Sunday, March 16, 2008

Spring is Here!

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!!

Saturday, March 15, 2008

The Ides of March

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!!

Sunday, February 10, 2008

A Recent Message

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

Thursday, February 7, 2008

"How long does it take to paint that?"

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, February 4, 2008

Monday Madness

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, January 28, 2008

Monday Morning Madness

....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

Friday, January 18, 2008

Friday! in the Studio


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