Carve

"Bird & Hand"
by Carol Adamec
Original caved and painted board
Contact Artist to purchase.

My friend artist Lisa Rivas told me about a website called "Inspire Me Thursday." Each week (on Thursday) a new art "challenge" is issued as a word or phrase to inspire artists to create an artwork based on the week's theme. Artists then post a link on the site to share their creations.

The challenge for the past week has been "carve", which reminded me of the Bird & Hand painting I did awhile back, shown in today's post. It was one of my first "environmental" pieces: Is the hand of Man there to help or hurt the Earth's creatures?

For the artists and writers out there, you might like to subscribe to the website and participate when it suits you. To the lookers, you might like to see the many ideas and interpretations that artists come up with. It's fascinating! The site is www.InpsireMeThursday.com.

Thanks for taking a quick look. Have a great weekend. See you Monday!

PS: If you are in the Albuquerque area, I invite you to the Arts & Crafts Fair at the Albuquerque Center for Spiritual Living, 2801 Louisiana NE, located on the west side of the street, between Menaul and Candelaria. The event is tomorrow, Saturday, November 1, 9am-4pm. Parking and admission are free! I'll be there selling my originals, art prints, giclees, and Trail of Painted Ponies items. And there will be all kinds of handmade items by other artists and crafters, too...a great chance to start your holiday shopping!
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Image & text © 2008 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.

Happy Accidents

"Fingernail Moon"

by Carol Adamec
Original, "Mini-Painting"
Oil & alkyd on canvas panel
1.75" x 8" • SOLD

I have mostly wet paintings in the studio right now. So I chose to share this "mini-painting" with you today—since it was dry enough to put on the scanner. (Sometimes, what works is what gets done!)

The odd size is due to the fact that I had trimmed a canvas panel for another small painting, leaving this piece as a scrap. I painted some color on it one afternoon, and then added more paint the next afternoon. Voila! a sunset landscape appeared—sort of a "happy accident." I added a few details, like the sliver of moon, and the painting was finished.

Thanks for taking a quick look. See you Wednesday.

PS: If you only received the "Canyons" image from last Friday's post, I apologize. There was a outage on Blogger when I was uploading the entry, and the text was deleted when first published. Here's the link, if you wish to read it: http://caroladamec.blogspot.com/2008/10/wild-new-mexico.html
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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.

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.

It's a Monday!

Dear Readers,
I'm having one of those Mondays....so there is no post for today. I apologize! However, please tune in on Wednesday, and I promise there will be a new image and entry. Hope your week is off to a better start than mine. :-)
Best to all,
Carol Adamec

Featured on ETSY....

Carol Adamec
Moonlight & Datura
Available as a signed & numbered
Open Edition Art Print at
www.CarolAdamec.ETSY.com
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I featured this painting awhile back on May 23 ("Art & Ideas" blog) and mentioned that a signed Art Print of it could be viewed/purchased through my ETSY shop.

I am pleased to report that "Moonlight & Datura" was selected by another ETSY member for a showcase, currently on display until 3:26am, Saturday, October 18. Just click this link: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=15333 and you'll see a thumbnail of "Moonlight & Datura" on the top row, second from the left. If you then click the thumbnail, you'll be taken to my shop: CarolAdamec.ETSY.com.

You can also view Lisa Rivas's "e-Stamps" in her ETSY shop, FlyingColors. (Lisa was featured on this blog July 30.)

For those of you who have not yet visited ETSY, you might like to check out the site. It offers thousands items—all handmade—by artists, craftsmen, and do-it-yourselfers. It's one of my favorite sites to visit when looking for a truly unique, one-of-a-kind gift item or artwork. And the price range is incredibly diverse...and very reasonable. You might find that ETSY is a great source for your holiday shoppping...or something special for yourself.

Have a really great weekend. See you Monday!

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Artwork & text ©Carol L Adamec 2008. 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.

Introducing...David Kontra

David Kontra
"Hunting High & Low"
Original acrylic on canvas
8" x 10"
Collection of Carol Adamec

David Kontra is a self-taught artist with whom I became acquainted while working for Spiva Center for the Arts in Joplin. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, David now resides outside of Hartville in rural Missouri.

Many of David's paintings and titles are inspired by the lyrics of pop music or deal with current events from the media. David calls himself a "contemporary expressionism artist" and confesses that, "I paint what I see, what I think, and what I feel at the moment, and it’s not always pretty."

Although colorful in rendering, the paintings can be dark in tone, often with figures placed in an urban setting. “I painting all kinds of people because there are so many kinds of people out there,” David notes.

Perhaps the most incredible thing about David's powerful imagery is that he is legally blind. His condition is due to a degenerative eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa. Currently he has less than 5 percent vision in one eye and only light perception in the other. He paints with his face just an inch or two from the canvas surface.

"Hunting High & Low" shown in today's post was one of David's many artworks included in Spiva's 2007 exhibit, In the Company of Outsiders. The painting now resides in my studio, a constant reminder to me that "where there's a will, there is a way" to create.

If you would like to see more of David's paintings, visit his website: www.DavidKontra.com.

Many thanks to those who left a comment/sent an email about Friday's "Detail: California Calla." I appreciate your kind comments. And thanks for taking a moment to read today's post.

See you Wednesday. ———————————————————————————————————————————
Image ©David Kontra, 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.

Last Glimpse

Carol Adamec

"Black Leaf:
Missing Data"
Original oil, alkyd
on gessoed panel
20" x 10" approx
$525 + S&H

As you can see from previous posts about artists Louise Pryor, Ellen Van Fleet, Joanne Kamiya, and Sondra Diepen, the "Be Leaf It or Not" exhibit at the Harwood was quite diverse in materials, media, content, and intention, with each artist drawing upon Nature to express herself in an individual way.

As the fifth artist in the exhibit, I showed 4 paintings that you've seen on this blog: Wake Up Lily and Morning Tulips (posted on May 21), Rose Glow (posted on July 7), and Leaf Bouquet (posted on July 23).

I also created 3 new paintings, quite different from those, that are part of my new "Data Series" which addresses global warming. These paintings spring from my own frustration over the impasse between decades of scientific information and the corporate/political denial of factual data that thwarts any real progress in solving this global challenge.

The painting featured today, Black Leaf: Missing Data, looks at the ploy of distortion, dismissing some data and handpicking other facts to support an opinion, rather than seeking and dealing with the truth. Meanwhile, the Earth's survival (represented by the black leaf)....indeed, our survival....hangs in the balance.

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 are enjoying a good week. See you Friday. ———————————————————————————————————————————
Image and text ©Carol Adamec 2008. All rights reserved.

A Taste of Albuquerque: Balloon Fiesta!

Early Morning Ascent
Photo by Carol Adamec

This is an exciting week in town, since the annual Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta started early Saturday morning and continues through next weekend.

Where I am staying is a stone's throw from Balloon Fiesta Park. As I was driving to the studio, these three balloonists were drifting over our neighborhood in the morning light. I pulled over and took a quick photo to share a taste of Albuquerque with you. Enjoy!

Hope your Monday morning is a good one. See you Wednesday.

Text & Photo ©Carol Adamec 2008

Exhibit Glimpse 4

Sondra Diepen

"Shadow Weavers"
Original archival digital print
25" x 19" framed • $350 + S&H

Today's post features the work of Sondra Diepen, who is originally from California but relocated to New Mexico in 1974. Sondra majored in art at University of California-Davis, where she befriended Louise Pryor, Ellen Van Fleet, and Joanne Kamiya—artists whom you've met in this blog over the past few weeks as exhibitors in the "Be Leaf It or Not" exhibit at the Harwood.

Sondra is a fine painter, a world traveler, and an wonderful photographer. I've spent many an evening enjoying slides of her adventures in New Mexico, Utah, Alaska, Florida, and her off-the-beaten-track trips to Mexico, Peru, Egypt, Turkey, and Nepal, to name a few.

Over the past few years, Sondra has focused mostly on producing photo-based digital prints. As exemplified by "Shadow Weavers" featured in today's post, Sondra has an intuitive sensitivity for color, pattern, and light that is deeply felt. In fact, I have worked up paintings of my own from several of Sondra's photographs that she has given me (along with permission) to use.

As the curator of "Be Leaf It or Not" Sondra's own personal love of Nature was the guiding force for this exhibit. As she states in her Artist Statement, "I love the vast landscape and the delicate detail Nature provides. A leaf edged in sunlight, a reflection captured in a sandstone pool, or light filtering through the rain forest prompts me to get out my camera and see if I can preserve that moment....When I see something extraordinarily beautiful, I have this strong desire to press it into my body. I want it to become a part of me. Photograph and painting are the closest I can get to doing that."

Thanks for taking a moment to read this entry (which I apologize for posting a day late). If you would like to leave a comment about Sondra's work, please do so by clicking the COMMENTS link below. Or you can email me and I'll forward it to her.

I hope you are enjoying a great weekend. See you Monday. ——————————————————————————————————————————— Image ©Sondra Diepen. Text ©Carol Adamec 2008. All rights reserved.

Exhibit Glimpse 3...and more

Joanne Kamiya
"Spirit of New Forest" (detail)
Original archival digital print
24" x 14" • $375 + S&H

Joanne Kamiya is another California artist who contributed work to the "Be Leaf It or Not" exhibit. Her work is photography based, often multi-layered and digitally manipulated.

With her deep reverence for natural beauty found in primeval forests of the world, Joanne is drawn to the spirit of places that have a powerful earth presence. For Joanne, experiencing "wild Nature’s energy" is the lifeblood of her creative process.

The image featured in today's post, Spirit of New Forest, is one of my favorites created by Joanne. As she explains, "New Forest of southern England is an ancient forest that has existed since before it was made into a royal hunting preserve by William the Conqueror. Today it encompasses many acres of mostly deciduous woodland, with a number of villages incorporated within its boundaries. Special to the New Forest are the New Forest Ponies. For hundreds of years this has been their domain, where they roam freely, unfenced and protected." I think her image captures the mythic power and mysterious quiet of the great forests which sustains so many of Earth's creatures.

Thanks for taking a moment to read this entry. If you would like to leave a comment about Joanne's work, please do so by clicking the COMMENTS link below. Or you can email me and I'll forward it to Joanne.

Meanwhile, back in my studio, I am preparing for the Harwood Art Center's Open Studio night, happening this Friday, October 3, from 6–8pm...not painting, but unpacking, hanging, pricing, and labeling artwork. There's much to do! For those readers in the Albuquerque area, I'd love for you to drop by my studio (upstairs, #S-2) that evening. The event is open to the public and free of charge.

To all of my Readers....I'll have a post ready for you on Friday. Have a wonderful day.

Image © Joanne Kamiya. Text ©Carol Adamec 2008. All rights reserved.

Exhibit Glimpse 2

Ellen Van Fleet
"...drives the flower"#8
Watercolor • 44" x 32"

Today's post features the work of Ellen Van Fleet, another California artists who participated in our Albuquerque exhibit, "Be Leaf It or Not." Ellen is interested in "mark making" and abstraction, and has traveled in the US and abroad studying petroglyphs and cave paintings.

For our exhibit, Ellen contributed work which also reflects her love of Henry Matisse, through her use of intense color and flowing, rhythmic line.

As Ellen notes in her Artist Statement: "I tend to use painting motions I can repeat. It is soothing and fascinating to see how marks or stripes...pile up and become visually interesting...Take the black stripes in the current work. I love dragging a brush full of pigment across a sheet of paper in a whole body motion, over and over, sheet after sheet. Then I take what I have amassed and tweak it until something mysterious and right happens."

Her title comes from a Dylan Thomas poem where he describes the force of Nature that "...drives the flower..."

If you would like to make a comment about Ellen's work, please use the "COMMENT" link below; or send me an email, and I'll forward it to Ellen.

Have a great Monday. See you Wednesday!

Image ©Ellen Van Fleet. Text©Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Exhibit Glimpse I

Artist: Louise Pryor

Left: Names of Women Artists Meditation Robe

Right: The Farmer Says Goodbye to the Farm

This is the last day of our Harwood Art Center exhibit, "Be Leaf It or Not"; and I have finally taken time to photograph the work in the show. I thought I would share these photos to give you some idea of the artists' intentions and sensibilities that have been on display for the past month.

The two artworks featured today are by Louise Pryor, one of the artists from California. Louise grew up in California, on land owned by her family for over 150 years. For many years she was a serious Zen student of Buddhist teachings.

Louise has chosen fabric as her medium. As stated in her Artist's Statement, "I explore ideas with cloth...Because my way to the universal is through the deeply personal, I choose clothing shapes from my life experience. I wore Zen meditation robes and Sacramento Valley farmers clothing for many years....The transparent and radiant cloth mirrors our transparent and radiant existence."

Both artworks are lifesize and exquisitely crafted. The Meditation Robe has individual canvas leaves sewn onto a kimono-style robe made of sheer metallic silk in a light color. Each leaf bears the name (or signature) of a women artist—some famous and many who work and create outside the mainstream of contemporary art. Nevertheless, on Louise's Robe, all are equally honored.

The Farmer's suit is constructed of the same material in a rich earth color, except the leaves are sewn within the interior of the shirt and pants. For me, this piece speaks to the physical and spiritual connection of mankind to the land which provides for all of earth's creatures.

If you would like to comment on Louise's work, you may do so by clicking the "COMMENTS" link below (Louise reads this blog, too!) Or drop me an email and I'll forward your response to her.

Thanks for taking a moment to read today's entry. Have a great weekend, and I'll see you on Monday.

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Images ©Louise Pryor, text ©Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Art for a Good Cause

California Calla I, 2008
Original oil, alkyd on gessoed panel
12" x 12"
Available to highest bidder at
www.spivaarts.org

Just before moving to New Mexico, I completed the painting featured in today's blog and mailed it to Spiva Center for the Arts, in Joplin, MO. The painting is my donation to this year's Annual 12 x 12 Auction fundraiser, which features artwork by local, regional, and national artists who support the art center. I think this year has 78 contributions, all 12" x 12" and available for purchase to the highest bidder when the auction ends November 7 (see details online at the Spiva website).

Having been Spiva's Associate Director while living in the Joplin area, I know what a great art center Spiva is. In addition to showing top notch national exhibitions, Spiva supports local artists, too, through its Regional Gallery, Annual Membership Show, gift shop, and other events such as this auction. The art center offers year-round art classes for all ages, plus a day of art at Spiva for every Joplin 6th grader...over 600 kids! Spiva has a very hardworking staff, a volunteer board, and many faithful volunteers and supporters whose contributions make a huge difference for the local and regional communities that Spiva serves. It is an honor for me to again participate in this annual fundraiser.

If you are interested in bidding on my painting, go to www.spivaarts.org and follow the 2008 12x12 links. California Calla I is #67. You may want to check out the other entries, too. There are some great art pieces, and you can join the fun via online bidding, knowing that all proceeds support the art center.

Thanks for taking a moment to look at my painting. Have a great day! See you Friday.
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Text and image ©Carol Adamec 2008. 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)

______________
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.
__________________________________________________
Text, image, and painting ©Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.