Offline - Travel

Friends-

I will be offline for the next two weeks travelling with Wenderina and two of our dearest friends. I promise great photos and watercolors upon my return.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Think I'll Paint This.

This looks nice and clean and I like the colors. I think I'll try to paint it in watercolor. Just not sure I can finish before we leave for our Italy trip.

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl

Sunday Morning Nature Photos

I was back at Harriman State Park this morning after a 3 month hiatus. I have photographed there nearly 40 times in the last three years and have gotten some great shots, but needed a break from the place. I spent this summer really thinking about composition and new locations and took the time to get my feet wet with digital InfraRed photography. The result is I am renewed and refreshed. I headed back to Harriman today to the stream near Reeves Meadow to shoot some InfraRed at one of my favorite spots. I must say I am quite happy with the results.... and literally did get my feet wet. One shot could only be captured by taking off my shows and rolling up my jeans so i could get my camera in the perfect location... Ah the things I do for my art. It was actually quite refreshing at 7am! I will be mixing Harriman back into my locations again as I am sure there is a lot to be uncovered in B&W.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Bear Mountain Bridge and Highlands - Color

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Bear Mountain Bridge and Hudson Highlands - Infrared

The sky was perfect today with puffy white clouds and a deep blue sky. I have been waiting for just such a day to photograph the Bear Mountain Bridge and Hudson Highlands in infrared.

It was worth the wait! I found the perfect location that starts at the Fort Montgomery Historic Site. A short walk from there is a small hiking bridge across the Popolopen Creek that allows you to shoot from water level without obstruction. I will be back in the Autumn to shoot this same spot in color.

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl

Harriman State Park at night

Night time sky and one of the lakes at Harriman State Park. Last nights sky reminded me of this shot from last september.

I plan to get out with the camera for a bit tomorrow morning.... If I do I'll share the photos with you guys to critique..

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Here Comes Autumn

I am ready for fall this year. I am looking forward to the crisp cool nights and the trees changing color. I will be posting a few favorites from years past and perhaps a new image or two if I get out at all this weekend.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Nobska Light Sunset - Another view

Nobska point Light in the glowing in the end of day light as the sun sets over Woods Hole Ma.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Tranquil Beach - Early Morning

Ah. I get relaxed just looking at this photo. It takes me right back to Cape Cod.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Highland Light at sun up.

Highland Lighthouse at sunrise.

This is a closeup of the tower against the sunrise sky. It is not the first angle I would have chosen, but it was the only way to get the shot and not include the chainlink fence that is close to the building. Oh well art is supposed to be a challenge right?

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Higgins Farm Windmill - Watercolor

here is the finished version of the old Higgin's Farm Windmill in Brewster Ma. I am really happy with how this turned out. I may play a little more with shading on the house and shingles, but maybe not.

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl

Second Wash - Higgins Farm Windmill

I added the shadow side of the windmill and buildings and washed in some of the foreground. The painting is starting to take shape!

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

First Wash - Higgins Farm Windmill

Drawing complete and first wash of Sky and a warm foreground color done. Sky needs a little more pulled out and shaped on left, but is otherwise mostly done. Foreground wash was loose with some white poking thru.

Next installment on Sunday.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Subject of next painting

This scene of a windmill and old blacksmith shop located in Drummer Boy park in Brewster Ma. will be my next painting. I think this composition is more interesting than the windmill straight on and there is wonderful morning light falling on the grass and buildings.

I will start it tonight and you'll see a post with the first washes on Sunday. It will be on 300lb Arches cold press paper and painted in American Journey watercolors.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Nobska Lighthouse - Infra Red

I don't do many Color IRs... But I loved the way this one turned out. The fisheye lens and the strange colors make it look like a Lighthouse on some fantasy planet!

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl

Sesuit Sunrise - Final

Here is the finished watercolor. I really like how the glazing worked out.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Sesuit Sunrise - Final Glazes

Final glazes have been washed in for the background of the sunrise. There are about seven glazes and five colors in there. It has a nice glow. I will add the detail of the sun, boat and land tonight and it will be done.

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl

Sunrise Sesuit Sailboat - Next Washes

This is third or fourth wash. Will let it dry over night and hit it again in the maorning before I leave for work... Then again tomorrow night. I will post a how to on this style tomorrow.

Keep Makin Art!

Carl

Next Watercolor

original photo

first wash

After a disaster (after a very promising start) to a painting of Coast Guard Beach yesterday... I decided to get back on the horse today. I will re-think Coast Guard Beach for another time... Maybe even drop in on my old painting class for advice...

But for today I started 'Sailboat Sunrise on Sesuit' (Say that three times fast!) The first wash is a loose mix of pinks and purples and oranges done went into wet. I plan to sneak up on this one with glazes of the same colors put down over a few days. following that if all goes well the sailboat and the shore will go down in one loose dark wash. Look for the second and third washes on Tuesday night. I have not painted this style (ala Catherine Anderson) in a while but think the many layers of transparent glazes technique will really make this subject sparkle when it is done.

Keep Makin Art!

Carl

9/6/2010 - New Infrareds from Skylands

There was incredible light today for infrareds. Nice bright clear day with strong light works best for these photos.

I went back to Skylands to fine tune some compositions I had already photographed and take advantage of being there at the right time of day.

I look forward to shooting this kind of stuff in Italy in a few weeks. Just wonder how I will get all those people out of my shots in the middle of the day. I may have to get used to the idea of people as part of the composition.

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl

Early Morning Highland Light - Cape Cod 2010

Highland Light in Truro Ma. is one of my favorites. I started painting it 7 or 8 years ago as watercolors. I like it for the shapes and the big sky behind it. I get a lot of chances to play with the colors in the roof lines and buildings. From a photo perspective it has challenged me over the years. by 7 am the light on it is flat and harsh. This year I went before the sun had actually come up and got this wonderful pink sky. This is much better than previous attempts. Next year i will try for something later in the day and maybe a different season so I can get some good shadows on all those different parts of the buildings. The other reason it is tough to shoot this one is there is a big chain link fence right in front of it coming from the roadside.. and from the water side there is a pepsi machine right against the building Uggh so you angles get a little limited. All in all though I am happy with this photo of one of my favorite spots to sit and look at the lighthouse or turnaround and look at the Atlantic.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Nobska Light Sunset

Drawing and first wash

Several washes later... Starting to take shape.

Detail complete and glazing washes to get the value relationships just right.

I chose this sunset scene of Nobska Light in Woods Hole, MA as my first 2010 Cape Cod watercolor. I have painted this lighthouse before, but wanted the challenge of a convincing Sunset with the late day reflected light on the structure. I am really happy with this one and plan to spend a good deal of Sunday working on new paintings in the Studio.

With a camera or a paint brush Cape Cod NEVER fails to inspire me. The trick is to live up to that inspiration.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Cape Cod 2010 Photographs

Here is a link to an album I posted of the photographs from this weeks trip. Over time I will post each of them here with a story or something about the photo, but wanted to get them out for you to see.

Cape Cod Photographs 2010

Now to hopefully turn some of theses wonderful photos into paintings.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Cape Cod 2010

Captain Bang Hallets House

Higgins Farm Windmill

Nobska at Sunset

Coastguard Beach

Sesuit Sunrise

We are home from a glorious week on Cape Cod. We left a day early to beat the traffic from pending storm, but still had one of the best and most Cape weeks. Great food, great friends, great art and one of the most beautiful places in the world.

This is just a post of this years Cape images. There are bout 20 more really strong ones I will post over the next few weeks.

Thank You Wendy, Laura, Terry, Dave, Chloe and Max for one of the best weeks ever!

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Best of Cape Cod Review Saturday 9/4

Sunrise waves on Newcomb Hollow

I hope you have enjoyed this look back on some of my favorite Cape Cod images. I could do this for a whole month!

Today also marks a milestone. This is post number 500 for ArtisticBalance! I had no idea I would get this far and make so many new friends. Thank you to all of my friends and followers!

Tomorrow back to new material. I will have a bunch of stuff to share with you I'm sure.

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl

Best of Cape Cod - Friday 9/3

Sandy Neck Light - Friday 9/3

The cats walked on this with paws full of paint. I had to crop it to 8x10, but i still like it.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Best of Cape Cod - Thursday 9/2

Early Mornin' Chatham - Thursday 9/2

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Best of Cape Cod - Weds 9/1

Nobska Sunrise - Weds 9/1

Keep Makin' Art

Carl