Outdoor Painter Carly Hardy

News

2010-12-16T09:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday began the first of several trips I'll be taking in the next few weeks to coastal Georgia! With a LOT of help from a very good friend, we got a 17 foot truck loaded with furniture, boxes and more "small stuff" than I knew existed. And after a long drive through Georgia, we arrived at my new destination for art! Darien is located in the low country with an abundance of Spanish moss hanging from the trees. The laid back atmosphere of a small fishing town and an abundance of scenery stretching for miles across the marshes.

About seven years ago, I arrived in this small town to depart for an uninhabited island to paint for a week with a group of eleven other artist friends. From the first moment standing on the dock looking out over the river curling its way through the lush marsh grasses, I felt the call of home on my heart. I've revisited the area many times during the past seven years, painting, getting to know the locals, and eating some of the best seafood ever! I dreamed of living in the Darien area, painting the marshes every day, having a studio open to other artists, and spending the rest of my life soaking up the low country atmosphere. And now that dream is coming true! Of course, all the packing, loading and driving is a challenge, but what are dreams without the reality of achieving them.

So, if you're following this blog, soon you'll find a new improved version of my transition to a low country painter who is still hooked on outdoor painting and following the dreams of my heart. Hope you will enjoy the journey along with me and come down to visit sometime! Until next time......

carly

A New Chapter

2010-11-11T20:29:00.000-08:00

Well, that's what you usually call a change in one's life...beginning a new chapter. Somehow I feel as if I'm actually moving toward finishing a chapter rather than beginning a new one. Over the past few years my life has changed from day to day. I seldom knew what the next day might hold! So writing chapters, or much less a blog, on a day to day basis became somewhat of a chore instead of a fun thing. As of today, I have determined to close that chapter of upheaval and settle down to a much less hectic pace. If I were more of a list maker, at the top of the page would be...write more and talk less. LOL! Perhaps, that could become a New Year's resolution or my birthday wish for next week.

Yep, I'll be celebrating another "year of remembrance" next week. No party...no gifts...just a few friends who will give me hugs and I will appreciate and love them even more for the quiet embraces.

I have obviously waxed melancholy tonight but I am allowed one such evening in my life - am I not? If you were here, we would share a glass of wine, watch the fire burn down, and toast one another as artists, as friends, and as ageless spirits for whom birthdays do not exist...

Painting the Chattahoochee

2010-10-26T17:10:00.000-07:00

A friend and I met to paint at the Jones Bridge Park in Norcross, GA. a week ago. I bravely took my oil pastels to the site since the weather had turned a bit cooler. While painting I took pics of each step so that I could create a demo from the painting. Of course one never knows when one begins if the painting will be worthy of a demo or not....but no matter. The light was clear, the sky cloudy, the wind breezy but not too strong, and winter geese flew in an around us as we painted. Wonderful autumn weather! Here are a few pics that better tell the story....

The Scene and the Setup....

The outcome....

The entire demo will be available online at the Oil Pastel Society. http://oilpastelsociety.com in a few days! Check it out!

Plein Air Northwest

2009-11-06T10:01:00.000-08:00

This summer Marsha Savage and I made a trip to the Pacific Northwest. Visiting my sister, brother, and another artist friend, Denise Champion, we packed two states into a two week adventure. Although a lot of time was spent site-seeing and driving, we both managed to get in some painting along the way. Here's a few of the ones that I managed to get at my brother's place in the Williamette Valley.

That morning Jim invited us out, and little did we know that, upon arriving, we would be given buckets for picking plums! Once the plums were gathered, we took the produce to a wonderful open air farmer's market. The beauty of the fields blooming with sunflowers and fresh produce ready for gathering was awe inspiring! Hopefully on future trips, I'll plan a day to paint there too!

My Goodness!

2009-10-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

Another six months has passed and here I am again blogging! Keeping up with my blog is much like keeping up with all the passwords that one accumulates on the web! Since my last post, much has happened....I moved home after three years in the Tannery Row Artist Colony. My studio now takes up "all" of my double garage! However, the move has some advantages...no more driving an hour to work! sleeping later in the mornings...haha! Like that ever happens! and being able to keep my granddaughter, Sophie, on occasion. She, however, is not much help in the studio, but she does some really mean scribbles with her crayons! And of course, I can paint in my pj's! Drop by any day to visit!!

The highlight of this month was a workshop with Ann Templeton, internationally known pastellist and oil painter. She has two books out that I recommend to every artist who wants to break out of the realist approach to painting and learn more about how to abstract the landscape. And if you can take one of her workshops, even better! Every day began with a lecture (more like a conversation time) and a demonstration. She showed how working from a photo is only a stepping off point to creating a painting. Her technique focused on keeping the darker values transparent and working as long as possible with the darks before going to more opaque lights. When I told her that I had a problem with knowing when to go more opaque, she said, "then keep working the darks until you have nothing left to do but add the lights". I'm trying to remember that!

I have a new website which focuses on paintings only. http://carlyhardy.com
and if you want to email me, it's carly@carlyhardy.com. Let me know if you visit.

Until next time (I'll get some of my workshop paintings scanned for you) keep your brushes wet and pastels dry!

Hotlanta Summer!

2009-06-30T17:57:00.000-07:00

Yep, you guessed it. The weather is steamy and hot this summer in Atlanta and I'm missing painting outdoors!! The past couple of days have seen cooler temps (in the low 90's) but I'm still dreaming of those cool fall nights that won't appear again until some time in October! But enough about the weather!

Our summer show, "SunnySide UP!", is now up and running at the Tannery. If you'd like to view some of the newest art by the Tannery artists and our guests from Southern Colours Art Association, drop by, Tuesday thru Saturday, noon to 5 pm. We're located at 554 West Main Street in Historic Buford, Georgia.

My painting in this show is called "Decisions". It's rather abstract but if you look closely, you'll find figures turned in several directions, appearing to revolve around a broken urn...perhaps searching for the answer to a life question. Ever find yourself in that type of situation or mood? As an artist, my life questions are often answered thru my paintings, sometimes without my realizing it. Let me know if you have ever experienced this!

The painting below won 4th place in the Historic Buford Plein Air Festival held April 24/25th this spring. The scene caught my eye from several streets over and it took me almost thirty minutes to find how to get behind the trailer so I could paint it! It's not easy to follow winding streets up and down hills when you can't see where you're going and just try putting "trailer with clothes on line" in your gps!!

Birthdays

2008-11-19T22:51:00.000-08:00

I'm sure the title of today's blog tells the story. Today is my birthday! which is one of those days that I usually just quietly live thru since it falls in a wintry month of the year. Cold temperatures and gray days blended with less sunlight tend to make me a bit depressed. So each year during this time, I forgo the birthday party for a quieter evening. However, today was an exception. Upon leaving the studio, I mentioned to a fellow artist if she knew of a place to get a good bowl of soup (that sounded like a nice quiet thing to do) and she said maybe....and that she was free for dinner if I wanted company. I thought how nice that would be to share my quiet dinner with her, so I told her that it was my birthday but that she was not to tell anyone else. Well then we decided to ask another artist friend if she would also like to join us...and the party was on!

Over a great meal the three of us laughed, they sang the happy birthday song, and told the waitress it was my birthday, who brought out a very large piece of cheesecake topped with whipped cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce, which we all shared.

I've decided that from this day forward my birthday will be spent with a couple of friends, sharing conversation and great cheesecake, and laughing my way past another year. Sure beats the heck out of a quiet bowl of soup for one!

Birthdays are not really about getting older, you know. They are about taking stock of your life and deciding how you want to spend the next year.....looking back or moving forward toward new adventures. I think my friends would tell me to "move on"!

Thanks "ladies" for a great birthday gift!
carly

I'm ZAZZLE-ING!

2008-04-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

Notice the addition of the logo to the left...I'm beginning to offer small prints of several of my larger oil paintings on Zazzle.com! Check it out and let me know what you think even if you have no intention of making a purchase. I'd love to have your feedback.

On the art scene, I'll be returning to Contentment Bluff this weekend for more outdoor painting and great crab stew! There is a tiny seafood shoppe on the way to the Bluff that I can't resist stopping at on Friday's because that's the day they cook up the bar-b-que ribs. Yummy! and...

if you're in Darien, drop by the Old Jailhouse Gallery to see new paintings of the coastal region. Every visit, I seem to discover new subjects that tug at my heart. The quaint old church buildings around the park square did just that on my last trip, so if you're in the vacinity, watch for my new art "truck". I'll be painting from the tailgate!

Beware The Ides of April!

2008-04-13T09:01:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! April is not only the month for "showers" but for all those living in the US of A, it's "time to file tax claims". Mine have been mailed...thus, I have the time and energy to post to my blog today! I'm ahead of schedule this year since usually I mail the returns promptly on the day of the 15th. Instead of Beware the Ides of March...I think we should all quote "Beware the Ides of April!" And along with millions of other Americans, I'll be paying more in taxes this year. At least I'm in good company!

On the painting scene, I've been working in the studio on a rather large oil - 3 x 4 feet in size. Here's a photo of the painting. It's not signed yet but I feel it's completed...unless it whispers to me in the night and let's me know that something is still amiss. Paintings often do that - you know.

In my last blog post, I shared one of the irises that I had worked on during the winter months. Well, my series is short one painting this month. The white iris sold!! Here's an image of that one...now I'll just have to paint another, but that will have to wait until a dreary rainy day because our weather is shouting for me to get outside and paint!!

Our next show at the Tannery is coming up in June! Check back for all the details....and

"have a great painting day everyone!"
carly

Spring is Here!

2008-03-16T17:56:00.000-07:00

Well, at least I hope that today's weather was an indication that spring is officially here. A friend and I walked three and a half miles in our local park where families were outside playing frisbee, walking dogs and children, tossing baseballs around, and picnicking on quilts or cooking over the grills. Was a warm 70 degrees with a beautiful clear blue sky...made both of us think about how great it felt to be outside again "exercising"!

Here's a painting that I've been working on during the cold winter months. It's the last of three iris paintings. All three are oils, 30 x 30, on canvas. If you don't have sunny weather yet, maybe this will warm you up instead!!

The Ides of March

2008-03-15T19:05:00.000-07:00

Hopefully will not be an "eventful" day for most of you since it's supposed to be a day to watch out for! The tornados of last night and today across Georgia have been enough as March roared in like a lion....and as April approaches, we hope goes out like a lamb!

Some may have wondered what I've been up to lately...a couple of trips to the coast have kept me busy along with a couple of shows that needed paintings framed and delivered. Last weekend was spent at Contentment Bluff on the Georgia Coast, ten miles north of Darien. I had delivered paintings to the Old Jail Gallery in Darien the weekend before and returned for a few days of painting, visiting with other artist friends, and the show reception.

Contentment Bluff is one of my favorite places to visit...it's so peaceful to sit in the mornings with a cup of coffee watching the river rise or fall with the tide. It's a place where you can hear the birds singing all day, the woodpeckers working away, and fish jumping in the river. It's the oldest existing fishing camp on the east coast and the cabins built in the early 1930's are still rented by families who spend their summers and weekends at the camp.

Here's one of the pastel paintings from an early morning outing with a few other artists. Enjoy the view!

A wonderful artist friend of mine, Marsha Savage, has begun blogging! Check out her blog at http://marshasavage.blogspot.com

See ya!!

A Recent Message

2008-02-10T15:39:00.000-08:00

I recently received an email from an artist who had seen my oil pastels on the website...she wrote:

Happened to be browsing around the websites and saw yours... what vision you must have! I love the colors... am so inspired to go back to my doodling hoping one day to learn to see as you do. Thanks for all the tips on the site. In the Philippines, we don't see too many oil pastelists. I'm so glad to find out am not the only one who feels comfortable with what is known here as a child's medium, though the colors are indeed childlike, the hand is certainly a master's!!!

Thanks for the inspiration!
Marissa

When I get the feeling that my website and blog and all my other computer activities are taking up too much of my time, a message like this really is an inspiration to me. Sharing with other artists thru an international means makes the world seem much smaller and brings us together in a way that artists have never had before. I feel fortunate to be a part of this expanding global community and wander just how it will overall effect us as artists in the years to come.

Thanks, Marissa, for your words of encouragement today!
carly

"How long does it take to paint that?"

2008-02-07T12:18:00.000-08:00

When someone asks me "how long does it take for you to paint that", I reply, "Several hours and thirty five years".

I've found that many folks think a very fast painter should sell at lower prices since they value the work based on time spent in the production of it. When working outside, I only spend about two hours on a painting. Sometimes it's completed, and sometimes not. Depends on the size, how "into" the subject I was, or just my mood for that day. I can also spend several weeks, painting off and on as the mood strikes, on the same painting in my studio. (and come out with basically the same painting!)

Having said all that to come to this conclusion....time is relevant to each individual artist. One can attack the subject in a frenzy of motion with colors flying and it seems like "presto", a painting appears as if by magic.....in a matter of only an hour or more!! Another can work with slow thoughtful strokes over a period of days or even weeks and still the magic happens. The time involved is not as important as the fact that both entered into the process with their unique abilities, their own skill and knowledge, and the desire to be a part of creating.

I will add this....sometimes I wish the "process" would take longer because I enjoy it so much! But after one painting is completed....there is always another to begin on!

Happy painting everyone!
carly

Monday Madness

2008-02-04T20:11:00.000-08:00

Here it is another Monday and I haven't had the time to post messages for an entire week! Of course yesterday when I did have time, the blog was temporarily out of order! I guess the Superbowl had something to do with it...lol! I didn't watch the game...instead I watched a marathon of The Closer! Since I'm from the south, I really identify with Kyra Sedgewick's character - at least I understand her accent!

Today I delivered two paintings to the Quinlan Center in Gainesville, GA, for their yearly auction and gala fund raising event. The deal is I set the starting bid and receive 40% of the proceeds from the sale of the painting. Hopefully both will sell at a price which will pay for my materials!! If some of you are like me, you get ask several times during the year for donated paintings, and sometimes I provide one if the fundraiser is something I want to support and promote. The Quinlan is an excellent art center providing classes, a gift shop, and a wonderful gallery for not only local artists but international shows as well. If you're in the Gainesville area, stop by and visit.

I've been in the studio working on a new floral today too! Will post it tomorrow for you to see!

My thought for the day...."yesterday is but a memory, tomorrow is memories yet to unfold, live in the moment that is today"
carly

Monday Morning Madness

2008-01-28T05:40:00.000-08:00

....or as I like to call it "The day after Sunday".

As I watched the morning news today, I decided once more how thankful I should be that an early morning commute is not on my agenda for the day. A tanker truck ran off the interstate and burned blocking traffic from the north and on the west side of town, another wreck halted drivers for hours while road crews cleared debris. So goes the report most days for metro Atlanta! My mornings are much quieter in comparison.

Today's weather report says it will be mild and sunny promising a good day for outdoor painting! Later I'll post a painting....if I actually do make it out painting! Sometimes my best laid plans all fall apart in the urgency of daily "stuff".

How about your day?

I have a new granddaughter, Sophie Noelle, born on December 13th, and she is already the center of everyone's attention! Her smiles and coos light up the room. Thought you'd like to meet her too!

I'm her "Mimi"

Have a great painting day!!
carly

Red Bubble is not a clothing line!

2008-01-20T18:58:00.000-08:00

But I did think that at one time! I heard someone talking about graphic tee shirts and mentioning Red Bubble in the same conversation so obviously I assumed that they were a tee shirt company. I have since learned that Red Bubble is an awesome website where you can upload your photography, graphic designs, digital art, or other art for sales! The images that you're viewing are from my files at Red Bubble. I'll be adding some of my paintings soon and prints will be available!

For today's news....I'll be hanging my work in a new Gallery beginning in February. Carisma Gallery is located in Historic Buford, GA on Main Street. If you're in the area, drop by. I may be the artist in residence that day if it's on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday. We'll be open 11 am to 7 pm those days too.

Friday! in the Studio

2008-01-18T17:19:00.000-08:00

Today is Friday and the weather forcast says we may have up to three inches of snow by morning! I know some of you won't be so excited about that but for we southern folk, that's big news! Although I'm hoping that I'll be able to drive tomorrow to my studio. I finished a landscape today, 36 x36 oil on canvas, that has been in the painting stage for almost two months! I've put it aside several times to work on other projects but since it's a new year, I decided to get all those unfinished paintings out of the way. I'll have to take a pic of it tomorrow and post it for all of you.

Here's a pic of my studio so you can see where I work....it's a large old warehouse building. The second floor was removed so we have wonderful high ceilings with huge windows. That ladder looking thing is my easel - left over from someone's studio that vacated before I moved in. I've used it for 36 x48 paintings but it will hold much larger!!

Visit with me sometime!

carly

New Beginnings

2008-01-17T13:54:00.000-08:00

2008 is a new year! thus a new blog effort on my part! Since I have "expectations" for this year instead of resolutions, perhaps my renewed interest in sharing on a day to day basis will carry itself thru to a more realistic accomplishment.The image is of winter trees in my backyard which have served as inspiration for several paintings! So far this year...

I've delivered paintings to a new gallery in Darien, GA. The Old Jail Gallery, located on Hwy 17 in the heart of Darien, is organized by the McIntosh Art Association as a showcase for the member's artwork, featured guest artists, and a museum for the Old Jail. Drop in to visit if you're in that area and be sure to tell them where you got the tip!

Painting outdoors at Contentment Bluff near Darien is great in the winter! I finished four paintings while there the first week in January.

The Trinity School show, Spotlight on Art, opens in February,and six paintings are ready to transport. I'm always happy to not be framing at the last minute!

Carisma Gallery will showcase my paintings beginning in February. They're located in Historic Buford on Main Street!

If you live in Georgia, or somewhere near! check out http://www.georgiaoutdoorpainters.com/. It began as an artist group who decided to travel together and paint outdoors, and now has become a resource for reviews about various painting locations around Georgia and nearby states. If you would like to share a review, contact me! and if you'd like to have your own personal webpage to highlight your "plein air" adventure, contact me!

My personal website has been revamped this year....if you take a look, let me know if you find any glitches. Some of the links aren't working yet because I'm still working on the new pages but you'll get an idea of the new direction. I want the site to not only spotlight my art, but to serve as a resource for all of you. Any suggestions for new articles are gladly accepted! www.paintingoutdoors.com

Have a great painting year with me!