Red or Green?

In New Mexico, "Red or green?" is a common inquiry heard at most restaurants, when the waitperson is asking you which chile you prefer with your meal. (Hint: Get both—red AND green—on the side.)

With only a few days left before Mother's Day, I'm giving my readers a choice of "Garden Varieties 8" in two New Mexico color versions: "Garden Varieties RED" or "Garden Varieties GREEN (with yummy turquoise in the background)".

These two new versions are hot off the printer, matted 8"x10" in black.

If you're interested in purchasing today's artworks, visit www.ArtByCarolAdamec.ETSY.com (on ETSY you can pay with PayPal or a credit card, and it's safe!) 

Thanks for visiting my blog and have a great day!

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

10 Days until Mother's Day

Starry Night in the Garden 1, 2013. Handcolored mixed media on ricepaper.

Starry Night in the Garden 1, 2013

Printed on archival rice paper.

Handcolored with Prismacolor pencil and metallic silver.

Comes in 8" x 10" black mat.

Comes with Signed Certificate of Authenticity.

A One-of-a-Kind Mixed Media Artwork.

To purchase, contact the Artist.

Thanks for visiting my blog and enjoy a wonderful day.

12 Days until Mother's Day....

Hearts and Flowers, 2013. (Hand Colored on ricepaper)

How about some "Hearts and Flowers" for Mom?

SOLD

See other artworks at www.ArtByCarolAdamec.ETSY.com

Going Tropical!

Tropical Garden #1: Ti Plant
Boogie Board Drawing and Adobe Photoshop

As I mentioned in last week's post, I'm staying with my sister and brother-in-law in the Orlando area for a few weeks. After my stroll around their yard last week, I looked to the lovely and colorful tropical plantings on the property for some creative inspiration.

One of the plants that caught my eye is the ti (pronounced "tea") plant, also known as cordyline. The rich green color of its leaves transitions into deep pinks and brilliant magentas towards the tips and edges, making this tropical shrub a real eye catcher in the garden.

The image posted today started out as a Boogie Board drawing, and looked similar to the "Garden Varieties" renderings I posted on this blog over the summer. However, the finished image just seemed so lackluster, so bland. Hmmm....well, of course! It's a tropical plant. It needs color!

Thanks to the digital graphics power of Adobe Photoshop, I was able to add color—and a whole lot of visual excitement—to transform the Boogie Board drawing into the image you see posted today. Available in my ETSY shop at www.ArtByCarolAdamec.ETSY.com.

Thanks for taking a moment to take a look. Enjoy a great week!
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Text and image ©2012 Carol L. 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.

Practice Palm...Best of 3

Practice Palm
Original painting: oil, alkyd on panel

This week I finished painting the different versions of my neighbor's palm tree, and this is the best of the three. As you can see, it's far from a "Wow!" painting. (I'll spare sharing with you the other two versions.)

I was reminded of a few previous lessons in painting, such as...Grass really isn't just green...It really is better to be outside en plein air, rather than standing in the studio looking out the window...Attempting something new—even more than once—doesn't always work out. (I've had this lesson many times in the past.)

Now I'm going to the garage to sand off these three panels. That's a skill I acquired a long time ago that comes in handy, too. (Always wear a mask, since the paint dust is deadly.)

Thanks for taking a look. Have a good week.

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

Final "Glorious" Version

Morning Glorious, 2009

by Carol Adamec
Original painting in oil, alkyd on gessoed panel
5" x 8"
SOLD

I posted this painting a few weeks ago as Almost Done. Now it is done ... and re-done!

If you compare today's image with the version on April 23, you can see that I reworked the color of the leaves, lighting and "greening" them up. I also added hints of more foliage in the background. The stamen details in the blue morning glory on the right are now defined, too.

Overall, I think this final version has more illumination, space, and air in it. And, even though the painting is only 5" x 8" it seems to have a larger "presence." I'm thinking I may translate this image into a larger size. Any suggestions or observations from my Readers are welcome. Please leave a comment. Thanks!

My sincere Thank You to those who posted/sent me comments about the lily painting. I appreciate your thoughts. Often your observations help me to better see what I've painted...really!

Enjoy your weekend .... and call your Mother on Sunday!

See you Monday.
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Artwork and text ©2009 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Fresh Chiles

White Jar, 2009
Original: Oil, alkyd on canvas panel
8" x 8"

Despite my good intentions to get ready for tomorrow night's Harwood Open Studio Night, I worked on this painting instead. Let's face it: I'd rather paint than clean any day!

Anyway, I went to the grocery store Monday and bought fresh chiles so I could finish the piece. And I ended up mixing up a whole lotta greens to get the right "chile green." I do like the complementary contrast between the peppers and the copper lid. So, it all worked out nicely.

Well, I gotta go now and clean the studio. See you Monday!
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Text and image ©2009 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Win some, lose some

Green Chiles & White Jar (Work in Progress)
Oil, alkyd on canvas panel • 8" x 8"

I am posting late today, after spending the day in the studio and getting nowhere fast.

I had three (very wet) paintings that I worked on over the weekend. One-- I finally just threw away--a total loss that was just too frustrating to continue painting on. Another is a small 5x7" that I hope (and pray) I will be showing you in the near future.

The one you see here is the third one, and the most promising, at least at this point in time. The challenge will be getting that copper lid on the white jar to look like reflective medal. I hope that my "studio angel" will be present and in a good mood when I am working on that part of the painting in particular.

Thanks for taking a moment to look at my work. I hope your week is off to a good start. See you Thursday.
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Text and image ©2009 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Painting Light & Adobe

Cactus Wall, 2009

Original: Oil & alkyd on panel
10" x 8" unframed
SOLD

For the past few weeks, I have been working on three paintings that all feature adobe walls: Blue Gate, Courtyard 2, and the painting posted today, Cactus Wall. I wasn't sure if this painting was going to come together, so I hadn't even shown it to you "in progress." Now here it is, all done, I'm happy to say.

I really enjoyed painting the dappled sunlight effect. I also found greater satisfaction in mixing greens to paint the cactus "leaves" than relying on the tube colors.

Some of you have emailed me about Blue Gate. Well, it's coming along, and I hope to have it posted next week as another finished painting. Thanks for the encouragement and comments.

Have a great weekend. See you Monday.
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Text and image © 2009 Carol Adamec. 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.

A Bit of Green

A Bit of Green
Oil on canvas panel
8" x 6"
In progress.
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I began this painting on Wednesday but didn't finish it in time for today's post. So, here's how it looks thus far.

Once again, I started with a burnt sienna & umber underpainting (which means, I covered the entire surface with an even coat of that reddish brown color that you see mostly in the background.)

Then I wiped out the underpainting to provide light areas for the leaves, the tabletop and the inside of the glass. I tried out a green or two on the leaves and added a few details to define the glass, the waterline and reflections. You'll get to see the finished painting next week.

Today my sister and I are going to St. Petersburg, FL to visit the Dali Museum. The exhibit is "Women: Dali's View" featuring 90 artworks created throughout Dali's career, beginning with paintings from his student days. I'm looking forward to our little "road trip" to The Gulf side and will share some details with you about our art adventure on Monday.

Thanks for taking a moment to read this post and see today's painting. Have a great weekend!
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Text, images, and artwork ©Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.