Wildly Wild

"Wildly Wild"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
The wild roses at the Botanic Gardens intrigue me. They're so unstructured and haphazard, compered to the well-bred cousins blossoming properly in the beds around them. When a wild one dazzles me in morning light, I like to capture her, but seldom paint her in season. There are so many other options, for my lovers of roses. 

 This feels like a study to me, but I know I'll never take it any further.  I hope she appeals to you as she is… wildly wild.

We are in the midst of a blizzard here in my zip code. I went out and measured 22" of snow on my patio table. While I've been housebound I've updated my website.  If you go to CarolKeene.com there are over 200 new images in the category "Recent Works."  If you've never been to my website before, please go browse. It's clean, orderly and fun to look at. Thank you for looking.  

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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Delphiniums

"Delphiniums"
6" x 6"
Acrylic on hardboard
After painting delphiniums for the competition, I decided to give it another try, close up this time.  It was fun, but in my next painting, you'll see that I'm trying a new style with my knife paintings.  

I bought Julie Ford Oliver's video on how SHE uses her knife. I tried it today and think with a bit of practice, I'll be wielding my knife with a little more finesse.  She's the master (mistress) in my book.  Thanks for making your video, Julie. It was fab!

Carol

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Moonlit

"Moonlit"
24" x 24"
Oil on wrapped canvas
Two years ago, to the day, I photographed this peony on my way to work. She was in the yard where all the white roses would eventually bloom along the white picket fence. She appears to be moonlit, therefore, the title. And if you know me at all, I adore the moon. 

This year the peonies are still in the "marble" stage. Mine won't be blooming for a while yet. I'm glad I had a photo to satisfy my longings for today's effort.

Carol

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Blue Bonnet

"Blue Bonnet"
7" x 5"
Oil on hardboard
I did this quick study of a Blue Bonnet while I was waiting for a large toned canvas to dry. The structure of this kind of flower is not what I normally paint, but since I got to see it in person, I thought I'd document it for posterity.   

The canvas I toned is for a peony painting. I'm starting  a 24"x24" inch pink one.  It should be fun to paint — a month before we'll even see one in bloom.  I'm thankful I've taken lots of good photos.

Carol

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Sunshine and Shadow

"Sunshine and Shadow"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
Something cast a shadow across the petals of the yellow rose the morning I went to the Botanic Gardens to shoot subject matter. I didn't realize it until I got home and imported the images from my camera. I would have found the culprit and moved it, had I noticed while I was there. As it stands, the shadow gives this pretty little bloom somewhat of a tattoo. 

Carol 

Magenta Poinsettia

"Magenta Poinsettia"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
I found a colorful poinsettia to add to my holiday cheer paintings. I like that this one is not only red, but purple and pink, as well.  

Carol

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By Any Other Name...

"By Any Other Name"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
It's been three months, well nearly, since I've painted a rose. I've dabbled with new subject matter, dipped a toe into the warm waters of another medium and generally spread my wings, but here I am, back to my roots, the place I long to be — at my easel with a rose. And yes, she smelled as sweet as ever. 

 Carol  

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Dahlia Delight

"Dahlia Delight"
30" x 40"
Oil on wrapped canvas
Dahlias were in bloom outside the Walled Garden when I was at the Botanic Gardens last month.  I found this one swaying in the breeze and had to sync my body to her rhythmic dance to photograph her. Fortunately, we coincided on a few of them and I got a terrific reference photo for this painting.  

Amazingly, the background took more time to paint than the gazillion petals of this bloom.  I'm delighted with the finished piece, and hope you dahlia lovers enjoy her, too.

Carol

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Papaver Nudicaule

"Papaver Nudicaule"
10" x 10"
Oil on hardboard
My lavender poppy had opened during the first light a few mornings prior, and this was her final hour — the end of what had been a beautiful run.  She was bulbous when she first appeared, but svelte petals unfolded, revealing her gorgeous center.  Tonight would be her final appearance. She'd drop her seeds and become a fertile memory to those who had known her in her prime.

This was actually painted from a photo of a white papaver that I found early in the spring at the Botanic Gardens. I wanted to paint it while poppies were in bloom, but something else auditioned and won.   So here she is in July, none the worse for wear.

Carol

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Potted Purple Pansy

"Potted Purple Pansy"
24" x 24"
Oil on hardboard 
On my way into the grocery store yesterday I passed racks of potted pansies. On my way out I pulled out the camera that I always carry with me and photographed a few of them.  When I got home and imported them into iPhoto I realized that a few to me meant 62 images of pansies.  A few are good enough to use as subject matter.  My brain knows how many shots it takes to get a "few."  

Carol

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Mother

"Mother"
24" x 24"
Oil on Museum wrapped canvas
April seems to be the month for losing mothers in my circle of friends. I lost mine in April, too. My post of a pink peony today is in honour of all the mothers who have left us and are now "safely home."  

All those petals pointing in so many directions in a gazillion shades of pink, may have daunted me in the past, but I rose (peony, actually) to the challenge and passionately painted this piece without fear or trepidation.  Love was the motivator.

Bless our mothers.

Carol

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Heaven Scent

"Heaven Scent"
18" x 24"
Oil on wrapped canvas
I plucked this bloom from a bouquet comprised of her siblings. I held her full-blown countenance sideways under a light in my studio, so her petals would cast striking shadows. While I twisted her stem, a heavenly fragrance spritzed the air like an old fashioned perfume atomizer had been squeezed.  

Not only did she smell good, she was also heaven sent. I was in want of new roses to paint and a simple bouquet from the grocery store afforded me subject matter for many new paintings. As you probably know, I love to paint white roses—the most colourful of all. 

Carol

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Heavenly Widened Rose

"Heavenly Widened Rose"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
As I worked on this piece, I was listening to my favorite Cowboy Junkies song, a cover version of a ballad by Lou Reed.  It's called "Sweet Jane," and Margo Timmins sings the phrase "Heavenly widened roses seem to whisper to me when you smile..."  It struck me as a fitting title for the painting. She is, don't you think, a widening rose?  

I had fun painting my rocks series, but my heart and soul are in painting roses.  This is one from the bouquet I bought for myself the other day. You'll see more white roses like her in the coming days.

Carol

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Mademoiselle Minet

"Mademoiselle Minet"
24" x 24"
Oil on wrapped canvas
She was stretching like a kitten in the morning sun when I happened upon her.  Yesterday she was little more than a bud, but today she had opened herself to ... possibilities.

I've painted this image before; large and small, rectangular and now a large square. She captivates me each time.  I love the colours I find in this white rose. She wears them with graceful ardor.

If it's a special day for you, this beauty honours that occasion.

Carol

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Scarlet Hibiscus

"Scarlet Hibiscus"
10" x 8"
Oil on wrapped canvas
I found this hibiscus in a pot at my local greenhouse last spring. I photographed it and many of her sisters, but haven't painted from those images until now. This is a study on a small canvas for one that may end up as a large square for a one person exhibit I have in July. 

Here's another example of my new favourite colour, Cadmium Scarlet.  I'll be looking for things to paint using this colour.

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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Receptive

"Receptive"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
Although, seemingly, this rose did nothing but sit in front of me tonight, she was, in fact, receptive to all of my senses — being adored through sight, being smelled, being touched, and yes, even being tasted.  As my last painting of the year, she was thoroughly enjoyed. 

 I purchased seven canvases from a particular manufacturer this week. When I blocked in this rose today, I stopped painting and went back to the store to buy twenty-eight more. The surface is so receptive to paint, the way I love to apply it. Painting this rose was a joyful experience!  I look forward to many more evenings like this ... with great joy!

Carol

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Soft Pansy

"Soft Pansy"
10" x 10"
Oil on Hardboard
In my state they plant pansies as fall flowers in corporate gardens because of their hardiness in cool weather.  On account of our extended fall, the pansies flourished in my zip code this year. It was nice to see purple and pink in the fall instead of just oranges and golds.  

 Even after yesterday's snow, there were still little monkey faces smiling through the pine boughs and bayberry branches in front of the UPS Store this evening.

Carol

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My Lady Love

"My Lady Love"
20" x 16"
Oil on Hardboard




















Like a mistress awaiting her lover, she languished quietly until the bristles of my brush began stroking her dark crevices, her milky highlights. That's when this beauty came to life.

I hankered, yearned, longed to paint this rose while I was busy with other projects. White roses are my favourite subject matter because of all the colour in the shadows.  

Carol

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