Tone Poem

"Tone Poem" 
8" x 10" 
Oil on canvas panel   
In the Midwest, where I live, mornings in May are often hazy. I was eager to capture this effect on canvas. While I painted I felt connected... to what, I wasn't sure.  In the discussion group where my early oil landscapes were critiqued, I was referred to as a Tonalist.

The Tonalist style emphasizes atmosphere by using a color's middle values instead of high contrast, resulting in an understated effect.  Subject matter is never entirely apparent but rather an intriguing visual poem cloaked in a vaporous veil of emotionalism.  


The definition will be continued tomorrow. 


Welcome to my world today. 
Carol

Bird House

"Bird House"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel
On a walk through my neighborhood in search of blossoms of any kind, I came across this darling little bird house; a recent addition to someone's back patio.  The arch of the doorway is a curved branch cut in half. I loved the log fence in the front, too. But that first step is a long way from the opening!  Purely decorative, I assume. 

I like how this painting turned out. I started it and put it down.  Too brown.  Not my favorite palette.  But once I put black around it the house came to life.  It floated until I put a post under it too.  The actual one hung.  

Thanks for flying on over today. 
Carol 

Where Go The Boats

"Where Go The Boats"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel
Dark brown is the river
Golden is the sand.
It flows along for ever,
With trees on either hand.

Green leaves a-floating,
Castles of the foam,
Boats of mine a-boating -
Where will all come home?

On goes the river
And out past the mill,
Away down the valley,
Away down the hill.

Away down the river,
A hundred miles or more,
Other little children
Shall bring my boats ashore. 


Robert Louis Stevenson


A friend and I discovered that we shared similar memories of sailing folded paper boats in creeks, ponds and lakes when we were children. I even sang this poem as a song at a Brownie Scout "flying up" to Girl Scouts ceremony as we released our boats into the Huron River in a suburb of Detroit where I grew up.  I felt compelled to honor this memory by folding a boat and floating it on one of our many puddles for this painting.  


Thank you my friend for the inspiration.  
Carol


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

California Columbine

"California Columbine"
6" x 6"
Oil on Hardboard panel
My friend, Jock Cooper, went to Huntington Gardens in California with his family last week.  I had the nerve to ask him to photograph a closeup of a flower for me.  This is what he sent this afternoon.  I'm delighted to have painted my first columbine!

I grew up with wild columbine, but I don't have access to them where I live now.  Oh, I can see them in a couple gated communities, but can't convince the keepers to let me in with my camera.  So this was perfect!  Thank you Jock.

Thank you for being here today.
Carol

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


Lusty Month of May

"Lusty Month of May"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
I visited a friend yesterday who had just purchased many pots of peonies that looked like this—glorious for the lusty month of May!  I went there to photograph the migrating orioles and came home with shots of peonies instead. The orioles were in the canopy of her magnificent trees, sheltered from the rain.

The coloring and interior structure of this lovely lady intrigued me.  I began painting her using a sponge, but felt more comfortable within the small spaces using my Rosemary & Co. brushes.  She's painted on all five sides of the wrapped canvas, as are all my wrapped canvases.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my art today.
Carol

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

A New Day

"A New Day"
6" x 6" 
Oil on hardboard
It's a new day, ripe with opportunities to come to clarity and heal.  Would that it were as simple as dissipating a cloud cover to whisk away our woes.  


Sky paintings are therapeutic for me. I respond spontaneously to how the paint moves on the ground, be it canvas or board.  Small ones are often warmups for a more detailed painting.

Thank you for being here today.
Carol

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

Nearly! Almost!

"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!  

Choppy Water

"Choppy Water"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas
The storm hit and passed before I could leave, so I stayed and painted a couple more quick studies. The water lilies fared well; both blooms and their pads. Water rolled off the tops like they had been waxed, and then the sun came out. 

Lily Lake became turbulent before my eyes.  She's normally like a mirror.  It was interesting to see her roil and settle again. This thirty-minute sketch was one of several I did that morning.

I appreciate your calm presence here.
Carol

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


La-La-Laa

"La-La-Laa"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel
She was not alone in the bed, and definitely not the only warbler in the garden that morning, but she was spot on pitch. This beauty performed without missing a note. 

Lilies are fun to paint on account of their deep throats and colors that are difficult to place next to one another.  Purple blending into yellow—yikes. It makes for a satisfying experience when completed.

I appreciate your presence here today.
Carol

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

Scarlet Trim

"Scarlet Trim"
10" x 8"
Oil on hardboard






















She was colorful to the point of quirky in her lemony attire trimmed in scarlet. She was unique in the bouquet and was magnificently fragrant to boot.  This petite little rose has brought a lot of joy. 

The rose was the size of a quarter.  I've painted her before, in a different pose.  I'm fond of her color and crumpled look. 

Thank you for looking in today. 
Carol 


Wild Yellow

"Wild Yellow"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel
I came across a valley full of wild yellow rose bushes while looking for blueberries that morning. There were bees all around them, and "bee-ing" allergic, I took only one photo and made tracks out of there.  


I enjoyed painting this little rose, despite her lack of a strong whorl pattern. Her center, on the other hand was strong and commanded attention.

Thank you for "bee-ing" here today.
Carol

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