Sophie

I have been busy painting Christmas commissions.  Most of them are surprises so I can not post until after Christmas.  Sophie belongs to a friend of mine that decided to treat herself with a portrait of her two dogs.  I will post number two tomorrow.  These are for her AND a surprise for her husband Christmas morning.  It is such a honor when people ask me to paint their dogs.  I get stressed out this time of year but am always happy when others are brought joy from one of my paintings. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are one of my favorite breeds of children. :) This is painted on an 11 x 14 x 2" canvas.

sprouts

I have been busy painting commission pieces that I can not post.  I took a break to paint these pretty sprouted turnips. Pink/purple is my favorite color. I was happy these turnips waited on me.  Too many times my still life fruit  gets neglected and it becomes deer feed.  At least it does not go to waste.  This is painted on an 8 x 16 x 2" canvas.sold

 

the color of love

This is a belated wedding present for some friends.  My husband took this picture at the wedding reception. A very stylish and red loving couple.  This is painted on a 16 x 20" canvas.

I had a great Open Studio last Thursday.  That was my last show for a bit. I will be in Nashville early February for the Art Event at Lipscomb. More information on that and other Spring shows to come.

tuckered

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I am preparing for my last show for the Fall and for my Open studio next Thursday. I will be in Covington, LA this Saturday and Sunday for the Three Rivers Art Festival.  It will be my first time to do a show in this area so come see me if you are close.

My Open Studio is next Thursday evening from 5-8.  More about that early next week.  Email me at carolcarmike@att.net for more info.

This painting is a 24 x 36 x 2" and will be available at my Open studio next Thursday for 25% off it's original price.  

better days

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This is a large 36 x 48" piece.  I am preparing for my final shows of the season.  I will be in Covington, LA for the Three Rivers Art Festival Nov 10 and 11. First time for me in this area.  Always fun to explore a new place.

I am having an open studio sale Thursday, Nov 15.  I open up my studio and the garage below filled with work for sale .  Last year was the first time I did it and it was lots of fun.  A great time to get gifts for yourself or others. The hours are 5-8.  Email me at carolcarmike@att.net for more information.

wild beauty

I am headed to Bluffton, SC this weekend for the Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival.  The show is Oct 20 and 21.  This will be my second year to participate and I am very excited to be going back to this beautiful area.  I painted this large, 3' x 4' piece a few weeks ago.  It's big.sold

room to grow

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One thing I love about painting and being an artist is that you are always learning.  There is no ceiling or cap.  I always knew that I wanted to paint loosely from the time I began painting.  I like this painting but I wish the bowls were looser. I love it when I can lose some edges and it still reads the shape of the bowl.  That did not happen this time but it might next time.  This is painted on a 30 x 30 x 2" canvas.

My next show is in Bluffton, SC and is the Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival. I did this show for the first time last year and loved the area.  If you are not familiar with Bluffton, it is close to Hilton Head and not too far from Savannah.  the dates of the show are Oct 20 and 21.  

"What's the hurry?"

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I have enjoyed not being in a hurry this last week.  It seems like I always am even if I don't need to be.  I rested more last week than I have in a very long time.  This is painted on a 24 x 20 x 2" canvas.

My next show is the Arts and Seafood Festival in Bluffton, SC  October 20 and 21.  I am looking forward to visiting this beautiful area again.  Then I will be in Covington, LA for the Three Rivers Art Festival Nov 10 and 11.  This will be my first time to do a show in this area. Come see me if you are in the New Orleans or Covington vicinity.

golden days

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I had a bit of a staycation this week.  I have a hard time staying out of my studio when I am home but this week I enjoyed getting some much needed rest, sleep and I binge watched "hell on wheels".  Having art shows back to back weekends takes a lot out of you so a break felt good.

This piece is painted on a 40 x 40 x 2" canvas.  It will be with me at my next show in Bluffton, SC Oct 20 and 21.

Hope your weekend is great!

One little tip in case you did not know it....A great way to perk up hydrangeas and make them not wilt so soon is to cut the stem and dip them in alum.  These flowers have looked good for over a week. :)

souvenir

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I just returned from a show in Huntsville, Alabama.  I stayed with my sister who lives in the area.  Her home is in a rural area and there was cotton planted in the fields around her home.  I took home a few souvenir stalks.

  I sold a lot of my favorite pieces last weekend so I woke up early yesterday to paint something for the River Clay Arts Festival in Decatur, AL this weekend. This is a large 36 x 48" piece.  The big paintings take a lot out of me trying to figure out how to balance and fill all the space and keep the character I like. I had to use lots of archival odorless, lean medium to my oil paint so that it can dry by Friday.  Then the painting goes in the back of my art mobile that sits out in the heat at my home.  Oh yeah....in case you were wondering what my art mobile is....I have a 2001 toyota sequoia that I have taken all but the front seats out.  I also use a cargo carrier that holds my tent pieces.

Click on the River Clay link to find out more about the show and come see me if you are in the area.

choices

This morning I had a little free time so I had to make a choice between exercising and painting.  Painting won out.  I am one of those weird people who likes to exercise so it was not an easy decision.  I leave in a few minutes to set up for a show in Huntsville, AL. The Monte Sano Art Festival is tomorrow and Sunday from 9-5.  Come see me if you are in the area. 

This piece is painted on a 12 x 24 x 2" canvas. Hope your weekend is great.  Praying for those on the east coast.

I should have stayed on the farm

I had to pull a line from a song I was listening to at the time of posting for this title.  Elton John's "yellow brick road" was playing. When you have painted as many roosters as I have it is hard to come up with new names.  This is painted on a 24 x 24 x 2" canvas.

Come see me in Huntsville, AL this weekend at the Monte Sano Art Festival if you are in the area.

Prayers and thoughts going out for those in the path of the hurricane.

technicolor

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I am headed up to art shows in north Alabama for the next two weekends.  This Saturday and Sunday, Sept 15 and 16  is the Monte Sano Art Festival in Huntsville, AL.  The following Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 22 and 23  is the River Clay Art Festival in Decatur, AL.  One of the reasons I enjoy these shows is that my sister and brother and law live close.  I have gotten some of my best rooster and chick photos from their flock.  It would make me so happy to drive up and see these colorful chickens greeting me.  I say all this in the past tense because they are in the process of building a new chicken coop so no chickens right now.
I would love for you to come see me and the other artists if you are in the area. Click on the links to learn more about these shows.
This is painted on a 12 x 12 x 2" canvas.

open like a child

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It felt good to find some time to paint today.  I rested yesterday after a three day show in Marietta, GA.  It was very hot but several of my pieces found some new homes. 

My next show is the Monte Sano Art Festival in Huntsville, AL.  It is Saturday, September 15, 9 -5  and Sunday, September 16, 9-4.  The next weekend I will be in Decatur, AL for the River Clay Art Festival.  Sept 21-23.

This little guy is painted on a 20 x 24 x 2" canvas.

i drive my truck

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In case you were tired of me painting cows.  This is painted on a 24 x 30 x 2" canvas.

milk carton kid

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I have painted a few smaller paintings in preparation for my upcoming shows.  This one is painted on a 6 x 8 x 2" canvas.  Because you need at least one cow painting in your house. (if not several)

I am participating in Art in the Park in Marietta this Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.  Sept 1-3, 10-5 each day.  Looking forward to seeing some of my Atlanta area family and friends.  My booth # is 228.

My other Fall shows are as follows:

Sept 15 and 16   Monte Sano Art Show, Huntsville, AL

Sept 22 and 23 River Clay Art Show, Decatur, AL

Oct 20 and 21  Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival, Bluffton, SC

Nov 10 and 11 Three Rivers Art Festival, Covington, LA

Nov 15  Open studio ,  Vestavia, AL

Tom

 I just returned from a lovely and inspiring trip to Crested Butte, CO.  This cow lived a couple of blocks from where I was staying with my friend.  It was fun to take walks at different times of the day and see the beautiful mountains that surrounded a huge field of cows. I would get so excited that I had a hard time keeping my hands still enough to take pictures.  I am in awe of the beauty of our country.  Thank you to my friend Beth for allowing me this experience. We met at a Tim Horn workshop several years ago and were instant friends.

This cow is titled Tom because Tom Petty was one of the artists we listened to a lot while in CO. It is painted on a 36 x 36 x 2" canvas.  I thought I would share some extra photos of my process.
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I will be in Marietta, GA Sept 1-3 for Art in the Park.  I would love for you to come see me if you are in the Atlanta area.  Click on the link for more information.

higher

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This is a very large piece and my husband filmed me doing some final touches on it.  You can see it if you go to carolcarmichaelpaints on instagram.  It gives you a better perspective of how large it is.  36 x 60 x 2".
It will be with me at Marietta, GA Art in the Park Sept 1-3.

i should have been home yesterday

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I took a little time to do a small piece.  This one is an 8 x 8 x 2".  When I first started my painting career I never painted bigger than an 11 x 14" or so.  It took me a while to get comfortable painting large pieces but now I love them the best of all.  You can get great character in small pieces.

My show season is approaching.  I am excited to have lots of new work to take with me. You can see a good bit of my available work on my website https://carolcarmichaelfineart.com/
My first show is Art in the Park Sept 1-3 in Marietta, Georgia.  Go to the link for more information.

if you can't be good, be gone

  I have probably painted 200-300 roosters or chickens over the fifteen years that I have been painting.   So how do you constantly come up with new titles for the pieces? I usually listen to music while I am painting so I will use a lyric or title of a song I find appropriate. I was listening to the Mandolin Orange station on Pandora and I felt like the Steeldrivers song, "if you can't be good, be gone" worked.  The name of the bands is always interesting.  One band that plays on this station is "trampled by turtles".  

This painting is painted on a 24 x 30 x 2" canvas.

rested and ready

  One reason I enjoy a palette knife is because it feels a little like icing a cake.  This is painted on a 20 x 20 x 2" canvas. 

to love someone

Painted on a 30 x 30 x 2" canvas.  I really like to express my feelings and emotion with a palette knife. sold 

bless me indeed

Thankful to be painting in my studio and listening to the rain on this wet Wednesday.  This is painted on an 18 x 24 x 2" canvas.  

one thing leads to another

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I am enjoying painting for my upcoming shows in the Fall.  I enjoy painting commissions but love painting what ever for no reason. This is painted on a 9 x 12 x 2" canvas.  Go to my website https://carolcarmichaelfineart.com  to see details on work and upcoming shows.

Wyoming baby moon

My friend gifted her son and daughter in law with this painting.  It was taken on their baby moon.  In case you are as clueless as me.... that is a fun trip before you have your first baby.  This is painted on a 20 x 24" canvas.  I want to go on a baby moon.  Maybe a grand baby moon?

Gus

I decided to have fun with another black animal.  I think this angus looks very handsome. I have not painted one in a while and have had requests for them so here you go. This one is painted on an 11 x 14 x 2" canvas.
 You can now see most of my available work on my website https://carolcarmichaelfineart.com/ . It also has information about my upcoming shows beginning in September.

back roads

Painted on a 16 x 20 x 2" linen canvas.  What a haughty looking bird.  sold

Evie

This much loved pooch brought a lot of happiness to her owner but not for near long enough.  Hope the painting brings some good memories.  8 x 8 x 2" . You have to love a pug!

be lifted high

I needed palette knife therapy today.  Painted on a 36 x 36 x 2" canvas.sold

belly

My son and daughter in law on their wedding day.  18 x 24".  Belly is our pet name for Ben and Kelly.  

gentle on my mind

Painted on a 20 x 20 x 2" canvas.

celebrate

I was not really in the mood to paint a still life but I had some pretty flowers left over from a birthday party for my mom and I did not want them to go to waste.  This painting is similar to my Mom in that it is bright and cheery.  My mom is one of those rare people that brings light into everyone's day no matter how she might be feeling. She makes eighty look dang good!
This is painted on a 30 x 40 x 2" canvas.

lovely as a summer day

I was struggling for a title today.  I was going to title it , "my cherry amore" but felt like that was a bit hoaky.  The next words in Stevie Wonder's song, "my cherie amour"  are " lovely as a summer day" so that won out.  This is painted on an 18 x 24" canvas.

Don't forget to check out my new website. https://carolcarmichaelfineart.com/

Thanks for looking!

roadrunner

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I had to think back and recall if the roadrunner from the old cartoon was a rooster.  Nope.  This rooster looks like he might be able to keep up with a roadrunner. Beep, beep! This is painted on a 15 x 30 x 2" canvas.

I have been working on my website and have loaded works that are available for purchase.  It was very easy through FASO.  I have started and stopped before because of time constraints.  I will continue to add to it and improve it but for now you can see it at https://carolcarmichaelfineart.com

I also added a gadget at the top right of my blog so that you can click it to go to the website.

5 o clock somewhere

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I wanted to paint something colorful to get my Monday morning and week started out right. This is painted on a 12 x 12  x 2" canvas.  Hope your week is good. I am going to start working on a website this week. I will share with you when it is ready to visit.  

jughead

Jughead was the dog of a good friend of mine.  She and her husband "inherited" Jug from their son and he brought lots of happiness to this family.  He is painted on an 11 x 14 x 2" canvas. 

loyal

Maybe this loose painting is a result of just painting two commissions that I needed to look a certain way.  I love playing with different subject matter and styles. I automatically tighten up my style when painting commissions because "I am not that good".  I do not mean that as an insult to myself but I do not seem to be able to capture what I need to in as loose a fashion  as I might like.  Probably true for most artists.  This is painted on a 24 x 36 x 2" canvas.sold

Happy 4th of July!  

sunset Montana

This is a commissioned piece for a friend.  A bit challenging and different from my normal work but all good. It is painted on an 18 x 24 x 2" canvas.

a little romance

I have really enjoyed taking a break from my every day routine of painting this past couple of months.  I am really looking forward to getting back to it now.  Feeling refreshed and recharged. 

This is painted on an 18 x 24 x 2" canvas.

Behrman

Behrman was commissioned by a new friend.  I got to meet this little havanese and that always makes them more fun to paint.  This is painted in oils on a 16 x 20" linen canvas.  

take a load off

When you can't think of a title....use a lyric from the song you are listening to.  It felt good to paint again today after being away from my studio for several days.  My husband and I traveled through parts of Virginia and West Virginia to hike and bike and then deliver some paintings to a wonderful gallery I am in in North Wilkesboro, NC.  Taupe gallery is in a fairly small town but has really great work and awesome owners who have been great about selling my work. 
I picked this jar and bottle up in Staunton, VA.  I have a thing for old glass. I love including it in new paintings so I never feel guilty about buying more.  This is painted on a 20 x 20 x 2" canvas.  Glad to be back in the studio for a few days.  

it's not easy

Felt like doing something a little different today.  Painted on a 16 x 20 x 2" canvas.

hello darlin

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I have enjoyed slowing my painting pace down the last few weeks.  I had very good Spring shows and am looking forward to painting new things but taking more time off this summer.  This is painted on a 36 x 36 x 2" canvas.