TOO MUCH ART: Day 3

Today’s sale paintings reflect my living in New Mexico, home to 23 different Native American tribes. And the color for the day is RED!

“Pueblo Pictoral”, oil on gessoed panel, 12” x 8”, unframed.  Price $45.

Off and on over the past several years, I’ve developed various traditional pottery sherd designs into paintings. Folks often think of Native American designs being primarily geometric. However, there are many motifs based on natural forms, such as deer, bears, birds, plants, and leaves. This imagery is found on pottery, weavings, jewelry, and other items created by Native American artisans and referred to as “pictorals.”

SOLD “Indian Things”, oil on stretched canvas, 10” x 8”, framed. Price $100

A friend of mine has a Southwest style home decorated with Native American items which she and her parents collected over the years. While house sitting for her several years ago, I enjoyed looking at the various objects on display and was inspired to create this still life painting composed of some of her treasures. 

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Text and Images ©2021 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

In the meantime...

"Cactus Blossom", 2019, original oil painting on panel, 6"x6"

I'm still working on the Hollyhocks painting. In the meantime, I painted this cactus blossom.

Folks who haven't spent time in the Southwest think that everything is "brown."  Those who have been here for awhile know where to look for the blooms and bouquets of brilliant color proffered by the numerous cactus varieties native to The Land of Enchantment.

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Text and image ©2019 Carol L. Adamec. All rights reserved.

Another View

Ancient Realm, 2013. Original plein air painting in oil, 6"x8"

A few weeks ago I was at Coronado State Monument again to do some plein air painting. The view of the Sandia Mountains I chose was similar to one I had painted in early May. Of course, the day, the light, the clouds, and the season were different; so of course, the painting has a different look as well.

Thanks for visiting my blog and have a safe and pleasant weekend.

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Text and photo ©2013 Carol L. Adamec. All rights reserved.

Today's painting measures 6"x8" and is painted on gessoed canvas panel. Available for purchase on ETSY at www.ArtByCarolAdamec.ETSY.com

Why I Live in New Mexico...

To the Quiet Place, 2013. Original plein air painting in oil, alkyd.

I was buzzing around town late one afternoon, after several hours of endless errands and "to-do"s, and found myself at the foothills of the mountains. 

The clouds overhead created moving patches of light and shadow on the various mountain forms—a gift of beauty that grabbed my eye and my heart in a single moment and brought forth an involuntary "ahhhhh." All the stress of the day dissipated in an instant, and altered my drive home to a most pleasant excursion of looking and loving the views before me. 

Thanks for visiting my blog and have a safe and pleasant weekend.

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Text and photo ©2013 Carol L. 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.

Blue Gate ... Done!

Blue Gate, 2009
Original: Oil & alkyd on panel
10" x 8" unframed
SOLD

I enjoyed a very nice weekend, moseying around the Pena Blanca, Santo Domingo and Cochiti areas located between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. My artist friend Sondra Diepen and I spent several hours just driving down the road, stopping to take pictures whenever something caught our attention.

The day was warm and sunny, and artistically successful, too, as I took several photos that will lead to new paintings. Already I am working on one that will be on an 18" x 24" stretched canvas. I'll keep you posted as the painting develops.

I did work in the studio last Friday, completing the Blue Gate painting, featured as today's post. This was a fun piece to do and felt "right" from the start, even when doing the grisaille (see January 5 post). A few readers told me that they liked that version, before any color was added. It will be interesting to see what they (or you) think of the completed image. Please feel free to post your opinion below. Just click the "Comment" link just below this text.

Also, I will be leading a discussion, along with ShaRi Brooks, entitled "Creating an Internet Presence/Selling Your Artwork Online" at the Rainbow Artists meeting, this Wednesday, starting at 8pm. The event is free and open to the public, and being held at the Cesar Chavez Community Center, 7505 Kathryn SE, Albuquerque, (south on Louisiana, east on Kathryn). Free parking is available.

Hope your Monday is an easy one. See you Thursday.
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Text and image © 2009 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Stuck on Cactus

"Bright Light"
by Carol Adamec
Original, Watercolor
7.5" x 9" • $275
Contact Artist to purchase.

I've been going through art that I've had boxed up—in some cases for the past six years! I came across this watercolor of some cactus that I painted several years ago. Since I don't work in watercolor very often, this is a rare piece indeed! I still like the brightness of the light that I was lucky to capture.

I have a new cactus painting in the works, that will be completed in oil, that I'll share with you when it's done.

I hope your week is going well. See you Friday.
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Image & text © 2008 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

The Great Southwest

"Canyon"
by Carol Adamec
Origina lDrawing
Pastel & charcoal on brown paper
20 x 30" approx
Contact Artist to purchase.

A friend of mine is river canoeing this week with a group of her boating pals. They'll be up near Bluff, Utah, camping along the way for several days.

I know that they'll be enjoying stunning vistas and awesome canyons like the image pictured on today's post—a large drawing I did almost 10 years ago that still awakens in me the stillness and grandeur of the vast and varied Southwest landscape that I find so thrilling.

Thanks for taking a quick look. Have a good Friday and a great weekend. See you Monday.
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Image & text © 2008 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Chicken Door

Chicken Door, 2008

Original oil, alkyd on canvas panel

8" x 10"

Contact Artist to purchase.

Here's my first completed painting since settling into my New Mexico studio. The dappled light of the late afternoon sun on this adobe wall was appealing to me and fun to work up with loose brushstrokes. I also loved the way the light skimmed across the tops of the marigolds in the foreground.

Thanks for taking a moment to look at my painting. If you would like to leave a comment, please do so by clicking the COMMENTS link below.

Have a great day! See you Wednesday.

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Text and image ©Carol Adamec 2008. All rights reserved.

Hello from The Land of Enchantment

South of Ghost Ranch, NM
Photo: Carol Adamec



Hello, Dear Readers,

It seems like forever since my last blog entry, just before my move to New Mexico. So here's a quick update of my activities over the past several weeks:

Thanks to my son Erik, I enjoyed a pleasant drive and a very efficient move into my studio at the Harwood Center. (Erik did part of the driving and all the heavy lifting and box lugging up the stairs....Thank you, Erik!)

The September 5th opening reception for the "Be Leaf It or Not" exhibit at the Harwood was very nice. Sondra Diepen, the mastermind of this show, invited her California artists-friends Joanne Kamiya, Louise Pryor, Ellen Van Fleet (and me) to exhibit with her. The intent of the exhibit is to show work that depicts, expresses, reveals, and is inspired by Nature. All of the artists (except Ellen) were present for the opening and enjoyed many good conversations with the viewers. Many old friends showed up to welcome me back to Albuquerque. I sold "Morning Tulips" (see blog entry for May 21, 2008), and both Sondra and Joanne sold giclée prints. From the comments in the Guest Book, the show was well received. I'll be sharing a few pictures from the exhibit, which continues through September 26, in future blog entries.

While Sondra's friends were in town, we went to Abiquiu to tour the Georgia O'Keeffe house. I would have liked to have posted a photo of O'Keeffe's home, but no photographs were allowed. So, instead I am posting a view from the picnic grounds where we had lunch after our tour, just south of Ghost Ranch. The colors of the rock and the bluest skies I've ever seen are still thrilling to me. I am looking forward to doing some plein air painting out in the "wilds" of New Mexico, too!

Later in the week, we went to Santa Fe to the O'Keeffe Museum to see the "Natural Affinities" exhibit featuring paintings by O'Keeffe with photographs by Ansel Adams...quite a good show, indeed!

Just in the last week I have gotten back to painting. I have taken several pictures and worked on a few ideas, so I hope to be posting some new work on this blog in the near future.

Many thanks to all of you for tuning into this post. I'm glad to be back in touch with you. Please know that I welcome your comments which you can enter at the end of this entry if you'd like to share your thoughts with all the readers. Or feel free to send me an email.

Have a great weekend. See you Monday!
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Text and photo ©Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

See You in September!

"Blue Chairs," 2006
Original, oil and alkyd
on canvas panel
10" x 8"
Original SOLD

Giclée and Art Prints Available

(See Info at end of blog)

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Hello, dear Readers,

Just a note to let you know that I am suspending my blog posts for the next few weeks, since I am moving from Florida to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

I certainly have enjoyed my stay in Florida—especially this past winter, far from the cold, snow, and ice storms of the Midwest. It was a healing respite to be cared for and supported in every way by my sister Karen and her husband John, and to have the time and space to focus on my painting. I am so grateful to them.

And, I am thrilled to be returning to the Southwest. As many of you know, I lived in Albuquerque from 1994 through 2003 and enjoyed a full and wonderful life as an artist. My son Erik will be traveling with me; and when we arrive in Albuquerque, he'll be lugging all my art supplies, art work, books, and Painted Ponies up to the second floor of the Harwood Art Center, where I have rented a studio. (I will treat him to many enchiladas and margaritas for all of his help!)

So, in about two weeks, I will be sitting in one of the clamback chairs pictured in the painting on today's post, enjoying the generous hospitality of my friend Sondra. As mentioned in a previous post, she has a fabulous adobe home with a postcard view of the Sandia Mountains. The painting of "Blue Chairs" depicts the adobe wall surrounding her home and patio. The original painting was rendered in oil and alkyd on 10" x 8" canvas panel, completed in 2006.

When I resume posting my blog in September, there'll be much news to tell and many adventures to report on thereafter: the September show at the Harwood; plein air paintings of New Mexico, art happenings in Santa Fe, visits to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum....and so much more! It will be fun to share "The Land of Enchantment" with you!

Many thanks to all of you for reading this post and look at my paintings. Enjoy the rest of the summer. See you in September!
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"Blue Chairs" is available as:
• Limited Edition giclée on stretched canvas, 8" x 10" unframed: $65 + P&S
• Open Edition Art Print, 8.5" x 11" unframed: $24 + P&S
Please contact me via email to arrange purchase.
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Text, image, and painting ©Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Color Caliente!

Late Siesta, 2008
Oil on canvas panel
10" x 8" unframed
SOLD
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I did this painting in February, based on a photograph taken by my Albuquerque artist-friend, Sondra Diepen. However, the colors just didn't have any "zing." So, over the past 5 months, I've repainted the background (the adobe wall) more times than I care to recall.

Nevertheless, it was rather interesting to see how all the other colors were altered each time I repainted just that one color in the background. That single color change could alter the "temperature" of the painting and the time of day.

Last week I got extreme and really pushed the color, and....viola! That did the trick. All those bright, high key colors felt like the heat of a summer day just beginning to fade and cool into a lovely evening in the great Southwest.

Thanks for taking a moment to read this post and see today's painting. I appreciate all the comments that readers have posted. Thank You!

See you Wednesday!
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Text, images, and artwork ©Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.