Some days you are working on a piece of art, you know, seeing where it takes you and yet you feel like it still needs something you’re just not sure what. Then you go out to get the mail and what is there in the box with all the junk and bills but a beautiful little stencil that Stencil Girl Designer Mary Nasser has sent you to play with for her upcoming blog hop! And it was just the thing this piece needed!! Love it when that happens:-)
It all started with an image I saw in the Life section of the newspaper; I just had to draw her what with that fabulous ruffled collar!
I washed out the water-soluble pencil with a wet brush
I used acrylic paint washes for this piece, on 90lb hot press watercolor paper (Fabriano)
Stretching your watercolor paper by taping it down to a watercolor board and then wetting it with a sponge and letting it dry will help the paper to remain flat
Stencil Girl Designer Michelle Ward’s cool stencil provided the details for her dress!! And added a little something to the background too.
Then I used Mary’s beautiful Compass Rose Stencil. I offset it to paint a shadowed side on the points as well.
Mary is giving away a set of FOUR of her stencils!! For a chance to win all you have to do is leave a comment by 11:59PM Central Time on October 4th. The more blogs on the hop you visit and comment on the higher your chances are of winning!
Links to visit before October 4th!
StencilGirl Talk
Mary C. Nasser
Mary Beth Shaw
Jessica Sporn
Janet Joehlin
Heather Haymart
Judy Shea
Pam Carriker
Nancy Wethington
Talk2TheTrees
Corrine Gilman
Rose Wilde
Nancy Curry
Kristen Powers
Carolyn Dube
Maria McGuire
Mary C. Nasser
Mary Beth Shaw
Jessica Sporn
Janet Joehlin
Heather Haymart
Judy Shea
Pam Carriker
Nancy Wethington
Talk2TheTrees
Corrine Gilman
Rose Wilde
Nancy Curry
Kristen Powers
Carolyn Dube
Maria McGuire
Very nice….Like how you used the stencils. Thanks for a chance to win
Oh my goodness! THis is just amazing!
Wow…very cool how the answer showed up for you. It worked out perfectly. Love those artful surprises.
Beyond stunning. Beautiful how you changed the registration on the compass to give it shading and dimension.
What an amazing way to use the stencils. Gorgeous!
Dang, this piece is phen-om-in-al! Love everything about it, particularly the use of these stencils
I’m so hoping to find them in my mailbox.
Pam, you always leave me in awe. I see how you think and respond to what you are doing. Brava!
is amazing, I love the colors!
Thanks for the wonderful opportunity to win these stencils. Have a happy day – Heidi
I love what you did with these stencils and of course I’d love to win them!
One of my favorite stenciled EVER!!!! Love how you used it in the background and on the dress! Beautiful face too! Tx!
Love your piece and the way you’ve used Mary’s stencil and others!
Looks original with the compass rose at the corner…
Cool way to combine all the stencils – I always enjoy coming here to see what you create – love all your pieces! Thanks for the inspiration!
Carmen L
Beautiful painting and the stencil is a great accent
I love this painting. I happened to use the same stencil Mary Nasser, Stencil designer. I really have enjoyed doing this blog hop. It is my first one. Thanks for having me.
Love the painting. I happened to use the same stencil for my project. So many talented folks on this blog hop.
I love all the stencils and how they were used. Thx for sharing.
love all your work! Thanks for sharing.
You nailed this medieval art. Love it.
I just love your art and using Mary’s stencils with your project looks fantastic! I would love to win a set of Mary’s stencils. Thank You.
Just beautiful. I love how you used the stencil in your work.
I love to use stencils and we just used them in class of Art Nouveau What fun!
Love your project!!! The stencils you used really add the perfect touch to a beautiful piece of art!
Great project! Thanks for sharing and a chance to win!
Love what you have done with the stencils!
pam you are at it always, making me so much want to learn from you. you always stand out from the crowd. love the beautiful piece you did. someday i sure would love to own a pam oriiginal for my favorite artists wall. you know i love what you did with the stencils and all the tips you gave along the way. love you always. on to hoping and hopping. xoxo
Another absolutely beautiful piece. So rich. The compass rose is the perfect addition.
Great use of the stencil. I would love to be entered to win them.
Love your mail story. I do the same thing. The compass rose stenccil came out beautiful on your painting. It definitely looks 3D.
That is such an appealing image and the stencil placed perfectly for balance.
Oh, Pam!
This is absolutely exquisite! I am blown out of the water by this portrait and use of the compass stencil!
What an honor to have you participate in this blog hop!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart,
Mary
This was way cool. Its a work of art for sure. I agree.. I get the mail and if I see the key for the “big package” box I get so excited!!!! You did a great job.
wow-she is stunning -the rich jewel tone colors are amazing too!
so happy to have received your today’s article as i have subscribed to your blog. I start a second round of hopping as to leave my messages. I love this creation and what a depth it gives to use the stencils…the background looks like velvet. The compass rose gives it this aspect of the early discoverers although the women had to stay at home and wondered if their men returned safely….Oh how I would love it to win the give away!
What a great use of the stencil! I love it!
Beautiful!
Mary’s stencil was the perfect addition to your piece! LOVE it!
Love your use of the stencil. Great stencils.
I love your piece. What a great stencil!?!
Thanks for the chance to win!
Wow, I love this piece. It must have been fun painting that ruffled collar and the stencils, I love what you have done with them. I have never seen stencils used in a painting like this before. I love it.
I love how you offset the compass rose stencil. It looks great on your artwork!
This is my first time visiting your blog, and I am so glad I did. Thanks to Mary for broadening my horizons. Lovely painting.
wonderful painting with this stencils!
This piece is beautiful. What a nice surprise, to find the gorgeous stencil in the mailbox. Maybe I will find such a nice surprise in my mailbox, now that I have entered this contest. Thank you for sharing your work! For I always find inspiration from your work.
Stunning Pam!
Wow!!! those are awesome! I thought I would never buy another stencil as I already have HUNDREDS but this one is just amazing! Thanks!
A great work of art as always. Great use of Mary’s and Michelle’s stencils. Lots of inspiration here!!
the stencil is exactly what you needed to finish up. Great job
T.Whitmore
Pam – I love how you used the stencil. Your royal women are always amazing, and this adds just a little bit more pizzaz. I especially like the shading on the compass rose.
This is just great! Offsetting the compass rose completed it.
you make it all look so easy!
Oh My Goodness….that stencil was perfect for your new piece! LOVE the painting and how you used Michelle’s stencils for the dress! {That face would make a great stamp….just saying!
} Thanks for sharing!
Love it…perfect use of the compass rose
I love it. I’m always inspired by your work.
Fantastic work. love how you incorporated the stencil. brilliant
The Compass Rose looks perfect on your piece
Very nice.