Mary C. Nasser
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New Work Wednesday: A Balance

5/22/2013

30 Comments

 
Last weekend, I was delighted to be a guest blogger this for Artistcellar and share my most recent mixed-media map painting I’ve created!

Lisa from Artistcellar sent me these fabulous 
Celestial and Shooting Stars stencils in the mail!
These are the newest 8 ½ by 11-inch stencils, and are part of the 
Arabian Nights Series.
I just love that these are inspired by Arabic geometry!
Artistcellar Celestial and Shooting Starts stencils
Immediately, I wanted to combine these stencils with my love for maps and thought of astronomy!
I found a few 40-something year-old books about the subject and some wonderful images to collage into my painting.
 Also included is a piece of map scrapbook paper I had left over from making a travel scrapbook.
After collaging these papers onto an 8” x 10”stretched canvas, I added light values with Unbleached Titanium acrylic and dark values with Iridescent Rich Silver and a 6B pencil!
©2013 Mary C. Nasser, A Balance, mixed-media/acrylic on canvas, 8 x 10 inches
Next came the stencil fun! Woo-hoo!

I placed the Arabian Nights stencils directly onto my painting and applied Iridescent Antique Bronze acrylic.
I also grabbed my trustworthy 
Old World Map Series stencils and added Cobalt Turquoise acrylic.
Then I removed the stencils and applied more Cobalt Turquoise with a brush.

I really enjoy using parts of stencils and even wiping away some paint after stenciling.
©2013 Mary C. Nasser, A Balance, mixed-media/acrylic on canvas, 8 x 10 inches
Then I layered the Celestial stencil once more, this time with Cobalt Teal.

Again, I selected just a section of the painting to apply a portion of the stencil to and paint.
This stencil creates a wonderful sense of movement with its flowing pattern of five, nine, and eleven-point stars.
©2013 Mary C. Nasser, A Balance, mixed-media/acrylic on canvas, 8 x 10 inches
Finally, I added some complementary colors to my Cobalt Turquoise and Teal: Iridescent Copper Light and Iridescent Rich Copper with the Shooting Star stencil and brush. To give the painting a sense of depth, I repeated the comet tail shape from the Shooting Star stencil in a variety of sizes. Repeating shapes add to the visual rhythm of the painting.

I love the way the swirling comet tails form hexagons and flowing pinwheels!
©2013 Mary C. Nasser, A Balance, mixed-media/acrylic on canvas, 8 x 10 inches
The very last step was incorporating the text a balance – because I love the way one globe is balancing on the other in this composition.
©2013 Mary C. Nasser, A Balance, mixed-media/acrylic on canvas, 8 x 10 inches
©2013 Mary C. Nasser, A Balance, mixed-media/acrylic on canvas, 8 x 10 inches
This painting will be on display in my upcoming solo show Navigate at Schmidt Art Center!
The first day of the exhibition is May 24th! Super-excited!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog.
Hope you're having a wonderful week!
Mary^
30 Comments
Puddles & Price link
5/22/2013 09:49:14 pm

We love seeing the process of your work! Thank you for sharing, and lots of warm wishes for a great show!

Hugs ^_^
Sampson and Lorrie
Puddles & Price
www.puddlesprice.com

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aga link
5/23/2013 06:23:04 pm

Dear Mary, your art is beautiful. There is so much geography, topography, wisdom, expression and great matched colours in your works. It is absolutely fantastic and very, very inspiring. Thank you for sharing.

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ann krier link
5/23/2013 09:59:24 pm

Oh this is one of the best yet ! I love stencils and can see this adding to the depth of one of my lighthouse backgrounds. Thanks for sharing. HPPF !

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Christine link
5/23/2013 11:03:16 pm

lovely stencil work Mary! You have incorporated it well into your unique art style.

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Annette G link
5/23/2013 11:31:42 pm

Love how you've used the stencil's Mary. Happy PPF, Annette x

http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

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Faye link
5/24/2013 01:13:17 am

Mary, this is fantastic. You've got the maps and the colors you usually have plus that beautiful stencil. Great piece.

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Silke link
5/24/2013 02:16:06 am

Oooo, how cool! I love seeing all the stencil work incorporated into your beautiful work! Nice!! xoxo Silke

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Tamara Hess link
5/24/2013 02:29:24 am

This is my favorite one so far. GORGEOUS color and composition. You really make the piece come together in an amazing way. Even your steps are beautiful! :)

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Cynthia G Garner link
5/24/2013 03:36:05 am

Beautiful Mary....i just love the look of old maps....I really like all the different elements you used in this....

blessings,
Cynthia♥

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Beth link
5/24/2013 04:08:44 am

wow LOVE it!!!

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Missy K link
5/24/2013 04:13:33 am

This is one of my favourites... ever! I love the stars so much...

Good luck with your show :)

Karen x

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Kat link
5/24/2013 06:07:08 am

Mary, what a journey you took us on here, this is a very special piece, your colors are always very lovely and there is indeed a real balancing feel to this one, very intriguing and flowing, bravo to you! Best of wishes for your expo! xx

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Morag link
5/24/2013 06:51:53 am

You are so creative with your map collages Mary! You do such amazing things with them!

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deb link
5/24/2013 07:07:09 am

Hi Mary!
Found you thru Corrine's blog and i just had to tell you how i love this painting! I've had a wonderful time browsing your blog. I hope you'll pop over and say hi! Hugs! deb

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Sharon link
5/24/2013 07:13:27 am

Loved to see the process in your work, very creative use of the stencils.

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Ayala Art link
5/24/2013 08:16:26 am

Congrats on the show!!! I hope it goes better than dreamed!

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Arnoldo L. Romero link
5/24/2013 09:03:51 am

I love the depth you were able to achieve in this piece. Blessings!

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Lynn Cohen
5/24/2013 03:51:01 pm

Beautiful art Mary! HPPF!

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Bev
5/25/2013 02:13:15 am

What a gorgeous painting. Love your description of its creation! Thanks for sharing it.

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Giggles link
5/25/2013 05:04:58 pm

Thanks for sharing your beautiful process... gorgeous!

Hugs Giggles

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Kirstin link
5/25/2013 08:37:54 pm

This is amazing Mary! love the composition of you painting and those stencils are very cool x

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aimee link
5/26/2013 06:12:49 am

Oh, Mary, I love what you did with these stencils! You know how to get just the right mix of earthiness and blue... I always think of travel and maps and history whenever I come here!

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wilme link
5/26/2013 10:29:46 am

Incredible, I loved the process from beginning to end and the colors you chose were so beautiful. Thank you for sharing :)

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maria link
5/26/2013 01:59:06 pm

Mary thank you for your visit to my blog. I appreciate your wonderful comment. Your artwork is beautiful! :)

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Elisa Choi
5/26/2013 06:34:07 pm

awesome job mary. love how professional you work and the result is beautiful!

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Ritu Dua link
5/26/2013 07:07:55 pm

This is absolutely magnificent !! Love the process, the effect, the blues, the oranges,the shapes ...well everything about it :)

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Natasha May link
5/27/2013 12:49:44 am

Fabulous stencils and I love how you used them. :) Good luck to you with the exhibition. :)

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sandra sherman link
5/27/2013 10:07:40 pm

Its lovely to see the progression shots of your work. Great use of colour and the stencils add depth. Good luck with your exhibition:)

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JKW link
5/28/2013 10:12:49 pm

I love the new concept, colors, mix, and tools. Fantastic. Blessings, Janet PPF

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Krysta
6/16/2013 11:42:45 am

Lovely work! :)

Which astronomy books did you find? I'm always on the lookout for those myself.

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    About Me
    I love creating mixed-media art layered with maps! This blog is a place for me to share my work and what inspires me. Read more here.
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