Saturday, February 28, 2015

One-Eyed Rose, 10x8 Original Floral Oil Painting on Panel



I called this painting One-Eyed Rose because when I painted it I had a patch over one eye. I had cataract surgery the previous day and the patch was still on. It was very interesting painting with one eye, because my depth perception was a bit off. I would reach out with the brush, ready to stroke the canvas, and I wasn't quite there yet. Once I got going, I compensated for that easily. When they took the patch off at the doctor's office, everything had a lavender hue except for my chartreuse-tinged Kleenex. Colors are so much brighter now, and I am so glad I did it. I didn't even appreciate HDTV until now!

Carmen

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Turkey Creek Palm, 10x8 Original Oil on Canvas Panel


$125, Buy Now

This is Turkey Creek in Palm Bay, Florida, and it's one of those surprising places that sits right in the middle of a populated area. It is a quiet haven that is home to alligators, turtles, armadillos, manatees, and many other animals. There are extensive hiking trails winding throughout the peaceful woods. Sometimes you just need to get off the hard road, as they say where I come from. That can refer to pavement or life.

Carmen

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Hay Bales in Snow, Original OIl Landscape



I painted this in solidarity with our family members up north freezing in the horrid weather. Even the south has been slammed, but we Floridians can't complain. It gets a bit nippy, but I know when I'm well off; no complaints here.

I tried to be loose with this one. I was reminded in the Robert and Sara Genn Newsletter this morning of a quote by Richard Schmid: 

"It often takes two to do a good painting - one to paint it, and another to rap the painter smartly with a hammer before he or she can ruin it."  

I will get cataract surgery this week. I just hope clarity of sight does not tempt me to niggle my paintings to death. So many times I have said, "This looks good!" then went past that point. The hammer, please?

Carmen

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Rainier and Rainbow, 20x16 Original Oil on Canvas Panel Landscape



I couldn't believe my luck when I got this shot. It was afternoon, the light was warm, Mt. Rainier was partly visible, and there was a rainbow. It's opportunities like these that cause artists to have traffic accidents. Fortunately, I didn't. I love the Seattle area, and the scenery is just beyond belief for a Florida girl. Lucky me: a rainbow, warm light, clouds and Rainier!

Carmen

Monday, February 16, 2015

Pastel Sea, 10x8 Original Oil Seascape



Despite the title of this painting, it is not a pastel, it's an oil. It's the scene that is pastel. Sometimes the sea and sky are soft colors, which makes for a peaceful painting. In fact, I believe I hear it calling me right now...I need to go down there and walk a while...

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking...

"Sea Fever" by John Masefield



Friday, February 13, 2015

Peachy Sunrise, 10x8 Original Oil



Can't get enough of clouds lately. It's unusual for me to stick with one subject this long. Many artists paint the same thing over and over, and their work looks very cohesive when observing their whole oeuvre, whereas mine has oils, collage, and zentangles in a variety of subject matter. I just can't help myself. I love all media, and I get bored if I stick with one subject for too long. I am trying to catch up after all the years in a government job. The only programs I am analyzing now are the ones that get my work online most effectively. 

Carmen

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Thundercloud, 10x8 Original OIl on Canvas Skyscape



I love to paint stormy weather, and this thundercloud looks like it wants to produce a tornado. Florida does have exciting weather, but no hurricanes for the past ten years. I think I prefer hurricanes to the harsh winter conditions up north right now. Floridians were punished for the last hurricanes by having our insurance rates jacked up, yet when there are no disasters the rates stay up. I suppose that's happening all over the country. Some companies simply drop you after you make a claim. 

Don't I sound whiny? I just wonder if this happens everywhere, considering that all of last year it seemed there was a natural disaster somewhere every time I turned on the news. Are other states at the mercy of the insurance companies? Or are the insurance companies truly suffering from having to pay so many claims? I'd like to know.

Carmen






Saturday, February 7, 2015

Clouds in Landscape, 24x18 Oil Painting


The Pieces of 8 are studying clouds, so I did a demo of various kinds of clouds and techniques for painting them, then we all had a good time painting our own. This is one of my larger paintings, and I shall continue my cloud studies, as they are becoming fascinating to me. I've looked at clouds from both sides now...

Carmen

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Azores Hydrangeas, 10x8 Original OIl Landscape



I lived on Terceira Island in the Azores for a few years, and I loved all the flowers there. Best of all were the blue hydrangeas growing on the sides of the road. Things grew so well there that there was a house that had a tree growing on the clay tile roof. It rained all winter and the climate was mild, so gardens were quite lush.

I saved some aster seeds one year (or so I thought) and the yardman planted them all around the house for me. Turned out they were lettuce seeds, so I had a nice edible border around the house and the yardman never stopped laughing about it. 

Carmen