Magnolia Study

"Magnolia Study
6" x 8"
Oil on canvas panel
Today's lesson at the workshop had to do with color and painting white flowers.  I opted to do mine with a palette knife and a silk magnolia, no less. Laura Robb uses a knife to get her crisp edges. So I used one to paint this study.  I learned how much I don't know about knife painting and how thankful I am that I've already established a style of my own.  Trying to paint like someone else is difficult. Trying to paint like Carol Keene is hard enough.  

I'm thankful to be moved back into my studio, although it was a wonderful weekend of learning new things and revisiting concepts that are always good to review.  I'd recommend a Mainstreet Art Center workshop to anyone.  Thank you Frankie Johnson for making it possible.

Carol

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Pear-ily We Roll Along

"Pear-ily We Roll Along"
9" x 12"
Detail
Oil on canvas panel
This is not my usual fare, as still life setups go, but it was what was available today at the Laura Robb workshop at Mainstreet Art Center in Lake Zurich.  I got this far in three hours, including setting up the  pieces. We learned to draw an ellipse, paint metal, and ceramic.  Yesterday was pear day, but mine were less than ... edible.  Tomorrow I'll replace the white bowl with a plate I'll bring from home and add a flower to the lower left.  I'll also TRY to add a Laura Robb-style texture to the background.

Mainstreet puts on one heck of a good workshop, if you've never considered it.  In fact, the art school itself, in its new location, is quite comfortable and professional. Frankie Johnson is to be commended for her ongoing roll as visionary, artist and owner of the school.

Carol

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Wandering

"Wandering"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
The path I traversed in yesterday's painting opened into one more lovely field, which I followed to my friend's front door. Oh, to live in a place where serenity looks like ... this.  

I spent day one of a three-day workshop at the Mainstreet Art Center in Lake Zurich, Illinois today with New Mexico artist, Laura Robb. Her passionately deliberate method of applying color notes to a canvas is something I've been wanting to witness for years. I'm delighted to say she's as lovely and exquisite as the art she creates. 

Carol 

Sunshine Path

"Sunshine Path"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
The path to my friend's home led me through a field that, late in the day in early October, was almost more stimulating than my senses could tolerate.  I lingered in the sunshine as I passed weeds and flowers of all different species. 

 This is painting one of two, a diptych, that can be hung side by side.  I painted this one today, the second one is being worked on currently.

Carol

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Rocks of Ages

"Rocks of Ages"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
There are few things older in my collections of natural things than my rounded rocks. Few things more satisfying to fondle, ponder and photograph. Now that I'm comfortable painting them, too, I'll create more compositions with rocks to offer for your viewing pleasure.

I'm tickled to announce that two of my paintings have been used in the Dick Blick Spring Sale catalog that arrived in the mail this week.  Both are on page 60 with attribution under each. 

Carol 

Heavenly Scented

"Heavenly Scented"
16" x 20"
Oil on wrapped canvas
The fragrance wafting from these small roses was delicious, considering they had traveled some distance to get to me in the dead of winter. They were not fresh when they arrived in my home, but I embraced them and loved them for what they were about to do for me -- strike beautiful poses, cast seductive shadows and smell wonderful every time I buried my nose in their delicate petals.  

 No sponges were used in the making of this painting.  I'm learning to use different Rosemary & Company brushes to accomplish the same things I do with a sponge.  It does not mean I've abandoned my darling sponges, I'm just learning new ... tricks.

Carol

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Heavenly Widened Rose

"Heavenly Widened Rose"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
As I worked on this piece, I was listening to my favorite Cowboy Junkies song, a cover version of a ballad by Lou Reed.  It's called "Sweet Jane," and Margo Timmins sings the phrase "Heavenly widened roses seem to whisper to me when you smile..."  It struck me as a fitting title for the painting. She is, don't you think, a widening rose?  

I had fun painting my rocks series, but my heart and soul are in painting roses.  This is one from the bouquet I bought for myself the other day. You'll see more white roses like her in the coming days.

Carol

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Rock Pile

"Rock Pile"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
Loving gifts of miscellaneous beach rocks collected at my side the day I took my grandchildren to the beach.  Granmama became the recipient of many and varied Lake Michigan rocks. 

This is my last rock painting for a while.  Maybe.

Carol

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Rock Band

"Rock Band"
10" x 10"
Oil on wrapped canvas


Yup, Rock Rand.  Take a look at the painting.  Get it?  I've been collecting banded rocks like the ones in this painting since I was a child. I pick them up whenever I see them and put them in my courtyard or on a shelf with others in my studio. Banded rocks delight my sense of whimsy. 

I'll be leaving rocks pretty soon, but not quite yet.  I have another idea to present. THEN it's back to roses.  I bought a bouquet of them for myself today.  I sold some art, got a commission and scheduled a workshop, so I'm celebrating with the other thing that delights me.  

Carol     

Right Over ... There

"Right Over ... There"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
Across the lake, right over ... there, where the tree line gets thin as a noodle is a cove where the fishing is better than any place on this lake. In the county, even. I mean it! I rowed over there and dropped a line one morning and caught breakfast faster than I could have ordered from the drive-thru at McDonalds.

I'm in rock mode. Obvious titles such as "Rock Hard", "Rock Band" and "Like a Rock" come to mind for future images, so come back to see if I use any of them.

Carol

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Rocks For Tossing

"Rocks For Tossing"
18" x 18"
Oil on canvas panel   
Beach rocks. Rocks for tossing. I photographed these while walking barefooted along a shoreline that  was being lapped enthusiastically by one of the Great Lakes. The smooth mounds were easy to walk on, but more fun to fondle with my fingers. They begged to be handled, and I did.  

I painted this tonight, amazingly quickly, after a brief conversation about tossing rocks. It just felt ... right.

Carol

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Delish

"Delish"
12" x 16"
Oil on hardboard
Several times a year I get a craving, a specifically-decadent craving to paint chocolates.  Once I discovered the correct colours to squeeze it was merely a matter of finding chocolates to pose for me. I don't eat the stuff, but I do like how it looks. So as subject matter, it can sit here in my studio for weeks without a single nibble. 

I drew this two months ago, but didn't get to the painting part until today... while listening to Schubert, and an entire opera from the Met. 

Carol 

Blush

"Blush"
 24" x 24"
Oil on wrapped canvas
She blushed when he told her she was gorgeous. "Well, you are," he said. "Gorgeous," he repeated. She blushed even redder, deeper toward her core. Her petals curled, her mouth opened in disbelief. The rose sat serenely and basked in the glow of his compliment. 

Once again, I have to sing the praises of my two new colours; Cad Scarlet and Indian Yellow.  Oh, my, they seem to have been made for one another. Those two and a dab of Cobalt Blue made this a joy to paint. I'm in love! 

Carol

Mademoiselle Minet

"Mademoiselle Minet"
24" x 24"
Oil on wrapped canvas
She was stretching like a kitten in the morning sun when I happened upon her.  Yesterday she was little more than a bud, but today she had opened herself to ... possibilities.

I've painted this image before; large and small, rectangular and now a large square. She captivates me each time.  I love the colours I find in this white rose. She wears them with graceful ardor.

If it's a special day for you, this beauty honours that occasion.

Carol

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Scarlet Hibiscus

"Scarlet Hibiscus"
10" x 8"
Oil on wrapped canvas
I found this hibiscus in a pot at my local greenhouse last spring. I photographed it and many of her sisters, but haven't painted from those images until now. This is a study on a small canvas for one that may end up as a large square for a one person exhibit I have in July. 

Here's another example of my new favourite colour, Cadmium Scarlet.  I'll be looking for things to paint using this colour.

Carol

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Divide

"Divide"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
I came across a photo I took of the Continental Divide and felt like painting it again. I don't know how many times I've done it in the course of two and a half years since I've been there, but this little pond is one of my simple, favourite places. No jagged mountains, no rocky rivers, no canyons or wildlife.  Just a cute reflecting pond.

Carol

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Old Lyme Flowers

"Old Lyme Flowers"
9" x 12"
Oil on canvas panel





















I walked through the gardens at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Connecticut, photographing everything in sight. I wanted to bring as much back with me as possible. I've been to Old Lyme twice. I cried when I left both times. Old Lyme is where the American Impressionists hung out one hundred ten years ago. They called it the American Giverny. I felt my soul come alive while I was in Florence's home where the artists lived and painted during the summer. There is a fine museum on the grounds now, too.  I may never go back, but I hope to go to other places in my lifetime that will delight me as much.

Carol

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Canadian Sunset

"Canadian Sunset"
14" x 20"
Oil on hardboard
While on my Google search to find winding rivers I came upon another lovely photo.  This one was of a sky somewhere in Canada. I know—there's a LOT of sky in Canada, but I can't isolate this location except by doing eeny meeny miny moe over the map. What would be your guess?   

The sky didn't actually look like this, but it had these "bones."  I used my new Cad. Scarlet, again, with Cad. Yellow Med. and Cobalt this time. That's it. Three colors. I love the way the scarlet mixes with the blue to make the dark clouds.

Carol

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Winding River

"Winding River"
10" x 20"
Oil on hardboard
I was looking to paint a winding river.  My own photos were not to my liking, so I found a site with winding rivers. I liked the composition and the subject matter of this scene, but I have no idea where it is,  It was listed as a copyright free, photo, so I cropped the parts I liked and had my way with it.

Carol

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