Pine Morning

"Pine Morning"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
I wakened and found what had been a sheath of black the night before, was now a multi-layered wonderland. Even the grasses varied in color and texture.  

 Here's a sky painting with a little more foreground than I normally provide.

I will be traveling for a few days. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. I'm thankful for your attention, your love and comments.

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net
CarolKeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com

Passionate Persimmon

"Passionate Persimmon"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
In preparation for the upcoming holiday, I was in several different grocery stores over the weekend. I noticed an abundance of exotic fruits and vegetables — not just "over the river and through the woods" fare. Persimmons were abundant and reasonably priced, so even if I don't eat it, it was pretty enough to paint. 

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net
CarolKeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com

Another Trout Stream

"Another Trout Stream"
11" x 14"
Oil on Canvas
The sky was the color of salmon flesh, yet I was thinking "trout" as the day came to a close.   

I've combined some of my technique from pastels with my oils. I used a rubber-tipped device to "squiggle" into the trees and foreground plants to make them look like what I saw in my mind's eye.  I'll do a few more to see if this is something I want to continue.

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net
CarolKeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com

In the Middle of the Bouquet

"In the Middle of the Bouquet"
24" x 24"
Oil on stretched canvas
I walked into one of the new upscale grocery stores in my neighborhood to find a display of beautifully lit flowers. The bouquets were fresh and spectacular. I had a camera in my purse, so I used it.

 It's been months since I've painted a rose, so I decided to paint a large one, in honor of the event.

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net
CarolKeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com



Then There Was … Sun

"Then There Was … Sun"
6" x 6"
Oil on Hardboard
That morning the sun, frizzed by clouds that would burn off within minutes, lifted her head off the pillow of the island and set out to brighten spirits wherever she shone. 

I enjoyed the effort of keeping the colors clean and pure as I placed complements next to one another.  Satisfying… yes.

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net
Carolkeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com

Storm Sweepin' Through

"Storm Sweepin' Through"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
Here on the prairie we get some pretty interesting weather patterns sweeping through. But this is not from today… or yesterday. It's sleeting here, the leaves are gone and very little is still green… or gold.  We're down to sticks.  

However, I just tonight signed up for a six day trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico to paint at Georgia O'Keeffe's Ghost Ranch in February. I'm so excited I can hardly sit still. HUGE ROSES are in my future again!  I'm starting one tonight.  A gal has to be … prepared :-)

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net
CarolKeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com

Koi Pond

"Koi Pond"
12" x 16"
Pastel on black canvas panel
I set my camera on the dock, nearly at water level with a school of goldfish and koi lolling just below the surface, to document this scene. They heard my footsteps on the wooden platform and gathered in hopes of being fed. 

I began this painting in hopes of painting one of the 24" koi in the foreground, but the scale was so unbelievable that it looked wrong. So I painted only the ten inch fish, which repeated the foliage across the pond nicely. Once again, this is the Anderson Japanese Gardens, the largest Japanese garden in the country, I learned today.

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net
CarolKeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com