01/30/12 It's getting there!

I have almost finished it!! I worked several hours today and then I had to put it aside. Looking at my photograph I can tell I need to lead the eye deeper into the painting as well as adding a few minute touches and people to the street and bridge. This has definitely challenged me but I'm glad I did it. I'm sure I will revisit this work after I take my Rusty Jones course in May!
I have been working hard on this piece. I am trying to methodically complete small sections at a time. It is so "Busy," that it is like 4 paintings in one!

Since I will be teaching for two days it will be a little while before I can get back to the studio. Please have patience. Thank you for looking at my work. Carol

01/27/12 Details,details,details

I worked hard yesterday on putting in some little details that give the impression of minutia. It is a pain in the neck but it is what people look for in complicated paintings like this. I am looking forward to working on the terraced land on Saturday and seeing more obvious results. I have probably done this backwards but the details help me to not loose my place on the painting.

Thanks for taking time to check out my blog. Carol

01/25/12 Starting to take shape

I worked a long time on the details at the bottom of the painting. The rocks and buildings are starting to take shape! There are so many details in this picture that it is going to take me FOREVER to finish!!

Thanks for taking the time to look. Carol

Cinque Terre Day 3

Even though this is only the second post, it is the third day of work on this picture. I must have ADD because I keep jumping around on this piece! I have popped some of the darkest darks and put in a little more color. The rocks have a lot more highlights and there is lots of thick paint from my palette knife . I will work some more tomorrow but have plans to start another painting that is bohemouth for me. (48x60)

I went to the Arboretum last Friday and had my first taste of plein air painting. I also took lots of photos and plan a" koi "painting for this "big 'un"!!!

Thanks for looking. Carol

01/20/12 On the easel

I haven't even finished blocking in colors yet on this big boy. This is a landscape that my niece and her husband took on their honeymoon in Italy this summer. Joe is a great photographer and they were nice enough to share all 600 images with me! This picture is quite complicated and should take me a while to finish. You have to begin somewhere!

Thanks for taking the time to check out my Cinque Terre painting. Carol

01/19/12 #212 finished!

I had fun painting this one! It is to go with the other modern yellow piece I just finished. The texture was the most fun to put on!

Thanks for looking. Carol

01/17/12 On the easel now

This is my latest "modern" painting. I like to try new things every once in a while. I like the color combinations in this work. The texture that I put in also saves it from being, "blah." The colors are mostly of the same values and that was calming and pleasing to my eye but the sharp black and olive green are attention getters!

I would love some feed-back on this if you'd care to offer. Thanks for looking. Carol

01/14/12 Hot off the easel!!

I am dipping into the world of,"Modern,"art. I changed and didn't like what I'd planned and then I got out my oil sticks and now it ALMOST pleases me. I can't seem to draw a straight line!

Please let me know your thoughts on this. Carol

01/14/12 Deux Magots #2 finished!

Since I sold the original Deux Magots that I painted in acrylics during the last Open House we had in November, I decided to do #2. It is a larger version with much more detail and is painted in oils. Now this is one of my favorites! Hope you like it too!

Thanks,Carol

1/11/12 Lainie is almost finished!

This little lady is Lainie Lodewick the daughter of my friend and advisor Patrick Lodewick. Patrick took this picture and sent it to me . Since he said it is one of her signature "looks," I thought I'd give it a try. I still have a few more little things to do to it and I'll be ready to just let it dry.

Thanks for taking the time to look at my blog. Carol

01/04/12 Still on the easel

After working for a couple hours I put this painting up on the shelf to dry. I am trying to make every stroke of paint count. It seems to be working out. I am still a long way from being finished but I am enjoying every minute!

Thanks for taking the time to look. Carol

1/3/12 Progress

I started working on the little bird yesterday. He still needs some more details worked out and his beak painted in but so far he looks pretty good. Hope to get a lot more done today.

Thanks for looking at my work.

1/1/12 Revisiting an Old Favorite

I sold my painting of the little bird in Paris that landed and helped me eat my quiche in the Paris cafe Deux Magots. I felt the need to revisit this work and do another one. I started on Friday and took the weekend off so I will be working hard on Monday on the second one which is larger:11x14. I am very pleased with the background and the little sparrow's shadow, the plate edge and the beginnings of the food. I remember becoming frustrated with the doily and putting the X Magots on the placemat. I'll have to only have one cup of coffee the day I do that so I won't shake!

Thanks for taking the time to look on the first day of the year!