Sunset #8: Eye Dazzler

Sunset Strip #8: Eye Dazzler, 2011
Original Painting: Oil, alkyd on gessoed wood
6.5" x 2" unframed. Hanger installed on back.
SOLD


Today's post features Sunset Strip #8, hot off the easel.

Inspired by a New Mexico sunset, I subtitled the painting Eye Dazzler which refers to colorful rug designs Navajo artisans began weaving in the 1870's. The Navajo Eye Dazzler style incorporates bright colors and zigzag designs. This phase in the history of Navajo weaving is also called "Germantown", referring to the colorful synthetic dyes and yarns that came from a commercial mill in Germantown, Pennsylvania, at that time.

For me, the exciting part of working on these Sunset Series paintings is combining colors I ordinarily don't use, such as the bright turquoise, magenta, and oranges. These colors definitely have a vibration, and, in this long format, remind me of a rug, too.


Thanks for taking a moment to read this post. Have a good day.
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Text and image ©2011 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Ray of Hope for Joplin

Sunset Strip #7: Ray of Hope (for Joplin), 2011
Original Painting: Oil, alkyd on gessoed wood
SOLD

I have been distracted this week. My mother and I have been glued to the television, watching the aftermath of the tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri, last weekend. As many of you know, my mother is from that area, and we have family and dear friends in Joplin. Fortunately, our loved ones and friends have survived; and I am grateful to all who contacted me about their well being: Thank you.

Yesterday, I worked in the studio to complete this painting from the Sunset Strip Series. While working on the painting, I was thinking about Joplin, childhood visits with Joplin relatives in the summer, the many good people who became—and have remained—my friends, colleagues, and supporters when I lived in the area a few years ago, and how much genuine pride Joplin folks have for their town.

I was inspired to dedicate this Sunset Strip painting to Joplin's recovery with the title, Ray of Hope. It's #7, a lucky number, and bears my good wishes for Joplin's renewal.

Thanks for taking a moment to read this post. Have a safe and relaxing Memorial Day weekend.
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Text and image ©2011 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Magnolia in May...framed!

Magnolia in May, 2011
Original Painting, 6" x 8"
Oil, alkyd on canvas panel
SOLD

I intended to have this painting ready for Mother's Day...and the first "version" of it was done by then. But then I was not happy with it, and kept on painting. Here's the final version (I think), along with photos of my framing process, which I mentioned in last week's post.

Photo 1 shows the finished painting on panel. What you can't see is that image extends around the edges of the panel, too. The best way to display a painting on panel in this state is on a decorative tabletop-style easel, since there is no way to securely attach any hanging mechanism for wall display. The nice thing about this display method is that the painting can be moved around, and placed on a side table, a book shelf, a dresser or other flat surface.

Photo 2 shows the 1/2"x3/4" strips that I have cut and glued along the edges to the backside of the painting panel. You can also see a screw eye on each side for attaching a wire.

Photo 3 is a corner view of the painting with the strips glued on. The wood strips are painted black for a more finished look. In this state, the painting can now be displayed on the wall, too— no frame necessary and ideal if you prefer a more contemporary look.

With the wood strips glued to the panel, the painting is also ready for mounting in a canvas floater frame. This style of frame is my favorite, since it allows the entire painting to be viewed right to the edges. Having a little space between the painting and the front face of the frame actually expands the painting's image, allowing it to "breathe." I think this is especially important for smaller paintings, where any cropping of the painting with traditional framing seems to make the image appear even smaller.

The nice thing about canvas floater frames is that they come in ready-to-frame sizes (I use the Illusions brand.) and in custom lengths for nonstandard sized framing for the do-it-yourselfer. I did use Rub-N-Buff to get the gold color on the face, since the 8x6 only comes in flat black finish.

Photo 4 shows the back of the painting, with the floater frame attached to the panel's strips. The bottom image is the painting, framed and ready to hang on the wall.

Thanks for taking a moment to read this blog. Have a good day.

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

SunSet Strip #6

Sunset Strip #6 (with Palm), 2011
Original Painting: Oil, alkyd on 12" x 4" gessoed panel
SOLD

Last week we enjoyed an afternoon shower, which made for lovely, dramatic clouds at sunset here in Florida. I grabbed my new Nikon CoolPix digital camera (a Christmas gift from my daughter and son-in-law: Thanks again, M&M!) and ran out the door to make several photos of the changing light and cloud forms. So far, I've gotten four new Sunset Strip paintings from that one evening of picture-taking. Nice!

These Sunset Strip paintings have prompted me to look for materials that provide a long skinny format. Mostly I've been painting on odd lengths of wood on hand, that I trim, sand, and prepare with gesso.

However, at the art store the other day, I came across a 12" x 4" birch panel that is ideal, and bought all they had. To the backside of the birch panel, I glue 3/4 x 1/2 inch wood strips around the perimeter, so that the panel will sit flat against the wall and a wire can be attached. I paint the edges of the painting and the wood strips for a finished look. No framing is necessary, but is still possible if the buyer would like to frame the painting. On one of my next blog posts I'll share some photos of how this all works.

Thanks for taking a moment to read this blog. Have a great day. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Text and image ©2011 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.

Garden Tour

Sunlit Arbor, 2011

Original Painting:
Oil, alkyd on 6" x 8" canvas panel
SOLD

A few years ago I participated in the Eola Heights Garden Tour, held every April in this historic neighborhood of Orlando. Yesterday I spent the most lovely Sunday afternoon painting in the garden of one of the homes on this year's tour.

It was an absolutely perfect day—sunny but cool in the shade, a light breeze with very low humidity, and everything in full bloom. The homeowners had employed a harpist who entertained the 650 garden lovers who passed through, viewing the abundant herb plantings, gigantic Meyer's lemon tree with fruit the size of grapefruits, and many fragrant flowers. So the entire ambience was "heavenly" and I overheard many great gardening tips, too!

Last Thursday I visited the site to preview the garden, which offered several picturesque views. I finally decided to do the arbor area. On that visit, I completed a monochromatic value study in burnt sienna—that orange-ish color you still can see here and there in the final painting—to work out the composition and the sunlight and shadow areas. By Sunday that underpainting was dry, so during the tour I was able to focus on the final colors mixtures to complete the painting. I was very flattered by the many kind comments about the painting from the tour goers, and especially pleased that the owners added the painting to their collection.

Later this week I will be posting a second painting for the week...just in time for the Easter weekend.

Thanks for taking a look. Have a great day.
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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.

Back Gate: Morning Light

Back Gate: Morning Light, 2011
Original Painting:
Oil, alkyd on 8" x 6" canvas panel
Private Collection, Albuquerque

Today's post takes me back to New Mexico, to my friend's adobe home in north Albuquerque. This painting also is a milestone in my career: I completed the entire painting in one day. Of course, I have been thinking about doing this painting for over a year! It all came together this past Monday.

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.

Modern Skyscape

Evening Flight, 2011

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

Private Collection, Florida

I was outside taking photos of the sunset last week. The pink clouds in the deep blue sky were lovely. A plane heading toward the airport crossed my field of vision just as I snapped the shot...a gift from the Sky God, I think.

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

Wild Sky

Sunset Strip #3 (Tiger Stripes), 2011
Original Painting
Oil, alkyd on 6" x 1.75" panel

Private Collection


Here's another Sunset Strip painting, this time a vertical, inspired by a gorgeous Albuquerque display at sundown. These are really fun to paint!

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

No Easy Lemon

Lemon Study, 2011

Original: oil, alkyd on 3" x 5" panel
SOLD

It's been a few weeks since I painted and posted the grisaille rendering of a lemon. A couple of you asked what grisaille (pronounced griz-eye) is. Basically, it is a painting done in black, white, and grays...like using black and white film to photograph something.

Once the grisaille painting is dry, color is usually added to the painting via thin glazes of diluted oil colors. This is a very traditional method for developing a painting, allowing the artist to establish the correct "values" or graytones before taking on color considerations.

Although I was happy with the graytone version, I wasn't happy with the color glazing results. So, I have been fooling around with this painting for the past week. My greatest challenge was to keep the lemon from looking like a yellow hand grenade. (It's odd what your mind will conjure up when working too intensely!)

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

Looking Westward

Sunset Strip #2 (Albuquerque)
Original oil, alkyd on wood panel
2.75" x 9" unframed
SOLD

It's been dry in Florida, with clear skies for weeks. Those wonderfully fantastic clouds that catch the evening light and make for dramatic sunsets...and dramatic sunset paintings, too...just haven't been around.

However, Florida is not the only place that can boast beautiful evening light effects. While living in Albuquerque, I enjoyed the view to the west from my second story studio window. There were many beautiful sunsets out over the mesa, like the one which became the painting posted today, Sunset Strip #2. I hope you enjoy it.
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Text and image ©2011 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Back to Basics....Again

Lemon Grisaille (WIP)
Oil, Alkyd on panel

In past posts, I've talked about "painting the grays." This is a grisaille rendering of a nice fat lemon I picked up at the grocery store last week and decided to paint. You would think that a simple object would be simple to paint. Yeah, right!

I did cheat a little, as I began the painting on a burnt umber toned panel and let that brown color show through in the background. Once the paint dries, I'll be glazing color on top of the grays. It's been awhile since I did an entire painting--even a small painting--using this method, so we'll see how it all turns out.

This week I also complete the second "Sunset Strip" but it's still too wet to put on the scanner. So, I'll be sharing that painting with you next week.

Thanks for taking a look. Enjoy your weekend.

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

Try, Try Again...

Florida Pines, 2011
Original: oil, alkyd on 5" x 3.5" panel
Framed size: 7" x 5"
Contact Artist to Purchase.

Wow! I received so many positive responses via email regarding the Sunset Strip #1 painting I posted last week. Many thanks to all of you who took a moment to give me your feedback and comments.

It seems that the long horizontal format is a hit, with several of you suggesting cool places where such a format could be installed. I, too, have been looking around my house, noticing all kinds of places a long strip--horizontal OR vertical--could go. There are a lot more niches for that format than a regular, rectangular painting, as I see it. And, yes, the Sunset Strip paintings will be for sale, once I figure out the postage costs and shipping logistics.

Today's painting may look familiar to my longtime readers, as it was posted 'way back on June 29, 2008. Since then, I framed the painting, and it has been hanging on my studio wall, nagging me to do "something" to give it a little zing, or "wow" factor. (Another lesson learned: Framing will not improve a boring painting.)

Since I'm on a sunset kick, I decided to give those Florida pines a more interesting and colorful background. I think a Florida sunset was a good solution, eh?

Thanks for taking a look. See you next week.
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Text and image ©2011 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Trying Something New

Sunset Strip #1, 2011

Original: oil, alkyd on canvasboard
1.25" x 16" unframed
Private Collection

I've been thinking for awhile that I'd like to do a series of sunset paintings. I know, I know, that sounds like a pretty cliched subject to take on. Well, what the heck. I have several strips of canvas board and gessoed panel that I've cut off other paintings and saved. So why not use them?

A few evenings ago, as I was finishing up in the studio, I looked out the window to see dramatic clouds strung across the sky. Since I had one of those canvas board strips handy, I went for it and did my first "Sunset Strip" that you see posted here today.

So, there's another item on my list of New Year's Studio Possibilities: Try out a new idea. And, hey, it was fun to do, too.

Thanks for taking a look. See you next week.
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Text and image ©2011 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

Studio Tangerines

Tangerines, 2011

Original Painting: oil, alkyd
on 5" x 7" canvas panel unframed

SOLD

Since there are still nice, ripe tangerines on the tree outside, I picked a few more for this studio still life painting.

I used the same palette of colors that I chose for my last painting ("Frostbitten") and again painted from direct observation. However, this time the image is infused with lots of light, giving the painting a completely different feel.

Thanks for taking a look. Enjoy your week.
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Text and image ©2011 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.

New Year Possibilities

Frostbitten, 2011

Original painting: oil, alkyd
on 3" x 5" panel, unframed
To purchase, contact Artist.

I always look forward to the New Year. I usually spend the first few days of the New Year making a fresh list of what I'd like to accomplish in my studio with the brand new, 52 weeks that lie ahead.

Rather than calling it a "New Year's Resolutions" list, which sounds like a lot of dreadful to-do tasks I'd rather avoid, I've named it my "New Year's Possibilities", which sounds much more enticing, exciting, creative, even adventuresome!

One of my possibilities for 2011 is to paint from direct observation than from photographs. Another possibility on my list is to work with a limited color palette, i.e, using just a few basic colors. So today's post is my first new painting of 2011, done from direct observation, using the following hues: Yellow-orange, red-violet, blue-green, burnt umber, and white.

Living in Florida, I have a small tangerine tree with bright orange fruits on it, growing in the front yard. Several days ago a cold snap "bruised" some of the fruit, leaving red-violet blotches on the skins. I picked these fruits off the tree and set them up in my studio as a little still life. I must say I am pleased with the results of trying out a couple of my new possibilities.

Thanks for taking a look. I hope your New Year is off to a great start, too.

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* Please note that at this time I ship to US addresses only.
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Text and image ©2011 Carol Adamec. All rights reserved.