Halie and Passionflower, Original Oil on Canvas 12x12

I painted this from a photo I have had for over twenty years. This is my granddaughter with one of the multitude of passionflowers we used to have in our yard, until we found they all ended up in the pool. I miss the days when my grandchildren were babies, and I miss our arbor being covered with passionflower vines, thick with sweet-smelling flowers.

 

What the World Needs Now

  With these perilous and chaotic times, I decided to do a "message" painting.

                            Carmen

Are YOU Talking to ME? Chicken painting oil on canvas 8x8 inches

Are YOU Talking to ME? 

Click to Buy

I love the comical look that chickens can have, and this one made me think of Robert di Niro's classic scene in Taxi Driver. Sometimes the title comes before the painting.

This is painted on gallery-wrapped canvas, no frame needed.

This was my entry for the monthly challenge on the Pieces of 8 blog. Click here to view the other very clever entries.

Carmen

Beach Sunrise, Oil Painting on Canvas Panel, 10x8 Seascape

 

Click to Purchase

We may be trapped inside for months, but there is always the beach, as long as it isn't crowded. Early morning people tend to be true beach lovers, with a true appreciation for being in a beautiful place.

Carmen

Shady Cows, Original Oil Painting 8x10 Landscape

Click to Buy

It's been a while since I posted. I've been very busy working on a book that will be coming out in April. You will be hearing more about that later.

This painting is all about the light. I love the shade in the foreground, with a tiny couple of slivers of light on the pasture.

Carmen

Pair of Pears Watercolor Painting 8x10

Click to Purchase

I don't do much watercolor except for my sketch journal, but I recently was inspired by a watercolor demo. I thought I'd make our Pieces of Eight September Challenge a real challenge by departing from oils.

Carmen

Orange Canna Lily, Small Original Oil Painting 5x7 Flower Art

Click to Buy

I was shocked to realize that I haven't posted since September 1st. It's amazing what a hurricane threat does to one's daily life. First, you stock up on supplies; then you install all your storm shutters; pack up things you don't want washed away; finally, evacuate. If it's a slow-moving storm like Dorian, you wait...and wait...and wait. I am not complaining, because some of my favorite beautiful places were wiped out completely in the Bahamas. We were lucky, but the people there lost everything. Homes, livelihoods, and even loved ones. I am so sad for them. Our government won't take them in without papers, and their papers are somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic by now. What a terrifying situation for them.

The proceeds from this painting will be donated to hurricane relief for the Bahamian storm victims.

Carmen

The Boring Photo Challenge, 7x5 Small Daily Painting

Buy Now

I painted this little oil painting in response to a challenge on the website DailyPaintworks.com. The challenge was to paint from a boring photo. That is a really good thing to practice, because I have lots of boring photos; however, I used the one they posted. I began with a black background, which helped add a bit more drama. Below is the boring photo.

Carmen

Summer Sunrise Oil Painting on Canvas 24x18 Ocean Art

I decided it was time to paint something larger, a dramatic sunrise. I live across from the ocean, so there's no reason not to paint a sunrise. 

When I'm not painting I seem to be gardening more and more. I've come to realize that I am an Overgardener. By this I mean that I get so carried away planting things that I create a garden that I can barely take care of. This is not my fault; it is what my family calls "The Chulie Gene." My grandmother, who the whole world called Chulie, had a nursery, and she knew everything about plants. This gene runs through the family, and if you ever see my daughter Suzanne's posts on Facebook about her plants, you will know what I mean. She can grow vegetables, something I fail at. I specialize in weeds and flowers, both of which are thriving in my yard.

Carmen

But Cereusly, Original Oil Painting on Panel 8x8 Flower Art

Buy on Etsy

I have called these flowers Dragonflower, Cereus, Night-Blooming Cereus, and I still am not sure of the proper name. I welcome any enlightenment anyone can give me. All I know is, it's very hard to catch it blooming, and I was happy to get a good picture of it.

Carmen

Shore Scene, Original Oil Painting 10x8 Seascape on Canvas Panel Beach Scene

 

Buy on Etsy 

Spring is here and that means it's time to go plant-crazy. I get carried away with buying new plants and it's in my genes, so I can't help it. It's also time to walk on the beach and look at the beauty of the ocean. Even when I can't see the surf, I can hear it from my house. What a nice sound.

Carmen

Strawberry Mansion, 8x10 Original Oil Painting on Canvas Panel

Buy on Etsy

Now a restaurant, this house was called The Strawberry Mansion for many years, and now is remodeled and called The Mansion. Built in 1905, it was originally a residence called The Queen Anne. As The Strawberry Mansion, it had delicious pink and raspberry colors. 

Carmen

Peaceful River, 24x20 Original Oil Painting of Florida River

SOLD

This is a completed commission inspired by Florida's Dora River. It's quite a change from small daily paintings.

Carmen

Moon Over Miami, Original Oil Daily Painting 11x14 Oil on Canvas Panel

Click to Buy

Our Pieces of Eight painting challenge for February was to illustrate a song or poem, so I chose the old standard "Moon Over Miami." Go to the Pieces of 8 blog to see all the challenge responses.

Carmen

Rare Bromeliad Oil Painting, Encholirium Horridum Original 11x14 Oil on Canvas

 Click to Buy $195

This is number two in my series of succulents, bromeliads and cacti. This weird plant is called Encholirium Horridum, which, loosely translated, means a whirlwind full of spikes. It is a rare bromeliad from Brazil. 

Carmen

Young Cardinal, 6x8 Oil Painting, Wildlife Art

SOLD

This was an experiment, adding punch to this painting with vivid color. Baby birds are just so cute, especially when all fluffed up.

Carmen

Stormy Day, 5x7 Original Oil on Canvas Panel Seascape

Click to Buy

The beach and stormy weather are an exciting combination. The colors become subdued, but the action does not, and I love being able to see the rain far off in the distance. 

Carmen

Salt Spray, Seascape Original Oil Painting, 8x10

Purchase Here

This was painted on a bright sunny day when the air was clean. Unfortunately, right now we are afflicted with Red Tide, and every time I go outside it makes me cough. Dead fish litter the beach and some intrepid volunteers have been out picking them up. It's a very unhealthy situation. We used to have lots of tar on the beach from oil spills. I prefer that. At least I could breathe without coughing.

Carmen

Original Oil Painting, Train to Firenze, 24x20 Oil on Canvas, Figurative Art

 Click to Purchase

My sister and I had a glorious vacation in Italy and France, and I saw these ladies from a train window in Italy. The light shining on their heads made me very happy. It's all about the light.

Carmen

Oil Painting, St. Johns River, 9x12 Original Oil Painting on Canvas Panel

Click to Purchase

This is how the St Johns River looked after Hurricane Irma. The river rose to such a high level that the airboat we were in could go to places that were usually inaccessible. This is a 9x12 original oil painting, signed and ready to frame.

Carmen