Carol Keene

Eriksen's Farm, Bull Valley

August 9, 2013

"Eriksen's Farm, Bull Valley"
8" x 10"
Oil on canvas panel

I painted en plein air in Bull Valley this morning on a farm that is close to the barn where my 8'x8' barn quilt hangs. I painted this family's flowers along the picket fence that shone in the morning sun. I sold the painting on the spot.

My barn quilt is included in a slideshow of the McHenry County Barn Quilt Project. Mine is around the 29th quilt featured. It's a rainbow colored star quilt with an eight-point star in the center. It appears to be polka dotted, but each "dot" is a rubber stamped image of a sun, leaf, heart, spiral, rose, etc., twenty four different ones in all. The white background does have a medium blue polka dot on it — thousands of them.

Carol

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Liz's Tea Party

June 10, 2013

"Liz's Tea Party"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel

I attended a bridal shower tea this afternoon. The centerpieces were tiny teapots filled with flowers. When I asked to take one home, I was given permission to take it as long as I painted it — tonight. So here it is in all its tiny splendor.

I painted from life tonight, which was as refreshing as the party itself. In fact, today was finally warm enough to wear a strapless sundress!

Carol

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Old Lyme Flowers

February 27, 2013

"Old Lyme Flowers"
9" x 12"
Oil on canvas panel

I walked through the gardens at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Connecticut, photographing everything in sight. I wanted to bring as much back with me as possible. I've been to Old Lyme twice. I cried when I left both times. Old Lyme is where the American Impressionists hung out one hundred ten years ago. They called it the American Giverny. I felt my soul come alive while I was in Florence's home where the artists lived and painted during the summer. There is a fine museum on the grounds now, too. I may never go back, but I hope to go to other places in my lifetime that will delight me as much.

Carol

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Flowers

January 11, 2013

"Flowers"
10" x 10"
Oil on wrapped canvas

I travelled out of the country this morning in one of my dreams. I saw a villa tucked amid a cluster of cypress and olive trees. The comfortable home stood in the the middle ground while a narrow strip of flowers, ripe with colour, filled the foreground. It was a fantasy fulfilled in my mind.

I seldom paint from fantasy, but this was vivid enough to capture most of the details without a photo reference.

Carol

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Begonias

January 8, 2013

"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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Flower Fields

October 1, 2012

"Flower Fields"
12" x 16"
Acrylic on canvas panel

My heart is back at the flower fields again tonight. I didn't put away my acrylics, and I had a panel gessoed, ready to go, so here's a sunnier take on what I posted on Friday. I think I'd like to visit a place where something other than soybeans and grain grow in the fields. Care to join me? Let's...

Some friends have asked why I paint this style in acrylic. It's a knife painting, so I smear color pretty thick to begin with. Then when it's dry the next layer, usually a variation of the first layer, is applied over the texture, like buttering a toasted English muffin. I like to paint the crusty ridges. Oil paint takes too long to dry. I would end up blending the colors instead of applying them one on top of the other. I'm also still trying to use up my acrylic paints from when I was a mural painter. It may take a while. A long while. I was well-stocked.

Carol

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Peg's Garden Shed

July 23, 2012

"Peg's Garden Shed"
8" x 10"
Oil on canvas panel

It may have been the humidity that created the swarthy atmosphere the morning I stood in the shade painting Peg's garden shed. Or it could have been my contacts. I realized after I photographed it and scraped the image off the canvas that two months had passed since I changed my contact lenses.

This painting exists in this space only. There are days when what goes down, wipes off as easily.

Carol

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Yellow Chair

July 19, 2012

"Yellow Chair"
24" x 18"
Oil on wrapped canvas

It's a copy—a copy of a friend's painting of a yellow chair. I adored her whimsical painting, so she allowed me to photograph it and copy it. I'm unsure of the artist's name but I was told she doesn't paint like this any longer. Things change. We grow. I grew from living in her skin for the time it took me to complete this.

Copying art has always been a method of learning. I will be posting other "learning" pieces that I've completed, while I work on a large magenta dahlia!

Carol

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Peg's Garden Fence

June 28, 2012

"Peg's Garden Fence"
18" x 24"
Acrylic on canvas

In the front garden up by the road at Peg's you can tell it's June by the colors: pink, white and blue. Roses, snowballs and larkspur dominate one corner of her parcel of paradise.

Carol

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June's Jewels

June 19, 2012

"June's Jewels"
12" x 12"
Acrylic on canvas panel

The months that ramp up to June in my zip code exist for the sole purpose of nurturing plants to produce treasured blossoms of ruby, sapphire, tanzanite and garnet, cradled in shades of jade.

This is another offering of knife painting. "June is busting out all over" was a pretty accurate observation, according to Oscar Hammerstein.

Thank you for visiting.

Carol

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Nearly! Almost!

May 5, 2012

"Nearly! Almost!"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel

My peonies are nearly, almost a day away from bursting into the plant world's version of tutus! I'm so excited to have them at my disposal—to look at, photograph and to bury my nose in. I love the fragrance of peonies.

When I shot the photo for this painting, a few hours ago, the background was the barbecue grill. I added a seldom-used color to my palette and find it pleasing with the necessary greens and reds. It's simply called Green Blue.

Thank you for looking at my art today.

Carol

My DPW Gallery 300 paintings!