Pastel Stenciling

Pastel-stencil work is a new and exceedingly fascinating
line of art work invented by the author of this work.

As its name indicates, it is a dry stencil process, easy and cleanly in operation.

For school room work it is better than any other method of stenciling. It is reversible, and by its use the most complex geometric, ornamental and other forms become simple.

One great advantage is that both sides of the stencil can be utilized. Because:
(1) The stencils are self-cleaning.
(2) Pigment never adheres sufficiently to cause smudging.

Blending Colors

In making designs by means of pastel stenciling one is enabled to blend colors and give variation to the lines and tints transferred, making modulations that cannot be obtained by any other stencil process.

Parts May Be Taken Out

By means of this method, with the use of the rubber or similar eraser parts of the design may be taken out, in the case of decorative design, gaining the effect of one ornament placed upon another.

The materials used are these:

A sheet of drawing paper
(or the blackboard).
A sheet of oil stencil board.
A pencil for making the design on the stencil.
A pen knife, of which only the extreme end of the blade
need be sharp.

An assortment of colored chalks or crayon. These must be soft to produce the best results.

The wax crayon can be used to a modified degree.

Rather strange to say, working with wax crayons is accompanied by less “mussing up” of the person using them, whereas the work itself is not so productive of neatness in effect as the use of the soft crayons.

Adapted for the Lower Grades

Work with pastel-stencils is admirably adapted for children in the lowest grades, because by this means the study of form becomes peculiarly interesting instead of tiresome. Teachers are thus enabled to supply their young pupils with the necessary models in colored form at hardly any outlay, either in time or money.

As an example, let the teacher cut stencils in shapes shown in Fig. 1, making copies for the pupils. By making them in various colors, color as well as form can be taught with a minimum of effort and a maximum of interest.

The sauce crayon mentioned in Chapter XXVI is excellent for pastel stenciling where soft gray and white effects are desired.