Stairways to the Moon

"Stairways to the Moon"
16" x 12"
Oil on hardboard

I painted away from home today and didn't manage to import my reference photo properly into my iPad, so I had to paint something that evolved from nothing. A friend gave me a RayMar panel so I toned it in umber, then drew a few lines and squeezed out two blues, two yellows and two reds. I softened the edges with my mop brush and this is what came of the donated canvas panel after 90 minutes.  

During the critique, someone mentioned that it looked like stairways to heaven … from any direction. I thought heaven was a stretch, but the moon was a possibility.

Carol

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

Black Man

"Black Man"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas

A friend sent me a photo of a black man he photographed, and I wanted to… to… paint him. The painting is a lot nicer than the photo of it.  I want to paint more people. I need models!  

I painted this in a couple of hours, mostly dealing with the hand. The color of the flesh came easily. the jeans were a lot of fun. And the color is dead on when you see it in person. I'd love to give my man a name, but he arrived without one. What name would you give him?

Carol

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

My Friend

"My Friend"
8" x 8"
Oil on hardboard

My daughter sent a photo to me today with "My Friend" in the subject line. I thought it was going to be a photo of someone she works with. Not even close. It was something growing in her yard. Something purple and very much in keeping with her taste in flowers. I'm honoring her with a painting of her "friend." A portrait, of sorts. For you, my dear Natalie. 

Love,
Mom

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

Japanese Painted Fern

"Japanese Painted Fern"
12" x 16"
Pastel on canvas panel

I photographed these ferns last year and forgot about them. But when I got my pastels out again, I realized this would be the perfect subject matter.  

Carol

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

"Geraniums"

"Geraniums"
6" x 6"
Pastel on canvas 

This is a quick study of the pot of geraniums I painted yesterday.  I had a small canvas with me and decided to make good use of it to figure out my colors.

Carol

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

Anita's Hat

"Anita's Hat"
12" x 16"
Pastel on canvas panel

I painted with friends today. We each brought something to add to the still life. The bird was mine. I hadn't painted with pastels in a couple of months, so this was a freeing and exciting day for me. I didn't even think about whether or not it would be difficult. I just jumped in with both feet — like I live my life. 

I'm going to a pastel workshop in a week to learn to make my own pastels. I'll be with my new friends in the Chicago Pastel Painters group. We met for the first time and they put me on a committee already.  "…both feet," as I said above.

Carol

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

Niagara Falls

"Niagara Falls"
10" x 8"
Oil on hardboard

A friend took a trip to Niagara Falls over the weekend and sent photos to me.  It was fun to paint the cascading water in the colors that appeared on his photos. I remember seeing the falls as a teen, back when the falls had nearly dried up. The water source seemed to be mightily replenished this year.  

I enjoyed painting something completely different from anything I've ever done.  What fun!

Carol

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