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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Rock Pile

"Rock Pile"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
Loving gifts of miscellaneous beach rocks collected at my side the day I took my grandchildren to the beach.  Granmama became the recipient of many and varied Lake Michigan rocks. 

This is my last rock painting for a while.  Maybe.

Carol

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Rock Band

"Rock Band"
10" x 10"
Oil on wrapped canvas


Yup, Rock Rand.  Take a look at the painting.  Get it?  I've been collecting banded rocks like the ones in this painting since I was a child. I pick them up whenever I see them and put them in my courtyard or on a shelf with others in my studio. Banded rocks delight my sense of whimsy. 

I'll be leaving rocks pretty soon, but not quite yet.  I have another idea to present. THEN it's back to roses.  I bought a bouquet of them for myself today.  I sold some art, got a commission and scheduled a workshop, so I'm celebrating with the other thing that delights me.  

Carol     

Right Over ... There

"Right Over ... There"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
Across the lake, right over ... there, where the tree line gets thin as a noodle is a cove where the fishing is better than any place on this lake. In the county, even. I mean it! I rowed over there and dropped a line one morning and caught breakfast faster than I could have ordered from the drive-thru at McDonalds.

I'm in rock mode. Obvious titles such as "Rock Hard", "Rock Band" and "Like a Rock" come to mind for future images, so come back to see if I use any of them.

Carol

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Rocks For Tossing

"Rocks For Tossing"
18" x 18"
Oil on canvas panel   
Beach rocks. Rocks for tossing. I photographed these while walking barefooted along a shoreline that  was being lapped enthusiastically by one of the Great Lakes. The smooth mounds were easy to walk on, but more fun to fondle with my fingers. They begged to be handled, and I did.  

I painted this tonight, amazingly quickly, after a brief conversation about tossing rocks. It just felt ... right.

Carol

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Delish

"Delish"
12" x 16"
Oil on hardboard
Several times a year I get a craving, a specifically-decadent craving to paint chocolates.  Once I discovered the correct colours to squeeze it was merely a matter of finding chocolates to pose for me. I don't eat the stuff, but I do like how it looks. So as subject matter, it can sit here in my studio for weeks without a single nibble. 

I drew this two months ago, but didn't get to the painting part until today... while listening to Schubert, and an entire opera from the Met. 

Carol 

Blush

"Blush"
 24" x 24"
Oil on wrapped canvas
She blushed when he told her she was gorgeous. "Well, you are," he said. "Gorgeous," he repeated. She blushed even redder, deeper toward her core. Her petals curled, her mouth opened in disbelief. The rose sat serenely and basked in the glow of his compliment. 

Once again, I have to sing the praises of my two new colours; Cad Scarlet and Indian Yellow.  Oh, my, they seem to have been made for one another. Those two and a dab of Cobalt Blue made this a joy to paint. I'm in love! 

Carol

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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Divide

"Divide"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
I came across a photo I took of the Continental Divide and felt like painting it again. I don't know how many times I've done it in the course of two and a half years since I've been there, but this little pond is one of my simple, favourite places. No jagged mountains, no rocky rivers, no canyons or wildlife.  Just a cute reflecting pond.

Carol

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