Virtual Paintout: San Francisco

View of the Bridge
Original oil, alkyd on archival canvas panel
6x8" unframed • N/A

It has been a hectic week and I am posting on Friday, instead of Monday. I am hoping that next week will be more "normal"...whatever that is!

Last month I participated in Bill Guffey's "Virtual Paintout" when the selected location was Corsica. I received some nice comments about "Le Fondago." (Thanks to those readers who emailed me a note.)

This month's location was San Francisco. I visited California—in particular, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Morgan Hill, San Juan Bautista, Sacramento and some of the coast, for the first, time just a few years ago, and found the light as beautiful as New Mexico. Of course the landscape was much more lush and green there.

It wasn't easy to choose a "view" to paint in the San Francisco Bay area, since there is so much colorful and interesting subject matter. Although Google shows the Golden Gate Bridge in bright sunlight, I wanted a bit more atmosphere. I'm happy showing this tourist attraction, set in a landscape setting, in a soft, diffused light.

Thanks for taking a look. Have a great weekend.
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Text and image ©2010 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Last Call

California Calla I, 2008
Original oil, alkyd on gessoed panel
12" x 12"
Available to highest bidder at
www.spivaarts.org

Dear Readers,

Today's image looks familiar because you've already seen it—back on September 24, when I announced that I had donated this painting to Spiva Center of Arts, in Joplin, Missouri.

In case you are interested in bidding on the painting, this is a reminder that Spiva's 12x12 auction ends this Friday, November 7, at 4pm for online bidders. Go to http://www.spivaarts.org and follow the 2008 12x12 links. California Calla I is #67.

You may want to check out the other entries, too. There are some great originals at great prices, and you can join the fun via online bidding, knowing that all proceeds support the Art Center.

Thanks for taking a moment to look at my painting (again). Have a great weekend!

See you next Monday...and I'll have new work to show you.
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Text and image ©Carol Adamec 2008. All rights reserved.

Up Close...Detail

Carol Adamec
"California Calla Close Up"
Original oil, alkyd on gessoed panel
Private Collection

Back in September, I posted the calla lily painting, measuring 12" x 12", that I had painted for Spiva Center for the Arts (9/24: "Art for a Good Cause").

Today's painting is a detail...a cropped segment from the first version, measuring 6" x 6" that I started awhile back, and completed yesterday. That's just the way it goes, sometimes.

Thanks for taking a moment to read this entry. If you would like to share a comment about my painting, please do so by clicking the COMMENTS link below. Or you can email me. Either way I look forward to hearing from you.

I hope you enjoy an easy weekend. See you Monday. ———————————————————————————————
Image and text ©Carol Adamec 2008. All rights reserved.

Exhibit Glimpse 4

Sondra Diepen

"Shadow Weavers"
Original archival digital print
25" x 19" framed • $350 + S&H

Today's post features the work of Sondra Diepen, who is originally from California but relocated to New Mexico in 1974. Sondra majored in art at University of California-Davis, where she befriended Louise Pryor, Ellen Van Fleet, and Joanne Kamiya—artists whom you've met in this blog over the past few weeks as exhibitors in the "Be Leaf It or Not" exhibit at the Harwood.

Sondra is a fine painter, a world traveler, and an wonderful photographer. I've spent many an evening enjoying slides of her adventures in New Mexico, Utah, Alaska, Florida, and her off-the-beaten-track trips to Mexico, Peru, Egypt, Turkey, and Nepal, to name a few.

Over the past few years, Sondra has focused mostly on producing photo-based digital prints. As exemplified by "Shadow Weavers" featured in today's post, Sondra has an intuitive sensitivity for color, pattern, and light that is deeply felt. In fact, I have worked up paintings of my own from several of Sondra's photographs that she has given me (along with permission) to use.

As the curator of "Be Leaf It or Not" Sondra's own personal love of Nature was the guiding force for this exhibit. As she states in her Artist Statement, "I love the vast landscape and the delicate detail Nature provides. A leaf edged in sunlight, a reflection captured in a sandstone pool, or light filtering through the rain forest prompts me to get out my camera and see if I can preserve that moment....When I see something extraordinarily beautiful, I have this strong desire to press it into my body. I want it to become a part of me. Photograph and painting are the closest I can get to doing that."

Thanks for taking a moment to read this entry (which I apologize for posting a day late). If you would like to leave a comment about Sondra's work, please do so by clicking the COMMENTS link below. Or you can email me and I'll forward it to her.

I hope you are enjoying a great weekend. See you Monday. ——————————————————————————————————————————— Image ©Sondra Diepen. Text ©Carol Adamec 2008. All rights reserved.

Exhibit Glimpse 3...and more

Joanne Kamiya
"Spirit of New Forest" (detail)
Original archival digital print
24" x 14" • $375 + S&H

Joanne Kamiya is another California artist who contributed work to the "Be Leaf It or Not" exhibit. Her work is photography based, often multi-layered and digitally manipulated.

With her deep reverence for natural beauty found in primeval forests of the world, Joanne is drawn to the spirit of places that have a powerful earth presence. For Joanne, experiencing "wild Nature’s energy" is the lifeblood of her creative process.

The image featured in today's post, Spirit of New Forest, is one of my favorites created by Joanne. As she explains, "New Forest of southern England is an ancient forest that has existed since before it was made into a royal hunting preserve by William the Conqueror. Today it encompasses many acres of mostly deciduous woodland, with a number of villages incorporated within its boundaries. Special to the New Forest are the New Forest Ponies. For hundreds of years this has been their domain, where they roam freely, unfenced and protected." I think her image captures the mythic power and mysterious quiet of the great forests which sustains so many of Earth's creatures.

Thanks for taking a moment to read this entry. If you would like to leave a comment about Joanne's work, please do so by clicking the COMMENTS link below. Or you can email me and I'll forward it to Joanne.

Meanwhile, back in my studio, I am preparing for the Harwood Art Center's Open Studio night, happening this Friday, October 3, from 6–8pm...not painting, but unpacking, hanging, pricing, and labeling artwork. There's much to do! For those readers in the Albuquerque area, I'd love for you to drop by my studio (upstairs, #S-2) that evening. The event is open to the public and free of charge.

To all of my Readers....I'll have a post ready for you on Friday. Have a wonderful day.

Image © Joanne Kamiya. Text ©Carol Adamec 2008. All rights reserved.

Art for a Good Cause

California Calla I, 2008
Original oil, alkyd on gessoed panel
12" x 12"
Available to highest bidder at
www.spivaarts.org

Just before moving to New Mexico, I completed the painting featured in today's blog and mailed it to Spiva Center for the Arts, in Joplin, MO. The painting is my donation to this year's Annual 12 x 12 Auction fundraiser, which features artwork by local, regional, and national artists who support the art center. I think this year has 78 contributions, all 12" x 12" and available for purchase to the highest bidder when the auction ends November 7 (see details online at the Spiva website).

Having been Spiva's Associate Director while living in the Joplin area, I know what a great art center Spiva is. In addition to showing top notch national exhibitions, Spiva supports local artists, too, through its Regional Gallery, Annual Membership Show, gift shop, and other events such as this auction. The art center offers year-round art classes for all ages, plus a day of art at Spiva for every Joplin 6th grader...over 600 kids! Spiva has a very hardworking staff, a volunteer board, and many faithful volunteers and supporters whose contributions make a huge difference for the local and regional communities that Spiva serves. It is an honor for me to again participate in this annual fundraiser.

If you are interested in bidding on my painting, go to www.spivaarts.org and follow the 2008 12x12 links. California Calla I is #67. You may want to check out the other entries, too. There are some great art pieces, and you can join the fun via online bidding, knowing that all proceeds support the art center.

Thanks for taking a moment to look at my painting. Have a great day! See you Friday.
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Text and image ©Carol Adamec 2008. All rights reserved.