Painting the Greens

TOP Image:
Edge of a Wood by Theodore Caruelle d'Aligny (French), oil on paper, 1850-55, 
from the Metropolitan Museum of Art "Art 2015 Calendar", March 17.

BOTTOM Image:
My copy of Edge of a Wood (by Theodore Caruelle d'Aligny) ,
done in oil on gessoed panel, 2015

While traveling through  several southern states (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana)  during March and April, I became aware of how many greens there are in Nature—especially during the Spring season!

Arriving back in Albuquerque, I decided to practice mixing greens and to copy a painting done by Theordore d'Aligny, since there were quite a variety of greens in the image.

Thinking this would be a simple exercise, I was surprised that I ended up spending 3 days painting and tweaking the colors. Considering the human eye can distinguish about 10 million different colors, I should have figured that getting a "perfect" copy of this painting would be more challenging than I expected.

Still, as they say, "Practice Makes for Improvement."

Thanks for taking a moment to read my blog. Enjoy your day!
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Image 2 and text ©2015 Carol L. Adamec. All rights reserved.

Friday's Flowers #2

"Blue" 2014. Original painting, oil, alkyd on canvas panel. 6" x 4"
SOLD

It will be a while before the morning glories return, sprawling over the adobe wall where I live. In the meantime, I enjoyed painting this little piece of summer light, blessing the flowers.

Thank you for taking a moment to view my blog. Enjoy your weekend.

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Image and text ©Carol L Adamec, 2014

September Plein Air

Plein Air Landscape Sketch #1, 2013, Original oil, alkyd on panel, 4"x6"

Ahhhhh, September in New Mexico—a perfectly lovely time of year to be outdoors, painting in plein air. 

Over the past few weeks, I've taken to painting in the late afternoon, as the shadows and clouds provide more dramatic light and color variations. I'm working small (4" x 6") and keeping it loose. This is a view of the Sandia Mountains, painted from Elena Gallegos Open Space in Albuquerque.

Thanks for visiting my blog and hope your week is off to a great start.

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

Landscape Sketch #1, measuring 4" x 6", is painted in oil on gessoed panel, varnished and ready to frame or display on a small easel. Available for purchase on ETSY at www.ArtByCarolAdamec.ETSY.com

In the Quiet Place #4

In the Quiet Place #4, 2013. Original oil on gessoed Italian canvas panel, 6" x 8"

Since my last post, we've had a goodly amount of rain in New Mexico, which has really greened up the landscape.

Last weekend I was back at my favorite painting spot in Bernalillo, where I spent several hours enjoying the view of the mountains and completing this painting.

Thanks for visiting my blog and enjoy your day.

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

In the Quiet Place #4, measuring 6" x 8", is painted in oil on a gessoed Italian panel, varnished and ready to frame or display on a small easel. Available for purchase on ETSY at www.ArtByCarolAdamec.ETSY.com

Afternoon Arroyo

Afternoon Arroyo, 2013. Original oil on linen panel, 4" x 6".

I'm finally getting around to finishing up the three small oil quick sketches I painted during the plein air workshop I took in Santa Fe last month. Can you tell from the painting that it was a hot day in Santa Fe?

Thanks for visiting my blog and I hope you are keeping cool!

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

Afternoon Arroyo, measuring 4" x 6", is painted in oil on a linen panel, varnished and ready to frame or display on a mini-easel. Available for purchase on ETSY at www.ArtByCarolAdamec.ETSY.com.

Paying Attention

Day Lilies, 2013. Oil on linen panel, 5" x 3"

"In paying attention one begins to notice that each moment has its own beauty."

—Julia Cameron, from The Artist's Way

I have been staying home the past week. With temperatures ranging from 100 to 105 degrees in Albuquerque, it's been way too warm to go to my (un-air conditioned) studio—even if it is a "dry heat."

One afternoon I happened to look out the window to the patio, where a bouquet of bright orange daylilies were blooming against the adobe wall. How lovely! despite the heat. I got out my oils and, from the cool comfort of the great indoors, did the little "plein air" painting posted here today. 

Thanks for visiting my blog and enjoy your day. Keep cool!

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

Daylilies, measuring 5" x 3", is painted in oil on a linen board, varnished and ready to frame. Available for purchase on ETSY at www.ArtByCarolAdamec.ETSY.com.

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.

Back in the Land of Enchantment

Black on Black, 2012

Original Painting: Oil, alkyd on panel
20" x 20"
Collection of Bernalillo County Public Art Program

I arrived Wednesday afternoon in Albuquerque after a long but pleasant drive. Although there's much to do to get ready for the "What Remains" show opening April 6 at the Harwood Art Center, I thought I'd give my dear readers another preview of work I will be exhibiting in the show.

If you are familiar with the black-on-black pottery style invented by Maria Martinez of San Ildefonso Pueblo, you will understand the inspiration for the painting posted on today's blog. The work of Maria Martinez and her husband Julian is a fascinating story that you can read about via this link: http://www.mariapottery.com/bio/bio.html

It was fun and a challenge for me to achieve in paint the matte vs. shiny surface quality of this world famous blackware pottery.

To bring out the rich black of the design I used a high gloss medium in my paint mixture, which I later painted over again with several coats of varnish to further increase the gloss. What appears as white dots was done with silver metallic pen.

Thanks for taking a look. Enjoy your weekend.
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Text and image ©2012 Carol L. Adamec. All rights reserved.

Sneak Preview #2

Pueblo Pictoral, 2012

Original Painting: Oil, alkyd on 8"x 12" panel

$195
Contact Artist to Purchase

I'm about 10 days away from leaving Orlando and driving to Albuquerque. As I mentioned in my last post—'way back in February—I'll be one of four artists in the exhibit "What Remains" at the Harwood Art Center in Albuquerque during the month of April.

To reward my faithful readers out there, I am posting another small oil painting I've completed for the show based on a Native American Pueblo design...another little "sneak preview" for you.

Thanks for taking a look. And enjoy a Happy St. Patty's Day this weekend, too.
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Text and image ©2012 Carol L. Adamec. All rights reserved.

A Little Sneak Preview

Anasazi Sherd #1, 2012
Original Painting: Oil, alkyd on gessoed panel

8"x 8" (unframed)  •  $150
Contact Artist to purchase

Dear Faithful Readers:

I apologize for my irregular posting since the beginning of the year. I have been painting away in the studio for hours every day in preparation for an upcoming exhibit at the Harwood Art Center in Albuquerque during the month of April.

Once again, I will be joining my friends Sondra Diepen, Louise Pryor, and Joanne Kamiya in our 4-person show called "What Remains."

If you have been following this blog for awhile, you may recall seeing images of "sherd paintings" that I've done off and on over the past two years inspired by Indian pottery fragments. For this upcoming exhibit, I am preparing an entire body of work based on Native American pottery sherds and design fragments. And I'm very excited about this new work!

Although I have several large paintings underway, today's post is one of the smaller pieces to be in the show...a little "sneak preview" for you.

Thanks for taking a look. I hope you are enjoying a great week.

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Text and image ©2012 Carol L. Adamec. All rights reserved.

New Mexico Still Life

Indian Things, 2011

Original painting, oil on gessoed panel
10" x 8" • $375 • Framing available
Contact Artist to purchase.

I'm going to blame Halloween for missing my blog post last week. I consumed too much candy corn and fell into a sugar coma for the rest of the week. Now that I've recovered...

Today's featured painting was begun over two years ago, and then "misplaced." Well, you know how the story goes: Last summer, while looking for something else...there it was, along with another painting I had given up for lost.

So while in Albuquerque during September, I worked on "Indian Things" and finally finished it just this weekend. I especially enjoyed painting all those hot reds.

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

The Old and The New

Mogollon Sherd: Motherboard, 2011

Original oil on canvas panel
8" x 8" • $150
Contact Artist to purchase.

I'm still fooling around with images inspired by patterns found on traditional Native American pottery sherds. This painting has been in the works since August, before my sojourn to New Mexico. Despite the fact that the image consists of (only!) 2 basic colors, the painting has been through several sandings (where I completely sanded the paint off the panel) and repaintings. I wasn't quite sure what I was after, but it certainly wasn't "there" yet.

The sherd pattern is from the Mogollon culture, one of the four major prehistoric Native American cultures which occupied a large area in what is now New Mexico, Arizona, and northern Mexico from 150AD to 1450.

Finally, sometime during the repainting process, the entire 40 watt lightbulb in my head came on. I realized that this ancient pottery design is quite similar to contemporary computer circuit boards. Adding the dotted circuitry in gold metallic ink made the painting image, and ideas, come together.

Thanks for taking a look. Have a great weekend!
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©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.

Blue Gate 2

Blue Gate 2 (Dappled), 2011

Original oil on canvas panel • 8" x 6"
SOLD

Today's painting may seem familiar to those of you who are longtime readers. I painted the first version of this blue gate at my friend's Albuquerque house over 2 years ago, posted on my blog January 19, 2009. Today's painting is hot off the easel, just dry enough to put on the scanner.

It was interesting for me to compare the two paintings. The first version is much more photographic, intended to capture the subtleties of light. The new painting is more "impressionistic" with stronger contrast and higher keyed color. Same gate, different days, different light, different intention, different paintings, same artist!


Thanks for taking a look. Have a great day.

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

Real Lemon

Real Lemon, 2011

Original Painting: Oil, alkyd on 4" x 6" panel
SOLD

I think the title says it all. Thanks for taking a look.

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

Good Friday Sunset

Sunset Strip #5 (Good Friday Sunset), 2011
Original Painting: Oil, alkyd on 6" x 1.75" panel
SOLD

I've been saving this new Sunset Strip #5 to post for this Easter weekend. The colors in the painting reminded me of the pretty pastel hues used to dye Easter eggs—one of my kids' favorite holiday activities.

Happy Easter, Happy Spring to all. Enjoy a wonderful weekend!
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Text and image ©2011 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Sunset Strip #4: Pink Glow

Sunset Strip #4 (Pink Glow), 2011
Original Painting: Oil, alkyd on 11.5" x 2" gessoed wood 
Ready-to-hang; installed D-ring on back
$75 with Free shipping  •  Contact Artist to purchase

Another beautiful sunset—this time in Florida. My studio faces west, so I watch the skies as day fades into dusk. I am especially inspired if there are clouds scattered around, catching the changing color, like those in this Sunset Strip.

BTW, I've been asked how to hang or display some of the Sunset Strips or the small, 3"x5" still life paintings that I've been posting lately. Usually the paintings on canvas or linen panels are standard sizes (i.e., 3x5, 4x6, 5x7) and will fit into readymade frames that can be purchased for a few dollars at Hobby Lobby, Michael's, or even local frame shops. Another option would be to display the painting on a small easel, which could then be placed on a table, bookshelf, etc.

As for the odd sized Sunset Strips: I really did not intend for these paintings to be framed. So each painting has a hanger attached for wall display or is mounted on a thicker piece of wood that can stand on its own, allowing it to be displayed on a table, bookshelf, etc.

From now on, each painting description will include info about the hanging system for each artwork. Of course, if you have any questions, just send me an email.
Thanks for taking a look. Have a great day.

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

Single Tulip

Single Tulip, 2011

Original Painting: oil, alkyd on 5" x 3" linen panel
Private Collection

Painting from observation is challenging and rewarding, since a simple subject matter can be radically altered by repositioning, lighting, background, and viewpoint. One need only consider Monet's 30 paintings of Rouen Cathedral illuminated at different times of day in various seasons to become aware of such possibilities.

Last week I posted the first version of this tulip in a small glass ("Tuesday's Tulip"), painted from direct observation. A couple of days later I did a second painting of the same tulip, in a little different position and illuminated in a different light. If the poor flower hadn't finally wilted, I might have done a third version. (Cathedrals don't present this kind of problem!)

Thanks for taking a look. Have a good week.
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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.