Out for a while

I will be away from my blog for a couple months because I am subbing. ( at least until late October - mid November) I will be able to paint on Sundays but since I am working with first graders it will only be on Sundays! I need Saturdays to catch up on errands, cooking and general housekeeping, plus grading papers.
If I complete a piece I will post it. Please hang in there with me!!

07/26/12 Big Boy

I had so much fun doing this!! I am looking forward to doing another one but of a cow. This is just so much fun tapping into my creative side. I am pleased with the way this big boy looks. I have seen several artists who paint in a similar fashion but this is new to me. AND SO MUCH FUN.!!!

07/21/12 Sailing at Rockport,Tx.

Worked a little more on this baby. The weather was very overcast with little blips of sunshine. I captured this sailboat returning to Rockport when I was there in March. I am still a long way from being finished but I'm on my way.
I have a close-up of a buffalo head that I'm also working on at the studio. It gives me a variety to work on.  I get bored easily and I can switch back and forth.
Thanks for looking at my blog on this sizzling summer day. Keep cool, Carol.

07/12/12 Finally back!

Sorry it has taken me so long to post but I have been under the weather for the last month! I wish I could have said I'd been someplace exotic and exciting but, "No such luck!" Anyway I'm back and well and ready to paint. I came down on Tuesday and got this far on a new painting from a photo I took in Rockport, Texas. In case you can't tell, that is a sailboat in the foreground. I feel like I haven't painted in months instead of weeks! I have really missed the studio and the time I spent there.

I'm sure I NEED to do a lot of things to improve this but just give me a few more days to get my brain wrapped around it again and to recall all the tips I've learned in the past two workshops I've taken.

Thanks for taking the time to check in on my blog. Carol

6/19/12 Learning to paint shadows - Lakewood

I attended a Becky Parks workshop last week and was looking for a photo with good shadows.  The only one that remotely fit the bill was one that I took last year of Lakewood.  I took some artistic liberties and I am not totally finished with it but it survived a wet ride in my car from Rockwall without being ruined. If you go to Lakewood this year you might see the final version of this painting.
I think I got the idea that she was trying to convey to us but now I have to keep practicing what I learned.
Thanks for taking the time to check out my blog. Carol

May 30,2012 In the Bluebonnets

I have finally gotten back into the studio!!! Since our class everything has gotten in the way!!  I spent two weeks teaching so I would have a little extra money for the summer and all sorts of other things.  

Got back in yesterday and today, using what I learned in Rusty's class.  I am not finished with this painting but it is a far cry better than it was!!  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  Thanks for looking at my blog,Carol

05/09/12 Port A dockside

This boat was dockside in Port A on the second day of Rusty Jones' workshop in Port Aransas.   I can't tell you how much I learned and just how much fun I had.   It was HOT, windy and I was using my new plein air paint box.    Rusty was patient with his students and clear in his instruction. I can't recommend any of his workshops enough! I'm sure I'll be saving my money for another one of his workshops in the future.  
Thank you for checking out my blog. Carol

04/28/12 Taking some shape

I am finally adding some details to trees, donkeys and grass. I have yet to tackle the bluebonnets and rocks in the yard.  It is beginning to take on a bit of personality!  Probably won't get much done next week because I'm attending a plein air workshop out of town and won't be at the studio until the following week.
I am also trying to sub at school as much as possible because the summer months are tight financially without school to supplement my income. Life is expensive! It is what it is!
Thanks for taking the time to check out my blog. Some of my work can be seen at Dutch Art Gallery in Dallas as well as contacting me at 214-535-2394. Carol

04/20/12 Bandit and Chloe - beginning

I fell in love with these two donkeys, Bandit and Chloe, while I was in LaGrange, Tx. last month.  The bluebonnets were amazing as well. Bandit is what I think is a zonkey and Chloe is a white donkey.    Quite a pair!!   I began this on Thursday and had to work at school on Friday, so I hope to be able to work on it some time this weekend.

Thank you for taking the time to check out my blog. Carol

04/17/12 Making progress

A quiet morning at the studio and several days when I forgot my camera later, I am getting to the completed stage of this picture. It is very peaceful and calm. I am not very familiar with painting beaches so this is a self-teaching painting! I still think I will revisit this work when I return from a plein air workshop with Rusty Jones. I am sure there is a lot to be fixed, but so far it isn't too bad.

Thanks for taking time to look. Carol

04/02/12 beginning Beach House

I have begun another beach painting. I hope this one isn't so lonesome feeling. I have put a house and an anonymous couple on the beach so maybe it will feel happier. I loved the other one I did and the colors are some of my favorites. I think the starkness comes with the evening shadows.

Thanks for looking at my blog. Carol

03/28/12 Almost finished!

I still have a little cleaning up to do on this picture but it is almost finished! I am pleased with it even if it isn't perfect!

Thanks for looking at my blog. Carol

03/27/12 Adding details - -slowly

Since I can't draw a straight line without a ruler or straight edge, I have to wait to let things dry before putting in more details! I just know I would've smeared black paint all over this work and had to spend double the time repairing it. I still have mast lines and writing and things to add today.

Thanks for looking at my blog. Carol

03/21/12 Still on the easel

I made quite a bit of progress yesterday but once I painted the front red sail, I realized that it was the wrong shape! I never said I was the best at drawing! Besides making that adjustment, I have a lot of lines and details to add still. This has been a refreshing change from the heavy dark pictures I've been doing lately.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my blog. Carol

03/20/12 Just the beginnings

Began this 10 x 14 canvas yesterday. It took a while for me to draw it on the canvas but it was worth it. This is a pic I took of some catamarans on the beach. Loved the dark sky and bright colors. It has a lot more to do but hope to make some progress today, despite the flooding going on.

Thanks for looking at my blog. Carol

03/15/12 Island beach

Finished my Charleston beach, sand dunes picture and it is drying on the easel right now. This picture was taken at sunset and I think I was able to capture the starkness of the beach at that time of day. If you are interested in buying any of my paintings, please feel free to contact me at 214 535-2394 or mcmduke@mac.com for the details.

Thanks for looking at my blog.

03/13/12 An afternoon in the countryside

Some friends and I took a short road trip yesterday to the Tyler and surrounding areas to do some plein air painting. As you can see the yellow flowers were gorgeous in the fields. We painted for several hours and had SO much fun!! None of my work will ever be in the Louvre but I really enjoyed myself all afternoon.

Then on the way back we saw some longhorns and a whole herd of donkeys and these strange animals. I am told that they are a cross between a zebra and a donkey - zonkey or zeedonk! They are amazingly beautiful animals! I might even try a studio painting of one.

Thanks for checking out my blog. Carol

03/09/12 Atlantic Afternoon - just the beginning

While I have been waiting for my last painting to dry completely before I add some finishing touches to it, I decided to begin a new painting. This is the Atlantic Ocean seen from one of the Charleston islands. It was late afternoon when I ventured out onto the beach and the sun was setting. I couldn't resist trying to paint this calm scene. This is just the beginning but I love the color pallet and the peace it already sends out.

Thanks for looking at my beginnings and I hope you will be looking forward to the completion. Carol

03/07/12 Still on the easel-Under the Fence

I still have a lot to do on this painting. I put in bricks yesterday and now I have to make sure that they are dry before putting a shadow glaze over them. The horse looks like a cartoon character so I'll have to figure that one out before signing it. Other than those two things, I'm fairly pleased. If you have any advice, feel free to give it!

Thanks for looking at my blog. Carol

03/05/12 Now on the easel

As you can see, I have started on the other end of the Charleston horse. This is a bit more challenging because I've never drawn, much less painted a horse before! I have a preliminary sketch of his head and have even put some paint on his face. The perspective on this picture was a bit skewed because I was squatting down and looking under a fence. I have a lot of work to do on this guy today, we'll see what happens.

Thank you for looking at my blog. Carol