
Posted by: Dara Lynn | July 30, 2014 at 11:58 AM
The shading is amazing. There is so much depth to the page. thanks for sharing. Pan Pastels will become a favorite way to color.
Posted by: marylouh | July 30, 2014 at 12:10 PM
I just love how she turned out, I haven't had the chance to play with more then one pastel but I know I'd love the chance.
Posted by: Theresa P. | July 30, 2014 at 12:18 PM
Wow...such drama! I really am learning a lot about Pan Pastels on this blog hop. Your Abigail is wonderful. Looks like Pan Pastels have to go on my wish list.
Posted by: Jo Murray | July 30, 2014 at 12:49 PM
Oooooo, love your technique. What a cool give away. Enjoy using panpastels in my art journals, gelli prints and so much more
Posted by: Marleen Higginbotham | July 30, 2014 at 12:59 PM
This is stunning! Truly stunning! A big WOW! This needs to be framed and hung on a wall! I love this. You've done a beautiful piece of art here! Thank you for sharing this with us.
Posted by: Jamie Vanskiver | July 30, 2014 at 01:43 PM
Faces are hard for me. I try to make them realistic - but using the intense color makes them more
dramatic
Posted by: Mcsuetexas | July 30, 2014 at 03:17 PM
You did such a nice job on the face! I like the "outside"
the box colors on it.
Posted by: NancyLee | July 30, 2014 at 03:26 PM
She is beautiful Gwen...so very exotic looking!
Posted by: Cindy L | July 30, 2014 at 04:55 PM
Very cool. Love the colors you used...bea
Posted by: bea savellano | July 30, 2014 at 05:49 PM
Abigail goes Star Trek, and on her it looks good. 😉
Posted by: Elizabeth Kaplan | July 30, 2014 at 05:57 PM
Gwen how beautiful. I just love all colors on her face and the strokes make it even more interesting. Cannot wait to try this myself. Pan pastels and stenciling is going to be my new obsession, I can just feel it.
Posted by: Susan Schultheis | July 30, 2014 at 07:47 PM
Thanks so much for sharing! I love what you've done with lady - she looks so pop-in-you-face-ish! I hate to say dramatic because that's what everyone else said, but she really stands out on her own. I hope to use pan pastels in the very near future as currently I do not have any.
Posted by: Janice | July 30, 2014 at 08:02 PM
Wanting to do more faces,would LOVE to try PanPastels on a canvas, thinking it would be less intimidating if I did this with a stencil. Really like this stencil StencilGirl.
Posted by: Beth Figiel | July 30, 2014 at 08:14 PM
Oh my... paint more faces.
Posted by: Beth Figiel | July 30, 2014 at 08:15 PM
I love this journal page, this is the technique I want to try when I win this prize. HA!
Posted by: shari vanpelt | July 30, 2014 at 08:58 PM
I love that you didn't go with skin tones. I love the colors in her face -- very dramatic! And it is so cool how the background stencil shows through. I really need to try PanPastels!!
Posted by: Denise Huntington | July 30, 2014 at 10:07 PM
Very nice! Love the colors and textures!
Posted by: Scrappin' Diva - Cindy B | July 30, 2014 at 10:45 PM
I am glad you didn't go with the traditional skin tones, I really love the colors you used.
Posted by: Cathy von Hassel-Davies | July 30, 2014 at 10:47 PM
Love her! Fabulous choice in colors. Oh my, I'm blown away. I'm definitely going to invest in some Pan Pastels.
Posted by: Laurajo | July 30, 2014 at 11:06 PM
Wow! Beautiful and inspirational….thank you for a great project!
Posted by: Sue | July 31, 2014 at 03:40 AM
Gwen She is beautiful!! Lovely use of both the Pan Pastels and stencils!
Posted by: Jackie P Neal | July 31, 2014 at 05:41 AM
Beautiful use of stencils and pan pastels! I need to try these!
Posted by: Mandy Fariello | July 31, 2014 at 06:37 AM
The colors you chose for her makes me think she could be an actress in a sci-fi movie. Great job!
Posted by: Denise S. | July 31, 2014 at 07:24 AM
I'm loving this stencil. So many diverse projects.
Posted by: April Lopez | July 31, 2014 at 07:25 AM
I have a few Pan Pastels and love drawing faces...your tutorial has given me plenty of inspiration! Beautiful!
Posted by: Robin B. | July 31, 2014 at 07:49 AM
Beautiful Gwen! She has such depth!
Posted by: Janet | July 31, 2014 at 08:10 AM
What an incredible look using these Pan Pastels and the layers of stencils!
Posted by: JeanneLee | July 31, 2014 at 08:15 AM
This is one of my favorite stencils. I hadn't thought of trying it with Pan Pastels but you've sent me in a new direction.
Posted by: Linda on the Prairie | July 31, 2014 at 08:36 AM
She looks very mysterious! Love how you blended to give her depth.
Posted by: Kirsten Reed | July 31, 2014 at 09:23 AM
About all I cansay is WOW very stunning!
Posted by: Marguerite Harty | July 31, 2014 at 09:50 AM
I love her- she is so mysterious to me. Love her texture and colors! Gorgeous work
Posted by: Heather Ferguson | July 31, 2014 at 09:52 AM
Fabulous result with pan pastel, loved your portrait!
Posted by: Ruth L | July 31, 2014 at 12:57 PM