Carol Keene: June 2012

Tuesday, June 26

Fairy Tails

"Fairy Tails"
20" x 20"
Acrylic on wrapped canvas

And to my left are the Fairy Tails, next to Dragon Tails, Who knew? Right? Did you think this is what they'd look like!

While I catch up on house portraits galore, I hope you enjoy a few more of my swirling fantasy paintings.

Carol

Dailypainters.com
Dailypaintworks.com
My Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Monday, June 25

Dragon Tails

"Dragon Tails"
18" x 18"
Acrylic on wrapped canvas

There's a place not too far from here where the sky looks like cotton candy, and clouds resemble dragon tails. If I close my eyes it's right over ... there. Try it. See if you agree.

This painting is sold, but I can recreate a companion piece in your own cotton candy colors if you'd like.

Carol

Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com
My Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcas.tnet.

Sunday, June 24

Metallica

"Metallica"
6" x 18"
Acrylic on wrapped canvas

In this melodic place where iridescent orbs twist and twirl, spiral and swirl as a matter of course, the vibrations between the balls create a dulcet, sweet music.

I used metallic paint to make this image, and it rocks! No photo can capture the effect.

Carol

Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com
My Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Saturday, June 23

Larger Than Life

"Larger Than Life"
18" x 24"
Oil on wrapped canvas

Although the bloom on this sun-lit rose faded unexpectedly, it remains imprinted on my heart—always will. It was a rose I chose from a garden full of them, a special one that delighted and amazed me. A beloved rose.

I painted this large piece in an afternoon—alla prima—in one sitting. I felt compelled to capture the essence of it before anything changed, as it was painted from life.

Carol

Friday, June 22

Taste and See

"Taste and See"
12" x 12"
Acrylic on canvas panel

I read recently that some people can taste color. "No way," you say, but it's true. It happens by way of a neurological condition in which there is a "union of the senses" called Synesthesia. Imagine the sensory delights one could experience in a painting such as this!

Please enjoy another in my knife series of garden paintings.

Carol

Thursday, June 21

Tree of Life

"Tree of Life"
18" x 24"
Acrylic on wrapped canvas

My Tree of Life curls just like life itself. You never know from one minute to the next what will change and how that change will impact your life. "Buckle up," I say, "It could be a wild ride."

This is my attempt at making a Tree of Life style with paint, instead of with fractal-generating software. The background is troweled-on plaster and faux finished like I used to do on walls. It's very textural, both visually and to the touch.

I'm happy you are here with me today.
Carol

Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com
My Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Wednesday, June 20

Mostly Sky

"Mostly Sky"
8" x 10"
Oil on canvas panel

On a toenail of the foothills on the front range sit a few buildings; a couple each, for human and equine use. Nothing is nearby or convenient, according to my standards. To live so far-removed from humanity is beyond my comprehension.

The depiction of "mostly sky" is an accurate account of this desolate place without a sushi, martini or genius bar within a day's trot.

Thanks for looking today.
Carol

Dailypainters.com
Dailypaintworks.com
My Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Tuesday, June 19

June's Jewels

"June's Jewels"
12" x 12"
Acrylic on canvas panel

The months that ramp up to June in my zip code exist for the sole purpose of nurturing plants to produce treasured blossoms of ruby, sapphire, tanzanite and garnet, cradled in shades of jade.

This is another offering of knife painting. "June is busting out all over" was a pretty accurate observation, according to Oscar Hammerstein.

Thank you for visiting.

Carol

My Gallery

Monday, June 18

Fusion

"Fusion"
24" x 36"
Acrylic on wrapped canvas
painted black border

Two elements, solids in their own right, collide. They swirl, liquefy and amalgamate. The synergy of their fiery union bears repeating.

Please enjoy one of my favorites in the series of abstracted swirl paintings. Today's canvas is not only filled with swirls, some of them have developed tails, adding an active element to the mix.

It's warm, come sip ginger ale with me.
Carol

Dailypainters.com
Dailypaintworks.com
My Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Sunday, June 17

Brackish Pool

"Brackish Pool"
8" x 8"
Acrylic on canvas panel

Brackish pools saturated the perimeter of the inn where I stayed on the Intracoastal Waterway. I was so drawn to the ecosystems at my feet, I almost missed the colors across the way.

This is another knife painting—my summer delight. I love how acrylic paint gets crusty on the canvas as I paint, and makes a texture I can't create any other way.

Come visit again, you're always welcome.
Carol

Dailypainters.com
Dailypaintworks.com
My Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Saturday, June 16

Wildflowers

"Wildflowers"
8" x 8"
Acrylic on canvas panel

It was sunny on the edge of the woods where wildflowers mingled with prairie grasses for our viewing pleasure. A hammock for two was stretched between two trees in the shade where he read to me as we rocked.

This little knife painting is compiled from a photo I took a few years ago. The floral elements were scattered on the page, so I nipped and tucked and slathered them on my small panel.
Come visit anytime.
Carol

Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com
My Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Friday, June 15

Ballgame

"Ballgame"
24" x 24"
Acrylic on wrapped canvas
painted black border

Throughout the globe—the galaxy, in fact, examples of sports are recognized in the artifacts of nearly every culture. While there is no indication of how these balls were used, it can be assumed the event was spectacularly entertaining due to the number of used ones spiraling in the universe.

Here is another in my series of fractal wannabes. Again I attribute my inspiration to Jock Cooper's amazing talent.

Visit again to see more.
Carol

Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com
My Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Thursday, June 14

Fractalish Desert

"Fractalish Desert"
24" x 24"
Acrylic on wrapped canvas

I've confessed to my passion for swirls and have painted a lot of them with a ball motif in hot colors, so when I stepped back to look at them as a body of work I recognized the opportunity to explore the concept with different colors and motifs. This is what happened.

I totally enjoyed making this piece. It satisfied my desires to paint sun, sky and mountains without looking anything like a landscape.

Please come back to see more tomorrow.
Carol

Dailypainters.com
Dailypaintworks.com
340 pieces of my art
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Wednesday, June 13

Fractalish Fire Dance

"Fractalish Fire Dance"
24" x 24"
Acrylic on wrapped canvas
painted black border

Energy spun, twirled and whirled in this magical realm charged with saturated, hot colors—dazzling my senses.

My intrigue with fractals continued as I explored the graceful curves of of several swirls in different sizes and colors of balls. I even swirled the nearly dry paint into the circular shapes with an eighth-inch bristle brush.

Thank you for being here today.
Carol

Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com
My Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Tuesday, June 12

Fractalish

"Fractalish"
24" x 36"
Acrylic on wrapped canvas
black and blue painted border

When I first saw Jock Cooper's artwork I was drawn to his computer generated images with Fibonacci swirls and a bold use of color. Once we became friends, we both wondered how a painter would execute the essence of what math equations had done for him via a software program. I assigned myself the challenge.

This is another in a series of fractal-like paintings I made during this particular quest. I hope you enjoy the series while I work on a few more house portraits.

I always appreciate your visits.
Carol

Dailypainters.com
Dailypaintworks.com
My Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Monday, June 11

Log Cabin

"Log Cabin"
24" x 36"
Acrylic on stretched canvas

This is my take on a log cabin quilt with the red hot chimney around which most cabins were built. As you can see I got bored with the traditional cabin piecing within about two strips, so I abandoned it and went for something a bit more daring.

This is one of my "less recent" pieces while I work on a larger current piece.

Thank you for visiting.
Carol

Dailypainters.com
Dailypaintworks.com
My Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Sunday, June 10

Gabriel

"Gabriel"
24" x 30"
Acrylic on wrapped canvas
painted black border

Great joy makes my heart sing. When my heart sings I turn to wings as a source of inspiration. I adore wings, having witnessed them in a near-death experience. I titled this Gabriel, but it could be called a different name just as easily. Joy of this sort transcends...

When I painted this series I painted black borders that wrapped around the sides on some of them. It made for a very cohesive look when exhibited together.

Thank you so much for today.
Carol

Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com
My Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Saturday, June 9

Knotty Cherry

"Knotty Cherry"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas

The red cherries are ripe, crisp and delicious. And once again I didn't want to portray a cherry in a traditional way, so here it is.

It would make an interesting piece to hang in a kitchen.

Thanks for looking.
Carol

Dailypainters.com
Dailypaintworks.com
My Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Friday, June 8

Banded/Cherries

"Banded/Cherries"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard

I collect banded rocks, for some reason. I found my first one as a child and thought it was worthy of keeping. The vertical piece is leftover marble slabs glued together from a fireplace surround, and the cherries, well, they were delicious.

I stacked the rocks against the marble, then added the cherries. I didn't want to put them in a bowl, or on a table, or anyplace traditional.

Thank you for stopping by today.
Carol

Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com
My Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Thursday, June 7

Colorado Creek

"Colorado Creek"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel

I saw the glisten of water from a distance and pulled over to photograph it. It turned out to be a small creek but had some charming curves to her banks, foreground weeds and a steep hill of pines on one side. The hazy hill in the distance probably didn't even have a name, but it captured my attention, nonetheless.

I love to paint water in a landscape. It's seldom the same from one painting to the next in hue, value or texture. Like sky it changes with the day.

Thank you for visiting.
Carol

Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com
My Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Wednesday, June 6

Zinnia Zing

"Zinnia Zing"
16" x 20"
Oil on stretched canvas

She was still unfurling when I happened on her in the garden that morning. She probably turned into quite the beauty by the end of the day, but I had already left her zip code by then.

I used my sponges on the petals of this zinnia to glaze a variety of colors over the initial application of lemon yellow. I hope to find more multicolored blooms like her this summer to sustain me through winter.

I love that you visit my art when you get a chance. It means a lot to me to know you're out there.
Carol

Dailypainters.com
Dailypaintworks.com
My Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Tuesday, June 5

Joyful Garden

"Joyful Garden"
8" x 10"
Oil on canvas panel

The afternoon light dusted the tips and tops of summer's finery in the Walled Garden. It was one of those days when the flowers looked more beautiful than ever, they looked positively joyful.

This was a fun piece to paint. It gave me great joy to do it.

Thank you for wandering through today.
Carol

Dailypainters.com
Dailypaintworks.com
My Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Monday, June 4

Repose

"Repose"
12" x 24"
Oil on wrapped canvas

Her lacy knit top probably covered her adequately several months prior, but not at the time she sat for me. This pose was not my favorite of the ones I painted, but it was practice at something for which I've had no training.

I enjoyed working on the Rosa paintings. They made me explore a difficult subject and gave me even more respect for people who paint the figure with exquisite sensitivity.

Your visits here are always appreciated.
Carol

Sunday, June 3

Heartbreaker

"Heartbreaker"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas

I'm mad about Steve Madden shoes. They fit my personality, my wardrobe and my foot. I could stand and paint at my easel in them. In fact, I did tonight while I painted this. They're heartbreakers alright!

I just couldn't resist. I had to paint this tonight! I'll post one more Rosa painting tomorrow.

Thank you for being here today.
Carol

Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com
My Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Saturday, June 2

Rosa

"Rosa"
16" x 20"
Oil on stretched canvas

Rosa liked color, so I posed her on a red blanket. I draped the shawl we had used to swaddle her vessel so that her reason for being with me showed.

This is not the painting Rosa chose for her portrait, but I enjoyed painting it, nonetheless. It was my third attempt, EVER, at painting a person.

And on a sad note, my friend Chuck Simon passed away yesterday. Chuck was the recipient of the Superman logo I painted on April 5th. He was indeed a super man. He will be missed.

Your visits are aways appreciated.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my art.
Carol

Dailypainters.com
Dailypaintworks.com
My Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Friday, June 1

Imminent

"Eminent"
10" x 8"
Oil on canvas panel

Imminent, in deed! Rosa showed up for her pregnancy-portrait sitting with little more than a shawl, so I swaddled her vessel, as she called it, and pulled the wings of the remaining fabric behind her. This pose was one of my favorites, but she opted for a more colorful one.

Since Rosa's sitting I've wanted to paint this pose. I tried a simple study to see how it might look, and I'm not disappointed. I'll post a couple more Rosa paintings over the next few days, but one was already posted, so I put her in the first row on the front page of My Gallery. Check out Rosa in my silk kimono.

Thank you for visiting today.

Carol