a dog's life

 I decided to paint my dogs most common pose.  She perches on the end of the couch with her paws right next to her face and watches all.  Now and then she will actually pick up her head to see something.   Somehow she knows the deer that frequent the woods behind our house are out there before she can see them. My husband was the one who wanted a dog so that he would have a companion while he was working outside.  She will go with him for a few minutes but she is much happier inside.   She is pretty much a mama's girl.

Molly

 Molly is a little camera shy so her family had to work hard to get a picture of her. I think it was worth their effort.  Reminds me of how I used to bribe my three sons to cooperate for a Christmas picture.  I would take fifty to get a good one of all three.  It was always worth it.  

Molly is painted on an 8 x 10" canvas.

lily

 Hello! I have been terrible about posting paintings to my blog.  I have been putting things on my instagram page because that is a little less time consuming.  I plan to turn over a new leaf after I finish my Christmas commissions.  This pretty pooch belongs to a friend of mine and is a gift to self. She is painted on an 8 x 10".

The pandemic has kept me from doing shows but I have painted a lot since last March.  I am grateful to so many who have supported me through commissioning me or buying existing paintings.  I can not imagine the hardship some artists are going through.  All types of artists.  

Hoping this next year will bring lots of good things to our world.  2020 will never be forgotten.  

simple love

 I have enjoyed using my palette knife to work on staying looser. It is so satisfying when you lay down a stroke and it is even more interesting than what you hoped for.  I would definitely recommend  using a palette knife if you are trying to loosen up.  I love my rosemary brushes and will always use them but loving the knife as a tool and change up.  I particularly like the Italian brand RGM that is widely available at art stores. Play with something new this week.

psssh

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 A little late afternoon exercise.  I finished two commissions today!  Woot, woot!  This is painted on an 8 x 10" canvas.

on second thought

 I love painting something very loose before and in between painting commissioned pieces.  I enjoy the freedom to be as loose as I like.  Hard to do on commissioned pieces.  I did this 6 x 6" piece almost exclusively with a small palette knife.  So fun!sold

in a tizzy

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 I played around with oil sticks to start this rooster.  It is a good stress relief to paint a rooster because I can be a little looser and energetic with my brushwork. I have been blessed to paint many commissions but I have to be more careful and tight with my brushwork. ( I am pretty sure people want their dogs, children, etc to look like the image they send me. ) So....painting something loose and wild is a good thing for me to do between commissions.  

I feel like we are all in a bit of a tizzy these days.  Praying and hoping for better days to come.  Stay safe!

This is painted with oils on a 15 x 30" canvas.

parydoxx

 Parydoxx has belonged to a client for seventeen of his twenty two years.  It was an honor for me to paint him. This is painted on a 24 x 36" canvas.  I hope it will bring lots of happiness to Parydoxx's family.

I six

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 My youngest son, Dillon, used to tell people he was six when he was only two. This little lamb looks like it is stretching out to be as tall and old as possible.  Do you remember when we would wish to be older?  I do wish to be older but not like when I was nine and could not wait to be ten.  This is painted on an 8 x 8" canvas.

Carry on

 I painted this with palette knives only. A good way to paint looser if that is your goal. The color red is so special. I do not use a lot of red but I really love it. Especially against its compliment color green. This is painted on a 6 x 6” canvas.

Lttle one

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Felt like painting something innocent and cute. We could all use a big dose of happy. This is painted on a 6 x 8” canvas. 

fragile

 I have always been a little like a bull in a china shop.  I am pretty good at breaking, dropping, knocking things over, etc.  I think a lot of it is because I am not very patient.  I am patient with people but not with tasks.  A high school boyfriend once gave me a plastic corsage before a dance because of my history of ruining the delicate real ones. I remember knocking over my water glass six times during one meal with his family.  I hate to say that I never grew out of clumsiness. 

This is painted on a 12 x 12" linen canvas.

Blaze

 

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I am getting over my intimidation of painting horses.  I just have to fight through the painting and look for the correct shapes, etc.  This is painted on an 8 x 16" canvas.  

I hope you all have a good week!  

fiesta

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 Some days I feel like going more colorful and loose.  This rooster gave me the freedom to push the colors and textures.  This was almost exclusively painted with my palette knife.  Using a palette knife is great way to help loosen up and load on thick, juicy paint. It was a bit like frosting a cake because if I did not put enough paint on my knife, it would scrape away the layer beneath. This is painted on an 8 x 10" canvas.

passion

 One of my friends reached out last week and said I have not posted to my blog since late August.  I have been busy painting for a show last weekend and have been remiss about posting.  I have posted some things on my instagram page, carolcarmichaelpaints. I will try and be better.  I have a couple of online shows that I will tell you about soon. 

Prayers for the people affected by the hurricanes and fires.

Brind'Amour

I smiled the whole time I was painting this golden doodle.  He is named after a hockey coach.  Hope this made you smile.  He is painted on an 11 x 14" canvas.  

shelter

 I have been struggling through painting lately.  My desire has waned and I have been hyper critical of everything I paint.  I know I will work through it but it is not a good feeling. This is painted on a 16 x 20" linen canvas.

I actually have a show that might not be cancelled.  The Monte Sano Art Festival in Huntsville, AL is one of my favorites and it is scheduled for Sept 12 and 13th. It is held in a beautiful wooded park and masks will be required.  Every artist will have hand sanitizer and social distancing will be practiced.  I really hope it happens because I miss the shows. This covid really stinks!

for the love

 I did a little more work on this 24 x 30" painting yesterday.  The pandemic has kept me in my studio much more and I am looking at pieces that normally would have sold at a show by now.  I muted this piece down a little bit and I like it more. 

I really do miss people and going to art shows.  We will get through this if everyone will do their part. Stay safe!

rustlers gulch

soldMy first attempt to paint one of my favorite scenes in Colorado.  The rustlers gulch trail is a few miles away from Crested Butte, CO.  An absolute sanctuary of beauty.  This is painted on a 24 x 36" canvas.

knockin' on the screen door

I just returned from a beautiful trip to Colorado and now I need a vacation from my vacation.  We took advantage of all the outdoor activities and wonderful cooler temperatures.  I took some great photos and look forward to painting some of the scenes. 

This rooster is painted on an 8 x 8 "deep canvas. 

forever

 I have been doing a lot of commissions during the past few weeks but when I saw these peaches they asked me to paint them.  Nobody else at the farmer's market heard it but it is true.  The cucumbers spoke to me too but I did not listen. I may be losing it.

This is painted on a 24 x 30" linen canvas.

Off spring

This is an 11 x 14” commissioned piece for a friend. This twosome was a lot of fun to paint. The calf is named after my friend. That would make me happy.

life is good

This is a commissioned piece for a couple that I met many years ago. They had seen a picture I had  painted of an older couple sitting on the beach in Hilton Head. It really appealed to a lot of folks. I guess they imagined it to be them at present or in the future.  I am getting closer and closer to relating to it.  I will include a picture of "prime time" painted many years ago.

Don't waste today.  Think of something positive and fun to do.  Every day is a blessing. Wear a mask!!

This is painted on an 18 x 24" canvas.

                                                                       prime time

ginger

My grand dog Ginger.  She is an attention getter where ever she goes. This is painted on a 10 x 10" canvas for my daughter in law's birthday.  

living color

Hydrangeas are especially beautiful right now.  I hate to pick mine so I usually pick up some up from the grocery.  This is painted on a 16 x 16" canvas.  

Lester

Lester has quite a presence.  He was commissioned by a friend for her niece's birthday.  He was a delight to paint and I hope he brings Jenny lots of smiles.  Painted on a 12 x 12" canvas.

Cami

There are many times that I struggle through a painting. I think I just lose confidence some days and criticize myself left and right.  I had to call my husband up to the studio three or four times to give me his opinion on this or that on Cami.  I am happy with the way she turned out and thankfully her family is too.  She is painted on a 10 x 10" canvas. 
Take advantage of artists having more time to do commissions with so much closed and no shows for a bit.  Don't wait until two weeks before Christmas or a birthday to get your pet put on canvas.  

fellowship

I have loved painting pears for going on twenty years now. My style has evolved but my enthusiasm has not waned for certain subject matter. I painted most of this with a palette knife. This is painted on a 12 x 24” canvas.

I got this

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I wonder how many people there are out there who are still using picasa photo editing. I absolutely loved it and have been using it for twenty years give or take. I did the most recent update on my i mac and my picasa no longer works. Very huge sob! I do not like i photo near as much. It has really thrown this old girl for a loop trying to adjust.
This little one was painted over an old 12 x 12” painting. I love the little surprises that show up from underneath. She looks a lot more confident than I am.

blue

My emotions really came out in this piece today. Scrubbing a palette knife around a canvas is pretty cathartic. This is painted on. 20 x 20” canvas.

good together

I love the yellows in lemons. I found some rainier cherries today and think they look good together. This is painted on a 6 x 8 x 2” canvas. 

Have a great Memorial day!sold

lemon line

A late afternoon exercise.  I thought you might be interested in seeing how I started the painting.  This is painted on a 6 x 12" wooden panel.  Have a safe weekend! 

zoey

Zoey is a commissioned piece for a family who recently lost her.  It is such an honor for me to paint someone's beloved pet. I hope it will bring them many good memories of her.  This is painted on an 11 x 14" canvas.

where rainbows never die

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Hmmm.  Sharing a little love and happiness on a gloomy Monday. I told you I have been experimenting lots.  I usually paint with softer colors but pinky/purple is my favorite color.  Hope this 24 x 24" piece brightens up your day.

heaven knows

Hello!  Hope you are all staying well!  I began working on this 15 x 30" piece last week.  I thought I had finished it but looking at it with fresh eyes after a few days away spurred me to simplify it and add another figure.  I wish I had kept a picture of my "first" finish to share with you.  Next time!

I can do custom pieces similar to this that represent your family. This is a great time to get some commissioned pieces done for future gifts. Take care!  

this face

This is a commissioned father's day surprise.  I love this curious and endearing face.  The commissioner wanted me to push the color and I cocked the head a bit more.  This is a great time to ask your favorite artist to paint something for you.  I am NEVER at home as much as I am now.  Do some of your Christmas shopping early.
Hope you are staying safe and well!

my mama told me

My Mom is not and never was a big tell me what to doer.  She truly is someone who has taught me through her actions.  I wish I was better at that. 

This is painted on a 20 x 20" canvas.  Happy Mom's day!

some sunny day

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I am still experimenting a good bit.  I am enjoying using mostly palette knives.  Scraping paint around feels very good .  This piece is 18 x 36".

chicken scratch

This 36 x 36" painting has had many lives. Several months to a year ago it was an abstract.  A few months later I saw and angel in it and painted that.  I painted over the angel (gasp) and stared at it for a couple of more months.  Now it has finally found its final occupants  with "chicken scratch".  I think all of its previous residents have made it more interesting.  Visit my website for more information.

refuge

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This is the last in a series of three 12 x 12" pieces.  I hope you have enjoyed the change up.  I have and am using this time to experiment a bit.  I hope you are!  Thanks for looking. Visit my website for more information.

oh joy begin

I mentioned in my last post that I had three 12 x 12" abstract pieces that I wanted to make a little more my own. This is the outcome of working with another of those. I am not sure what I will do with the third but I am pretty sure it will be another white animal. I love when you can transform something you are so so about into something your are excited about. Thanks for looking!

where the light is

I am not painting a whole lot these days but what I am painting is more thoughtful.  I have more time to really think about what I want to paint and how I want to paint it.  I painted three 12 x 12" abstract paintings last year that I never quite knew what to do with.  I liked the colors, textures and design but they mostly just hung in my studio. I was not confident to take them to a show. I pulled one off the wall three days ago and started trying to figure what I could do to make it more me.  I tried some figures and faces but wiped both of them off.  I am happy with what happened today.  I am hopeful that some good will come out of this odd time in our lives. 
Hope you are staying well and maybe trying something new. You can find out more about this painting on my website.  carolcarmichaelfineart.com

better together

This looks like an Easter cow.  All dressed up and no where to go.  This year anyway.  I did an underpainting with acrylics and stared at it a while until this cow decided to pop off the canvas.  It is funny that I was in a bad, have to stay at home mood, and all of the sudden this happy cow sprouted forth. He made me much happier.  This is painted on a 30 x 30" canvas.
Stay safe!

anyhow

I have been painting a little more emotionally lately.  Scrubbing paint around with palette knives and catalysts.  I do not know a lot about abstract painting.  I felt my way through this one until it felt right to me. She looks pensive but hopeful to me. This is painted on a 20 x 20 x 2" canvas.  Go to my website for more information.  It is at the top right of my blog page.
Have a safe and good weekend. Anyhow.....

soon enough

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Late afternoon exploring on a 6 x 12" canvas.  I hope you are all doing well and doing a little exploring on your own.

True love

I painted this still life from a little different perspective. I was slightly looking down on it. I am trying new things during this stay at home time. Hopefully some good will come from all this bad.
This is painted on an 8 x 10” canvas.

trust in you

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Expressing myself a little differently these days.  I plan on working with the figure a bit more in the coming days. This is painted on an 11 x 14" canvas.  Hope you are staying well.