Repose, 20x24 Oil on Canvas, after John Singer Sargent

Not For Sale

There are few paintings of mine that I won't sell, but this is one. I always loved this piece by John Singer Sargent, and I copied it in worshipful awe of his skills. 

Christmas was eventful and I was sick. I didn't realize I was allergic to our tree. When it dawned on me that might be a possibility I looked it up and the Christmas Tree Association has warnings, saying you should wash your tree before bringing it inside. We tossed it after everyone went home, then left the next day for Anna Maria Island, and I had a quick recovery--so much so that I was playing baseball by late afternoon! 

Italian Girl With Flowers, 11x14 Oil on Canvas, after Sorolla

Sold

I've had no time for painting this week, so I am posting a throwback to 2008, when our painting group, Pieces of Eight, decided to copy Impressionist masters as a learning exercise. I love Sorolla, so I copied one of my favorites, with the above result. Below is the original by Sorolla.

I also copied John Singer Sargent, the master portrait artist. The best thing I've ever done is team up with seven women with the same passion for painting that I have. It has been such an enriching experience in so many ways, and I have learned so much. 

This is the time of year for reflection and for determining where I want to go with my art. My big immediate goal is to paint for my show in Middleburg, Virginia in the Spring, and I look forward to painting some larger paintings for a change. 

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a fabulous New Year,

Fancy Feathers, 5x7 Pen and Ink Drawing

This is one of my most popular pins on Pinterest. It has been repinned a lot, although not as much as my husband's handmade guitar wine holder, below. I have decided that zentangles just don't look right in my Etsy shop. My shop is varied enough by having oil paintings and collage art, and when I look at an overview, the zentangles stick out like a sore thumb. It just doesn't look consistent.

Every January I get the urge to simplify my life, and during the course of the year I manage to complicate it more. After reading Marie Kondo's book about tidying up my house, I realize I need to do the same to my online house, because it is not, as Ms Kondo says, "sparking joy."

I created a shop just for zentangles on Etsy, set it up for digital downloads; then I said to myself, there I go again. Yet another online thing to tend to. I've become a cyberhoarder! So today I am taking the shop down. I'll post a zentangle on this blog now and then and that's that. Simple.

My main thrust for the year will be painting some larger paintings for a show in April in Virginia. Details will be forthcoming.

Buy on Etsy

Carmen

Sunshiny Day, 10x8 Oil on Canvas Panel, Original Landscape Art

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This was the kind of day that just lifts your mood, and I hope I got that in my painting. It was sunny and bright, with nice fluffy clouds in a bright blue sky. It's hard to feel like a curmudgeon when you get to live in an environment like this. Makes me feel like going kayaking, which is on my bucket list. After all, the water is all around us here, what am I waiting for? It's got to be a lot easier than that whitewater rafting adventure that threw four of us women out on the rocks in North Carolina. My friend Donna said at the time that we bonded over a near-death experience--and I think she was right!

Carmen

A Little Bunch of Grapes, 5x7 Watercolor on Paper in 8x10 Mat

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It's a lot easier to paint a watercolor with your foot propped up than painting an oil in that position, so this was my result. My broken toe is making little progress but I have graduated from wearing a sock to a flip flop. Thank goodness I didn't do this to myself before I finished my mural! 

My most re-pinned pin on Pinterest is a watercolor by Igor Sava, and if you haven't seen his work, check it out. I'm a big fan. /https://www.pinterest.com/artymaryd/art-of-igor-sava/

Carmen

Beach Blues, 6x6 Oil on Canvas, Seascape

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The white in this seascape looks whiter than this in the original. It's very textured as well. The surf has been very rough lately, as it always is this time of year, and the beach is eroding as usual. I do love to see the big surf, though; it is just spectacular.

Your purchase will be shipped in one business day via US mail. 

If you like this and other paintings, please “heart” me as a favorite. My art has been featured in International Artist magazine and I have illustrated several books. My most recent award was First Place in the Contemporary Fine Artists International Competition. I recently published a memoir, CRACKERS AND ORANGES, fully illustrated with my art, available on Amazon.com. It is about growing up in “Old Florida.”

I post all new work on my blog at http://carmenbeecher.blogspot.com. I would love to have you visit me there.

Be aware that some colors may look a bit different due to differences in my camera, my monitor, and your monitor.

My customers’ reviews:

“Wonderful! A beautiful painting! A delight to deal with! Fast ship and well-packed too! Thanks!”

“Positive in all regards. Fast reaction and clear communication. The painting was shipped to Belgium and arrived in perfect state. The photo of the painting is very true to the original. We are pleased with the painting and the shop.”

“I received this quickly and in good condition. It is even prettier than it looked on the computer. Thank you.”

“Love this painting. It's even better in person. Thank you so much. Martha”

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“This painting is just as beautiful in person as it looks online. It was packaged very well and shipped very quickly. I highly recommend this artist/seller!”

“Such a lovely picture, very helpful seller too"

“Absolutely gorgeous! Thank you so much!”

“A diminutive piece that has the power of a much larger picture. I can't wait to have it framed"

“fast and safe shipment, perfect transaction, great artist!! - many thanks!!”

“Lovely painting!! Thank you, exactly what I was looking for:-)”

“Even more beautiful in person. LOVE IT. Great fast shipping.”

“Very nice painting that was a birthday gift for my wife. She loves it and that makes both of us happy"

Cypress Gardens, 8x10 Oil on Canvas Panel, Daily Painting

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I grew up near Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Florida, and I loved the beautiful gardens, the ski show, and the girls sitting in the gardens in their big Southern-Belle dresses. Now it's part of Legoland and the gardens are still there, but the Belles are gone except for one made of Legos. The gardens are still beautiful. This is a typical scene; in fact, you see this all over Winter Haven. There are so many lakes that no road goes straight, and you see many scenes like this one. 

This is not a very good photo of my painting. It has so much dark color that it glares in a photo, and overcoming the glare didn't help the rest of the picture. However, I broke my pinky toe, and I just don't want to hobble around trying to get another shot. My patience is gone, and all I want is elevation and ice. My diminutive digit is derailing my drive.

Carmen

Golf Ball Hunt, 11x14 Watercolor

This is just a small portion of a bigger painting, a commission for a gift showing family memories.

I did this in the style of the journal I keep in which I sketch my various events and travels. I learned from the brilliant Diana Gessler, and the enjoyment I've gotten from filling my journals is worth a hundred times what that class cost. Who knew it would lead to a commission?

Carmen

Silver Sandals, 20x24, Oil on Canvas

NFS

I painted this a few years ago, when my daughter was getting ready for my sister's wedding. Painting a mural and having Thanksgiving has made my painting time negligible, so I went to the past for this one. What a jolly good time we had at the wedding, which was in beautiful Middleburg, Virginia.

Speaking of Middleburg, they have a wonderful annual Shakespeare festival, "Shakespeare in the Burg," and next year's date is April 2-3. Click here for details:

http://shakespeareintheburg.com/

Carmen