Fourth and Main

"Fourth and Main"
8" x 10"
Pastel on canvas panel

The second painting I submitted for the plein air competition was also a pastel of downtown LaCrosse. Of course, LaCrosse is seldom seen in these colors, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.  

Carol

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

Fifth and Main

"Fifth and Main"
8" x 8"
Pastel on canvas panel 

This is one of the three pieces I submitted to the plein air competition this past week in LaCrosse, Wisconsin on the Mississippi. It's in my favorite style of painting with pastel, alas, it did not win any awards.

I made new friends and met up with a couple of recently-made new friends in my travels. I enjoyed being a part of this event, and hope to participate again.

Carol

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

At Water's Edge

"At Water's Edge"
5" x 7"
Oil on canvas panel 

How it stayed rooted for as long as it had, amazed me. A pine that close to the water's edge doesn't usually stand straight and flourish as this one seems to have. I hope my commenting on it hasn't jinxed it.  Hang in there, beauty…  

I'll be out of state at a plein air event for about five days. I will not be posting during that time, but will be attentive to email in the evening if you care to write.

Carol

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

Valley

"Valley"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard 

I've been reading some old missives about applying paint to a canvas to create art, "The Boston School of Painting" by Frank Benson.  Choose the right value, he says, get plenty of paint on the brush, and apply it in one stroke — flat, don't fuzz it or fuss with it.  I'm not sure I can abide by those rules, but I tried it. Maybe it's appealing to someone.  

Carol  

Brushstrokes@comcast.net

CarolKeene.com

Dailypaintworks.com

Dailypainters.com 

Streaming Amethyst

"Streaming Amethyst"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard 

The sky reflected an amethyst quality onto the stream in front of me. I was tempted to wade into it with a fine mesh net to gather  the precious booty. 

I love how water takes on the colors of what surrounds it and is in it. Here, I considered the sky, weeds, trees and rocks as I painted.

Carol

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

Pine Time

"Pine Time"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard

A river ran across this corner of the ranch where my friend took me to visit. The air was crisp and we never saw a bug… so unlike summer in Illinois. 

The fragrance of pine was prominent. Maybe that's why there were no bugs, but I didn't know what other kinds of varmints there were to threaten me.  Ignorance was bliss.

Carol

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

As We Came Through the Clouds

"As We Came Through the Clouds"
5" x 5"
Oil on hardboard

The captain informed us of possible bumpiness as we approached Chicago. The tops of the clouds didn't appear to be tortuous, but we cinched in our belts anyway.  He was right. Not so many bumps as rolls side to side. Beautiful to the eye — icky to the stomach. 

My last sky painting for a few days. I promise.  I needed to make them to cover while I was out of town to attend a wedding. I enjoyed the hours spent "in the clouds."

Carol

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

New Day

"New Day"
5" x 5"
Oil on hardboard

As the sun rose behind the pines, and probably over the lake, but not from where I was. I didn't have time to check further, because I liked what I was seeing from right… here. 

I love to paint little skies!

Carol

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

Morning Star

"Morning Star"
5" x 5"
Oil on hardboard 

A starburst of primary colors splashed the sky that morning for only a few minutes. I saw it, remembered it and committed it to this tiny square.  As usual, the real thing… the actual painting is prettier in person. 

Carol

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

Destined to be Gray

"Destined to be Gray"
5" x 5"
Oil on hardboard

The days had been clear and the sky had been blue for a week straight. There was bound to be a day like this, and it appeared as the sun rose. Who needs weather.com when you can look out the window and see it for sure?

I liked making a sky without so much color in it. Although the next one off the easel was brilliant.

Carol

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

Rising Above the Crest

"Rising Above the Crest"
5" x 5"
Oil on hardboard

The moon rose above the crest of a little hill. Dotted it like an "i."  It was one of those peaceful evenings when the comings and goings of the stellar orbs was about I wanted to watch.  

My sky paintings are getting smaller.  No reason for it, I just enjoy the five inch panels, too.

Carol

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

Snaking Between

"Snaking Between"
5" x 5"
Oil on hardboard 

The water flowed between the pines back toward the craggy hills, not quite mountains.  I had seen it a few times in passing, but this evening was spectacular. I hope to paint this scene again, possibly with … snow.  Ugh.

Carol

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

Headboard or Gate?

"Headboard or Gate?"
5" x 7"
Oil on canvas panel

I, of course, know which it is, but the more I looked at it after it was painted, the more it looked like what it wasn't. 

No matter how we try, our intentions are never quite clear, are they?

Carol

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

Main After Rain

"Main After Rain"
5" x 7"
Pastel on canvas panel

This is the last of my downtown paintings. I may do more cityscapes, but not necessarily LaCrosse. I get the hang of it now. 

I like using pastels for this purpose.  They're forgiving and seem to speak the essence of old city… especially the way I use pastels.

Carol

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

Main Street, LaCrosse

"Main Street, LaCrosse"
6" x 6"
Pastel on canvas panel

I made a quick study of Main Street with pastels. I'm using photos from the internet, so I don't know which direction I'm facing. What I do know is that these are very old buildings and I'm looking forward to painting them in person… now that I'm a little familiar. 

I haven't painted with pastels in months. I forgot how fun they can be. The next painting, tomorrow, is my favorite.

Carol

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

Dawn's Early Light

"Dawn's Early Light"
12" x 12"
Oil on canvas panel 

As a respite from the LaCrosse paintings… I offer a larger sky than I normally paint. I felt passionate about making this one and a six by six just wouldn't cut it. 

I had to handle the yellows and blues very carefully to not make green, and the purples and yellows so as to not make brown where I didn't want it. This one is quite nice in person.

Carol

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

Toward the Cathedral

"Toward the Cathedral"
5" x 7"
Acrylic on canvas panel

This is the second knife painting of the city of LaCrosse. It's a little better than the first one, but not terrific. The pastel ones are next.  

I know how to use the tools now, so when I actually paint on site, I'll be able to make my hands do what my eyes or heart sees.

Carol

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

Main Street

"Main Street"
6" x 6"
Acrylic on canvas panel

I'm revving up for the plein air event I'll be attending next weekend. I'm not fond of, nor practiced in urban scenes. I've avoided them from the beginning of my art experience. Yet, the promoters of the event are looking for — hoping that someone will paint the downtown area of the city.  So I'm willing to give it a try. 

This is the first of four paintings I did today. It's acrylic and I used a scraper to keep my lines straight. I'll post the others to let you see how I'm improving.

Carol

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

Season of Change

"Season of Change"
8" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel

The light that day allowed the local color of my subject matter to shine in its own unique way. It's a season of change — evidenced by the leaves, berries and the water. 

Not only do the physical elements change color, the light seems to in the fall, as well. I'll be painting in this park in a couple of weeks, so I used an old photo I took of it to "test" the waters, as it were.

Carol

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

Rural Quilt

"Rural Quilt"
4" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas

As I drove across Wisconsin last week I saw what the change of season offers to those of us who observe — rural quilts. No, not actual quilts, not even barn quilts, but the patchwork that the farmers create when they plant a variety of crops on the rolling hills. Hedges, fences and tree lines "stitch" the seams between alfalfa, oats, wheat, corn and rye. 

I'll be going back to LaCrosse in a couple of weeks to paint in another plein air competition. The colors will continue to change between now and then… much to my liking.

Carol

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

Little Bit Wild

"Little Bit Wild"
8" x 8"
Oil on canvas panel

During my visit to the western part of Wisconsin last week I came across these little roses. They were coral and had only about ten petals each. They were nestled in among some small violet flowers that looked pretty decent with the coral. The gardener did a nice job of planning. 

This is not my usual kind of rose, but neither was the night I began painting her.  I will paint more "civilized" roses in the near future, unless I find another cutie pie wild rose.

Carol

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

Last Light

"Last Light"
5" x 7"
Oil on hardboard

I was in Wisconsin farm country for the past five days, painting murals. When I had a few extra minutes, I went outside to see some of the beautiful countryside. This is a section of a corn field that is terraced with alfalfa. There's no alfalfa in my painting, but the corn here is part of what feeds five hundred dairy cows to make one of Wisconsin's many cheeses.  

I painted for eight to twelve hours a day during my stay, but when I got home I just HAD to come down to my studio and paint a small piece to post.  Fortunately, I had made several pieces to post while I was gone.

Carol

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