Tuesday, July 31

Chanticleer

"Chanticleer"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
He was cocky, not just because he was a rooster, but because he was the only cockerel in a henhouse of about two dozen layers. 

I hear tell that roosters are all the rage right now.  Well, here's one for ya!

Carol

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Sunday, July 29

Joie in the Morning

"Joie in the Morning"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
Daylight announced her arrival to the plains like a warm, ripe peach in the palm of a hand.  She  smiled on the day and rubbed her fuzzy skin against the dimpled cheeks of the sky.


As I continue to paint commission pieces I will pepper my offerings with little sky paintings.  I love to make them.  


Carol

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Saturday, July 28

Country Rose

"Country Rose"
20" x 20"
Oil on wrapped canvas
She parted her dewy petals like the lips of lovers when they kiss, to cherish the warmth of that summer morning. She welcomed the sky reflections on her petticoats and the sunshine on her camisole. 


I painted Country Rose once before, and donated her to a fundraiser for a women's shelter.  She was such fun to paint, I wanted to experience it again.  Enjoy my Country Rose.  


Carol 


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Friday, July 27

Good Morning

"Good Morning"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
"Good morning my love, come see the sunrise. I'm glad you're waking up to watch it with me.  I wasn't going to waken you, but now that you're... honey?  My darling?  It's okay, we can watch the sunset tonight, instead." 


I enjoy making these small sky paintings.  They give me satisfaction and joy to be able to produce them from passion within.

Carol

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Thursday, July 26

Pink Joie

"Pink Joie"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
The sun rose over the treetops without disturbing a twig.  She welcomed the new day with various shades of joyful pink.  


As promised, here is Pink Joie.  Not a flower, but just as joyful.

Carol

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Wednesday, July 25

Silver and Gold

"Silver and Gold"24" x 24"Mixed media
I was feeling the stress of the week so I got out my joint compound and a trowel.  I drizzled acrylic onto the white plaster and spread it on the canvas with the blade. Cool blue to earthen brown it went. Then to add some spice to the mix, I applied gold leaf and some silver leaf that I had leftover from a mural painting job.  It's not my usual fare, but I'm in the midst of painting house portraits again and needed to paint something different.

Carol

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Tuesday, July 24

The Springs

"The Springs"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
Haze, the shade of a frequently erased chalkboard, lingered in the ravines between the hills near The Springs, as the locals call it.  Colorado Springs is not known for  haze, rather its ubiquitous ultramarine sky. Smoke from a distant wildfire traveled a long way to nestle in cleavage that lovely.

Carol 

Monday, July 23

Peg's Garden Shed

"Peg's Garden Shed"
8" x 10"
Oil on canvas panel
It may have been the humidity that created the swarthy atmosphere the morning I stood in the shade painting Peg's garden shed.  Or it could have been my contacts. I realized after I photographed it and scraped the image off the canvas that two months had passed since I changed my contact lenses.  

This painting exists in this space only. There are days when what goes down, wipes off as easily.

Carol

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Sunday, July 22

Pink Jolie

"Pink Jolie
"18" x 18" 
Oil on wrapped canvas
When an act of kindness touches one's life it seems appropriate to acknowledge it in the sincerest way possible.  The photo for this hot pink zinnia was "loaned" to me by a new friend.  "Jolie" is French for pretty, not joy as I reported earlier. Pink Joie will run at another time!    

I'm thrilled to be painting large format images where I can use my sponges to apply glazes of color. This process also brings me joy... for making it "pretty."

Thank you ... i'll stick to English. 
Carol




Saturday, July 21

Salton Sea

"Salton Sea"
12" x 12"
Mixed media on canvas

Google Maps makes it possible to explore places from the air I never saw while piloting myself.  Now I enjoy exploring the country's topographical features from the comfort of my computer.  Southern California has the largest inland sea, at the lowest altitude on earth.  It formed back in 1905 when the Colorado River flooded.  Here is my take on the phenomenon.  

Carol  

My Gallery (375 paintings)

Friday, July 20

Winsome

"Winsome"
24" x 24"
Oil on wrapped canvas
She swayed in the breeze in the garden that morning, flaunting her sunny disposition to and fro.  She was more radiant than any around her, in spite of those purple, pouty lips. 


This dahlia was my focus for about a 24-hour period, during which time I thought of nothing but sunny, uplifting thoughts. It's amazing what comes of such a mindset.

Carol

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Thursday, July 19

Yellow Chair

"Yellow Chair"
24" x 18"
Oil on wrapped canvas






















It's a copy—a copy of a friend's painting of a yellow chair.  I adored her whimsical painting, so she allowed me to photograph it and copy it. I'm unsure of the artist's name but I was told she doesn't paint like this any longer.  Things change. We grow.  I grew from living in her skin for the time it took me to complete this.  

Copying art has always been a method of learning.  I will be posting other "learning" pieces that I've completed, while I work on a large magenta dahlia!

Carol

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Wednesday, July 18

Johnny Jump-Ups

"Johnny Jump-Ups"
16" x 20"
Oil on wrapped canvas
This terra cotta bowl with Johnny Jump-Ups spilling over the brim greeted me at the entry to my library not too long ago. Those purple blossoms leaned in toward the Forget-Me-Nots as if they were gossiping. 

My contest is over and ONE person won!  Below see the high and low temperatures for Chicago on July 17th.  The winner was Marilyn Olson of Wisconsin, with 100° and 81°.  Marilyn will get to choose one of the rose paintings!


CHICAGO 79 -- 99 MO CLDY  


http://www.nws.noaa.gov/view/national.php?prodtype=tempprecip


I want to thank all of you who participated in the contest, and for the many well wishes for my one-year anniversary!  I appreciate the support!

Carol

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Tuesday, July 17

Anniversary Rose

"Anniversary Rose"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
Today is my One-Year Anniversary of posting a painting a day and writing about it for 365 consecutive days.  I took the daily painting concept seriously and managed to satisfy it to the letter... or number in this case. 

The photo of this rose was filed in my iPhoto folder for two years. I decided to paint her many colors of white to celebrate this occasion.

Thank you for looking at and reading my blog for a year.  I hope to be as diligent in the coming year, but that will remain to be seen as the days pass. I'm not going to make it a goal, again, but as it is a habit now, I suspect I'll continue on.

My rose giveaway contest is over, and the winner will be announced tomorrow.

Carol

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Monday, July 16

Leaf Me Alone

"Leaf Me Alone"
4" x 7"
Watercolor on paper
I collect old linens and lace. This piece was a collar from a resale shop.  I knew it would probably not find a home as a collar again, what with the green needlework, so I bought it to use exactly as you see it here. 

We're in a drought here in Illinois. Leaves are falling like it's autumn.  The pepper was garnish on a salad from the other day.  It seemed like a decent way to recycle an odd collection of items.

Carol

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Sunday, July 15

Woodstock Coleus

"Woodstock Coleus"
8" x 10"
Acrylic on canvas panel
The colors in the planter caught my eye before I pulled all the way in to the parking lot. Coleus, rimmed in acrid green lounged against warm and cool blossoms alike, playing no favorites.  

Here's a knife painting I did in Woodstock on Thursday.  The flowers were there, but seriously drooping in the heat.  Thirsty, too.

Carol

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Saturday, July 14

Colorado Moon #2

"Colorado Moon #2"
4" x 16"
Watercolor on Arches
The moon shone over the foothills of the Rockies that morning with little regard for the sun. Miss Moon hung provocatively over promontories and points, then sauntered off stage to her... west.  


The two Colorado Moon paintings were commissioned.

Make sure you enter my contest to win one of three 12" x 12" rose paintings. "Burgeoning" sold at auction tonight, sorry.  I hope that doesn't deter you.  See July 8ths post for details.

Carol

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Friday, July 13

Colorado Moon

"Colorado Moon"
4" x 16"
Watercolor on Arches
It was daylight, yet the moon shone  like an opal, having dominion over towering peaks and valleys alike. 


The question arose after yesterday's post.  What is Arches?   D'Arches or Arches, in "art speak," is the benchmark watercolor paper.  It's handmade, French paper consisting of 100% cotton fiber, and made in three textures: rough, cold pressed (some tooth) or hot pressed (smooth).  It also comes in different weights: 90#, 140#, 300# and 450#.  Pound weight is based on the weight of 100 sheets of 22" x 30" paper. The thinner sheets weigh only 90 pounds, and so on.  


Carol


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Thursday, July 12

We Didn't Get the Memo

"We Didn't Get the Memo"
16" x 20"
Watercolor on Arches 
Watercolor was my first passionate venture into art. I taught myself to paint by reading Sondra Freckleton's book, "Dynamic Still Lifes in Watercolor."  I'm revisiting  my passion today. I've missed it so.  I love these colorful, swirling balls!


Quality brushes, paints and paper can be the difference between "nice" and "fabulous."

Carol

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Wednesday, July 11

"Pond at the Divide"
12" x 12"
Acrylic on canvas panel
The Continental Divide fascinated me. Or maybe it was this small body of water that reflected the vivid sky in that part of the country.   I've painted it many times, and still come back to do it again every so often.  

I knifed the true local colors contained in the photo onto a black canvas. Then I added subtleties to define the mountains, flats and the grasses.

Carol

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Tuesday, July 10

Afternoon de Light

"Afternoon de Light"
6" x 8"
Acrylic on canvas panel 
Sunlight caressed the trees late that afternoon while a turbulent sky wrestled buttercup, rose and violet to the ground. Lapis mountains marched into the distance with an emerald shrub line not far behind.

This is a twenty minute painting on black canvas.

Carol

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Monday, July 9

In the Nick of Time









"In the Nick of Time"
8" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel






















Rainier Cherries are in season.  I love their crisp juiciness and creamy white flesh.  I've eaten many this year, and will miss them terribly.  Alas, the things we absolutely adore tend to have a short run.  


Carol


Sunday, July 8

Bee's Delight (contest/giveaway)

"Bee's Delight"
12"x12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
By now you know I love to paint roses. This one in particular.  I've painted her before, in different light and colors.  Indulge me in my weakness for this beauty.   


On July 17th, a year ago I wrote my first blog entry. I set out on a journey to post every day, despite my day job, death, the flu, and heartache.  I've grown as an artist, a writer and person, and you, my followers, are the reason I persist.

I want to thank you by creating an opportunity for you to win one of my last four rose paintings posted on July 5, 6, 7 & 8 (above).

Send one entry per email address to Brushstrokes@comcast.net guessing the high and low temperatures for Tuesday, July 17, 2012 for Chicago, Illinois, according to the National Weather Service NOAA website.

Entries must be posted between July 8th and July 16th. I will acknowledge every entry with a return email.  The winner (closest to both temperatures) will be chosen after 8:00 PM on the 17th when the official temperatures are posted. I will announce the winner on the 18th.  In the event of multiple winners, we'll spit watermelon seeds in my back yard!

Carol

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Saturday, July 7

Sunlit

"Sunlit"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
Sister of the roses from my last two posts, and nothing like either of her siblings, this demure beauty is sunlit and golden from within.  


I have painted all three roses with my masonry sponges.  I adore swirling color onto canvas with my snippets of sponge.  I did, however, use a brush to do finishing details on them, because of the smallish size of the canvas.

Carol

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Friday, July 6

Burgeoning

"Burgeoning"
12" x12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
The roses in my bouquet are burgeoning! Each blossom is different, like children of the same parents. This is the sister of yesterday's post. Tomorrow's will be different still. I've joyfully spent two days painting nothing but fragrant delicacies. 

In two weeks I will celebrate 365 consecutive days of posting a painting a day. I have not missed one day in a year. I will be gifting a painting to one of my viewers.  I'll give details on Sunday's post.

Carol

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Thursday, July 5

Glorious σ' αγαπώ

"Glorious 

σ' αγαπώ"

12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas 
The fragrance emitted by two dozen buckets of roses stunned me. I thought I was overwhelmed, but when I saw them, I knew it.  Petals the same pink as inside a sea shell filled the buckets. It was totally sensual.  My eyes wanted them. My heart did too, so I chose the ones with σ' αγαπώ on the tag.

"I love you."

Carol

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Wednesday, July 4

Dripping With Gold

"Dripping With Gold"
5" x 7"
Acrylic on canvas panel
This has been sitting on my drawing board since I painted it in January.  It's acrylic and has even been used as a coaster once or twice.  I'm not sure what statement I was trying to make, but I'm posting it because another unusual piece I painted sold immediately.


Carol

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Tuesday, July 3

Posies

"Posies"
8" x 6" 
Acrylic on canvas panel






















There weren't many places to set up to paint, but I found one with some spiky blue things and a patch of salmon and hot pink posies. It was hot in the sun and the season's first mosquitoes fluttered in wait for glistening flesh when I stood in the shade. 

Two days in a row with bugs in my text. It's summer in Illinois for sure.

Carol

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Monday, July 2

Stung

"Stung"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
I stopped to photograph the roses hanging over a picket fence yesterday morning.  The light was gorgeous, there was dew on some of the blooms and YIKES!  I was stung by a bee on my left hand ring finger.  I'm allergic to bee stings, but I carry Apis, a homeopathic remedy, at all times, and took several tablets and survived to paint this piece!  

Carol

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Sunday, July 1

Mattison Lake

"Mattison Lake"
8" x 10"
Acrylic on wrapped canvas
I was on a pontoon, anchored and painting. The wind kept me pointed toward this view for long enough to do justice to the choppy water.  

Plein air on a pontoon is one of my favorite painting venues. I wish I owned my own pontoon, but then I'd have to live on a lake to make it worth my while.  I'd like that, as well!

Carol

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