At the Heart of the Matter

"At the Heart of the Matter"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard

There are nights when everything simply tumbles into place and brushstrokes land where they should. It could have been the passionate music playing over my shoulder, stimulating the emotions. Or perhaps it was the aroma of almond cake baking in the oven. Whatever it was that happened, this pink peony landed on my board with no more effort than it takes to slip into my Birkenstocks.  

I'm toning my canvas consistently every time I paint now.  I never knew the value of it until recently.  Having come from a watercolor background where white is so highly prized, it seemed a shame to obliterate a perfectly good white canvas. My discovery is that it's a lot harder to paint a low key painting on white.  Burnt umber seems to LIKE to be covered in deep, luscious color.  I thank my Muse for tending to me with such loving care.

I appreciate your visits.  Please come often. 

Carol 

Dailypaintworks.com

Dailypainters.com

My DPW Gallery

Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Kiss

"Kiss"
8" x 8"
Oil on hardboard

The center buds of a succulent plant are as kissable as lips.  I'm drawn to their chubby roundness. I also like that they flatten into their svelte adult leaves without an in-between stage.  


Here is my second low key painting on this textured hardboard.  Scanning her was the only solution to the issues with glare.  I had her in my courtyard, on the fence, against the house, on the porch and on a windowsill.  Not to mention all the usual indoor places.  Kissable as she is, this gal did not want to be photographed!

Thank you for looking in on me today.
Carol

Dailypainters.com
Dailypaintworks.com
My DPW Gallery   (234 images)
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Flowers and Cock's Comb

"Flowers and Cock's Comb" 

I wakened from a nap on the rattan sofa in my studio.  My husband had turned on an up-light on the table next to me. The undersides of the flowers and the life-sized resin rooster were fascinating in my dream state. 

The painting is very soft-edged.  It's one of my most successful edge paintings to date, BUT it doesn't show that way in a photo!  The camera and the eye see it so differently.  The eye sees the multiple levels of color and depth. The camera chooses a level and documents it.  It's also very difficult to photograph with respect to the texture on this hardboard panel. It makes for a glittery surface, especially with the low key values of this piece.  So I scanned it!

And just to keep things interesting, I have another low key painting on the same board to post tomorrow.  Same problems, same solution—scan it.

Oh, just come see it in person. I'll put on the water for tea.
Carol

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

Ooey-Gooey

"Ooey-Gooey"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard

Chocolate was not its own "food group" when I was growing up in rural Michigan. We had a hollow Easter bunny in the spring and a couple brown Necco wafers at Halloween.  Not until I was well into adulthood did I acquire a taste for this brown delicacy.  

Here's another in my series of single-bite chocolates.  I had painted the morsel, but pondered what would be on the pink background.  A curtain of dripping chocolate seemed pretty theatrical.  

Thanks for dropping by today.

Carol

Dailypainters.com

Dailypaintworks.com

My DPW Gallery

Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Pink Pansy

"Pink Pansy"
8" x 8"
Oil on wrapped canvas 

The light was magnificent on the furls and folds of this hot pink pansy the day I stopped to catch my breath at the top of the mountain in Winter Park.  Oil painter, Karen Vance had loaned me her ski lift medallion, so I went as high as I could without fainting, for lack of oxygen. Who knew that pansies grow where humans dare to breathe? 

It was August, the light really was great for capturing what I did on this beauty.  When I paint pansies, I always want to pant, I mean paint more.

Thanks for hiking by here today.

Carol

Dailypainters.com

Dailypaintworks.com

My DPW Gallery

Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Sheep in the Meadow

"Sheep in the Meadow"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard

Morning is not one of my favorite times. It occurs too early for my body's clock, but I love the colors of morning. I've peeked at them from behind my curtains, and remembered how they smear the sky like cream cheese on a bagel, but with pink, blue, peach and gold. 


I'm testing a stack of Ampersand hardboard.  I have about a dozen panels to use.  I painted the sky with a light ground of white, then flipped color around with my brush and then dusted them lightly with a soft mop brush. I did the same with each little field and stream.  Soft...

Thank you for wandering by today.
Carol

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

Sweets for Milady

"Sweets for Milady"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard

The velvet pouch at my place setting was cinched with a satin ribbon and tied in a bow. I knew who had placed it there before I gathered my petticoats and flounced them over the bustle chair. 


I got chocolates for Valentine's Day—an abundance.  They beg to be painted, so here is the first in a series of the various shapes and colors of the goodies.

Thank you for sauntering by today.
Carol

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