Sneak Preview #4...

ABOVE: White Lily Kimono, 2016, mixed media, 16x12"
SOLD

I hope your are enjoying a great holiday weekend!

Here's a larger view of "White Lily Kimono" that was featured on the invitation card.

See the "real thing" next week! Details below:

In a Japanese Garden—An Interpretation

Opening Reception: 5-8:30pm, Friday, June 3 

at The Weyrich Gallery, 2935-D Louisiana NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110 

Thanks for taking (another) sneak peek! 

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Image and text ©2016 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Plein air...stage 2

Piedras Marcadas (WIP)

Oil, alkyd on canvas panel
6" x 8"

Today's post shows what I had hoped my "on location" painting would have looked on Monday, after a morning of plein air painting at Piedras Marcadas. As you can see, I definitely needed the white paint for the pale blue sky, distant mountains on the far right edge, foreground light, and highlights.

Although I took a few photographs of the the view, most of what you now see has been painted from memory and invention, and, in my opinion, better than the "reality" I observed. It proves what Pablo Picasso is famous for saying: "Art is a lie that tells the truth."

Many thanks to those who sent me email comments about Monday's post. I truly appreciate your encouragement!

I'll be finishing up this little landscape and post the final version next week. Thanks for taking a look today. See you Monday.
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Text and image ©2009 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Stuck in the Middle

Sitting on the Fence (in progress)
Original: oil & alkyd on panel
6 x 8"

A result of moving my studio last weekend was the discovery of several paintings that I started—maybe even worked on for quite awhile—and didn't finish. Some of these paintings have been in boxes for several years; others, just since my time in Florida. I've been sorting through these paintings, determining which ones still hold some interest and (hopefully) promise if completed.

The image posted today is a small plein air piece that I began last winter while living in Florida....and then just put aside. In its present state it gives you some idea how paintings look in the "middle stage" when the shapes and light are defined but the painting is far from finished.

For me this is the stage that is most "dangerous" depending on whether or not I have enough interest to complete the painting, or decide to just give it up and paint over the entire surface to begin anew.

So, we'll see how it goes. I'll post the final results—either a finished painting that I'm happy with or a scrubbed over panel. Stay tuned!

Thanks for taking a look. Have a good weekend and I'll see you Monday.
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Text and image ©Carol Adamec 2008. All rights reserved.

Making the Deadline

Old Acoma
by Carol Adamec

Original, mixed media on gessoed wood panel
12" x12"
Donation to Harwood Art Center

Most of last week was spent creating the painting "Old Acoma" that is featured on today's post, to meet Friday's deadline. This piece is being donated to the Harwood Art Center for its 12x12 fundraiser on December 5, 6-9pm.

I had intended to submit a landscape, but I wasn't feeling "inspired" to paint one. So I turned (again) to the pottery of Acoma. My friend has several pieces of this pueblo's pottery, and I once again drew upon these wonderful designs as my inspiration.

For those of you in or near Albuquerque, you are invited to the Harwood event , which is free and open to the public. The evening will feature food and two galleries of 12x12s painted by area artists, with each artwork available for purchase for $144, going to the first buyer who pays/writes a check. Be there early to see them all and pick the one you really want! From what I've seen, there are some real beauties.

Many thanks for taking a moment to read today's post. See you Friday. ———————————————————————————————————————————
Image & text © 2008 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Finding Inspiration on the Shelf

Carol Adamec
Acoma I
Original, mixed media
on gessoed panel
14" x 6" approx.
SOLD



Below:
Acoma pottery








Last Saturday I had hoped to paint outdoors. However, the day was a windy and rainy—great weather for desert dwellers, but not so great for plein air painters. Still determined to at least begin a painting, I looked around the house for subject matter.

On a shelf in the living room sits a wonderful piece of Acoma pottery. (Acoma, one of the pueblos to the west of Albuquerque, is also known as "Sky City, since it sits on a mesa. It has a very interesting history and is still occupied today. A must see when you visit New Mexico.)

For some time, I've admired the design made of crisp line work and dense blacks on a white ground. Rather than do a "portrait" of the pottery, I decided to "deconstruct" the design—that is, use the various elements to create an abstract composition.

First I laid out the composition and design on a gessoed panel in pencil using a ruler and compass. Since the Acoma artist painted the pottery piece freehand, I challenged myself to do the inking by hand...and it was a challenge! Although my design is more precise, the original Acoma pottery painting is done with ease and flow...a characteristic that I would like to develop in my own work.

So Saturday was a good art day, finding inspiration—and a challenge—on the shelf.

Many thanks for taking a moment to read today's post. See you Friday. ———————————————————————————————————————————
Image & text ©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.

Friday's Flower

Orchid Blossom I, 2008
Oil, alkyd on canvas panel
N/A

For the past two months, we've been enjoying a couple of blooming orchid plants that sit outside on the patio table. One plant brought forth 17(!) lovely deep pinkish lavender blossoms. The other orchid, about 12 white flowers.

I plucked one of the white blossoms and floated it in a small white ceramic dish, and then took several photographs of the "mini-still life" in morning light. Today's post shows the first orchid blossom painting. I hope you enjoy it.

Keep cool this weekend, and I’ll see you Monday.
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Art, text, and image @2008 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Dry Shell

Dry Shell
Original, oil on canvas panel

5" x 7"

SOLD

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When the construction crew was digging the foundation for my sister's house, this shell was uncovered. It's a good size and quite heavy, pock marked with "history" and worn from years of erosion in the sandy soil, yet completely intact. It was sitting on the bookshelf in the family room where I discovered it a few weeks ago when looking for something to take to the studio to paint.

Since the shell is basically a white item with very little color, getting the drawing right and the light and darks to reveal the form were important.

In some way, the shell presented similar challenges as the "Black Purse, Red Lipstick" painting. Both paintings have minimal color and rely on lights and darks (called "values" or "shades and tones") to made the painting work.

I am pleased with how the textural effects of the shell's surface turned out, too. It was nice of "The Muse of Inspiration" to show up and give me a hand that day!

Many thanks for taking the time to read this post and look at my painting. You are welcome to forward this blog to others, too.

Have a good day. See you Friday!
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Text, image, and painting ©Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.