There are only 11 original forms in this particular composition compared to the first stencil collage on the previous page. Can you find them? The format here was a 12"X18" light purple construction paper, with wall paper, tissue paper, marker textures, colored strings and origami paper for materials.

  This is the least complex of the stencil collage examples. The 2 jar shapes shown and all the others, are easy double cuts from thin tagboard or construction paper. Materials in the composition are fabric wallpaper, colored strings, tissue paper, origami paper,and marker drawn textures. In both above examples, open shapes were used both inside and outside the cut forms.

  Stencil collages offer many expressive opportunities for beginning and advanced students alike. It's an excellent introduction into more advanced procedures, provides skill experiences in good craftsmanship and a reinforcement for the elements of art. Given such freedom to roam and wander, one's skills in designing interesting, well balanced patterns of repeat is nicely tested. If the design of many pieces seems too complex one can always remove some opening up the background until a more pleasing balance of related forms results.

For a neat and different alternative, see Transparent Collage which borrows the stencil cutting technique into a different vision.