Floral Fantasy

Floral Fantasy, 2004/2008

Original: Color Pencil, Monotype
Image size: 5" x 7.75"
$75 (+ S&H)
Contact Artist to purchase.

When I find myself getting too tight (or uptight) with painting realism, I often turn to making monotype prints, which is a fun way for me to loosen up and give free rein to my imagination.

Monotype prints are made by drawing or painting directly on a "plate" made of glass, plexiglass, metal, or hardboard. You then lay a sheet of paper over the plate. By either rubbing, pressing, or running the plate and paper through a press, the image on the plate is transferred to the paper, making the monotype print.

Unlike traditional printmaking methods where the image is permanently engraved, etched, or fixed to the plate to produce the same image multiple times, monotype printing gives you only one image (since nearly all the paints/inks are transferred to the paper). There are many variables in the process and far less control; so the resulting prints are quite spontaneous looking and loose--often looking like nothing at all!

Today's image began as a monotype print I did back in 2004. I had worked back into the image with color pencil, strengthening the colors and adding textures, while "making something more" out of the forms.

A few days ago, I came across this little piece--sort of a fantastic flowering cactus--and added some touches and further refined the image. Thus the dates noted on the print: 2004/2008.

Thanks for taking a moment to look at today's post. Have an easy week. See you Thursday!
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Text and photo ©Carol Adamec 2008. All rights reserved.

To My Readers…

Eye Dazzler

Photo: Carol Adamec

I've been in my Harwood studio today, finishing up the calla lily commission. The painting is sitting on a table with an incandescent lamp shining on it to hasten the drying time, since I am taking it to Fed Ex tomorrow afternoon for shipping. I'll snap a photo of it to share with you in a future post.

Just as I was cleaning up my brushes, I happen to glance out the window and catch this gorgeous sunset. Nature certainly provided an eye-dazzling sight this evening. Enjoy my view!
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Text and photo ©Carol Adamec 2008. All rights reserved.

Almost There

Sitting on the Fence
Original Painting
Oil & Alkyd on Panel
6" x 8" unframed
SOLD

Thanks to a quick and helpful critique from my artist friend Sondra Diepen, this little painting is finally coming along.

The shadow on the fence has been restored, but not nearly as dark as the original version, providing more drama and contrast to the entire piece. Then, too, I deepened and refined the greens of the leaves. You can check back to my posts on December 4 and 11 for the first and second versions.

Sometimes it just takes me awhile to pull it together. Just a few more minor corrections, that is one will be "there."

Thanks for following along. Have a fun weekend getting ready for the holidays. See you Monday.
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Text and image ©Carol Adamec 2008. All rights reserved.

Snowy Night

Photo by Carol Adamec

It's been snowing all day in Albuquerque. I've been in the studio painting since about 2pm, and about to go home. I looked out of my studio window and decided to share the view of the big tree just outside the Harwood's front door being lit by the building lights. Who knows....maybe there's an idea for a painting in this picture!

In the meantime, I hope the little flower painting I've been working on will be ready for "show & tell" on Thursday. See you then.

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Text and image ©Carol Adamec 2008. All rights reserved.

(Still) Stuck in the Middle

Sitting on the Fence
Original painting (in progress)

This has been a busy week in and out of the studio. I am working on a commissioned painting (another version of the California Calla Lily) and getting ready to participate in a holiday fundraiser at the Peace & Justice Center in Albuquerque on Saturday.

I did put in some time on the painting I showed you last Thursday. Today's post is not the final result....but does show the painting as it looks now. I hope you can see there is some progress!

Thanks for taking a look. Have a great weekend and I'll see you Monday.
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Text and image ©Carol Adamec 2008. All rights reserved.

Acoma Revisited

Acoma Fragment 1
Original, oil on panel
10" x 4"
SOLD

Many thanks to those who encouraged me to pursue completing "Sitting on the Fence" --the painting I blogged about last Thursday. I worked on it this weekend. It's still "stuck in the middle" but I haven't given up on it yet!

In the meantime, I completed another small painting inspired by a piece of Acoma Indian pottery. Yes, I am still fascinated by the diverse combinations and intricacies that are formed out of basic patterns and colors. Even seemingly simple shapes like these have a particular rhythm dependent on the line, shape, and color used.

I first painted the background white, and it was just awful! After trying out several mixtures--some too red, some too yellow, some too brown--I finally got to this color which I am happy with.

Hope you have a good Monday. Thanks for taking a look. See you Thursday.
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Text and image ©Carol Adamec 2008. All rights reserved.

Stuck in the Middle

Sitting on the Fence (in progress)
Original: oil & alkyd on panel
6 x 8"

A result of moving my studio last weekend was the discovery of several paintings that I started—maybe even worked on for quite awhile—and didn't finish. Some of these paintings have been in boxes for several years; others, just since my time in Florida. I've been sorting through these paintings, determining which ones still hold some interest and (hopefully) promise if completed.

The image posted today is a small plein air piece that I began last winter while living in Florida....and then just put aside. In its present state it gives you some idea how paintings look in the "middle stage" when the shapes and light are defined but the painting is far from finished.

For me this is the stage that is most "dangerous" depending on whether or not I have enough interest to complete the painting, or decide to just give it up and paint over the entire surface to begin anew.

So, we'll see how it goes. I'll post the final results—either a finished painting that I'm happy with or a scrubbed over panel. Stay tuned!

Thanks for taking a look. Have a good weekend and I'll see you Monday.
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Text and image ©Carol Adamec 2008. All rights reserved.

Mini-Abstraction

Red Fragment 1, 2008

Original, mixed media on panel
3.5" x 5" (approx)
Private Collection

Good morning, Dear Readers,

I hope all of you were fortunate to enjoy a festive and filling Thanksgiving dinner, and that the serious shoppers amongst us got the best bargains on Black Friday, too.

It was a busy Thanksgiving weekend for me, moving to a different studio on the second floor of the Harwood Art Center. The new space is better suited for my painting, having lovely color balanced, track lighting, and fewer windows (less heat and bright sunlight).

The bonus is a view to the West, which has already provided a gorgeous sunset of ever-changing colors over the West Mesa. (Did anyone else see the "fingernail moon" in Friday's night sky?) I am already looking forward to future evening light shows from my studio window.

While cleaning up and clearing out my old studio, I found a small panel I had underpainted with burnt sienna. I had just enough spare time to work up this "mini-abstraction" based on a small piece of Acoma Indian redware pottery. The white lines were made by scratching through the burnt sienna underpainting, down to the white gesso primer.

Even though the painting is small in size, I think the strength of the shapes gives the image a much larger feeling. And, it was fun to do, too!

Thanks for taking a look at today's image. See you Thursday. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Text and image ©Carol Adamec 2008. All rights reserved.