Sunday, October 29, 2017

Ghost Ship, 20x20 Oil Painting on Canvas


After Florida was hit with Hurricane Irma, this sailboat was found washed up on Melbourne Beach. Authorities eventually discovered that the boat came all the way from Key West, hundreds of miles away. Aboard, oddly enough, were two mannequins, a large velvet rose, and a sign that declared, "beatings will continue until morale improves." 

Carmen

Monday, October 23, 2017

Mixed Media Artwork, "Mantilla," 8x10 Matted


This is a mixed media piece on watercolor paper; the art measures 5x7 inches, and with the mat the outside measurement is 8x10. I used liquid medium to transfer pictures to the paper, and pen and ink to finish getting the effect I wanted. The background is metallic gold acrylic. 
 
After finishing a big illustration job that has taken almost a year, it was fun to try some new art techniques. Some succeeded, some failed, and now I'm ready to get back to squishy oil paints. 

Carmen




Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Oil Painting on Canvas Panel, "Orange Blossom Special," 8x10


I grew up in Central Florida, where the orange was King. There was nothing like walking through a grove in bloom, with the lovely sweet smell of blossoms filling the air. Most adults in my town worked in the citrus industry, including my grandmother, who would walk the half-block to the packing house every day during the citrus season. She had the world's shortest commute. She also had a small orange grove, and in our yard grew avocados, limes, tangerines, loquats, and cherries. I wish I had those things now, especially our huge avocados. We didn't even know what guacamole was back then.

Carmen

Friday, October 13, 2017

The Farrier, Watercolor, 20x28


This is a blast from the past, one of my rare watercolors. I still like it. Working people make wonderful subjects; in fact, I did a whole series of them as a commission once. I think this is my only painting where the rear end of a horse figures prominently, but I hope your eye is drawn to the hardworking farrier.

Carmen