Route 66 Exhibit continues...

Carol L. Adamec: Scenic View, Digital painting printed on metal, 14”x11”
SOLD

As a kid growing up in Chicago, my experience of Route 66 was from the backseat of the family car, en route to Joplin, Missouri, for annual summer visits to my maternal grandparents and relatives. That 600-mile day drive seemed endless, and most of the “scenic views” didn’t seem very scenic at all.

“Are we there yet?”

"Scenic View" can be seen in the Then and Now: Rediscovering Route 66 exhibit at the KiMo Theatre Art Gallery Albuquerque thru June 25. Viewing hours are Wed–Sat 11-8pm and Sun 11am-3pm. Access to the Gallery is via the KiMo Theatre Ticket Office, 423 Central Ave NW at the corner of 5th.

Stop by to see the show! It’s free!

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Text and Image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Route 66 Show: Sneak Peek #2

Tucumcari Tepee, 2017, archival digital print by Sondra Diepen, 40"x27"

Sondra Diepen is one of the artists in the exhibit, "Then and Now: Rediscovering Route 66." opening next Thursday (April 27) at the KiMo Theatre Art Gallery in Albuquerque.

With two Nikon cameras and a fist full of sketchy maps, photographer Sondra Diepen, heads out on I-40, exiting here and there, to rediscover the original Mother Road as it once wound through the desolate parts of New Mexico. Her color photographs capture it all—from fading curio shops, boarded up motor courts, rusted classic cars, to motel signs along Central Avenue that still beckon travelers to stop, rest, and see the sights.

Todays' sneak peak is a photograph by Sondra of a curio shop still in operation in Tucumcari, New Mexico, located 42 miles west of the Texas border. Here's what Sondra has to say about her photo:

"TePee Curios was built in 1944, owned by Leland Haynes. It began as a Gulf Station as well as a grocery and curio shop. In 1959 Route 66 was widened through town and the gas pumps had to be removed. The concrete tepee was added to the front, becoming the new entrance to the shop.

"The TePee Curios sign was put in place during the 1960’s. In 2003 the New Mexico Route 66 Neon Sign Restoration Project chose this sign, along with eight other vintage signs, to be restored and lit to recreate the lore of the Mother Road."

"Curios and souvenirs are still sold here. It’s a ‘must stop’ place for today’s Route 66 explorers, where they can buy remembrances of The Road’s past glory.

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©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Image "Tucumcari Tepee" and quotes by Sondra Diepen used with permission.

Another Exhibit Invitation for You...

Yes, you are invited to another opening reception ... TONIGHT!

"Words & Images" is a group show by the Rainbow Artists in Albuquerque (I am a member and have a painting and a poem in this show), featuring 78 works of art and 38 poems! A fun evening of art, poetry, and music at the Tortuga Gallery in Albuquerque.

Hope to see you there!

Painting Like Monet

Lake Bridge, 2011
Original oil on canvas panel
4.5" x 5" unframed • N/A

I trust that all you faithful Readers out there have recovered from your Thanksgiving feasts and survived the traditional weekend shopping binge. True Confession time: I stuffed myself at the relatives' house (Thank you, Elena and Praveen for a wonderful dinner!) and cyber-shopped for 3 days.

However, the Saturday before all the hub-bub, I went with the local plein air painting group and enjoyed a quiet morning, sitting at the shore of Lake Lily in Orlando, painting the waterlilies, like Monet. Since I am in Florida again, I may as well take this opportunity to practice painting water, especially since it is so plentiful here. There are hundreds of lakes—large and small—all over this city, and Lake Lily is a nice one.

This first attempt started out as a 5" x 7" painting. Over the weekend, I cropped it; and then cropped it again, down to the current size (4.5" x 5"), as the composition of the original version was just never going to "work." I wonder if Monet ever had to do that?

Thanks for taking a look and have a great week.
                                                                                                   
©2011 Text and image by Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Fall Flowers

Blue Vase, 2011
Original painting:  oil on paper, mounted on panel
Private Collection

Here's another small painting I completed while in Albuquerque. When I arrived at my friend's home this bouquet was on the table to greet me....flowers fresh from her garden. Now, who wouldn't be inspired by these great colors and such a kind gesture by a thoughtful hostess?

However, the preparation for this painting started a few years ago when I saw a painting done on brown paper, mounted to a panel. I liked the way the oil paint looked on that paper; so I prepared this small panel with brown paper and coated it with a clear gesso (for archival purposes). Then it sat around my studio waiting for the "right" image. I'm really glad that I packed it with my painting gear for my trip to Albuquerque. It was ready to go the day I painted this blue vase with flowers.

Thanks for taking a look. Have a great week!

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©2011 Text and image by 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. 

Caliente!

Sunset Strip #12 (Red Rising)
Original oil, alkyd on panel
4" x 12"
$145 with Free Shipping

Contact Artist to purchase

It's hot in Florida. I guess in some subliminal way, that heat is seeping into my sunset paintings. Hence the strong reds and oranges in the lower portion of the painting.

Thanks for taking a look. Keep cool!

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

Tuesday's Tulip

Tuesday's Tulip, 2011
Original Painting: oil, alkyd on 5" x 3" linen panel
Private Collection

It seems there are a zillion different painting surfaces for an artist to work on, each with a variant of texture, weight, paint "grab" and other factors to consider. For small paintings and working en plein air, I usually choose gessoed panels or canvas panels. They are thin, strong, and lightweight in smaller sizes.

Recently I ordered some linen panels, which have a finer fabric weave and, hence, a smoother surface. I am really enjoying this new (to me) surface to paint on, especially for the small studies, like the tulip posted today, that I've been painting lately.

Thanks for taking a look. Have a great day.
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Text and image ©2011 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Wild Sky

Sunset Strip #3 (Tiger Stripes), 2011
Original Painting
Oil, alkyd on 6" x 1.75" panel

Private Collection


Here's another Sunset Strip painting, this time a vertical, inspired by a gorgeous Albuquerque display at sundown. These are really fun to paint!

Thanks for taking a look.
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Text and image ©2011 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

No Easy Lemon

Lemon Study, 2011

Original: oil, alkyd on 3" x 5" panel
SOLD

It's been a few weeks since I painted and posted the grisaille rendering of a lemon. A couple of you asked what grisaille (pronounced griz-eye) is. Basically, it is a painting done in black, white, and grays...like using black and white film to photograph something.

Once the grisaille painting is dry, color is usually added to the painting via thin glazes of diluted oil colors. This is a very traditional method for developing a painting, allowing the artist to establish the correct "values" or graytones before taking on color considerations.

Although I was happy with the graytone version, I wasn't happy with the color glazing results. So, I have been fooling around with this painting for the past week. My greatest challenge was to keep the lemon from looking like a yellow hand grenade. (It's odd what your mind will conjure up when working too intensely!)

Thanks for taking a look.
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Text and image ©2011 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Looking Westward

Sunset Strip #2 (Albuquerque)
Original oil, alkyd on wood panel
2.75" x 9" unframed
SOLD

It's been dry in Florida, with clear skies for weeks. Those wonderfully fantastic clouds that catch the evening light and make for dramatic sunsets...and dramatic sunset paintings, too...just haven't been around.

However, Florida is not the only place that can boast beautiful evening light effects. While living in Albuquerque, I enjoyed the view to the west from my second story studio window. There were many beautiful sunsets out over the mesa, like the one which became the painting posted today, Sunset Strip #2. I hope you enjoy it.
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Text and image ©2011 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Back to Basics....Again

Lemon Grisaille (WIP)
Oil, Alkyd on panel

In past posts, I've talked about "painting the grays." This is a grisaille rendering of a nice fat lemon I picked up at the grocery store last week and decided to paint. You would think that a simple object would be simple to paint. Yeah, right!

I did cheat a little, as I began the painting on a burnt umber toned panel and let that brown color show through in the background. Once the paint dries, I'll be glazing color on top of the grays. It's been awhile since I did an entire painting--even a small painting--using this method, so we'll see how it all turns out.

This week I also complete the second "Sunset Strip" but it's still too wet to put on the scanner. So, I'll be sharing that painting with you next week.

Thanks for taking a look. Enjoy your weekend.

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

Try, Try Again...

Florida Pines, 2011
Original: oil, alkyd on 5" x 3.5" panel
Framed size: 7" x 5"
Contact Artist to Purchase.

Wow! I received so many positive responses via email regarding the Sunset Strip #1 painting I posted last week. Many thanks to all of you who took a moment to give me your feedback and comments.

It seems that the long horizontal format is a hit, with several of you suggesting cool places where such a format could be installed. I, too, have been looking around my house, noticing all kinds of places a long strip--horizontal OR vertical--could go. There are a lot more niches for that format than a regular, rectangular painting, as I see it. And, yes, the Sunset Strip paintings will be for sale, once I figure out the postage costs and shipping logistics.

Today's painting may look familiar to my longtime readers, as it was posted 'way back on June 29, 2008. Since then, I framed the painting, and it has been hanging on my studio wall, nagging me to do "something" to give it a little zing, or "wow" factor. (Another lesson learned: Framing will not improve a boring painting.)

Since I'm on a sunset kick, I decided to give those Florida pines a more interesting and colorful background. I think a Florida sunset was a good solution, eh?

Thanks for taking a look. See you next week.
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Text and image ©2011 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Trying Something New

Sunset Strip #1, 2011

Original: oil, alkyd on canvasboard
1.25" x 16" unframed
Private Collection

I've been thinking for awhile that I'd like to do a series of sunset paintings. I know, I know, that sounds like a pretty cliched subject to take on. Well, what the heck. I have several strips of canvas board and gessoed panel that I've cut off other paintings and saved. So why not use them?

A few evenings ago, as I was finishing up in the studio, I looked out the window to see dramatic clouds strung across the sky. Since I had one of those canvas board strips handy, I went for it and did my first "Sunset Strip" that you see posted here today.

So, there's another item on my list of New Year's Studio Possibilities: Try out a new idea. And, hey, it was fun to do, too.

Thanks for taking a look. See you next week.
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Text and image ©2011 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Show Time!

O'Keeffe Calla, 2010

Original painting, oil on panel, 7" x 5"

To purchase, contact the Artist

Hello, Dear Readers,

It's been a busy time since my last post. I left Orlando last Friday to drive to Joplin, Missouri, to install my solo exhibition at artCentral in Carthage, MO. Those of you who know me may recall that I was Director of this nonprofit artist group when I lived in the Joplin area several years ago.

My exhibit is titled "In Natural Light" and features mostly studio and plein air paintings completed over the past year--many which have been posted on this blog--along with a couple of larger color pencil drawings. Of course, there have been a few revisions, reworkings, and final touches on the paintings, which hopefully are improvements. All framed up and hung on the walls, the paintings look pretty nice. I am pleased with the show.

If you are local or in the area, please accept this invitation to attend the opening reception this Friday, November 19, 6-8pm. artCentral is located at 1110 East 13th Street, Carthage, MO 64836. The event is free and open to the public. The exhibit continues through December 5, and can be viewed on weekends and by appointment.

I will be returning to Orlando around December 1, so look for my next blog post in a few weeks. In the meantime, best wishes to all for a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Backyard Boat

Backyard Boat, 2010
Original painting
Oil, alkyd on gessoed canvas panel
8" x 8" unframed
Contact Artist to purchase

Dear Readers,

I've been entertaining visitors the past few weeks, and have been away from my computer. So I apologize for missing my weekly posting schedule. I did, however, finish the painting you see posted today.

Having been in Florida for awhile, I notice that there are a lot more boats in people's backyards than out on the many lakes that make up so much of the landscape here. I was prompted to do this painting by the thought of how we all put off, postpone, or give low priority to the things that give us pleasure, provide fun in our lives, fulfill our interests, engage our passions, and make for happy memories.

I know I can be a workaholic, and figure that every one of those folks with a boat in their backyard is a workaholic, too. In a society that values wealth above all, we forget that time is the real treasure to spend. I set the time of day as late afternoon for this painting, to remind me that the day is short and can slip away before you realize it.

Thanks for taking a look; and I hope you get your boat out of the backyard this weekend.

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Text and image ©2010 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Return to Plein Air

Backyard Blooms, 2010

Original: oil, alkyd on panel
Unframed size: 8" x 6"
Contact Artist to Purchase

This past weekend, I was pleased to be one of nine artists selected to participate in the "5th Annual Art in the Gardens" plein air painting event in Leesburg, Florida. The event lasted from 10am until 2pm, during which time I painted the view you see posted above while enjoying several nice conversations with the garden tour goers and the generous homeowners who made their garden available for the event.

It was a lovely day and felt really good to get outdoors to paint! Painting all those greens over the summer really paid off, too, as I'm pretty happy with the way the sunlight on the lawn turned out.

Now that the weather is cooling down, I'm looking forward to regular forays into Florida's scenic spots to do more plein air painting.

Thanks for taking a look and I hope you're having a good week.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Text and image ©2010 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Labor Day Lily

Peeking Out, 2010
Original: oil, alkyd on panel
Unframed size: 6" x 6"
SOLD

As I am posting on the Labor Day holiday, I hope everyone is indulging in a relaxing day, or at least "laboring" at something they enjoy doing.

Today's painting is going to Spiva Center for the Arts in Joplin, MO, for their annual "Small Works Auction." As I've mention before, I enjoyed being Spiva's Associate Director when I lived in Missouri a few years ago. Although the job was labor-intensive, it was very rewarding. The folks involved with Spiva--the staff, board members, artists, volunteers, and members--all are hardworking and generous with their knowledge, skills, and time. Their efforts make a huge difference in the community.

So, it's always an honor for me to participate in this Spiva fundraiser. This year's auction begins on September 18, and anyone can bid on the work...Just give them a call.

Thanks for taking a look. I'm off to work on a new painting..something I truly enjoy doing.
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Text and image ©2010 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Painting the Tulip Red

Red (Tulip), 2010

Original, oil, alkyd on panel 6" x 8"
SOLD

After painting so many greens, it was fun to paint all these reds. Actually, after letting the painting dry, I glazed the reds.

Glazing involves brushing on a transparent mixture made with a tiny bit of pigment—in this case, a cadmium red—diluted with a lot of medium, which I painted over the red of the tulip. The result is a "deepening" of the color that really sings. As you can see, the tulip color appears highly saturated and seems to glow.

BTW: My friend Sondra, who took the original photograph of the "Pea Pods" I painted for the last week's post, dropped me an email: "These are mimosa or aka silk tree seeds. Gardeners and horticulturists could be offended!" I am red faced, since I used to have a mimosa tree and should have recognized the difference! Once again I have confirmed that I am no gardener, although I am very happy to have friends who are! I'll be changing the name of that little painting, right now.

Thanks for taking a look, and enjoy your weekend. I'll see you next week.
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Text and image ©2010 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Out in the Garden

Mimosa Pods, 2010

Original: oil, alkyd on panel
Unframed size: 7" x 5"
To purchase, contact the Artist

Although I haven't posted for a couple of weeks, I've been painting almost daily. I started five new paintings--mostly small ones---all different subject matter. This is the first one dry enough to scan for uploading.

I'm still into painting the greens, accented with some hot reds and bright yellows. It turns out that the palette knife practice that I struggled with on those palm tree paintings a few weeks ago finally paid off. I knifed in the background on this little painting to layer the color and keep it loose. It was actually fun!

I hope your week is going well. Thanks for taking a look, and keep cool!
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Text and image ©2010 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.