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

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

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

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

"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

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

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

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

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