NEXT PAINTING PROJECT

I saw these wonderful red peppers in the market today and knew I had to paint them. They will be my next watercolor project. I will lay the first washes down on Sunday and post it to show you my progress.

TIP: about the photos I am using for my paintings: I have discovered that my studio on a cloudy day is perfect for shooting reference shots for my paintings. In the afternoon the western light thru the clouds makes for good side lighting of a soft quality much like shooting with a big softbox lighting setup. I simply use watercolor paper as my background and foamcore as the shooting surface. It is a little reflective and helps fill in the shadows. I also overexpose the image one stop from the meter (+1) to compensate for all the white in the photo. Since these are meant for my reference and will not be printed bigger than 8x10 I shoot at 400 or 800 asa and can hand hold the camera. This is a quick and dirty way to get some good reference photos.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Cherry Blossoms - Skylands NJ

Technically the week is not over until tonight right?? Here is the very last oldie but goodie from 2009. I will be producing both new photos and paintings this weekend. Yeah!

This shot of Cherry Blossoms was taken at Skylands - New Jersey Botanical Gardens in later April, 2009. I love the play of the sharp pink flowers against the blurry yellow green background. This might even make a nice painting. Hmmmm

Onto new stuff after a week of greatest hits and little known treasures... I promise!

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

calla lilies

Abstract Reflection Harriman State Park

Here is another image I found going thru last years stuff as I get used to the new Mac and CS4. Reflected trees in the water on a perfect October morning. This weekend I head to the studio for some new paintings.

I am thinking of having a 24x36 gallery wrap canvas made of this image... What do you think?

Sometimes it is great to review your older work and find some treasures you skipped on the first go around.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

One More Oldie But Goodie

I rediscovered this shot of Bash Bish Falls and thought I would share with you all. It is a really amazing waterfall in western Massachusetts.

I have been working on an upgrade at work all weekend .... hence the older images for you to look at. This will i will share all new stuff with you.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Prospero's Cave revisited

While I was getting used to the new photoshop today I started playing with a few of my images. I found this one of Prospero's Cave in Bermuda. I really think I was able to get much closer to how the image actually was with this version. I can feel the cool temperature and taste a 'Dark and Stormy' now.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Peter's Kill - October 2009

This image is from a series I shot at Minnewaska in October. I don't think this shot originally got posted. I started working on it after I set up photoshop on my new computer. I found it to be a much better image than I first thought so thought I'd share it with you.

Speaking of my new computer... After five years of doing all of my digital imaging work on my laptop I switched to Mac and bought the 27" IMac. It is wonderful and has really made my workflow sooo much easier. As an IT guy and a photographer I can really appreciate how easy this computer was to set up and how amazing my photos look on the big 27" screen. It is a wonder. On the same note I have to send a shout out to my five year old HP laptop that has taken a lot of abuse in the last few years... most notably when I started shooting 15 megapixel images. It has been a real trooper and will now be used for web surfing and shared with Wenderina.

A newly converted Mac fan

Carl

Cape Cod Sunrise

With a big winter storm heading our way this weekend... I started thinking of Cape Cod and the summer and the sunshine. Here is a sunrise from Newcomb hollow from August '09 to help you get through until the warm sun once again shines on your shoulders my friends.

Keep Makin' Art

Carl

Three of a Pear - Watercolor Finished

Color me done. Here is the finished painting with just a bit more shading and the speckles added. I am really happy with it and love the colors.

What to paint or photograph next. Hmmmmmm.

Keep Makin' Art
Carl

3 of a Pear (WIP2)

Things are now starting to take shape.
A little more shading is needed and then the speckles on the pears.