Little Puffs of Steam

"Little Puffs of Steam"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
They weren't serious cumulonimbi drifting across the plains, but more like little puffs of steam, the kind that sputter from a too-full tea kettle before it boils onto the stove. Or the steam iron that spits angrily the second you hold it over the blouse you simply have to wear that day.

I'm working on a large rose painting that is requiring more of my attention than usual, but she'll be worth the effort.

Carol

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Full Blown

"Full Blown"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel
The roses along the picket fence are nearly finished with their outrageous display for the season. Where there were hundreds a few weeks ago, now only a dozen remain. There are no buds. Every one is full blown; open to her fullest extent without dropping her petals... just yet.
Love to you, my followers,
Carol

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Hugs...

"Hugs..."
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
I painted this sky with great care, noting the proper placement of the ultramarine, cobalt and cerulean blues as I graded them down the panel.  I left the areas for clouds white, then I softened some edges and crisped others. I treated the edges with care in the narrow strip of land at the bottom, too.  It wasn't until the piece was loaded, ready to post, that I noticed the large X of blue sky in the puffy clouds.  It may mean something special to someone, like part of a gigantic xo, hugs and kisses.

Carol

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Mango Maze

"Mango Maze"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel
Mangoes were two for $5 when I was at Whole Foods at noon on Tuesday.  They were the largest ones I had ever seen. I bought two.  I went home and photographed them both and painted this one from life. Then I ate one.  The next morning I went back to buy as many as I could, since cherries are now out of season. The produce man remembered me, and was astounded that I was already back for more.  That's when I found out that mangoes are now out of season, too.

Carol

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Impressions

"Impressions"
8" x 10"
Oil on hardboard
A photo of these leaves was sent to me by a friend who knows I like color, nature, and a challenge.  These WERE challenging. Someone suggested I use "puff paint" to tackle all the little bumps on the surface of the leaves. 

It's a very impressionistic rendering of the subject.  To do this justice I should have spent a week painting it... but I barely have an evening!  

Thank you my friend for letting me use your lovely photo of leaves.

Carol

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Kiss Me!

"Kiss Me! "
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
Along the picket fence, where the white roses I like to paint grow, is a bush of pink roses.  They have sweet nubs of petals in their centers that linger, puckered for a kiss, before becoming full blown. I happened upon this one this week. 

It's been a while since I've painted a rose, but I had a request to, so here she is. I also have several new ones auditioning. The crop along the picket fence has been splendid in the past few weeks, so I've taken lots of photos.

Carol

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Lily and Marble

"Lily and Marble"
10" x 10"
Acrylic on wrapped canvas
I grow red day lilies for the pleasure of having them as subject matter. The day this one snapped off in a storm I brought her in and set her on a dinner napkin while I looked for a vase.  She looked so cozy on the napkin that I brought a marble to add to the composition and photographed it.  

The background lace pattern is textured with joint compound, then painted on when dry.  I love to make up new techniques.  

Antique Hydrangea

"Antique Hydrangea"
20" x 20"
Oil on wrapped canvas
I walked into the produce department of Whole Foods to buy cherries and watermelon, but walked out with three stems of hydrangeas instead. I tried not to fall in love, but I tumbled at the colorful petals, the texture, the massive heads.  I'll be painting these bad boys again! 

Each head is a different color and every cluster of four petals is unique, too. I will have a lot of fun making art from my "fruit substitute."

Carol

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Blue Moon

"Blue Moon"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
A blue moon is the appearance of the third full moon in a season that has four full moons, instead of the usual three. It is never blue, though. The term "blue moon" is used to mean a very rare event, as in the phrase, "once in a blue moon," because it occurs only once every two to three years.  

 She was a white spot on a lacy, dark sky.

Carol

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