Carol Keene: July 2012

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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

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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

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