junaluska pear

 
Just got back from a visit with my sister and parents in North Carolina. Picked this pear before I left. Always fun to have a fresh one with leaves. Painted this on a 5 x 7" linen canvas. Still struggling with small canvases. I tend to paint items too large with little background left. Need to remember what Qiang Huang taught and that is to create a stage including the background. I tend to focus on the items and background is an afterthought. Anyway... I am glad to be home after traveling. Hope to paint a good bit this week.

SOLD

morning melody

 
Wow. Sensory overload. New Orleans! Just returned from visiting my son this weekend. New Orleans is packed with incredible. The architecture and history are amazing.
Walked in Audobon Park Sunday morning. Fortunately i decided to take a stroll instead of going for a workout. Normally I would have my ipod on pretty loud while I was speeding past the sights. Decided to stroll with my camera. This guy was tucked away under a shade tree playing his violin.
Took some more pictures that I hope to paint. I feel like this might have been a lesson for me to slow down a bit and smell the roses. I probably miss lots of beautiful things as I go speeding by. Painted this on a linen 8 x 10" canvas.

Strumming in asheville

 
If you like the texture in this painting it might be because it fell off of the easel on to the concrete when I was trying to photograph it. A few ants and crepe myrtle blossoms add to the total effect. This was a request from my son who has just graduated from college and is now working in New Orleans. He liked the musician I painted earlier and asked if I would paint it for him on a very large canvas. This is painted on a 24 X 36" gallery wrap. Out of my comfort zone. Oh, did I mention that he just made the request two days ago because we are going to visit him this weekend? Sure Clint. You know he has to be a great kid if I did it.
I really think he has ulterior motives. I sign my paintings c. carmichael. He is planning on using these paintings as a chick magnet. Girls love those artsy types. My brother is a very nice painter and used to give girls he was dating paintings he had done. It never failed that as soon as he would give them a picture they would break up. Except for his final girlfriend/wonderful wife Amy.
I will post again in a few days if I don't melt in Nawlins.

A walk in the Park

 
It feels good to get a painting under my belt. First time back since being in Kentucky. So...I paint a scene from China. Makes sense to me. My son took lots of great photos and this is loosely based on one. Lots of editing. This one might not be finished but it is for now. I have a few photos from my Kentucky trip that I might try to paint.
It sure was fun looking at all my artist friend's blogs when I got back. Felt like Christmas opening up your blogs and seeing what you had painted while I was away.

new porch

 
Only got to create one work of art last week but it was a doozie. This is a photo of the porch and ramp we built for a great family in Kentucky. Their old porch was rotten and they needed a ramp so that a handicapped relative could come visit. The beautiful youth pictured here as well my very knowledgable friend Jimmie built this structure in five days. A crew will come in today to do the finishing touches. It was quite an experience for us all. We took 45 youth and 18 adults and worked on 9 different projects. Made lots of new friends from my church and from Kentucky. We were all a little dirty and sweaty in this photo after working a long day, but.... look at those smiles!
Hope to start painting tomorrow. Few more loads of laundry to do.

Whats for Dinner?

 
It's been a good day. I had so much fun painting this little 6 x8". I smiled the whole time. My son took this photo in Lijiang, China. A beautiful, rural area. This rooster was heading in the house to have dinner and watch a little TV. My son said the chickens roam freely inside and out. As beautiful as my sister's rooster, Mr Wonderful was, I know it was not allowed in the house.
So happy to report that I am making a little progress figuring my mac out. I know how to add images now so hopefully the images you see will look better. Yesterday's photo was an all time low.
I will not be posting for a little more than a week because of the trip I mentioned yesterday. I will miss you guys. Will look forward to seeing what you all have painted when I get back!

green on green

I apologize for painting the bowls again but I am a little pressed for time and composition comes a little easier with them. I also am sorry for the glare on this photo. I am leaving in a couple of days for a nine day work trip with the youth at our church.We will be in the appalachian area of Kentuckyhelping a few folks make their homes more liveable. So.....trying to squeeze in some painting before I leave. Hopefully I will get one more in tomorrow. And you are thinking...hopefully it won't be bowls.

Mama Time

I painted this from a photo I took last weekend in north Alabama. These were the friendliest cows. There was also a very friendly mule there who wanted to have his picture taken. I am surprised he is not in the corner of any of my shots. I kept having to move because he would get right in my camera view. Wish I had had something to give him. I should have at least taken his picture.
This was my first time to paint white cows. Quite a challenge. Everybody needs a challenge. Yesterday was very challenging because I had a failed attempt at a painting and then tracked ultra marine blue through my house until I discovered it in several places on my bedroom carpet. I don't like that kind of challenge.
This is painted on an 11x14" linen canvas.SOLD

summer harvest

Wow. The creative juices were flowing for this title. It's hard when you have painted basically the same set up three times in a row. But...this one is HUGE. 18 x 24". I struggle to keep the same character on larger canvases. I think I am happy with this. I honestly can not see the image as well as I would like because I am using my laptop. I broke down and replaced my 7 year old dell desktop with an apple that don't know how to use very well. Yep, it goes back to me not being patient enough to figure it out. I am getting there. Sorry if this is a bad photo.
Enough of the beautiful bowls for a while. I have a couple of photos that I am excited about painting.

pre fajita

 
I am not really making fajitas. So hard to think of titles sometimes.
Thanks for all the kind feedback yesterday. It is so nice to have some still life items that you can get excited about. I can think of lots of possibilities with these bowls and plates. Who gets so excited about dinner ware?
I am headed out to a weekend art show. I hope everyone has a great holiday!

stacked

Felt good to paint today. Have had a lot going on lately that has kept me from the easel.
I am still loving my new bowls. Love them so much that I went back to
kohls(oops) and got some more including the big green bowl. I hope people knew I was being facetious when I was going on and on about the bowls in one of my last posts.
I am headed to an art show up in the mountains of Alabama this weekend. Yes, we actually have mountains in Alabama. Foot hills of the Appalachians. I do not do too many shows but have really enjoyed meeting people in the ones I have participated in. Always nice to hear feedback. and sell!

11x14

on the move

 
Mr. Wonderful's friend. 5 x 7" linen canvas

Me, and my Girls

11 x 14" oil on canvas

Wake Up!

Refreshing break from painting still lifes.















12 x 12" gallery wrap

fiesta

Yeah, it's me. Painted this 8 x 10" piece yesterday while in class. I have recently started taking a class with Barbara Evan's on Wednesday mornings. The participants bring whatever they are working on. I am still so excited about my new bowls and plates that I took them with me to class. (There was definite bowl envy there.) I am a real traditionalist when it comes to setting up my still lifes. I use a two sided box with a direct light. In this room we had flourescent lights and no box. I did not have room to carry my box because I was already carrying my new bowls and plates that everyone wanted. So.....I set this up on top of a cardboard box and went from there. I bought this napkin to go with my bowls that everyone wanted. Out of my comfort zone but happy with the results.
Not telling you guys where I got my new bowls.

tomato fiesta

Painted this 5 x 7" late yesterday. This size feels so miniature to me now since I have grown up to larger canvases. This size is a pleasure to paint since I really like to paint alla prima. I picked up these colorful tapas plates and bowls yesterday and I am so excited about painting them.
footnote: sorry for being so uncomputer savvy that I can not even figure out how to edit my posts. When I go back in and try to edit the writing, all these little funny characters show up instead of the type. If I would spend a bit more time with it I am sure that I could figure it out. Five minutes is about my attention span with techno things.SOLD

Peach Glow

A better photo of "peach glow"

odd man out

I have really enjoyed using brighter colors in these last couple of paintings. I have to say that the colors in this remind me of Elizabeth Blaylock's work. If you are not familiar with her you need to be. Her paintings will brighten your day. I first saw her work in a shop here in Bimingham. I was intrigued with her colors, and geometrosized( I think I just made up a new word) brush work and shapes. This does not describe her work well at all. Just look at her blog or you can see her on daily painters.com. She has the fortune and misfortune at the present of living on the Alabama coast. A beautiful area that is taking a terrible hit.

8x10"

Apples on blue

This painting was a joy to paint. Tried to keep it simple so that I could enjoy an easy day. Speaking of an easy or hard painting...I am curious how many of you fellow artists eat your way through a bad painting? I paint at home so that I can be close to my pantry. I guess if I ever get a studio I will have to design a kitchen for it. Anyway, some days if I am struggling with a painting I will take a break and get a snack. I will usually start out with something healthy like almonds. But then...I will need a little something sweet to go with that. Back to the painting. A while later(15 minutes or so) I will think that having some protein might help me paint better. A half a jar of crunchy peanut butter later I head back to the painting. This pattern repeats itself until I complete the painting. Any othe guilty souls out there? I am happy to report that I can still button my jeans after finishing this painting.

५७

pink

Man, oh man. This "precious" little #*&# 5 x 7" painting took way too long to paint. I really struggled with it. I am trying hard to work through problems instead of scrubbing the painting out. My natural inclination is to give up. Part of this thought process is that the painting can get muddy and overworked. Anyway...I will end this by saying that I did not have fun painting this but am happy that I pushed through it instead of giving up.

Green Apples and Pink Flowers

It is a miracle that you are viewing this painting. Wanted to scrub it out over and over yesterday. A definite trial of patience. I am pleased that I kept working through it and it should be a good lesson for me.
Always a bit hard to get back into painting if you have taken a break. I find it so much better to paint every or almost every day. I keep a better hold on my confidence if I can practice that. But....sometimes life gets in the way. Thank goodness!





11 x 14"

say what?

One of my favorite paintings of Mr Wonderful. 8 x8" on gallery wrap.















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Mr. Wonderful

This is a photo of my barnyard muse. I have mentioned before that he is not very big. About a foot tall. Thought you might enjoy seeing a photo of him. It was hard for me to hold my camera steady many times because he made me laugh so much showing off.