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

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

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

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

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

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

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 

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