Sunday, August 31, 2014

jack

Jack is my next door neighbor so I feel like I know him pretty well. We have a fairly large yard and a creek below our house and Jack enjoys exercising there.  He is a beautiful Boykin Spaniel and around a year old.  My friend surprised Jack's "Dad" with the painting for his birthday.  This is painted on a 20 x 20 x 2" canvas.

Saturday, August 30, 2014

so....I heard there was a party....

This lady looks like she likes to party.  You only think there is sand in her bucket. This is painted on an 8 x 8 x 2" canvas.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

chick flick

I am going to do Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings  in 30 days challenge this September.  She suggested we think of a theme and possibly paint them all the same size.  She is going to paint 30 things about her that people may not know. There are around 700 painters from 20 different countries taking part.  It is a great exercise to discipline yourself to paint every day.  You can paint ahead or miss a day if the need arises.
I have a good many new images of chicks so my theme is going to be.......surprise....baby chicks.  Some are going to be painted in teacups..... because....I just like that.  I am going to paint on 6 x 6 x 2" canvases and sell each one for $85.00 plus $8 for shipping.  

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

getting there

The last of this bike series.  For a while anyway.  This is painted on an 11 x 14 x 2" canvas.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

wicked



I do not typically get frightened at scary movies.  I am much too cynical for them.  The wicked witch of the east did make an impression on me.  I can still see her flying on the bike past Dorothy's house during the tornado.  Scary stuff.  For some reason I kept thinking of her while I was painting this. Maybe it is the black bike.
I included the photo that was my inspiration for this painting.  A good example of how the photo is just a jumping off point.  I made several changes as I got into the panting.  It was hard faking the front of the bike that was hidden by the bench.  I pulled up some other pictures of bikes from the side to help.  Still not sure about that part.  I originally painted her shirt white and her bag straw.  It was not working for me so I changed it.  One thing that is risky in this painting is how close to the center of the painting the red and white bag are.  I still think it works.  this is painted on an 11 x 14 x 2" canvas.
I am having a workshop at my home in a couple of weeks and we are focusing on working from photos.  The pros and cons.  I know there are some out there who think you should always paint from life and not photos.  I am not that fast of a painter.  This lady was going very fast.  
My workshop is full but email me if you are interested and I can put you on the waiting list or let you know about the next one I will do in January or February.




Thursday, August 21, 2014

looking back

  I recently had an opportunity to get together with some college girlfriends at the beach. One day we ventured out to Rosemary Beach and I stalked people on bikes while my friends did a little shopping.  I really feel like a creeper sometimes.  I think men would really have a hard time doing what I do.  Who is going to believe he is going to paint the girls he is photographing?  I try to be fairly discreet while I am snapping away because I am looking for candid shots.  I am waiting for the day that I am arrested and my mug shot is in the local "busted" paper.  Maybe Karin Jurick will paint it.
This is painted on an 11 x 14 x 2".  I have two more that I am going to do for this series. 

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

over yonder

I am happy with the way this turned out so I think I will paint it on a large canvas.  This one is painted on a 6 x 12 x 2".sold

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

ava

  I painted this yesterday while being filmed by Ava Lowrey, a documentary filmmaker and grad student at Duke University.  She is making a documentary about women artists in Alabama. Click on her name to see some of her work.  She has a short film included in this weekend's Birmingham sidewalk Film Festival.  
"ava" is painted on a 12 x 12 x 2" canvas.sold

Saturday, August 16, 2014

star

Yes, I am spending lots of time in my studio these days.  Lots of commission work and painting for upcoming shows.  This is another 30 x 30 x 2" hereford.  She had a great star marking on her forehead.  sold

Friday, August 15, 2014

maddie

Maddie was commissioned by my friend to give to a special friend of hers.  I happen to know a little about the recipient because he was at least one of my son's AP English teachers his senior year of high school.   I won't say how long (partly because I don't know) Mr. McBride taught English in Tuscaloosa. I know he taught a lot longer than he had to because of his love and concern for the kids. I think the school talked him out of retiring year after year.
Maddie is his beloved golden retriever.  I don't think I have ever seen so much expression on a dog's face.  This was a lot of fun to paint.  It is painted on an 11 x 14 x 2" canvas.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

willie

"Willie" is a commissioned piece and is painted on a 30 x 30 x 2" canvas. I took the picture of this hereford at Balsam Mountain, NC. The picture reminded a patron/friend of a calf she showed in her 4H days.  I think hereford's are some of the most handsome cows because of their coloring and furry coat.  My favorite part to paint has to be the ears and the bangs.  Well...then there are the eyelashes......hard to pick.sold
 I still have some space in my September 6 and 7 workshop if you are interested.

Monday, August 11, 2014

catherine and andrew


This is a commission piece for a family here in Birmingham.  It is 3 x 3' so I included another picture to help visualize the scale.  Catherine and Andrew's mom  was born and raised in eastern Tennessee. The family spends a lot of time there so we chose to have the kids running through a field that looked reminiscent of this area.  I happen to be very familiar with this beautiful area because  my husband's mom and many family live there. I feel blessed that my kids got to spend lots of time playing on the farm in White Pine, TN.  Nothing quite like the rolling green hills and Smoky Mountains in the distance. sold 
 I still have space in my September workshop.  We are going to be concentrating on bringing light and life into your paintings when using photos. Discussing interesting composition, brushwork and color. Email me with questions! carolcarmike@att.net

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Lilly

 Lilly belongs to some Texas patrons.  She is such a classic looking beautiful lab. She is painted on a 12 x 12 x 2" canvas.sold







This is the newest addition to the Carmichael clan.  Callie Sue. She is a 6 1/2 week old golden doodle puppy.  My cat Ruthie is not sure what to think of her.  This is a picture of their first meeting.


Monday, August 4, 2014

dairy baby and workshop announcement

Sold
I was in north Alabama this weekend visiting my sister and there was a dairy farm not far from where she lives.  The cows were NOT interested in me.  They were all about the grass.  I almost always paint cows that like me.  I like to think they do anyway. This baby took a short break from grazing to give me a pretty face.  This is painted on an 8 x 8 x 2".

I would like to announce a workshop I am having at my studio this September 6 and 7.  The hours will be 10-4 Saturday and Sunday.  Please email me for more information!!  carolcarmike@att.net 

Friday, August 1, 2014

holding tight

This is a commission piece for a family in Louisiana.  I like the intimacy expressed on their faces.  I hope they continue holding hands for a long time.  The time seems to pass by too quickly that children are comfortable holding their parent's hand.  Hopefully this painting will preserve a special time in their life.  This is painted on an 11 x 14 x 2" canvas.sold