Is stenciling dead?
Despite the fact that some 
of my favorite stencil companies have gone out of business, and that an organization founded to promote the art of stenciling has chosen to remove any mention of stenciling from both its name and its mission statement (how’s that for irony?), I have to say no.
Thousands of times a day people search for stencils on stencilsearch.com, and decorative artists continue to tell me how they are using stenciling in their profession. The stencil is a timeless tool that can be used by artists and hobbyists of all skill levels to create simple motifs or complicated theorems. You can even use them for scrapbooking!
The art of stenciling has been around for centuries, and it’s not going to disappear any time soon. It continues to change and evolve and to be interpreted in new ways by a multitude of talented artists. In upcoming blog posts I will be highlighting some of these artists and showcasing the techniques they are using to carry on this ancient art form.
For information on the long (and often colorful!) history of stenciling, visit these sites:
September 1st, 2008
I’m very sorry to report that another stencil line is being “retired”. L.A. Stencilworks, which brought us gorgeous designs like those in the murals shown here, is now offline. At this time, some of their designs may still be available through Stenciled Interiors or Stencilwerks.
Tags: Stencil Designers, stenciled murals, stencils
August 31st, 2008
Royal Design Studio’s Web site is one of my favorite online stenciling destinations, and it now has a completely new look. Check out their Inspiration section for fresh ideas on using stencils.
Tags: RDS, stencils
January 14th, 2008
Artistic Painting Studio recently introduced a new collection of thicker 10mil single overlay stencils.
Tags: APS, stencils
January 14th, 2008
Another stenciling company is closing its doors, as the owners move on to other ventures. I found this posted today at Goddess Designs:
…after 10 years designing and selling stencils and almost as long doing the same with stamps, we three goddesses are moving on to other ventures. For a limited time all stencils, stamps, t-shirts, card kits, and window decals will be 50% off…
Tags: Goddess Designs, Stencil Designers, stencils
January 6th, 2008
Earlier today, I received a copy of an email Jan Dressler sent to her customers. Jan says:
“I know you each have a story about why you have used Dressler Stencils, how you first got excited about them, how they have affected your home, your career, your life. I need your stories, to show how we have shared our love of art, design and craft with each other.”
Later, as I was searching stencilsearch.com for dragonfly stencils, a memory involving a Dressler stencil did come back to me. Almost 8 years ago, I spent a wonderful weekend stenciling in St. Louis, and here’s one of the things my friend Tammi painted that weekend, using a Dressler stencil:
Tags: dragonflies, dressler, Stenciling, tammi
January 6th, 2008
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