Sunday, March 31

Easter Grass

"Easter Grass"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard 
It's Easter, and my morning sky is mimicking the striped eggs nestled in clusters in spring's verdant grass. The bunny has delivered sweet treats and surprises for the wee ones, too.

Here is an example of my four new colours again. The green is an "I" green: Indian and Indanthrene.  I love it's freshness.

Carol

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Saturday, March 30

Saturday

"Saturday"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
Morning's primary colours, in spite of the time of day they're on display, are some of the prettiest nature has to offer. If I have to see the world at this time of day, I'm always grateful when the show is as gentile this one. 

Primaries: Naples, Inthanthrene, Quinacridone Scarlet, are the stars in this sky.  I adore using primaries and these three are quite luscious for painting sky.  Why these three?  Because the Naples doesn't turn green when it gets close to Indanthrene.  Green sky is another indicator entirely.

Carol

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Friday, March 29

Too Early To Be Up

"Too Early To Be Up"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
It's spring, and the time changed, but for heaven's sake, it's still too early for me to be up when the sun is doing her morning magic over the lake near my home. Lake Michigan, that is.  It comes up, in my mind, from a night of rest in Michigan. I know it's silly, but that's the image I live with.  

I painted This with three new colors and one of my favourite new yellows, Indian Yellow.  I got a new tube of Naples,  Indanthrene Blue and Quinacridone Scarlet. I love the sky they make.  And I love fresh tubes of paint.

Carol

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Thursday, March 28

Sienna I and II

"Sienna I and II"
two 12" x 12" paintings
Oil on wrapped canvas
Here are the two paintings of the diptych next to one another. Probably they wouldn't be hung this close together, but if they were, this is how the image would look.

Carol

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Wednesday, March 27

Sienna II

"Sienna II"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
Here is the right hand portion of the  image I promised from yesterday.  The haze is settling in over the gently-rolling hills and the weeds are fluttering in the gentle breeze up on the rise.  I photographed them together, so I'll post the entire diptych tomorrow night.

Carol

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Tuesday, March 26

Sienna

"Sienna
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
The hills in this light were sienna compared to the grasses in the valley below.  I liked the many different colours and textures in this shot, but it wasn't complete, so the rest of it will post tomorrow... the view to the right.  

Here's part one of a diptych.

Carol

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Monday, March 25

Morning Light

"Morning Light"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
The light was bright that morning. The sky hung overhead, mingling like a wet into wet watercolour of primary colours that would fade into a solitary shade of blue as soon as they dried. 

Another day, another sky.


Carol

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Sunday, March 24

Lighting the Way

"Lighting the Way"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard 
The grasses on the slope blew in the breeze while we hiked toward the top of the hill. What was on the other side would be a surprise to me and my friend. Neither of us had been here before. 

Here's another sky for my composite piece.  Of course they are for sale individually, as well.

Carol

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Saturday, March 23

Fire Down Below

"Fire Down Below"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard 
There were forest fires down on the ground as we flew overhead.  They looked small from the air, but the sky wore the residuals like ribbons and bows in her hair.  

This is sky number 40 for the composite painting I'll compile for my show in July.  Not that I'll use all forty, fifty or sixty by then, but at least I have choices.

Carol

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Friday, March 22

Hilly Ridge

"Hilly Ridge"
10" x 10"
Oil on hardboard
At the edge of town where my friend lives is a hilly ridge crested with trees. I suspect if I had viewed this scene from a higher elevation it would have looked like a letter B.

I enjoyed making a larger sky painting today with a larger foreground, as well.

Carol

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Thursday, March 21

Delight

"Delight"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard 
When the sun is near the horizon and there's this much colour in the air there is certain to be some interesting weather in store, be it warning or delight.  

This sky delighted me to paint it.  I hope it delights your eyes to see it here.

Carol

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Wednesday, March 20

Storm Moving In

"Storm Moving In"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
The crops were harvested; corn in the cribs, hay in the mow and the fields were ready to be blanketed for winter.  Rest was in order for everyone involved in feeding the masses for another season. 

It's not a sunrise or a sunset this time. I sort of even surprised myself!

Carol

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Tuesday, March 19

New Day

"New Day"
6" x 6"
Oil on Hardboard
It was shortly after sunrise, that time when the promise of daylight comes to pass. The clouds were still wearing festive raiment from the predawn party, but would soon don daytime togs to saunter across the sky.  

Here's a new sky painting for my ongoing collection that will culminate in one big piece for a gallery exhibit in July.

Carol

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Monday, March 18

Magnolia Study

"Magnolia Study
6" x 8"
Oil on canvas panel
Today's lesson at the workshop had to do with color and painting white flowers.  I opted to do mine with a palette knife and a silk magnolia, no less. Laura Robb uses a knife to get her crisp edges. So I used one to paint this study.  I learned how much I don't know about knife painting and how thankful I am that I've already established a style of my own.  Trying to paint like someone else is difficult. Trying to paint like Carol Keene is hard enough.  

I'm thankful to be moved back into my studio, although it was a wonderful weekend of learning new things and revisiting concepts that are always good to review.  I'd recommend a Mainstreet Art Center workshop to anyone.  Thank you Frankie Johnson for making it possible.

Carol

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Sunday, March 17

Pear-ily We Roll Along

"Pear-ily We Roll Along"
9" x 12"
Detail
Oil on canvas panel

This is not my usual fare, as still life setups go, but it was what was available today at the Laura Robb workshop at Mainstreet Art Center in Lake Zurich.  I got this far in three hours, including setting up the  pieces. We learned to draw an ellipse, paint metal, and ceramic.  Yesterday was pear day, but mine were less than ... edible.  Tomorrow I'll replace the white bowl with a plate I'll bring from home and add a flower to the lower left.  I'll also TRY to add a Laura Robb-style texture to the background.

Mainstreet puts on one heck of a good workshop, if you've never considered it.  In fact, the art school itself, in its new location, is quite comfortable and professional. Frankie Johnson is to be commended for her ongoing roll as visionary, artist and owner of the school.

Carol

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Saturday, March 16

Wandering

"Wandering"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas

The path I traversed in yesterday's painting opened into one more lovely field, which I followed to my friend's front door. Oh, to live in a place where serenity looks like ... this.  

I spent day one of a three-day workshop at the Mainstreet Art Center in Lake Zurich, Illinois today with New Mexico artist, Laura Robb. Her passionately deliberate method of applying color notes to a canvas is something I've been wanting to witness for years. I'm delighted to say she's as lovely and exquisite as the art she creates. 

Carol 

Friday, March 15

Sunshine Path

"Sunshine Path"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
The path to my friend's home led me through a field that, late in the day in early October, was almost more stimulating than my senses could tolerate.  I lingered in the sunshine as I passed weeds and flowers of all different species. 

This is painting one of two, a diptych, that can be hung side by side.  I painted this one today, the second one is being worked on currently.

Carol

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Thursday, March 14

Rocks of Ages

"Rocks of Ages"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
There are few things older in my collections of natural things than my rounded rocks. Few things more satisfying to fondle, ponder and photograph. Now that I'm comfortable painting them, too, I'll create more compositions with rocks to offer for your viewing pleasure.

I'm tickled to announce that two of my paintings have been used in the Dick Blick Spring Sale catalog that arrived in the mail this week.  Both are on page 60 with attribution under each. 

Carol 

Tuesday, March 12

Heavenly Scented

"Heavenly Scented"
16" x 20"
Oil on wrapped canvas
The fragrance wafting from these small roses was delicious, considering they had traveled some distance to get to me in the dead of winter. They were not fresh when they arrived in my home, but I embraced them and loved them for what they were about to do for me -- strike beautiful poses, cast seductive shadows and smell wonderful every time I buried my nose in their delicate petals.  

No sponges were used in the making of this painting.  I'm learning to use different Rosemary & Company brushes to accomplish the same things I do with a sponge.  It does not mean I've abandoned my darling sponges, I'm just learning new ... tricks.

Carol

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Monday, March 11

Heavenly Widened Rose

"Heavenly Widened Rose"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
As I worked on this piece, I was listening to my favorite Cowboy Junkies song, a cover version of a ballad by Lou Reed.  It's called "Sweet Jane," and Margo Timmins sings the phrase "Heavenly widened roses seem to whisper to me when you smile..."  It struck me as a fitting title for the painting. She is, don't you think, a widening rose?  

I had fun painting my rocks series, but my heart and soul are in painting roses.  This is one from the bouquet I bought for myself the other day. You'll see more white roses like her in the coming days.

Carol

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Sunday, March 10

Rock Pile

"Rock Pile"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
Loving gifts of miscellaneous beach rocks collected at my side the day I took my grandchildren to the beach.  Granmama became the recipient of many and varied Lake Michigan rocks. 

This is my last rock painting for a while.  Maybe.

Carol

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Saturday, March 9

Rock Band

"Rock Band"
10" x 10"
Oil on wrapped canvas


Yup, Rock Rand.  Take a look at the painting.  Get it?  I've been collecting banded rocks like the ones in this painting since I was a child. I pick them up whenever I see them and put them in my courtyard or on a shelf with others in my studio. Banded rocks delight my sense of whimsy. 

I'll be leaving rocks pretty soon, but not quite yet.  I have another idea to present. THEN it's back to roses.  I bought a bouquet of them for myself today.  I sold some art, got a commission and scheduled a workshop, so I'm celebrating with the other thing that delights me.  

Carol     

Friday, March 8

Right Over ... There

"Right Over ... There"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
Across the lake, right over ... there, where the tree line gets thin as a noodle is a cove where the fishing is better than any place on this lake. In the county, even. I mean it! I rowed over there and dropped a line one morning and caught breakfast faster than I could have ordered from the drive-thru at McDonalds.

I'm in rock mode. Obvious titles such as "Rock Hard", "Rock Band" and "Like a Rock" come to mind for future images, so come back to see if I use any of them.

Carol

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Wednesday, March 6

Rocks For Tossing

"Rocks For Tossing"
18" x 18"
Oil on canvas panel   
Beach rocks. Rocks for tossing. I photographed these while walking barefooted along a shoreline that  was being lapped enthusiastically by one of the Great Lakes. The smooth mounds were easy to walk on, but more fun to fondle with my fingers. They begged to be handled, and I did.  

I painted this tonight, amazingly quickly, after a brief conversation about tossing rocks. It just felt ... right.

Carol

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Tuesday, March 5

Delish

"Delish"
12" x 16"
Oil on hardboard
Several times a year I get a craving, a specifically-decadent craving to paint chocolates.  Once I discovered the correct colours to squeeze it was merely a matter of finding chocolates to pose for me. I don't eat the stuff, but I do like how it looks. So as subject matter, it can sit here in my studio for weeks without a single nibble. 

I drew this two months ago, but didn't get to the painting part until today... while listening to Schubert, and an entire opera from the Met. 

Carol 

Monday, March 4

Blush

"Blush"
 24" x 24"
Oil on wrapped canvas
She blushed when he told her she was gorgeous. "Well, you are," he said. "Gorgeous," he repeated. She blushed even redder, deeper toward her core. Her petals curled, her mouth opened in disbelief. The rose sat serenely and basked in the glow of his compliment. 

Once again, I have to sing the praises of my two new colours; Cad Scarlet and Indian Yellow.  Oh, my, they seem to have been made for one another. Those two and a dab of Cobalt Blue made this a joy to paint. I'm in love! 

Carol

Sunday, March 3

Mademoiselle Minet

"Mademoiselle Minet"
24" x 24"
Oil on wrapped canvas
She was stretching like a kitten in the morning sun when I happened upon her.  Yesterday she was little more than a bud, but today she had opened herself to ... possibilities.

I've painted this image before; large and small, rectangular and now a large square. She captivates me each time.  I love the colours I find in this white rose. She wears them with graceful ardor.

If it's a special day for you, this beauty honours that occasion.

Carol

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Saturday, March 2

Scarlet Hibiscus

"Scarlet Hibiscus"
10" x 8"
Oil on wrapped canvas
I found this hibiscus in a pot at my local greenhouse last spring. I photographed it and many of her sisters, but haven't painted from those images until now. This is a study on a small canvas for one that may end up as a large square for a one person exhibit I have in July. 

Here's another example of my new favourite colour, Cadmium Scarlet.  I'll be looking for things to paint using this colour.

Carol

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Friday, March 1

Divide

"Divide"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
I came across a photo I took of the Continental Divide and felt like painting it again. I don't know how many times I've done it in the course of two and a half years since I've been there, but this little pond is one of my simple, favourite places. No jagged mountains, no rocky rivers, no canyons or wildlife.  Just a cute reflecting pond.

Carol

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