New Art Blog

My friend Claire Marcus has a new blog of her artwork. Claire is one of the artists at Fresh Paint Gallery and is a terrific watercolorist!

You can check out her blog here

Portraits of my Great Nephews

Wenderina worked down in the Washington DC area this week..... this gave us an excuse to visit our Niece and her family in Virginia. Always one of our favorite places to hang out for family time. I headed down on Friday afternoon and packed some of my photo gear so i could have a quick portrait session with to of my favorite subjects... Little Man A and BBZ.

How cute are these two guys together!

BBZ showed great patience and smiled the whole time as we did a series of solo shots.

I can not believe how fast Little Man A is growing. Everytime we see him he is bigger!

Another visit that went by way too fast! Hopefully we'll get down to visit again in a few months. This visit was well worth putting off working on paintings for a few days. There will be more shots later this week of Little Man A at the park.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Another Next Painting....

OK... So I realize I am now three photographs ahead of my paintings (still have to do the tiger lily before it opened, and the finished iris painting) but I wanted to share this shot with you. This still life of one of my mandolins will make an amazing watercolor. just look at that color harmony.... I think this one may need to be big!

I will be away this weekend so It will probably be next week before you see any of the three paintings I am working on. I'll try to post some interesting photos and maybe portraits of my great nephews if we don't run out of weekend before I get to it...

Keep Makin' Art!

CS

Spring Showers Bring May Flowers....

With all this rain lately I can't wait to get out to the botanical garden and shoot the may flowers!

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Time is flying by....

These two images are from 2007... I can not believe it is three years ago already... This was the first time I went shooting with my friend Mike Malandra... We met in watercolor class and realized we had a common interest in nature photography and had both taken workshops with Nick Zungoli (Something I recommend to everyone if you want to advance your photography skills).

Mike has gone on to be one of the best photographers I know.

I had forgotten about this morning. So when I went back through my Harriman State Park images I was happy to find these.

Hopefully I'll get out a few times this year with Mike. He can show me some spots he likes and I'll drag him out to Dover Stone Church Falls.

It is funny we can go to the same spots with the same equipment and both walk away with great, but very different shots.

Anyway these shots from spring a few years ago energized me and i thought I would share them with you. I can't wait to get out and do some spring shooting.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Three Apples - Finished

Three Apples - Mixed Media (watercolor, watercolor pencil and acrylic paint)

size 5" x 10" on Arches 140 lb hot press paper.

Some warm yellow / red glazes helped make these apples pop off the page.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Three Apples - First Stages

Drawing, background and first wash of the apples is down. I am working on hot press paper today.... not quite used to it, but think I'll get a nice painting out of it. Will darken the background, add shadows and refine apples next. Stay tuned.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Something to Think About

In My America

In my America we respect the other guy's opinion

and we expect the same of ours...

In my America thoughtful debate is encouraged

demonetization of those with a differing opinion is not permitted.

In my America hate is not allowed

Where is my America??

I have not been able to find it for some time...

.....

With this post I ask you my readers a question on the nature of art. I have long sat on the side lines of politics with my blog. I started this blog to show the beauty I find in our world in an attempt the quiet the noise we find find everywhere else.... The problem is the noise and the fighting and the polarization continue to grow worse. I don't know what it is I have to contribute to the debate and in fact it may be akin to throwing gas on a fire that is already burning. What do you think.... what should the artists do?

I have no easy answers and am looking to you...

Keep Makin' Art (or askin' questions??)

Carl

The earth did not swallow me whole...

Hello Fellow Artists and Friends-

The earth did not swallow me whole. It only seemed that way this week. Those of you who follow this blog know I normally post while on vacation and all sorts of things. For me to go a whole week without posting new work or at least something is a bit of an oddity. Work was very busy for the past couple of weeks and we had a family funeral last weekend. Blogging just seemed to be at the bottom of my priority list. Never fear I'll be back in the studio Sunday morning and will have something to share with you all. I think first up is the still life of three apples I photographed last week. Then on to a more detailed treatment of the iris I sketched too.

It is funny I depend so much on my art to keep me balanced (hence the title of this blog) I have been able to handle a lot of added stress and strain in the last few months because of my art activities. The St. Catherine of Bologna show came at just the right time. Even though I cut art out this week to take some of the stuff off of my plate.... I realized I felt off all week and it was the lack of creativity. I forget sometimes how much that carries me through the other stuff. Does that happen to you? I am thankful everyday that I have a loving wife (and best friend), in Wenderina that fully supports my art activities. It may be years before I do this as my full time vocation. It may never actually be my full time gig, but it is essential to who I am and allows me to be the person I was meant to be.

It is warm here this weekend and the skies are a clear blue. Soon my spring photography will kick in as well. I have applied to be in several big photo shows and am waiting to hear back on my entries. I'll post here as soon as I know. I think the still life watercolor of the lemon and silver bowl I did last month also need to be entered in an upcoming show.

Keep Makin Art (it will make you feel better I swear)

Carl

Iris Painting Sketch

Here is a sketch of the Iris I am going to be painting. This sketch is a departure for me. It was a test for the color scheme I want to work with and as such I did not stress over other things. I just wanted to throw color down to see how they would play together. What I came up with is loose and free and something I am going to strive to carry into the finished painting.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Ode to Spring

Enough of the cold wet and snowy. Here are is a photo I took of some Mountain Laurel early one morning while hiking last spring. Enjoy!

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

How 'Bout them Apples!

Inspired by my recent work my Mom (Pat) painted this watercolor of two apples. Aren't they just GREAT? They jump off the page with so much depth. Really nice work Mom! Congrats. If you guys think these are good you should see the oil paintings she did when I was a kid.

It was so wonderful having my folks at the art show in Ringwood this weekend. We got to wander around and look at some great art and had a nice meal and conversation afterwards. Maybe next year Mom will enter a piece in the Ringwood show?

Very Happy that the Apple Does not Fall Far From the Tree,

Carl

Next Painting Subject

I photographed this simple still life with red delicious apples on denim today. I will be working on paintings of both this and the iris I posted on saturday. I will work on both at the same time and post images as I work thru the different stages of the paintings. Don't you just wanna take a bite out of those apples?

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

11th Annual Photo, Art and Poetry Exhibition at St Catherine of Bologna, Ringwood NJ.

I went to the Exhibit at St. Catherine of Bologna, in Ringwood NJ today. Wenderina and my folks were with me. There was much excitement as my friend Mike Malandra alluded to the fact that I might have gotten an award at this show. Mike had taken first place in the photo/nature - landscape category with a great photo from Harriman State Park. (hearty congrats Mike!)

Not only did I take an award.... I took three!

Bicycle & Red Wall - St George's Bermuda

3rd Place Photography / Architecture Category

&

Judge's Choice Award Photography

Skylands Autumn Morning

1st Place Photography / Ringwood Category

This one sold at the show!

Me with my proud parents (pat and Hank) with one of my winning entries.

I want to thank all of my friends and family... Most notably Wenderina for all the support and inspiration you have given me on this artistic journey.... Stick around this is just the beginning!!!

With over five hundred entries of paintings, sculpture, photos and poetry etc. This local show is consistently of a very high caliber and I am honored to have had my work recognized in this way. Congratulations to all the artists who worked hard and had their art in this show.

If you are local to the Ringwood, NJ area consider getting to this show Sunday, 3/7/10 while it is still open.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Here is what I'll paint next

This beautiful iris I photographed last summer at Skylands will be the next thing I paint. I am must interested in the play of the purples and the greens. It should be a fun project. Follow my progress here on Artistic Balance.

Step one.... Run out and buy paper. I used the last of the 300lb Arches last week on the tiger lily paintings!

There should be some progress on Sunday!

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Juried Shows

I am selecting three photos to submit for consideration for a national juried show later this spring. Entry day is fast approaching. I find this process totally nerve wracking. I have it narrowed down to five and will let you all know what three I choose and what show it's for after the cd is off in the mail.

Wish me luck!

Keep Makin' Art

Carl