On a Mission

Click Here to Bid (12x12in. - starts at $1!!)

I did a smaller version of this last year that sold (at a workshop in France, which is where I took the reference photos) before I even got a chance to post it. But I loved the image, so I did this 12x12 version when I got home. I was REALLY happy with it, so I held onto it for a while. But again moving has made me rethink everything! So here's another go at the $1 auction. Woo!

Angels in the Architecture

Click Here to Buy (12x12in. - $600 - buyer also receives a free book, my 6th collection of 100 small paintings, from the year 2014!)

After a few successes with the "darks first" method, I had a few total disasters. So I retreated back to my usual method for this one (islands to oceans). What I've discovered is there are pros and cons to each. My goal is to figure out when to use each one, and if there's some way to use them somehow together. I will keep experimenting. Thoughts, anyone?

Meanwhile, I did this one from a photo I took inside the NYC downtown library. I chose a bigger panel for it and found it was MUCH easier to paint people when they weren't crammed into a 6x6! I've been wanting to do this one for a while, and am very happy with the result.

Back Me Up, Bottles

sold

My son has been obsessed lately with the idea of backstories. He's a great story teller (& listener), so when something has a backstory TOO, he is all over it. Inspired by him, I must tell you the backstory for this painting. So, the flower has been in love with the pear (on the plate - not pictured) for over a year. The flower has finally gotten up the nerve to profess undying love to the pear, but is quite nervous. The bottles are around for backup, you know, in case the pear doesn't feel the same way.

BTW, happy 2014!!

Tahni With a Book

sold

This was a 3 hour pose at Sarah's house yesterday. We had lovely light coming in through the window, and secondary (warm) light coming from forward right (my right), which made for a very interesting light on Tahni, but no light for me to paint by. I had to keep taking my painting off my easel and holding it in the light to see, but in the end I was pretty happy with it. Sarah did a lovely piece from a different angle.

Speaking of figures, I have been deeply admiring Terry Miura's figure paintings lately. Loose!

What's Left

sold

We live! Not only did we survive the (not so) harrowing, (not so) snowy pass on the way to and from San Francisco, we also survived the two, 8-hour drives (thanks to podcasts!), the two, day-long hikes around the city, all the sleeping bodies we had to step over, and the (near) deafening fire-crackers from the Chinese New Year festivities. Through it all I did manage to get a picture or two. Ok, maybe 1,302, but who's counting. I am now thoroughly prepared and excited for my April workshop!

Orange Tea

sold

This is my last painting from 2012, and my last larger painting in reserve.

I had an idea about announcing new workshops. What if I pre-announce them? Well, that is what I'm going to try here and we'll see how it goes. I have one more to announce for this year, and I will do that this Wednesday, at 10am PST. This workshop will be in the fall of 2013, but I won't say where or exactly when until Wednesday, so check back then if you're interested.

Also, I wrote an article last year for Professional Artist Magazine and it just came out. It is 6 pages and whoever put it together did a fabulous job with the layout! -->

One more thing - I've been making a quilt, and if you're interested I've posted about it on my other blog.

Oh, and the Spyder software I got is 4 Pro (because some of you asked).

Morning Light

sold

Lots to report! First my workshop in Texas last week. I tried to bribe my kids with chocolate this time so they would behave. It mostly worked but a few of them still had to do push-ups (mostly for inappropriate language). Artists - pah! Here they are concentrating during a timed exercise.

And here's all but one, at the end of the week, thoroughly brainwashed and scared into submission. "That Carol," they say, "what a tyrant!"

Just one more thing and then I'll save the rest for my next post. I got a new computer and it's really cool, but I'm having trouble getting the colors adjusted just right on the screen. Do any of you have any experience getting a special (expensive) calibration tool and having it be worth the cost? If so, which one? Thanks!

Tea Time

sold

This is another larger painting I did earlier this year. I remember when I arranged it, I had everything but the red tea bag and felt it still needed something. I think I tried every single other object in my studio before I realized a tea bag would be perfect! Luckily I have a whole slew of tea bags in all sorts of colors.

Angel in Heaven

sold

I had a little epiphany this morning while I was running. And this may seem completely obvious, but it occurred to me that there is absolutely no formula for good art. You can follow every rule of thumb you've ever heard, but you are still not guaranteed a good painting.

I did a few larger paintings a number of months ago, and this is one of them. It is 12x12 inches. It seems positively huge compared to a 6x6, yet still a comfortable size.

Bowl of Sunshine & Tomato Lover

Click Here to Bid

UPDATE: Unfortunately the painting below is no longer available - I didn't take any of my larger paintings before the fire...

The painting below is 12x12 inches, on gessoboard. I am putting it in the Daily Paintworks, Help the Children of Africa auction. They say hundreds of thousands of children are starving because of the current drought. I know it's half a world away, but children are children. If you can help by donating or bidding they would be very grateful!