About The Artist

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Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
Hello! I am a fine arts painter, with a BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. My primary painting medium is oil and alkyd, and mostly I work in a representational style. My greatest challenge as a painter is to capture the effect of light; and my greatest joy as a painter is to accomplish that. Many thanks to those readers who have been following this blog since Day 1 (May 19, 2008). To those who are visiting for the first time today...Welcome, and thanks for dropping by!

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Sunset Strip 11: Pink Fire (WIP)
Original painting:oil, alkyd on panel
4" x 12"








 



Today's post shows a Sunset Strip I worked on a few weeks ago and set aside. I want more pink in it, and instead, it's too orange and yellow. The challenge is to warm up the pinks to meet the heat of the oranges and yellows. When I have it figured out, I'll post the final image.

Thanks for taking a look. Have a good weekend and a safe Fourth of July.
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Text and image ©2011 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved. 

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

After Sunset

WIP: Night Palm
Oil, alkyd on panel
6"x6"

Since last week's post, I've "finished" two paintings which are pretty ugly (to use an oxymoronic description). 

Fortunately, a photograph taken by my granddaughter when she was vacationing in Jamaica inspired me to work up the painting posted for today. It's not quite "there" yet, but coming along. Sometimes 1 out of 3 is just part of the learning curve.

Thanks for taking a look. Have a good week.

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Text and image ©2011 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved. 


Wednesday, June 15, 2011

True Confessions

Sunset Strip #10 (Above the Storm)
Original Painting: 12" x 4"
Oil, alkyd on gessoed wood
Hanger installed on back.
$145 / Free ShippingContact Artist to purchase


I am always jealous of artists who are able to capture their subject matter with a few quick and sure brushstrokes. The skill of these artists give their paintings liveliness and energy, as though the work was spontaneously executed, easy to do, no sweat. I do know better than that. As Edgar Degas noted, "Painting is easy when you don't know how, and very difficult when you do." (This statement sounds better in French, too.)

Meanwhile, back in my studio, I still cling to my love of subtle blending of colors. For some reason I find it exciting to have one color transition into another. It seems magical to me, even when I am the one doing the painting! Still, I am sneaking more lively brushwork into my paintings lately, as you can see in the upper portion of today's painting. 

The Sunset Strip Series allows me to do both—brushing on some quick dashes of color and experimenting with some interesting color transitions.

By the way, Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there. Enjoy your day!
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Text and image ©2011 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Sunset Strip #9

Sunset Strip #9, 2011
Original Painting: Oil, alkyd on gessoed wood 
6" x 3" unframed
N/A

For the past three days, I thought this painting was done. The acid test seems to be putting it on the scanner. Somehow, unresolved areas are easier to detect by looking at the scanned image on the computer monitor than just looking at the painting. Go figure.

For today, I am calling it "finished."


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Text and image ©2011 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.