Wednesday, October 22, 2014

angus on red

I have painted this angus before with a different background and on a different size canvas. I included a picture of the first time I painted her. It might be fun to paint the same image and use different backgrounds.  Why don't you try it?sold
"angus on red" is painted on a 6 x 6 x 2" canvas.

I will be in Memphis, Tennessee this weekend for the River Arts Fest.  Friday night through Sunday afternoon.  First show for me since last May. The weather is going to be great so come see me if you are in the area.  The next weekend I am in Ocean Springs, MS for the Peter Anderson Art Festival.  I will be in Savannah for the Telfair Art show November 14-16.

My January workshop is full with one on the wait list but I have four spots left in the February workshop.  Email me at carolcarmike@att.net for more information.

Monday, October 20, 2014

new kid in town

Sold
Another painting titled inspired by what I was listening to at post time.  No creativity needed.  I was listening to the Jackson Browne Pandora channel and the Eagles happened to be singing "new kid in town". I painted this pretty furiously.  I have a lot going on in my life.  I just returned from a trip to beautiful Oregon.  This weekend I am doing a show in Memphis, TN  and the next weekend in Ocean Springs, MS.
This is painted on a 12 x 12 x 2" canvas.

I still have spots left in my January and February workshops.  If you would like more information, email me at carolcarmike@att.net.  January is filling up the fastest so don't wait if you are interested in that one.  

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

for a friend

Just a fun study for a friend who is going through a rough patch right now. He mentioned how he thought paintings of glass were cool.  Well....how about a glass with a manhattan in it?  This is painted on a 6 x 6 x 2" and is a gift for him.

Monday, October 13, 2014

out of the blue

sold
I am pretty much a loner painter.  I definitely enjoy being with people but I am also very content being by myself.  That being said......I feel like going to Nancy's workshop and hearing some fresh instruction and advice has been a huge benefit to me.  I was reminded of some basic things that are crucial to good painting.  I have mentioned them in my previous posts.  We all need to get out of our comfort zones and seek more knowledge.  You also learn a lot and make new friends from the fellow participants in workshops.
"out of the blue" is painted on an 11 x 14 linen canvas.

Speaking of workshops....I am announcing two upcoming ones at my home.  The first dates are January 10 and 11 and then February 21 and 22.  These are both held on Saturday and Sunday, from 10-4.  You can email me at carolcarmike@att.net for more information.  Something fun to do to brighten up your winter.

Saturday, October 11, 2014

harmony

I painted "harmony" specifically for a patron who has bought two other cow mugs from me.  She needed one more to complete the harmony and to be in harmony with the other two.  She is hanging all three together.  They are all 8 x 8 x 2".sold

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Friday, October 10, 2014

apple time

My friend Lynn is going to like this one.  She is a sucker for red.  I have heard that you need to put a little red in every painting.  I don't think I do.
I have been painting mostly from photos lately and have not had time to get back to one of my first loves, still life.  It is hard to fit it in sometimes.  I set up my still lifes so that I can have practice painting from real life.  These apples asked me to paint them so I found some complimentary things to go with them.
I am enjoying using the limited palette that I practiced at Nancy Franke's workshop. This is painted on an 8 x 10" linen panel.sold

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

all by myself


This was my final painting for Nancy Franke's workshop. It is painted on a 16 x 20 x 2" canvas.  One thing she mentioned several times was to look for triangles, X's and Z's in bodies and in compostion.  More interesting. This little guy has lots of those going on and  I think that was the main reason I was drawn to this photograph.  
I am personally drawn to Nancy's work because of her color palette, her loose brush work, and subject matter.  She has more energy and light than almost  anyone I know and that shines through in her work.  I am so happy to have had this opportunity to learn from her again.  She's the bomb.

Below is a picture of Nancy (yellow scarf) and her wannabes. I am the giant on the front left.  Nancy could fit in my back pocket. Sold 

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

sprite


sold
This is my first painting of the second day of Nancy's workshop.  I painted it on an 8 x 8 x 2" canvas. I struggled with the smallness of it.  We talked a lot about striving for your painting to look effortless.  I feel like I achieved that look but let me tell you it was NOT effortless. I almost scraped it several times. I am all about adding some bold strokes at the end of a painting to make it look like I started out that way.
Nancy uses a limited palette. ultramarine blue, cad red medium, cad yellow light or lemon, titanium white.  Now and then she uses a "short cut" color like yellow ochre.  One of my favorite colors! Good for warmer skin tones.  Oh yeah, now and then she uses cerulean blue.  I typically use lots of short cut colors but I used her palette for the workshop.  I am so pleased with the results that I may stick to it for a while.  I mixed cad yellow and cerulean to get the bright swim tube in the painting.

Monday, October 6, 2014

fancy free

One of the wonderful things about painting children is being able to capture them before they develop hang ups about how they look.  Before they realize that they have frizzy hair, a big nose or a crooked smile.  Children are so carefree and confident.  That is what Nancy Franke captures in her children studies.  You can add to that carefree attitude through your use of loose brushwork and less detail.  Nancy quote worth repeating, "saying a lot with as little as possible." !!!!  Okay....it is not easy.  It is a process that you get to after working very hard.  I painted much tighter when I started out but I knew where I wanted to go and kept at it.  Another thing Nancy said is that when you are having trouble, go to a larger brush.  What!!???  Yes!

This foot loose and fancy free girl is painted on an 11 x 14 x 2" and was the second painting I did at the workshop.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

four


 I mentioned in yesterday's post that I had just returned from doing a workshop with Nancy Franke in Nashville.  It was so much fun and enlightening that I will share a few of the things I found helpful over the next few posts.  I painted a total of four paintings over the two days and the one above is my first. It is painted on a 20 x 20 x 2" senso , clear acrylic primed canvas.
 We talked a lot about capturing the essence of children by portraying their attitude and getting their proportions right.  She reminded us that child figures are divided  down into four, pretty equal sections.  The head and neck taking up the top section.  Look at some of your own photos and see if this rule does not hold true.  It is a great tool.
She stresses the importance of using simple shapes, clear values, lively brushwork and surface paint texture.  She preaches," saying a lot with as little as possible."  Amen sister!
Nancy is an inspiration to me in many ways.  I will gush on about her during the next few posts.  Below is a picture of Nancy painting her first demo.  One of the things she does that makes me laugh is that when she gets excited talking about things, she kicks her leg back.  She still has a lot of cheer leader going on.

Saturday, October 4, 2014

tuckered

Tucker looks a little tuckered. And cute!  He belongs to my favorite cousin's ( I have 12 other favorites) husband .  My other favorite cousin's wife commissioned me to paint it for my favorite cousin's husband. All of my other favorite cousins and their spouses were either jealous of the gift or felt bad that they did not think of it.  Happy 60th Larry!!!

I just returned from a wonderful workshop with Nancy Franke.  You have lots of reasons to be jealous. First off, it was held in Nashville and I got to stay in my friends beautiful home. Secondly, Jeannie Smith of Warehouse 521, hosted the workshop and there were lots of great and nice artists there.  Thirdly, and most importantly.....Nancy Franke was our teacher/ friend for two days.  I will say more about that and share pictures tomorrow.
Oh yeah, incredible artist and nice person, Ann Blair Brown stopped by to chat.