Plein air...stage 2

Piedras Marcadas (WIP)

Oil, alkyd on canvas panel
6" x 8"

Today's post shows what I had hoped my "on location" painting would have looked on Monday, after a morning of plein air painting at Piedras Marcadas. As you can see, I definitely needed the white paint for the pale blue sky, distant mountains on the far right edge, foreground light, and highlights.

Although I took a few photographs of the the view, most of what you now see has been painted from memory and invention, and, in my opinion, better than the "reality" I observed. It proves what Pablo Picasso is famous for saying: "Art is a lie that tells the truth."

Many thanks to those who sent me email comments about Monday's post. I truly appreciate your encouragement!

I'll be finishing up this little landscape and post the final version next week. Thanks for taking a look today. See you Monday.
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Text and image ©2009 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Plein Air rough

Piedras Marcadas (WIP)
Oil, alkyd on gessoed panel
6"x8"

A few months ago I joined the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico. Due to schedule conflicts I hadn't been out to paint with the group yet....until today. Since I hadn't done plein air since living in Florida, I was really looking forward to this session, since it was clear, cool, and quite pleasant this morning.

I spent part of yesterday setting up my plein air paint box and priming a few 6x8 panels to paint on. So this morning when I left the house at 8am, I thought I was all set to paint. The location was on the westside of Albuquerque, an undeveloped open space, called Piedras Marcadas, meaning "marked rocks", because of the petroglyphs in the area.

I hiked around, lugging all my painting gear, and found a shaded spot with a nice view. While setting up my palette, I discovered that I had forgotten my white paint, a huge deficit when working with a limited palette of 5 or six colors. Darn! Not wanting to completely give up on this opportunity, I worked up a tonal rendering of the scene, concentrating on the composition and lights and darks.

Fortunately I did remember my camera. So this rough start will be completed in the studio.

Enjoy the short work week! See you Thursday.
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Text and image ©2009 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

New Potsherd Painting

Blue Diamond
Oil, alkyd on gessoed panel
Approx 3.5 x 3"

Many thanks to those who emailed me their comments and suggestions about last week's potsherd piece. I appreciate the input!

Today's post shows another "mini-abstraction" based on an Indian potsherd.This little "mini" painting began much like the others --by covering the entire panel surface with black paint, then scratching through the paint to make the design, and adding other colors. I do like the blue-green colors.

See you next week. Have a safe and most enjoyable Memorial Day weekend.
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Text and image ©Carol Adamec 2009. All rights reserved.

NM Morada revisited

New Mexico Morada (WIP)

Oil, alkyd on canvas panel
9.25" x 8"

This painting has been sitting on a shelf in my studio since I last posted it back on March 9. It didn't quite work, so I've been just looking at it to determine what needed to be done.

The first change was to alter the 10" x 8" format. By chopping off three-quarters of an inch of the foreground, I think the church seems to "sit" better in the composition.. The new size is 9.25 x 8".

The whites were too cream-colored, so they've been lightened and cooled. I put more background space around the morada building and enhanced the distant landscape, adding some clouds along the horizon to relate the sky to the foreground cross and church.

I'm still not completely certain that the painting is finished, but this is where it's "at" for now.

Have a good Monday. See you Thursday.

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Text and image ©2009 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Bits and Pieces

Sherd #1
Oil, alkyd on gessoed panel
Approx 4 x 4"

Today's post shows another of my "mini-abstractions" based on a potsherd. I've heard that folks come across various bits and pieces of Indian pottery on their property, often when planting a garden, putting in a patio, or digging a new foundation for a home addition. Fragments of history can exist just below the surface out here in the Southwest.

I began this little painting by covering the entire panel surface with black paint, scratching through the paint to make the design, and adding other colors.

I have a few of these "in progress" in the studio. I don't quite know what they'll turn into or inspire, but thought I'd share this one with you today.

Thanks for taking a look. See you next Monday.
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Text and image ©Carol Adamec 2009. All rights reserved.

Monday's "Balanced Universe"

Cosmos in Sunlight
by Carol Adamec
Original painting: Oil, alkyd on stretched canvas
6" x 6"
SOLD

To see a World in a grain of sand
And a Heaven in a wildflower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand.
And Eternity in an hour.
from "Auguries of Innocence" by William Blake

My mother is a Midwest farm girl who can nurture a dead stick into a mighty oak tree. She always had lovely, blossoming flowers around our house, in every season but the cold, snowy winters of Chicago.

I guess it's one of those genetic things that evidently skips a generation. Thus, my gardening skills are not my strong suit. Usually I choose hardy cacti and the ever-forgiving peace lily for my houseplants. However, I do believe I may plant some cosmos seeds outside my door.

According to various gardening websites, the colorful varieties of cosmos thrive in hot, dry climates and produce more flowers if underwatered. Now this is my kind of plant! And perfect for Albuquerque, too. Cosmos are related to sunflowers, daisies, and asters. Having an even number of petals around a yellow center, the cosmos received its name meaning "balanced universe." I like that concept, too.

In the meantime, I'm posting this 6"x6" oil painting on canvas, Cosmos in Sunlight, to start off the week. I usually don't choose a palette of pinks and lavenders to paint with, as I think of those hues being "softer" or more subtle. However, it seems this painting comes across as a pretty strong image.

I hope your universe stays in balance this week. See you Thursday.

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Artwork and text ©2009 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Final "Glorious" Version

Morning Glorious, 2009

by Carol Adamec
Original painting in oil, alkyd on gessoed panel
5" x 8"
SOLD

I posted this painting a few weeks ago as Almost Done. Now it is done ... and re-done!

If you compare today's image with the version on April 23, you can see that I reworked the color of the leaves, lighting and "greening" them up. I also added hints of more foliage in the background. The stamen details in the blue morning glory on the right are now defined, too.

Overall, I think this final version has more illumination, space, and air in it. And, even though the painting is only 5" x 8" it seems to have a larger "presence." I'm thinking I may translate this image into a larger size. Any suggestions or observations from my Readers are welcome. Please leave a comment. Thanks!

My sincere Thank You to those who posted/sent me comments about the lily painting. I appreciate your thoughts. Often your observations help me to better see what I've painted...really!

Enjoy your weekend .... and call your Mother on Sunday!

See you Monday.
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Artwork and text ©2009 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

The Magic of Paint

Lit Up Lily
by Carol Adamec
Original painting
Oil, alkyd on panel
6" x 8"
SOLD

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I was in the mood for spring. So here's my first finished flower painting for May. Thanks to the magic of oil paint, last week's Rorschach is this week's lily.... enjoy!

Thanks for taking a look today. Please leave a comment if you would like.

See you Thursday.
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Artwork and text ©2009 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.