Sunday, June 28

I'm moving my blog

Thank you so much for being a follower of my blog. I have enjoyed sharing my paintings, musings, and techniques with you. I want to advise you that I am moving it from Google Blogger to my own web site, CarolKeene.com. Aside from the continuity and cleaner look that it offers, it also features: 
  • a view that adapts to mobile devices
  • a more robust search function
  • the ability to post a photo directly to Pinterest by hovering over its upper left corner
I hope that you will continue to follow me. Here are two choices that will make it easy to do so:

For those who want to receive an e-mail containing each new post
  1. Visit CarolKeene.com and navigate to My Blog menu.
  2. Use the Subscribe feature.
For those who use the Reading List on Google Blogger to view new posts
  1. Login to your account at Blogger.com
  2. Click on the Blogger icon in upper left corner. This should take you to a page where your blog Reading List is shown.
  3. Click on the sprocket icon (Manage Reading List) to the right of “Reading List | All Blogs.”
  4. Click on the Add button at the bottom of your list and copy and paste this RSS Feed URL,  http://carol-keene.squarespace.com/carolsblog?format=rss
  5. This should add to your list, “Carol’s blog - Carol Keene.” Please delete the one shown as “Carol Keene” using the trash can icon.
Note that at this time the photo from each post may not be showing in Blogger’s Reading List, but if you click on the blog title, it will open a new window that contains the whole post and the photo.

Please note, too, that I have changed my e-mail address: art@CarolKeene.com

(In case you’re wondering, I did not compose all the techie stuff above. That is just soooo not me. It was written by my husband Bill who also produced my web site.)

Thank you again for following me!

Carol

Monday, June 22

First Rose of Summer

"First Rose of Summer"
20" x16"
Oil on wrapped canvas 
The white roses are blooming, but they've been beaten and bruised by the heavy rains at the Botanic Gardens.  When I was there on Thursday, I found this one under shelter. She was sensual and beautifully fragrant next to a building. There were plenty of buds, so there will be more to photograph as the summer progresses. And it finally seems to be here!  

I hadn't painted a rose in a long time. I was hankering to tackle one when I realized how beautiful my photo was, so I started her last night and finished her today. Painting her was as comfortable as being with an old friend. I just knew intuitively where to begin.

This rose, if she doesn't sell first, will be in a solo exhibit I have scheduled for the month of September. It will feature roses and chocolates, so you'll be seeing more of these and several new chocolate paintings.

Carol

Wednesday, June 17

Phlox and Tulips

"Phlox and Tulips"
7" x 5"
Acrylic on panel 
The wind blew through the garden, whipping the tulip heads about like they were watching a tennis match. The phlox, pretty much, remained stoic. Perhaps it was because they were against a wall, or maybe they just didn't like... tennis. 

This one wears a lot more paint than I normally put on a canvas. I couldn't decide, then when I did, it got thicker and thicker. It is definitely not my thinnest work.

Carol

Tuesday, June 16

Tulips and Foxgloves

Tulips and Foxgloves"
8" x 8"
Acrylic on panel 
There was no time to paint from the photos I shared, while at my workshop.  So once I mopped up the water that flowed in through the window well into my studio this morning, gathering dozens of paintings off the floor, I painted some of the gardens my students painted.  

As the women discovered, I like to paint "spiky things."  There will probably be more as I work through this series of knife paintings.

And here, my friends, is a video (click on the word "video") of the workshop. Now that I know what is possible, I'll take better photos.

The music, "Angelina," was written and performed by our friend, John McHugh.

Carol


Monday, June 15

"Peony Demo"
6" x 6"
Acrylic on panel 
I taught a two-day knife workshop in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin last week. The ten attendees were, for the most part, watercolorists with a willingness to learn to: #1 paint vertically  #2 paint with thick acrylics  #3 use a painting knife  and #4 paint on a black background. None of these things were at all like what they were accustomed to.  

Below are two photos. One is from day two of my workshop.  The women are holding their second paintings. Many of them began a third or fourth — wishing for another few hours of painting time, or perhaps another day.  

The last photo is of me with Texas artist, Qiang Huang. Qiang was teaching a workshop in the neighboring town of Lake Zurich at the Mainstreet Art Center.  Since he had traveled so far, and I have followed his blog and his career for years, I stopped by during his lunch break to meet him. His oils are inspiring and Qiang is getting the recognition he so readily deserves. Director Frankie Johnson brings in the BEST artists from around the country.  I've taken several workshops there. Find out more about Qiang here.  Learn more about Mainstreet Art Center here.

Watch for a musical slideshow of my own workshop on tomorrow's post. My husband and I finished it tonight, but we would like to save it for tomorrow. 


Day two of my knife workshop 
Meeting Qiang Huang

Saturday, May 30

Foxgloves

"Foxgloves"
8" x 6"
Acrylic on canvas panel
This must be one of those perfect springs for foxgloves. I've been to the Chicago Botanic Gardens twice in the past month and have been treated to a display of beauty I've not witnessed there before.  I have more reference photos of these spiked plants from this year alone, than all the years I've been documenting flower gardens.  

How fortunate for me!  Plants like this are my favorites to paint. AND this style of garden painting is one I will be teaching in my knife workshop in Chippewa Falls in about ten days. If you're in the area and interested, let me know. I may still have room in my class.

Carol

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Wednesday, May 27

Flame Froth

"Flame Froth"
6" x 6"
Alcohol Ink on Ceramic Tile 
I picked up a couple of six inch ceramic tiles at my local thrift store. The ink had colored my four inch tile from my workshop so beautifully, I wanted more.

I wiped this piece five times before liking what was happening. Turns out working on tiles is even more quirky than painting on Yupo. And titling this one was difficult, too!

Carol

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Tuesday, May 26

Fire In the Sky

"Fire In the Sky"
11" x 14"
Alcohol Ink on Yupo
This is another painting that began as a simple, single-layered piece... meaning that all the color was dropped on the wet alcohol on the first pass.  It was "nice" but it wasn't fab. 

I disrupted the niceness of the first layer by adding multiple layers on top. If you recall from an earlier blog I mentioned that when wet ink pushes away dry ink it forms "fences."  Well, the dark parts of any of these images are made by stacked up transparent colors. There is no black or so-called dark inks. They are all highly transparent, beautiful colors — just bunched up on top of one another to form dark.

Carol

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Monday, May 25

Kablooey!

"Kablooey!"
11" x 14"
Alcohol Ink on Yupo
This was a peaceful, wash of less than dramatic pastel colors when I brought it home from my workshop in Eau Claire. I nearly posted it, but wondered what would happen if...  

I impacted the serenity with the addition of red, more purple and some yellow. Oh, my.

I am teaching a workshop on knife painting with acrylics in Chippewa Falls, WI on June 9 and 10. If anyone is interested please let me know and I'll send you the information. 

Carol

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Sunday, May 24

Froot Baskit

"Froot Baskit"
11" x 14"
Alcohol Ink on Yupo 
I turned this piece every which way as I dropped ink and alcohol onto the Yupo. I also blew the ink around with a very large-bore straw. It moved the ink, but didn't send it splattering. Not until I photographed it and rotated it did I realize there was "subject matter" in the mass/mess of color. But it, like the spelling of the title, is a little awry.  

I have signed none of my ink paintings. Not until they are sold and the purchaser tells me where to sign it, will I commit to the permanence of... Keene.

Carol

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Saturday, May 23

Microcosm

"Microcosm"
14" x 11"
Alcohol Ink on Yupo 
It started out as a simple painting, but I had time, time to wait around to see what would happen... IF. There were a lot of "ifs" in this piece. I couldn't even tell you what happened between daiquiris and dinner, or baklava and bedtime. But I don't think I turned it into mud. 

"It is what it is,"says my friend, Mary.

Carol

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Friday, May 22

Blue By You

"Blue By You"
11" x 14"
Alcohol Ink on Yupo 
I was building a blue painting when I picked up a bottle of "citrus" green instead, and placed a droplet into the blue. Yikes! It pushed the drying blue into a hard dark edge, but looked kind of interesting.  Then I intentionally dropped several drips of "cranberry" onto the blue and formed a little blue island surrounded by red.  

Intentional is not a word I associate with alcohol ink. Nor is deliberate. It's more like happenstance, WTF and whodathunkit.  

Carol 

Thursday, May 21

Hubbub

"Hubbub"
14" x 11"
Alcohol Ink on Yupo
As this one progressed, I kept adding more and more color to the already-drying puddles. It's what made so many hard edges. A spritz here and there made the small dots. It seemed to have a landscape quality to it, but land that had been ravished, sort of earthquake-like. 

I really had to relinquish control of my normal style of painting during these three days.  I submitted to a seldom-used part of my brain to make most of these alcohol paintings.

Carol

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Wednesday, May 20

Scarletta

"Scarlett"
14" x 11"
Alcohol Ink on Yupo
I became bolder as I dripped ink onto the alcohol-moistened surface.  I combined a couple of different reds and perhaps a droplet of orange with three drips of yellow, in this instance. I allowed the puddles to dry without guiding or disturbing them. I did mist the top of the painting with alcohol, causing the pinkish splatters.  

I have a few more ink paintings to show you before moving on. Flowers are blooming in my zip code and they are beckoning me to uncap my oils.

Carol

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Tuesday, May 19

Bosco

"Bosco"
16" x 12"
Pastel on canvas
Now for something completely different.  I was commissioned to paint this dog for a friend as a surprise for his wife's Bat Mitzvah. Because I have a dog similar to this, I accepted the challenge. I knew that my squiggly marks would make Bosco come to life nicely. I made a couple of tiny changes, like white dots in the eyes, after this photo was taken, but the client and his children loved what they got.  

I shy away from painting specifics — like pet and people portraits. A sixteenth of an inch mistake can  turn Bosco into Bella. Roses and peonies don't get offended if their petals are a wee bit askance.

Carol

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Monday, May 18

Royally

"Royally"
4" x 7"
Alcohol Ink on Yupo 
Royal blue has fallen from favor in  fashion, home dec and the auto industry, but I found it fun to work with as I painted.

Stamp, spray, watch and wait. That's how this one went. I dropped ink into the areas where there are hard edges and wiped away some of the lighter edges with an alcohol-dampened Q-Tip.
I had fun the entire three days.

Carol

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Sunday, May 17

Stalks

"Stalks"
7" x 7"
Alcohol Ink on Yupo 
When I put the yellow ink down on top of a glaze of blue, the lines were as fine as pencil lead. But as it dried, the yellow pushed away the blue, mingled with some of it and made the image you see here. 

One more image remains in my bag of tricks. Oh, I painted a LOT more than these, but I will save them to post when I have a large project on my easel.

Carol

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Saturday, May 16

You're So Vein

"You're So Vein"
11" x 14"
Alcohol Ink on Yupo
This painting turned out to look like a cross section of some fantasy place. It just happened as I played at the workshop a week ago. 

I had spritzed, which made tiny dots, then I pressed the crumpled clear wrap in which my pad of Yupo had been sealed, and stopped  messing with it as the ink dried (really fast). The pathway to draw veining with a fine-point Sharpie presented itself. So I drew little coils along the trail and knew a little of that would go a long way.

Carol

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Friday, May 15

Embrace

"Embrace"
9" x 12"
Alcohol Ink on Yupo
Oh, boy, you must think I've abandoned my oils for alcohol ink. Well, I haven't. In fact, while these are posting, I'm working on commission pieces, including a dog portrait! Yes. I'm doing a pastel painting of a pooch. 

Here is a combination of many of the techniques I learned from Pat Hamm. My work is nothing like hers. It would be almost impossible for me to duplicate her efforts in this medium. Nope, hers are hers, mine are quite definitely mine.

Carol

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Thursday, May 14

Greenly

"Greenly"
3.5" x 7"
Alcohol Ink on Yupo
 
I fully intended to do more to this... after lunch on Tuesday of last week, but when I got back and saw the edges where the green and yellow had met and became fast friends, I left it alone. 

It's hard to leave a small painting alone that has the potential to become a learning experience, but it happened several times during the workshop and THAT alone was a part of my growth. "Don't dink with it," a phrase my friend and I threw back and forth when we painted murals together, kept playing in my head.

Carol

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Wednesday, May 13

Tiny Cabbages

"Tiny Cabbages"
4" x 7"
Alcohol Ink on Yupo
I didn't intend to mess with this piece, but as three sections began to dry, I took a brush with just a few eyelash hairs in it and dragged the ink around to make three little cabbage-like images.  

It's a small piece, but interesting to look at if you get up close.  Would be cute, framed and on a table easel.

Carol

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Tuesday, May 12

Flower-ish

"Flower-ish"
7" x 7"
Alcohol Ink on Yupo
Anyone who knows my subject matter preferences, knows that I love to paint realistic, close-up, single bloom flowers. Roses in particular.  So you can imagine how difficult it was for me NOT to touch the inks as they formed what, to me looked like a flower.  Okay, squint, and maybe it'll look like one to you, too.  

If the flower image doesn't do it for you, just accept this piece as it is; what happens when ink droplets are placed on top of another color at varying degrees of dryness.  See the soft yellow edge? It was placed on the red while the red was still wet. The hard edged yellow pushed the dry red ink out of the way as it spread, making a ridge (like plowed snow) of the underlying color.  Learning by doing!

Carol

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Monday, May 11

Hold the Blue

"Hold the Blue!"
7" x 7"
Alcohol Ink on Yupo 
The red and yellow ink was moving around the Yupo when I began stamping. I was about to add blue, but thought better of it.  

Restraint prevailed in two ways.  I didn't add blue and I didn't spritz this one with pure alcohol from a mister (as I found I loved to do!).

Carol

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Sunday, May 10

Tile

"Tile"
4" x 4"
Alcohol Ink on Ceramic Tile
Happy Mother's Day. This looks like a something my own mother would have liked. She adored aqua. 

This is another ground I used for the alcohol ink — a four inch ceramic tile. No, it doesn't smear, but if I were to use it for, say, a coaster, I would want to spray it with a couple of coats of clear acrylic.

Love,
Carol

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Saturday, May 9

Marks

"Marks"
7" x 7"
Alcohol Ink on Yupo
I was free to explore on my own, after the demo, so I deferred to my primary colors. I feel safe with good ole red, yellow and blue.

The surface was wet with ink, so I applied clear alcohol to the foam stamp and impressed it into the blue. It picked up color. I put it back on the surface and impressed and picked up again, moving across the page. Then I added droplets of yellow in the whitened areas and finally red in the stamping closest to us. Entirely a learning experience.

Carol

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Friday, May 8

Dance-Ink

"Dance-Ink"
14" x 11"
Alcohol Ink on Yupo
This was one of my first attempts at controlling the uncontrollable medium of alcohol ink. What is it, you ask?  Alcohol ink is the ink you apply to rubber stamp pads.  The craft of stamping has given us a new medium to play with. Ttransparent ink dripped on a sheet of Yupo (PVC plastic in sheet form) coated in alcohol is quite the wrestling match to watch. On this piece, I used a yellow, blue and red to create what you see here. It didn't begin ANYTHING like this, but when it stopped moving (dried) this is how it ended.  

Tomorrow I'll show you how AI looks when you TRY to control it.  I put on my cowgirl boots and grabbed a lasso...  well, you'll see.

Carol

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Thursday, May 7

Serengeti Sunset 3 of 3

"Serengeti Sunset" 3 of 3
4" x 4"
Oil on wrapped canvas
This is the right hand panel of the triptych.  There is no black in the painting. The darks are purples and greens and browns mixed to make the darkest darks.  

You'll see the finished panels when they are completed, but not for a couple of weeks.  Tomorrow I will begin posting some of the alcohol ink paintings I did in the workshop with Pat Hamm in Eau Claire.

Carol

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Wednesday, May 6

Serengeti Sunrise 2 of 3

"Serengeti Sunrise" 2 of 3
4" x 6"
Oil on wrapped canvas
Here is the center panel of the prototype of the commission piece I am working on. The finished piece will be 24" x 36".  

Thank all of you who have written to me regarding my car accident. I am a little fragile today, but only because my creative mind keeps replaying the scene before impact.  My body was not injured, so I will be fine in a day or so. I'll tire of the same images sooner or later!  Although, I have watched "Wonder Boys" about 30 times.

Carol

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Tuesday, May 5

Serengeti Sunset

"Serengeti Sunset" 1 of 3
4" x 4"
Oil on wrapped canvas
This is a prototype of the left hand panel of a triptych commissioned by a Wisconsin client, from his African safari photos. The final piece will be to this scale, but instead of four inches, it will be 24".  The center is a rectangle, and another square will be on the right hand side. 

I delivered the triptych prototype in person last week while I was in Wisconsin taking a workshop with my friend Patricia Hamm.  I have been gone for nine days, doing so many fun and art-related things.

But my trip ended on a harrowing note. I was in a car accident right ON the Wisconsin/Illinois border. A large metal object fell from the bed of a semi. The car in front of me hit it and it ruptured the oil reservoir, which sprayed all over my windshield as broken chunks of the metal object bounced all over the interstate highway.  I hit a bouncing chunk and it punctured something under my car.  Both the Illinois and Wisconsin police were called to the incident site. Both of our cars were not drivable. Mine got towed to Rockford, where I had to rent a car to drive the last hour and a half home. I'm home now, and unharmed. Yet it was WAY too much like the head-on collision I was in 19 years ago this month, when a car hit a curb and launched itself into the air and hit me. My painting hand was broken, my femur, hip and toes were, too. I didn't walk for a very long time. Didn't drive for 15 months.

I consider myself a lucky, lucky woman.  That metal chunk could have gone through my windshield and this blog entry would have read very differently.

Love to you, my dear followers,
Carol


Tuesday, April 14

Mining For Lace

"Mining For Lace"
24" x 12"
Mixed Media on museum wrapped canvas
On this, my second painting in this series, I wanted to use lace, but I didn't want it to look frilly or girly. I wanted it to look like in order to get lace, you had to mine it, like one would mine gold or other precious substances.

I adore lace, so this is a statement piece for me. And it kind of looks like the lace-covered cowgirl boots I got over the weekend... well, they're not in these colors, but they are just as fancy.

Carol

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Saturday, April 11

Slice

"Slice"
12" x 12"
Acrylic and then some
I'm trying new things. New to me, anyway.  This one is in the style of Carol Nelson, a Colorado artist. I wanted to see if I could use her cruciform format and the Golden liquid colors I've come to enjoy on the past couple of paintings. I liked the process, but as I did it, other ideas flooded my head, as often happens when there are no parameters.  Oh, and the entire surface is coated in a layer of joint compound, carved and wrinkled under saran wrap before it dried.  

It was fun, but I'm pretty sure I'll keep exploring. I'll be going to a workshop in a couple of weeks, so it's good to loosen the shackles a bit.

Carol

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Friday, April 10

Re-Arched

"Re-Arched"
9" x12"
Acrylic on canvas panel
I revisited the theme of arches and swirls again, and probably for the final time, at least for a while, tonight.  This time I used direct complements — red orange and glue green. White and black were used to change the shades, tints and tones.  

Thank you all who wrote to me during this experimental time. I appreciated your comments and encouragement. Now on to other things!

Carol

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Wednesday, April 8

Arched Again

"Arched Again"
8" x 10"
Acrylic on canvas panel
The comments about my first Arched painting were so encouraging that I decided to make another one. This time I limited my palette to a triad of blue violet, red violet and yellow. The elements remain the same, although in a different format. 

I am well, but thank you for asking.  I've been out of town, then   I entertained family members from Wisconsin and Michigan.  Painting was not a high priority, but it certainly feels good to be back in my studio tonight.

Carol

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Wednesday, March 25

Splat!

"Splat!"
12" x 12"
Acrylic on canvas panel
Despite the random appearance of this study in value, line and texture, I guided the rivulets across the canvas with the tip of a palette knife and an atomizer. There is a painting underneath the tributaries that I painted last night with the intention of glazing over it with gesso tonight. Once that dried, I set forth with the black and finally the red to finish the piece. It's a completely different palette for me, not to mention ... style.  I'm on an adventure!  Oh, and this time I will be making reservations, taking my camera and eating out.  I'll be back early next week. 

Carol

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Tuesday, March 24

Camellia Blue

"Camellia Blue"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas 
A year ago I went to a flower show in Chicago. I painted this white camellia from photos I took while there. Tonight I revisited that white camellia, sort of gray, actually, and gave her a makeover. She is theatrically stunning tonight. Ready for her closeup. 

The white camellia no longer exits as she did a year ago. I glazed over her with color in the style of a New York artist I found in an Art Expo Magazine.  Irina Gretchanaia  is the painter/source/inspiration of my new verve.  Our basic subject matter is the same, but now my flower has more... life.

Carol

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Monday, March 23

Arched

"Arched"
14" x 11"
Acrylic on wrapped canvas
I traveled during my absence, but by way of fever and illness, not to any place that involved reservations, tickets or my camera. Bronchitis caught me at the tail end of a cold and whipped my proverbial derriere.  This scene is reminiscent of where my fever took me while I lolled with bonbons and peeled grapes.   

Golden brand fluid acrylics, molding paste, and about half a dozen layers turned a lifeless grey canvas into something short of walking on its own.  I painted her to fit into a frame that is a weathered deep red, like the uppermost left hand corner of this piece. I wrestled and fastened her into the frame, where she's content for the time being. I hope to paint more like this one. The process was about as lively as the outcome! 

Carol 

Friday, March 13

Another Three Pots

"Another Three Pots"
14" x 11"
Acrylic on canvas panel 
I painted a similar painting to this one during the summer when I was at the Botanic Gardens. I sold it soon afterward. This is one is a commission piece for a woman who liked what I had done, but wanted it larger and taller. This is how it turned out. 

When people see my website they are usually surprised at the variety of subject matter in at least four different mediums.  I'm often asked what I like to paint best?  My standard and honest answer is, "Whatever I'm painting at the moment."  When I did this knife painting in acrylic I thought, I could do this for the rest of my days.  Of course, come morning, I had forgotten about whatever I had finished the night before and moved on to the next fun thing.   It's all fun to me. I love whatever is on my easel.

Carol

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Sunday, March 1

Another View

"Another View"
4" x 6"
Watercolor on Yupo
When I rode a horse around Ghost Ranch — yes, I said "ride a horse,"   I was able to get closer to the formations than while on a wheeled vehicle. I loved being in the open air as much as I was on this trip. The silence, the purity of the air, the spiritual cleansing brought me to tears more often than I thought possible.  

This is the painting I gave to the hotel manage as a thank you for taking a chance on letting us paint in the new conference center.  

Carol 

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Saturday, February 28

Chimney Rock

"Chimney Rock"
5" x 9"
Watercolor on Yupo
I'm back from my trip to New Mexico. I experienced every positive emotion possible as I traveled.  It was as much fun as I anticipated and I met 19 talented women with whom I shared stories, hugs and time. 

I painted this piece while at the Drury Plaza Hotel in Santa Fe and gave it to the Assistant Manager as a thank you for letting twenty women paint in watercolor in a brand new conference room for three days. It was a gift we will never forget.  Thank you, Andreas for trusting us with your beautiful new space.

Carol

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Thursday, February 12

Castle Rock-tober

"Castle Rock-tober"
9" x 12"
Acrylic on canvas panel
Some of my favorite images were photographed in October in Colorado a year and a half ago. It had been a wet summer, which made autumn resplendent, even after the aspens had fluttered-away their leaves. The hills around Castle Rock unfurled a tapestry of greens, golds and russets, while the distant hills and sky wove an appropriate border of complementary purples and blues.  

In a week I will be photographing the beauty of New Mexico. Can you sense my excitement?

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net
CarolKeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com

Wednesday, February 11

House Portrait

"House Portrait"
6" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
From time to time I mention that I am in the midst of painting commissioned house portraits.  I do this for real estate agents to give as closing gifts.  Here is one of my recent ones that pleased both the agent and the homeowner who would no longer live in this lovely home. 

I enjoy painting homes and capturing the personality of the homeowners in the choices they've made to make the structure their own. This one is obviously sold, but I will paint one for you, of your home or a friend's, to your size specifications, if you'd like. I can also change the season, the landscaping and the house color if need be.

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net
CarolKeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com

Tuesday, February 10

Cattails And Lily Pads

"Cattails And Lily Pads"
12" x 12"
Acrylic on canvas panel 
We're back at Daniel Wright Woods in late August here. I remember the noise that morning was from insects, not the rustle of leaves.  The sky reflected the deep periwinkle of the dome above me. It was a glorious day to photograph for later paintings, and a great one to paint en plein air.  

I'm in a knife painting kind of mood. The dots and smears of color from the knife and the fast drying acrylic delights me. I love to paint layer upon layer on the dried textures.

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net
CarolKeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com

Saturday, February 7

Mid-October Morning

"Mid-October Morning"
12" x 12"
Acrylic on canvas panel
An outing to the Botanic Gardens in mid-October proved to be more beneficial than I had thought on that particular day. My eyes were accustomed to layers of brilliant colors of that season, so I tucked the photos away.  But yesterday when I revisited my cache of landscape photos, this one caught my eye. 

Compared to the monochrome of snow and ice in the real world, this looked mighty yummy.

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net
CarolKeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com


Tuesday, February 3

Petunias, Coleus, Alyssum

"Petunias, Coleus, Alyssum"
10" x 8"
Acrylic on canvas panel 
I photographed these colors when I was out by the Mississippi last fall at the farm where I stayed. At the time I didn't know when I'd paint them, but here it is Ground Hog Day and the deepest snow I've seen in 35 years, and I'm reveling in the intense colors of Mary's garden for comfort. Thank you, dear friend. 

As I sorted through the images I had painted in the last eleven months to get them ready to post to my website, I became aware of the happiness I felt when I saw my knife paintings. Today was an unlikely day to paint this, but it felt right. I will keep my acrylics out for a few more days and see what comes of it.

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net
CarolKeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com

Monday, February 2

Wildly Wild

"Wildly Wild"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
The wild roses at the Botanic Gardens intrigue me. They're so unstructured and haphazard, compered to the well-bred cousins blossoming properly in the beds around them. When a wild one dazzles me in morning light, I like to capture her, but seldom paint her in season. There are so many other options, for my lovers of roses. 

This feels like a study to me, but I know I'll never take it any further.  I hope she appeals to you as she is… wildly wild.

We are in the midst of a blizzard here in my zip code. I went out and measured 22" of snow on my patio table. While I've been housebound I've updated my website.  If you go to CarolKeene.com there are over 200 new images in the category "Recent Works."  If you've never been to my website before, please go browse. It's clean, orderly and fun to look at. Thank you for looking.  

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net
Carolkeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com

Monday, January 26

Sunset Lace

"Sunset Lace"
2.5" x 6"
Watercolor on Yupo
The sky had been turbid as the sun nestled into the bosom of the Plains that evening. Then, either my contacts needed to be changed, or something else was going on. A pattern of lace veiled the horizon, just as the yellow orb disappeared. 

Here's another watercolor that I impressed with a plastic lace — with the intention of making a sunset.

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net
Carolkeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com


Sunday, January 25

Hawked

"Hawked"
6" x 6"
Watercolor on Yupo
Feathers were fluttering from the pine tree in my courtyard the other day. When I looked up at the source, nondescript bird parts were lodged in the spiny needles overhead. The wind distributed them onto my sidewalk according to weight and size. Now all that's left up in that tree, after a couple of days of gravity and wind are downy tufts.  I've seen a hawk swooping in my neighborhood in suburban Chicago, so I suspect he dropped the unsuitable plumage where he thought it would do the most good — at the feet of an artist.  

Yup, it's on Yupo.  And They were FUN to paint.

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net
CarolKeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com

Saturday, January 24

Trio

"Trio"
6" x 8"
Watercolor and Ink on Yupo
The title "Trio" refers to three colors and three applications. My first application was to slather grayed blue over the Yupo and press a plastic lace into it.  I let it dry and then stenciled the acanthus swirls in analogous, yet the remaining complementary colors. After it was all dry, I used a waterproof pen to squiggle and dot in the shadows. 

I had so many ideas of what to paint on or around the blue pattern, but the swirling acanthus won… this time.

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net
CarolKeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com


Friday, January 23

Zowie

"Zowie"
6" x 6"
Watercolor on paper
This piece is made almost entirely of watercolor sticks and watercolor markers. The pines are markers. I held the sticks like my hard pastels and allowed my hand to do the squiggle like I do with pastels. Then I took a brush of clear water and wet the highly pigmented squiggles to drag color over the entire page. I may do more of these, but I need to control the intensity — just a bit!  Ya think?

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net 
CarolKeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com