Pescados, 22" x 30"
watercolorCarol Carter
It's been some years since I first saw one of Carol Carter's paintings, but I still remember vividly the almost otherworldly color of a swimmer floating at the edge of a pool. While I am often vague about names, I usually remember images forever, so when I discovered Carol's work online in the past couple of years, there was no doubt in my mind that I'd found the same artist. In combination with a palette of golds, acid-greens, intense orangey-reds, and deep turquoises and ultramarine blues, her manipulation of watercolor "blooms" to shape and define forms produces very distinctive, exotic, and visually exciting paintings.
Please check out Brush-Paper-Water to see more of Carol's work.
Actually, I think the loose ends may be in my brain!! That's probably not exactly a newsflash to those who know me well, but then...In my last post, I mentioned that I'd received additional Kreativ Blogger awards from Paul Kasmir and Angela Shogren. Paul was actually the *first* one to give me that award. In addition to Angela, Sandeep Khedkar also generously bestowed that award on Brush-Paper-Water. My apologies for omitting that in the previous post. Sandeep, a business consultant by day, also paints beautiful watercolors and writes short verses to accompany each painting he posts on his blog "Inspirations from Nature." Please pop over and take a peek.
As a result of the upheaval in my life in the past couple of months, a few things slipped through the cracks, so I'm taking this opportunity to share some good things that have happened.First, I want to thank Jen over at Inspired Home Office for featuring a couple of my paintings back in late September and early October. Jen has a fabulous, very gentle approach to organizing your work life. I encourage you to check out all of the resources she provides and sign up for her newsletter.
I've been honored with two more Kreativ Blogger Awards for my showcase blog, Brush-Paper-Water. Thank you to Paul Kasmir and Angela Shogren. Please check out their blogs -- both are wonderful artists. Since I posted a long discourse on 7 things about me (that you were all dying to know, I'm sure!!), I'll just say how pleased I am that people are enjoying the watercolor showcase.
Then, a big thank you to a friend who generously sent me a Stephen Quiller boxed paint set and a set of Richeson kolinsky watercolor brushes. The Quiller paints are designed to be perfect complements and the set includes cadmium yellow light and ultramarine violet, vermilion and Richeson blue (phthalo), quinacridone rose and Richeson green (phthalo), and burnt sienna and ultramarine blue deep. I'm planning to experiment with them next week. The brushes include a 3/4" flat, and rounds size 8, 3, 1 and 00. I never thought I'd find a use for those super-small brushes, but it turned out they were just the ticket when I was painting the skeleton faces on my Dia de los Muertos painting.
And last, but not least, I am now the proud owner of one of Brenda York's fabulous paintings!! My husband was prompting me for birthday gift ideas a couple of weeks ago and it just seemed like the perfect time to get a painting that I'd been admiring. My friends, I'd like to present "Pouting Ninnies" -- oil on canvas, 6" x 8" -- (and my apologies for the glare created when I photo'd it).
White Orchids, 20" x 14"
watercolor
Genie Even
Dia de los Muertos, 12" x 12"watercolorChris Beck
Morty, 11" x 9"watercolorPablo Villicana LaraIt's been a while since Pablo and I shared a challenge. Between our summer schedules and my father's declining health and recent death, it was tough to find the time. This past week, we both *made* the time for this challenge. The Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) has fascinated me for years and, like Pablo, I've wanted to do a painting on this theme for a long time. For me, the timing on this was meaningful -- the idea of celebrating death as another part of life is not one that most people in the U.S. are raised with. The joyful way of remembering loved ones during this holiday and the profusion of colorful and even humorous images is refreshing and delightful.Typically, families create altars for departed loved ones featuring favorite foods and things that represent them. Candles are lighted in memory of the departed and fragrant flowers are placed on the altar. Pablo's painting features an angel holding up a statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe and also the roses that were a favorite of his grandmother's, although the painting is an homage to all of his loved ones.
I've combined a fun fabric (a Museo Mundo design from Andover Fabrics based on the tradition of lively, happy skeletons) with a vase of marigolds, a traditional flower of the holiday. Together they represent memories I have of family and dear friends who have passed on.
Pescados, 22" x 30"
