Castlewood Canyon Rocks

"Castlewood Canyon Rocks"
7" x 5"
Oil on wrapped canvas






















Last fall while I was in Colorado, I made a trip with my friends to Castlewood Canyon.  Not far from where we were staying, this place just appears out of nowhere, mystifies its visitors, then turns back into prairie again.  I suppose canyons are like that. 


This small piece, rectangular for a change, is the first in a little series I'll be posting on Colorado memories.  I'm gearing up to paint a few new serious florals and still life pieces, and landscapes of places I adore are my warmup exercises.  And this is my first experience with Paynes Gray in oil.  I mixed it in conjunction with Gray of Gray.  I happen to like it.

Thank you for hiking here today.
Carol

Dailypainters.com
Dailypaintworks.com
My DPW Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Spring Ahead

"Spring Ahead"
12" x 12"
Acrylic on wrapped canvas
The promise of spring is so anticipated this time of year, that we accept the advancing of our clocks by an hour to arrive there sooner, and in daylight to boot.  


This is another in my series of succulents painted with a nearly dry bristle brush. The stalk shooting up to the left is new growth... a new beginning.

Carol

Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com
My DPW Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Succulent in the Mist

"Succulent in the Mist"
6" x 12"
Acrylic on wrapped canvas

The fog that particular morning was dense in the area of the succulent gardens. I stayed on the familiar path, face to the ground and happened on this gossamer image. 

Here's another exercise in edge control. This is a dry brush technique done with a bristle brush, swirled in a similar motion I would use to stencil. Paint is applied layer upon layer until the shape of a plant begins to form. 

I'm happy you found my blog today.
Carol

Afloat

"Afloat"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
I spent time in a kayak one morning last summer, bobbing on Lake Michigan. I loved being close to water level with the ability to focus where land was not in sight—for a few seconds at a time!  Self-inflicted terror is what it actually was.  I found myself stealing peeks toward shore for comfort. 


This is another of my recent paintings, where sky is the primary player.  I have enjoyed this exercise in dusting wet paint with a mop brush.  I've already begun to use it on other pieces.

Thank you for drifting along with me today.
Carol

Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com
My DPW Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Hoarfrost, Again

"Hoarfrost, Again"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
There had been snow, but most of it melted. Leafless trees dandled the sky with their finger-like sticks. Cornstalks stabbed the drifts in steadfast rows across the field. But the magic came during the night, when Lady Hoarfrost graced them with a visit. 


This was another experiment. You must know by now that I can't leave well enough alone, so here's how I messed up well enough.  I painted a band of dark across my panel, added to it a band of ochre and let them dry.  I painted white over the whole shebang, then added a sky.  I took my frequently-used signature signing tool, my colour shaper, and scraped trees into the dark band, and cornstalks into the ochre band.  I signed it below the tree line on the right and—called it a day!

Thanks for maundering through,
Carol

Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com
My DPW Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

To Have and to Hold

"To Have and to Hold"
10" x 20"
Acrylic on wrapped canvas
Together at last, side by side, to have and to hold, from this day forward... and then what?  The Succulents have committed to a relationship of about twenty-five years... if watered, fed, bathed in sunshine and separated regularly.  Huh?  


This piece was not painted in the past week. It's been waiting in line to be posted though, as are a couple of others in queue.  As I've said before, I paint every day, but they aren't all masterful.

Thank you for stopping in to visit.  I appreciate it.
Carol

Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com
My DPW Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Vintage Famolare Clog

"Vintage Famolare Clog"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel
I heard her approaching long before she walked into the room, clomping like a child in mama's high heels. She was as comfy in her footwear as I was in my Sketchers, even though hers were thirty years old!  She pulled off one of them, showed me how it still didn't hurt her feet, and clomped on through to take Gracie and Edgar for a walk.  


My friend, Fran, brought her Famolare Clogs for me to see.  I hadn't been a part of this particular fashion movement, but appreciated the opportunity to see them and photograph her pristine pair.

Thank you for clomping on in today.
Carol

Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com
My DPW Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Your Left or Mine?

"Your Left or Mine"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas board
Succulents can be soft and kissable, or spiny and prickly. I prefer the rounder ones, but this one struck such a humorous pose that it stole my heart.


I found this plant in the Desert Environment at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. I swear he waved as I passed.

I have been thoroughly enjoying your comments. There have some witty ones of late!  I can't imagine who these people are, but they are entertaining me.  Thank you one and all for making this process so fun.
Carol

Dailypainters.com
Dailypaintworks.com
My DPW Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Blown Into the Next County

"Blown Into the Next County"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
Not a leaf was left on the trees, or the ground, for that matter, when the storm made its entrance. Who needs a leaf rake, or landscapers when nature tends to the Earth so thoroughly?

This sky was painted at the same time as two others, just darker.  I seem to be in a low key stage, don't I?  Anyway, I waited until the sky was dry and dragged little branches across it.  

Thank you for blowing in today.
Carol

Dailypainters.com
Dailypaintworks.com
My DPW Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Say Aaah

"Say Aaah"
8" x 8"
Oil on hardboard
"Scarlet Aria," a cousin of "Say Aaah" was posted on 7/22/11. She is many times larger than "Aaah" here. Although her color is red, the message is the same—these gals can warble!  

I have had my share of sore throats, usually accompanied by fever, but despite my crabbiness, I've always giggled at the request to "Say Aaah." Who originated that?  Mothers or doctors? Why can't we just open our throats without making a sound?

Thank you for opening up to me today.
Carol

Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com
My DPW Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

The Other Side

"The Other Side"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel
After the box has been open for a day or so, the delight is more in the sight of the morsels, not so much about the scent. Hey, that may be the sign to open a new box! 


This is actually the opposite side of the first white one I painted.  Um... it no longer exists.  But let me tell you what was inside—a milk chocolate shell under the white, with a luscious caramel filling in the hollow.


Thank you for visiting here today.
Carol

Dailypainters.com
Dailypaintworks.com
My DPW Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

White Chocolate

"White Chocolate"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel
When the bow is untied and the lid is lifted to release the aroma trapped inside since the factory, it really wants to get out.  A box of chocolates, freshly opened is a delight to the nose and eyes.  But in Studio B, only after they've been painted can the tongue enjoy them, too.  


White Chocolate was an exercise in color-mixing.  The sheer creamy white allows what's inside to show through, and it's usually dark. I mixed sepia, sap, burnt umber, cad red light, cad yellow and white to make white chocolate.  Who knew it would be so involved?

Thank you for lifting the lid today.
Carol

Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com
My DPW Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net