DIY Sun Prints Using Watercolor and Stencils (No Sun Needed!)

November 10, 2025

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Sun Prints… Without the Sun!

I’ve always loved the magic of sun prints… That moment when you lift a stencil or leaf to reveal a delicate shadow pattern stained by sunlight. But there’s one small problem: my studio is surrounded by trees, and full sun is a rare visitor.

So, instead of waiting for the perfect day, I decided to see what would happen if I created sun prints without the sun. The results were even more beautiful and exciting than I expected.

What Is a Sun Print (and Why Skip the Sun)?

Traditional sun prints use paper and paint that react to sunlight. But the heart of this technique isn’t really about the sun, it’s about layering color and shape, then letting time and evaporation do the work.

I realized I could get a similar effect indoors using watercolor, shimmer sprays, stencils, and a little patience. The results wouldn’t be identical, but they’d still carry that dreamy, translucent quality that makes sun prints so special.

The “No Sun” Process

I worked with two types of paper (watercolor paper and Yupo paper) and tested different kinds of paint on each.

For watercolor paper: I used watercolor paints and shimmer sprays. Acrylics don’t work well here because they glue stencils to the paper (I learned that the hard way!).
For Yupo paper: I switched to acrylic paints and alcohol inks. Since Yupo is plastic-based, acrylic paint sits on the surface and creates gorgeous, fluid effects.

You’ll also want a few stencils, and I discovered my glue gun stencil from a previous demo was perfect for this. And if your stencils are a little dirty from past use, even better, those bits of leftover paint can create stunning surprises.

I started by wetting both sides of my watercolor paper to relax it and keep it flat. Then I brushed on watercolor paint – loose and free, no perfection needed, and gently placed a stencil on top.

Because I wasn’t using sunlight to dry the paint, I left it to air dry on a flat board. The moisture gradually pulled pigment around the stencil, creating ghostly silhouettes and organic textures.

When I peeled the stencil away, I actually gasped! The patterns were soft, unpredictable, and full of depth.

From there, I experimented wildly:

Using shimmer sprays for a subtle glow.
Trying book pages for vintage texture.
Layering alcohol inks on Yupo for a marbled, abstract look.
Adding leaves and natural shapes under a piece of plexiglass to press everything flat as it dried.

Every variation led to something completely unexpected and beautiful.

Here’s what I discovered along the way:

Dirty stencils are your friend. The leftover pigment adds rich, accidental details.
Moisture control matters. Too dry, and you get sharp edges; too wet, and it blurs into something softer.
Not every inch needs to be perfect. Even if you only like a small section of the paper, that’s enough to use in a future collage.

Follow the Voice That Says “What If…”

When I started this demo, I had no idea what I’d get and that’s exactly why I loved it. I followed the little voice that whispered “Try that. What if you used this instead?”

That voice led me to create papers I never could have planned, from metallic leaf imprints to delicate watercolor gradients.

Art is always a dance between control and letting go. This project reminded me that the most magical results often come from trusting curiosity over perfection.

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