Tips for Adding Details to a Leaf Stencil

The most popular decorative painting designs include a leaf stencil – the ivy vine, a bunch of grapes with leaves, a rose… Here are a couple of tips to add details to leaves.

Use a very thin artist brush to run some veins through leaves. You can picture a leaf and how the veins run through it. If not go into the yard and get one. The real trick is to remember that almost anything goes. The lines don’t have to be exactly straight. Just relax and pull the brush from the base of the leaf to the tip. If the brush runs out of paint before you reach the tip, don’t worry. It's a perfect effect!

While painting veins, try pouring two or three different paint colors onto your palette (just a small amount of each). Wet a thin bristle brush with paint by pulling it through the different colors while rolling the handle through your fingers. Now with one stroke your brush is spreading a variety of colors onto the leaf. Try using the same rolling motion when painting the veins.

You can even use this technique to show off the seasons on your leaves. For example, use a pumpkin or mustard color with a green for a fall look.

Here is an example of a painting using the above tips. A small drop of mustard was added to a light green for contrast.

Just a little side note: I know this article is about the leaf stencil, but I wanted to share with you a tip that I used on the grapes. I painted white spots on each grape to give them that fresh, wet look. To do this use either a dot from the tip of a small round paint brush or drag the brush a little so you have a very short line. Since the grapes are round, drag the brush in a small curve. Also, I like to use a very light gray instead of a bright white.

By the way, if you like the Grapes and Leaf Stencil featured in this example, why don’t you head over to Designs From Penny for this design and many others. They feature some great cut and paint designs that will be emailed to you shorly after purchase so you won't have any shipping to pay.

If you are looking for on-line arts and crafts suppliers, here are a few of my favorites.

Mister Art.com is a great place for all of your arts and crafts needs plus they have a dedicated section to stenciling.

Dick Blick Art Materials carries fine art supplies with a good supply of stencil making materials. This is the place to look for fine quality art and craft tools.

If you are looking for a good source for quality craft paints, then Joann.com is the place for you. You will find paints by Delta Ceramacoat, Folk Art, Americana and DecoArt. Plus they have fabric paints and applicators.

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