Orchid Watercolor

Orchid 5x7" on 140 lb hot press paper

 Orchid Watercolor... My first attempt since some great paintings on the Cape this summer.  I love the colors and am glad I stopped before it got muddy.  I am definitely inspired enough to get back into the studio and paint again tomorrow...

Wendy Was right there was a studio under all that mess!

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl

The Joy of a clean studio

After about five hours of cleaning and organizing yesterday... I found there was indeed a studio out there and not just a store room. Yeah! I am looking forward to pushing some paint around tonight after the rest of my chores are done.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Studio

I never did get to paint anything Sunday, but after 4 hours and some good ideas from Wenderina My studio is clean and ready for some serious work once again.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

All Talk

Yesterday I spoke bravely of going out in the cold and shooting this morning. Well I decided to keep to the confines of my warm studio today. First of all it looks like a bomb went off after I gathered all the images for my portfolio review at CCAA. So it needs a good cleaning. Also I want to paint a Little once I decide what to work on. If I get anything done. I'll post it here tonight.

Keep Makin' Art
Carl

Another Sunday Another Lighthouse

Hello Fellow Artists:

After my winter hibernation I am starting to stretch out my art muscles again for coming months of warm weather and photography and painting! It is still chilly here in New York, but the light is clear and the earth is beginning to yield to the approaching spring. While it is still to chilly out for the plants that provide some of the nice colors in my work I am again practicing by painting my favorite lighthouses on note cards. This weeks is Nobska Light on Cape Cod. These little exercises are fast and help get my brain in place to be thinking about painting and photography the world around me. Try it you'll love the exercise and be ready when the first flowers appear in the yard you want to paint.

What do you do to prepare for the season?

Cheers:

Carl

Sunday - Painting - the Pitfalls

Hello Fellow Painters (and Photographers)

You have heard me grumble here about being uninspired or not having time to paint (Ad Nauseum). On further reflection that is not the reason... After all I have time to complain about not painting right?? So what is it then? I love to paint and it inspires me. So what gets in my way?

Well I searched the dark corners of my artistic soul... Don't worry friends I am not about to slice my ear of for art... or any reason. What I found is I put too much pressure on myself to make a masterpiece in the 60 minutes I have given myself to paint this week. I really have to get over myself. The best painters in the world fail as often as they succeed. So why should I feel driven to create a finished masterpiece every time I pick up a brush? Who knows. I do know it can be crippling. Thank goodness I don't take this approach to the rest of my life or I'd never get anything done. So what did I do you ask??

I changed (Not exactly lowered) my expectations. First I reminded myself that I started painting because it is fun and I enjoy it. Next I realized I am painting for me and if I need to make a messy, muddy, wreck of painting because my mind is processing stuff from other areas of my life and I cant commit 100% of my focus to painting that is my prerogative. Painting makes me feel good so I should do it just for the sake of doing it. Art as therapy is a fine thing and not to be discounted.

Having said all that I still want my painting time to be productive. After all if it is not I could be working on my blogs, cooking, brewing etc etc. So what do i do? Well.... I give myself a break and paint a subject I know well and have had success with before. How do i keep this fresh you ask? Good question. I always find a I need thank you cards for plenty of reasons so I paint thank yous. Strathmore makes a line of watercolor cards and envelopes in a 5x7 size. This gives me a chance to knock out several in an hour. It keeps my supply of thank yous stocked and gives me a chance to explore a familiar subject in different ways. This is great! I get the satisfaction of painting, my time is not "wasted"

The examples at left are of Highland Light on Cape Cod. It is one of my favorite subjects. Now I have painted. I feel good about what I did and I have an idea about how to go about painting it the next time I am ready to work on a larger version of it.

What are your little tricks to keep you painting and enjoying what you are doing?

Keep Painting,

Carl

How to tell if it has been too long since you were in the studio!

Hello Fellow Artists-

I have been negligent of my painting time I freely admit that.... But the other day i got a visual reminder that I had been too oft remiss in my painting. Six weeks ago I needed to get the rust out and painted a quick still life of some pears. I stepped into the studio the other night and found what I can only guess were the remains of two pears. Lucky for me the studio is not heated or I would have had a real stinky mess. So the lesson my friends is make sure to spend time in your studio everyday even if it is just to organize and clean brushes or if you are a photographer organize your equipment or the images on your hard drive.

What do you do to keep your artistic skills sharp even during a busy week. I find I need to make the time because I am happiest when I am painting and shooting. I am pledging to myself to go shooting at sunrise and paint for a while tomorrow.