Mining For Lace

"Mining For Lace"
24" x 12"
Mixed Media on museum wrapped canvas
On this, my second painting in this series, I wanted to use lace, but I didn't want it to look frilly or girly. I wanted it to look like in order to get lace, you had to mine it, like one would mine gold or other precious substances.

I adore lace, so this is a statement piece for me. And it kind of looks like the lace-covered cowgirl boots I got over the weekend... well, they're not in these colors, but they are just as fancy.

Carol

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Slice

"Slice"
12" x 12"
Acrylic and then some
I'm trying new things. New to me, anyway.  This one is in the style of Carol Nelson, a Colorado artist. I wanted to see if I could use her cruciform format and the Golden liquid colors I've come to enjoy on the past couple of paintings. I liked the process, but as I did it, other ideas flooded my head, as often happens when there are no parameters.  Oh, and the entire surface is coated in a layer of joint compound, carved and wrinkled under saran wrap before it dried.  

It was fun, but I'm pretty sure I'll keep exploring. I'll be going to a workshop in a couple of weeks, so it's good to loosen the shackles a bit.

Carol

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Arched Again

"Arched Again"
8" x 10"
Acrylic on canvas panel
The comments about my first Arched painting were so encouraging that I decided to make another one. This time I limited my palette to a triad of blue violet, red violet and yellow. The elements remain the same, although in a different format. 

I am well, but thank you for asking.  I've been out of town, then   I entertained family members from Wisconsin and Michigan.  Painting was not a high priority, but it certainly feels good to be back in my studio tonight.

Carol

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Splat!

"Splat!"
12" x 12"
Acrylic on canvas panel
Despite the random appearance of this study in value, line and texture, I guided the rivulets across the canvas with the tip of a palette knife and an atomizer. There is a painting underneath the tributaries that I painted last night with the intention of glazing over it with gesso tonight. Once that dried, I set forth with the black and finally the red to finish the piece. It's a completely different palette for me, not to mention ... style.  I'm on an adventure!  Oh, and this time I will be making reservations, taking my camera and eating out.  I'll be back early next week. 

Carol

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Arched

"Arched"
14" x 11"
Acrylic on wrapped canvas
I traveled during my absence, but by way of fever and illness, not to any place that involved reservations, tickets or my camera. Bronchitis caught me at the tail end of a cold and whipped my proverbial derriere.  This scene is reminiscent of where my fever took me while I lolled with bonbons and peeled grapes.   

Golden brand fluid acrylics, molding paste, and about half a dozen layers turned a lifeless grey canvas into something short of walking on its own.  I painted her to fit into a frame that is a weathered deep red, like the uppermost left hand corner of this piece. I wrestled and fastened her into the frame, where she's content for the time being. I hope to paint more like this one. The process was about as lively as the outcome! 

Carol 

Another Three Pots

"Another Three Pots"
14" x 11"
Acrylic on canvas panel 
I painted a similar painting to this one during the summer when I was at the Botanic Gardens. I sold it soon afterward. This is one is a commission piece for a woman who liked what I had done, but wanted it larger and taller. This is how it turned out. 

When people see my website they are usually surprised at the variety of subject matter in at least four different mediums.  I'm often asked what I like to paint best?  My standard and honest answer is, "Whatever I'm painting at the moment."  When I did this knife painting in acrylic I thought, I could do this for the rest of my days.  Of course, come morning, I had forgotten about whatever I had finished the night before and moved on to the next fun thing.   It's all fun to me. I love whatever is on my easel.

Carol

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Main Street

"Main Street"
6" x 6"
Acrylic on canvas panel
I'm revving up for the plein air event I'll be attending next weekend. I'm not fond of, nor practiced in urban scenes. I've avoided them from the beginning of my art experience. Yet, the promoters of the event are looking for — hoping that someone will paint the downtown area of the city.  So I'm willing to give it a try. 

 This is the first of four paintings I did today. It's acrylic and I used a scraper to keep my lines straight. I'll post the others to let you see how I'm improving.

Carol

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Hostas in the Back

"Hostas in the Back"
6" x 6"
Acrylic on hardboard
Dee's flowers were thriving at this corner of the house. Ornamental grass dipped in front of the hostas and bright yellow daisies or mums of some sort brightened the foreground. 

 I gravitated to the spot in the garden where the spiky flowers stand in the back row like the tall kids in the class photo.

Carol

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More of Mary's Garden

"More Of Mary's Garden"
7" x 5"
Acrylic on canvas panel
I used the shapes and lighting of the flowers in Mary's garden, but swapped out their real colors for ones I wanted in my painting. And I painted it very early in the morning, against a white building. This isn't exactly how her garden looked, but she didn't seem to mind receiving the painting as a gift. 

I either need to plant hollyhocks or befriend someone nearby with the same penchant for them as I've developed.

Carol

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At the Fence

"At the Fence"
7" x  5"
Acrylic on canvas panel
Here are more hollyhocks from my trip to Door County, Wisconsin.  They were nodding their pretty heads at every bend. I love adding spiky plants and flowers to my little landscapes.  

By the time this posts, I will have been painting in Wisconsin again. I'm hoping to find more lovely things to photograph and bring back to my studio.

Carol

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Golden Star

"Golden Star"
5" x 7"
Acrylic on canvas board
I attended a plein air event in Cataract, Wisconsin over the weekend. We could paint three pieces in the two day event. I painted this one first. It's a mosaic star at the Wegner Grotto. I painted three other pieces and eliminated this star. Wrong choice. The judge told everyone that my star would have won first place had it not been swapped out for a begonia piece I finished five minutes before the end of the competition.  I did not win, but I could have. Broke my heart. 

Carol

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Hot Pink Hollyhocks

"Hot Pink Hollyhocks"
7" x 5"
Acrylic on canvas panel
I photographed this part of a public garden in Fish Creek, as you come into town. It delighted me in the dark, so I photographed it the night we arrived in town. Come morning it was in deep shadow, but by afternoon, when I had already painted and turned in my canvas for the competition, the sun shone on these gorgeous flowers.  You'll see more of them in days to come. 

Carol

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White Hollyhocks

"White Hollyhocks"
7" x 5"
Acrylic on canvas panel
When the sun rose, I was able to see the color of the pale hollyhocks I had found the night before — white. They were in full bloom and luscious, ripe for painting.  

I'm preparing for another competition. This one is for small art, either 4"x 6" or 5"x 7" postcard size.  I'm excited to be going up to Wisconsin again, this time to a plein air competition sponsored by the Kohler foundation.  We'll see how it goes!

Carol

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Hollyhocks

"Hollyhocks"
6" x 6"
Acrylic on hardboard
Hollyhocks were prevalent in Door County. I love their spiky stalks of color and the shape they afford in a composition.  I grew up with hollyhocks in the yard, but haven't seen many in recent decades.  I photographed several, so you'll see them popping up over the next few weeks.  

As promised, this is a new way of handling my knife painting. I "squeegeed" the paint as I applied it to the black background. It took courage, but I did it… to some extent. The next time won't be as terrifying.  Or if it is, I know I won't die trying.

Carol

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Garden Variety Color

"Garden Variety Color"
6" x 6"
Acrylic on canvas panel
I was at the Chicago Botanic Gardens on Sunday with my Sunday morning guys. We found color everywhere!  And I'm going back to paint there again on Thursday with another group of friends. I'm thrilled to live so close to beauty.

I started this acrylic and palette knife painting the way I would normally begin a traditional oil painting… blue sky… and when I got to the color, I realized I should have come with black panels.  On Thursday I will!

Carol

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The Tempest

"The Tempest"
16" x 20"
Acrylic on wrapped canvas
I felt compelled to paint something tempestuous tonight, so I put a large canvas on my easel and squeezed out a limited palette of acrylic paints. I directed my frustrated bewilderment into this very fluid and tumultuous piece, and within two hours I felt a lot better.  

I like how this turned out, so I'm going to try it in oil, possibly tomorrow.

Carol

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Begonias

"Begonias"
20" x16"
Acrylic on canvas panel 




















I haven't had begonias on my front porch in years, but I came across this photo of when I did, so I painted it. I did this one a year or so ago, but hadn't posted it.  I may paint her over again, in oil this time.  She was fun, and I've learned so much since.  

 I love to paint light coloured flowers with dark backgrounds. It makes the blossom seem really important. And when you look this good, why not totally become the star?

Carol

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