August Lilies

Sophisticated Lilies 1, 2011
Original oil, alkyd on gessoed canvas panel
4.5"x8" unframed
SOLD

Sophisticated Lilies 2, 2011

Original oil, alkyd on gessoed panel
4"x6.5" unframed
SOLD

And now for something completely different...

In between painting the Sunset Series and the new potsherd fragments, I worked up these two small lily paintings. A couple of months ago I had taken some not-very-interesting photos of a lily bouquet, and then fooled around with the compositions until the images were more enticing to paint.

In the meantime, I am packing up my studio supplies in preparation for my trip to New Mexico. So the next post on my blog will be from the beautiful Land of Enchantment.

Thanks for taking a look. I hope you enjoy a safe and relaxing Labor Day weekend.

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

Call of the Southwest: Part 2

Sherd Fragment: Ebony & Ivory

Original oil, alkyd on gessoed canvas panel
8" x 8"

Now that I have six(!) paintings based on potsherd fragments, it appears that I have a new series underway. Here's the second painting, completed in the past week.

The image is based on a potsherd found on private property near a pueblo in New Mexico. That kind of find certainly gives one a sense of history.

Thanks for taking a look. Have a great day.

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

Call of the Southwest

Salado Fragment: Cathedral
Original oil, alkyd on gessoed canvas panel
8" x 8"

In just a few weeks, I will be traveling to New Mexico for a monthlong visit, to see friends, scout out the scenery, and get in some painting, of course! With the upcoming trip on my mind, I guess it's not surprising that Southwest inspirations would be showing up during my studio sessions.

Longtime readers of this blog may recall the small paintings of pottery fragments that I posted 'way back in 2008 and 2009, which culminated in the larger painting, "Stones & Sherds" (posted Feb 2, 2010). That was pretty much the end of that thematic effort for me, until this past week. Now there are three new paintings based on Indian pottery sherds and patterns, completed on an 8" x 8" format.

It's truly amazing to really look at the intricate patterns and skillful craftsmanship rendered hundreds of years ago by the Native American artisans, especially considering that their materials were all handmade and natural—no fancy brushes or manufactured pigments for these artists!

Then, too, there is a seemingly unlimited variety of designs and variations in Indian pottery (still today, too). I am reminded of Georgia O'Keeffe's design ideal "...of filling a space in a beautiful way."

Thanks for taking a look. Have a great day.

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

Making an Impression

Sunset Series #16 (Monet's Sunset)
Original oil, alkyd on gessoed wood

Approximately 6" x 1.5"
SOLD

A few months ago, my sister April sent me my favorite kind of art book—one that's mostly pictures and very few words. The title is "Monet's Impressions", published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Today's Sunset Strip #16 was inspired by one of Monet's paintings, Setting Sun on the Seine at Lavacourt, Winter Effect (1880), featured in the book. You would think that copying a painting would be easy; but, oh no, not so. Painted 130 years ago, Monet's painting is still striking in its boldness, color subtleties, and complex layering of brushwork, even in reproduction!

The more I looked at the picture and worked away on my version of Monet's painting, the greater my appreciation for Monet's masterful style and my growing desire to see his work again "in the flesh." Wouldn't a trip to New York, to the Museum of Modern Art to stand in front of Monet's 40-foot triptych of Water Lilies be a cool (and cooling) treat—especially for these dog days of August?

Thanks for taking a look. Keep cool...with art!
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Text and image ©2011 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.