Practice Makes for Improvement

Cactus Garden, 2008
Oil, alkyd on canvas panel, 10" x 8"
Left: Plein air session • Right: After studio re-work

After my move to Florida, I joined the Central Florida Plein Air Artists ("CFPAA") to get acquainted with the tropical flowers and foliage and to meet other artists in the area. I also was looking forward to the practice of composing and completing a painting within a 1–2 hour time span....a necessity for capturing the ever-changing light. Then, too, the weather is just divine in Florida during the winter and spring months—a lovely time to be out of doors.

Naively, I thought plein air painting would be fairly easy to do, especially since I was working on small 8" x 10" canvas panels. Boy, was I wrong!

Pictured above is my painting of a garden in the historic Eola Heights area of Orlando. The panel on the left is what I had accomplished after about 3 hours of painting "en plein air," meaning, sitting in the owner's yard, with my easel and paintbox, working "live." I had pre-primed the canvas panel with a red orange color to give an overall warmth to the painting. But as you can see, I had barely gotten the composition and basic colors down. Before leaving the site, I took a digital photograph so I could add some details later.

The panel on the right is the painting, mostly finished, completed in the studio after two days of painting!

After several outdoor sessions, what I've discovered is that plein air painting is quite challenging. I have a new respect and greater understanding of paintings by the Impressionists, and sincere admiration for the members of CFPAA and other practitioners of plein air painting. I'll let you know how my next attempt at "live" painting en plein air goes. I am hoping that practice makes for improvement...and quicker results!

You can visit the Central Florida Plein Air Artists website and view paintings by its members at http://www.cfpaartists.org.

Thanks for looking. Your questions and comments are welcome.

Have a great weekend. See you Monday!

________________________________________________
Images and artwork ©Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Art Making in the Digital Age

Kathryn's Chair, 2006.

Original oil, alkyd on canvas available for purchase.

Available as a LE giclée on canvas or

open edition Art Print.

Contact Artist for purchase info
_____________________________________________

It's fascinating to me to see how artists work — which resources, methods, and tools they employ to create their paintings.

As a realist painter, I rely on quick "idea" sketches, photographs, digital images, pictures in art books, and "Googled" resources for visualizing objects and pulling together ideas for paintings.

My digital camera is my new sketchbook for creating preparatory "drawings," since I can shoot several photographs and then edit, enhance, and manipulate the pictures in PhotoShop until I get the composition I want. Other times, I'll print out several copies of a photo to cut and paste the various elements by hand to create a composite collage of the painting to-be.

If the painting will be small, I make an inkjet print to work from. If the painting will be large, I use Kinko's services to have an enlarged black and white printout made to transfer the image to canvas. In the studio, I can display the photo on my laptop computer to check on colors and to zoom in for details.

However, as the painting nears completion, I end up using the tried-and-true "traditional" tools of art — memory, imagination, intuition, and the experience of painting.

"Kathryn's Chair" was painted in 2006 using the tools and methods described above. Measuring 22" x 20" the painting is rendered in oil and alkyd on stretched canvas.

Thanks for looking. Your questions and comments are welcome.

See you Friday!

____________________________________________________
"Kathryn's Chair" 2006
• Limited Edition giclée on stretched canvas: Price upon request.
• Open Edition Art Print: $24 (unframed) on ETSY: www.caroladamec.etsy.com
For additional information, contact the Artist: CAdamec@juno.com
____________________________________________________
Images and artwork ©Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Memorial Day, 2008

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, was first observed on May 30, 1868, after the Civil War. Flowers were put on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery, in order to help heal the nation. After World War I, the holiday was expanded to honor all servicemen and women who died in America's wars. Since 1971, Memorial Day has been celebrated on the last Monday of May.

_____________________________________________________
Information source: www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

May you enjoy a day of friends, family, and peace.

Art & Ideas

Moonlight & Datura, 2002
Oil, alkyd on gessoed panel
24" x 22"
Original painting SOLD

Available as LE Giclée on Canvas

or open edition Art Print

Contact Artist for purchase info.

—————————————————————————

Viewers sometimes ask where I get ideas for my paintings.

Actually, there is no simple, single answer. However, I can offer an example—at least how the painting on today's post "happened" to come together.

While living in Albuquerque, New Mexico, I discovered the datura one summer evening at a friend's house. I noticed a large bush by the front door, just loaded with beautiful white flutes which had unfurled into a magnificent blossoms. That image stuck in my mind and led to me to photograph many datura blooms.

Then there was the crisp, fall evening I was driving up my neighborhood street and noticed a full moon floating on a river of light clouds in the night sky. As soon as I got in the door, I grabbed my sketchbook and did a few drawings of what I had just seen, knowing that I would use that image in a painting.

Sometime later, the "Muse of Inspiration" dropped by my studio. (I'm always thrilled when she pays me a visit!) After some tweaking and juggling of images, those two visual experiences became the painting, Moonlight & Datura.

Although the original painting is sold, Moonlight & Datura is available as an Art Print on paper at a modest price. ( Click link at left to visit My ETSY Shop) It is also available in limited edition as a giclée on stretched canvas or on paper. You are welcome to contact me via email for additional information.

Have a great weekend. See you Monday!

___________________________________
Images and artwork ©Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Good News!

——————————————————————————————

Top: Wake Up Lily, 2008

Original oil on panel • 5"x7"

SOLD

Bottom: Morning Tulips, 2008

Original oil on panel • 5"x7"

SOLD

I just received news that the two paintings shown here have been juried into the June 5th "1st Thursdays" showing at the Orlando Museum of Art. The Orlando Museum of Art does a "1st Thursday" showing of area artists every month on the first Thursday, just for that evening, from 6-9pm. Each month has a different theme, style, or subject matter that must be adhered to. The theme for the June showing is Small Works / Large Images. All artworks exhibited must be 12" x 12" or smaller, including the frame.

I attended a "1st Thursday" showing in February. The food and music were good and, best of all, you could visit the Museum's galleries, too. The place was packed. So, I am looking forward to a fun evening in June and seeing my little paintings displayed, too!

Images and artwork ©Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.
_____________________

Receive this blog via email! Just use the box at the top left.
Enter your email address, and click "Subscribe." A Feedburner window will open and ask you to type a few letters (anti-spam step), and then click the "Complete Subscription Request" button.

A verification message will be sent to your email address. Click on the link in the email....and that's it! The whole process takes maybe 20 seconds...if you type fast! And you can always "Unsubscribe" if you want to, too.

_____________________

Many thanks to all who visited this site. I appreciate your interest, support, encouragement, and comments. See you Friday!

Jemez Pot with Feathers, 2008

Jemez Pot with Feathers, 2008
Original painting
Oil and alkyd on canvas panel
7" x 5" unframed

SOLD

I like to poke around garage sales, flea markets, and Goodwill type stores for collectibles. (My 84-year old mother has been an Antiques Roadshow fan for years and it has rubbed off on me!) It's also a great way to find things to paint.

Just around the corner from my studio here in Florida is a Goodwill store where I found this small hand painted pot from the Jemez Pueblo in New Mexico. I love the scalloped rim, the traditional butterfly design, and the colors. It's even signed by the artist, too!

Having lived in Albuquerque for 10 years, I've been to Jemez many times—a beautiful place with lots of red rock. So I was thrilled to find this piece of pottery, add the feathers, and happy to paint from direct observation. I was hoping that that I could complete this as "A Painting A Day" (a new challenge I've taken on this year) but it took me two days.

This original painting is available for purchase on Etsy: www.CarolAdamec.etsy.com.

Thanks for dropping by. Your questions and comments are welcome.

See you Wednesday!

________________________________________________
Images and artwork protected by copyright ©Carol L Adamec.
All rights reserved.

——————————————————————