Spring Daffodils

Morning Daffodils (WIP)

by Carol Adamec
Oil, alkyd on stretched canvas
10 "x 8"

It's spring in New Mexico.... one week the weather is sunny with balmy temperatures in the 70's; and then the next week it's cold and snowing! The daffodils came out a few weeks ago, and I photographed a small bouquet of them basking in the morning sun on my kitchen table.

This week I've started two new paintings, one being Morning Daffodils, based on the photos I took a few weeks ago.

Some of you have mentioned that you enjoy seeing a painting "unfold" from start to finish. So, I will take photos of this piece as it develops and post the pictures of the process.

Today's post shows the underpainting, where the composition and basic values (lights and darks) are defined. You can see the table edge and flowers in front of a chair, with a window and cabinets on the right side, and on the left, a bright rectangle of light on the refrigerator in the background.

On Monday I'll post the next stage of the painting. See you then.
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Artwork and text ©2009 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Re-do...

"Courtyard 2" (in progress)
Original oil & alkyd on canvas panel
10 x 8"

My artist-friend Lisa Rivas (whom you met in my post on July 30, 2007) advised me to never throw away a painting. She told me to "…just put it aside and wait until you're ready to finish it."

Today's post may seem familiar to you, since I posted a version back on November 13, 2008. Well, I never was quite satisfied with that painting. So I decided to try a different format. Rather than a square, I chose a vertical 10" x 8."

What you are seeing today is a "tonal" underpainting of 4 basic values. Rather than a purist's grisaille in greys or a monochromatic rendition (different shades of one color), I just used the leftover paint on my palette and mixed up 4 colors--each a different value--to get the basic shapes and the lights and darks down. Since I laid on the paint rather thickly, it will take a day or two before I can begin laying in the true colors.

In the meantime, I hope to finish "Blue Gate"...or I'll be posting another painting that I've been working on, called "Cactus Wall." Either way, tune in on Thursday and see which painting came together.

I hope you have a good week.
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Text and image ©Carol Adamec 2009. 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.