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

To the Quiet Place #3

In the Quiet Place, 2013. Original oil on linen panel, painted en plein air.

Due to the long drought and the potential for wildfires throughout New Mexico, most public lands, open spaces, and recreation sites have been closed this summer. And those are just the places plein air artists go to paint outdoors. 

Fortunately, one of my favorite locations, Coronado State Monument, is still open to visitors. So off I went to Bernalillo on Wednesday morning, via the pre-1937 Route 66, enjoying a sunny, pleasant drive to spend a few hours working en plein air.

A few hours later, I was glad that I had chosen a small 4"x6" panel to paint on, when a big plop of rain splashed on my palette and a deep rumble sounded from the gathering clouds. Fortunately, the painting was nearly completed when I closed up my paintbox and hurried to my car as the temperature dropped and the wind picked up. The brewing storm cut loose as I was driving home.

Living in the Southwest one quickly learns that you never complain about rain in the desert.  It was a good day. 

Thanks for visiting my blog and enjoy your day.

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

To the Quiet Place #3 , measuring 4" x 6", is painted in oil on a linen 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.

To the Quiet Place...Again.

To the Quiet Place #2, original oil on panel, painted en plein air.

Last weekend the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico gathered on Sunday morning to paint together. I was happy to arrive right at 8:30am when the park opened, and planned to finish up by noon, before the afternoon heat. 

Just as I was putting the final touches on my painting, the most wonderful clouds formed over the mountains. Well, who could leave those out of their painting? So I took a little extra time and added in clouds.

Thanks for visiting my blog and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

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

To the Quiet Place #2 , measuring 6" x 8", is painted in oil on an Italian canvas panel, varnished and ready to frame. Available for purchase on ETSY at www.ArtByCarolAdamec.ETSY.com.

Santa Fe Trees

Santa Fe Trees, painted en plein air. Oil on panel 6x8

A few weekends ago I took a plein air workshop in Santa Fe. On Saturday we painted in the arroyo behind Museum Hill, and it was in quite warm, in the high 80's. On Sunday we painted up in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains above Santa Fe, where we enjoyed temperatures in the low 70's. I was glad I had taken an extra paint shirt to wear. 

Santa Fe Trees was painted up in the cool of the mountains. where it is quite green with abundant trees—especially ponderosa pines and aspens. It will be lovely to return there in the fall, when the aspens are decked out in their golden yellow leaves.

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.

Santa Fe Trees, measuring 8" x 6", is painted in oil on Italian canvas panel, varnished and ready to frame. 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.

Hearts & Flowers, Folk Style

Hearts & Flowers: Folk Style, 2013. Hand colored, mixed media on rice paper.

The fun part of hand coloring my Boogie Board prints is altering the hues and patterns to see how it all turns out. The variety of possibilities is amazing. The saturated colors of this version reminded me of the bright and cheerful designs of American Folk Art styles, such as the Pennsylvania Dutch. Enjoy!

Thanks for visiting my blog and have a great day.

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

Hearts & Flowers Folk Style is printed on rice paper and hand colored with Prismacolor pencil and metallic ink. The image measures approximately 7" x 5"  and comes mounted in an 10" x 8" black mat, ready to frame. The price is $85 with FREE SHIPPING, available for purchase on ETSY at www.ArtByCarolAdamec.ETSY.com. (On ETSY you can pay withPayPal or a credit card, and it's safe.)

Another Starry Night

Starry Night in the Garden 2, 2013, mixed media on rice paper.

How lovely to sit in the quiet of the garden on a summer evening, as stars twinkle silver in the deepening blue of the night. I can hear the crickets chirping now.

Thanks for taking a look. Have a wonderful day.

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

Starry Night in the Garden 2 is a mixed media artwork on ricepaper. The price is $85 unframed with FREE SHIPPING, available for purchase on ETSY at www.ArtByCarolAdamec.ETSY.com . (On ETSY you can pay withPayPal or a credit card, and it's safe.)

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.

Return to Plein Air...Painting!

View from Coronado State Monument #2, 2013. SOLD

The weather has been lovely in New Mexico this month, and great for painting outdoors. 

The Plein Air Painters of New Mexico scheduled a "paintout" for the group on Saturday, May 4, at Coronado State Monument. This is a historic site, where in 1540 Francisco Vásquez de Coronado—with 300 soldiers and 800 Indian allies from "New Spain"—in his search for the fabled Seven Cities of Gold, came across a Tiwa settlement inhabited by native peoples instead. Adjacent to the Visitors Center are "new" ruins, reconstructed over the original pueblo ruins, along with a room full of kiva murals excavated in the 1930s by WPA workers.

This is a wonderful location for painting since there is a clear view of the Sandia Mountains, and the site slopes down to the Rio Grande River, lined with old—some very old—cottonwoods. (I can imagine the Conquistadores watering their horses at the river, or napping in the cool shade.) There are also a few scattered picnic tables with ramada covers to provide some shade.

The painting posted today is my second attempt to paint the Sandia Mountains as viewed from Coronado State Monument.  With great clouds floating over the ridge of peaks, the play of light, dark, and color was fun to capture on canvas. I hope you enjoy this painting.

Thanks for visiting my blog and have a great day!

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

Happy Mother's Day, Ladies ....

Cinnabar, 2013.

Enjoy Your Day!

"Red or Green?" Part 2

Today's post is the second pair of "Red or Green?"  The luscious red one is "Hearts & Flowers" and the lush green one is "Garden Varieties #8".

If you're interested in purchasing one of today's artworks, visit www.ArtByCarolAdamec.ETSY.com  

Thanks for visiting my blog and have a great day!

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

Red or Green?

In New Mexico, "Red or green?" is a common inquiry heard at most restaurants, when the waitperson is asking you which chile you prefer with your meal. (Hint: Get both—red AND green—on the side.)

With only a few days left before Mother's Day, I'm giving my readers a choice of "Garden Varieties 8" in two New Mexico color versions: "Garden Varieties RED" or "Garden Varieties GREEN (with yummy turquoise in the background)".

These two new versions are hot off the printer, matted 8"x10" in black.

If you're interested in purchasing today's artworks, visit www.ArtByCarolAdamec.ETSY.com (on ETSY you can pay with PayPal or a credit card, and it's safe!) 

Thanks for visiting my blog and have a great day!

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

10 Days until Mother's Day

Starry Night in the Garden 1, 2013. Handcolored mixed media on ricepaper.

Starry Night in the Garden 1, 2013

Printed on archival rice paper.

Handcolored with Prismacolor pencil and metallic silver.

Comes in 8" x 10" black mat.

Comes with Signed Certificate of Authenticity.

A One-of-a-Kind Mixed Media Artwork.

To purchase, contact the Artist.

Thanks for visiting my blog and enjoy a wonderful day.

12 Days until Mother's Day....

Hearts and Flowers, 2013. (Hand Colored on ricepaper)

How about some "Hearts and Flowers" for Mom?

SOLD

See other artworks at www.ArtByCarolAdamec.ETSY.com

Spring Lilies for Mom...

Spring Lilies, 2013. Boogie Board Drawing w/ Photoshop Coloration

Available for purchase in my ETSY shop:

www.ArtByCarolAdamec.ETSY.com

21 Days Until Mother's Day...

Garden Varieties #7 in Golden Light, 2013.

Garden Varieties #7: In Golden Light, 2013.

Printed on archival rice paper.
Handcolored with Prismacolor pencil, color inks, and metallic gold.

Comes in 8" x 10" black mat.
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity.

A One-of-a-kind mixed media artwork.

To purchase

go to www.ArtByCarolAdamec.ETSY.com

Thanks for visiting my blog and enjoy a wonderful day.
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Text and photo ©2013 Carol L. Adamec. All rights reserved. 

Spring ... and Mother's Day

Garden Varieties #6 w/ Gold Drops, 2013. Mixed media on rice paper.

Now that we've made it through Tax Day, we can turn out thoughts to Spring, gardening, flowers, and the next major celebration: Mother's Day, coming up on Sunday, May 12, just about 3 weeks away.

I've been looking through the hand colored version of my Boogie Board drawings and found one to give to my mother for her special day in May.

However, there are several others, like the image posted today, that are quite nice, too. So, for the next few weeks, I thought I would share these with you, Dear Readers, in case you are looking to give to your Mom (or someone else special) something a little different this year. (Today's image is Garden Varieties #6, w/ Gold Drops.)

Printed on archival rice paper, each Boogie Board drawing is embellished with color pencil, color inks, and/or metallic media, creating a truly, one-of-a-kind mixed media artwork. Each one is matted and ready to go into a standard size 8" x 10" frame. The price for each hand colored version varies.

To purchase, go to www.ArtByCarolAdamec.ETSY.com.

Thanks for visiting my blog and enjoy a wonderful day.
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Text and photo ©2013 Carol L. Adamec. All rights reserved.

Florida Waterlilies

Waterlilies, 2013, Original Boogie Board Drawing.
Available for purchase at www.ArtByCarolAdamec.ETSY.com.

It's been awhile since I posted on my blog, due to the fact that my elderly mother took a bad fall in early March and was hospitalized twice within a 12-day period. So I drove to Florida to give my sister some help in caring for our mother for the past month. (Mom's doing fine now. )

I didn't have the spare time to do any art while away. But being in Florida put me in the mood to finish up this Boogie Board drawing which I drew probably a year ago at Lake Lily in Orlando. When I got home to Albuquerque last week and back into the studio, I was primed to finish it.

That happens occasionally: I get all fired up about starting a piece, work on it to a point, and then just leave it. Sometimes it never gets finished and sometimes it does.

Thanks for taking a look. Enjoy your day.
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Text and photo ©2013 Carol L. Adamec. All rights reserved.