Carol Carter

29 September 2008

NAPA Valley


I've spent the last week traveling in California-- and the last few days in NAPA VALLEY. it's spectacular here this time of year-- Fall is "the Crush."

I'm staying in St. Helena where there are many galleries and artists. NAPA OPEN STUDIOS was going on this weekend -- and i visited a few of them. Art is alive and well here!

The Valley is a good marriage of agriculture, wine, tourism, organic responsibility, art, and money!


I found some bottle of wine with my artwork on the label in Calistoga -- ON THE EDGE WINERY and Dick Vermeil wines.





One of my very dearest friends -- Sara Weinheimer lives here. A fellow watercolorist and buddy-- Bruce MacEvoy from http://www.handprint.com/ drove over for lunch at Solage in Calistoga.

A glorious weekend was had by all!

Stay tuned for more.
Posted by Picasa

25 September 2008

Black and White Nude

This painting is from the Black & White series.... a mid size watercolor of two figures. I was glad to see how smooth the paint application appeared.

Black & White
watercolor on Arches 300 lb cp
35 " H x 45" W
1995
Posted by Picasa

23 September 2008

Getty Museum

my friend, sara weinheimer and i -- at the Getty Museum in LA. we took a tour and had a wonderful lunch on a spectacular day!
Posted by Picasa

Here comes HOLLYWOOD!

hiya... i'm in HOLLYWOOD... enjoying the sights. the home i'm staying is has a collection of my work. Here is one piece... that i know you'll enjoy.
Posted by Picasa

16 September 2008

me in the studio.........

here's a working shot of me painting a portrait commission for last year. it was a huge watercolor... 8 feet square!... i paint flat.. and have to put fomeboard underneath me -- to keep the painting from getting damaged.

the method of painting flat -- allows the paint to puddle and washes to dry slowly.

the painting now hangs in the PURSER BUILDING at LOGAN UNIVERSITY in st. louis.
Posted by Picasa

14 September 2008

Pescados from Ecuador Watercolor- Part 1


Allrighty.. another tutorial!

i'm trying my best.. to reach out and make changes in my watercolor method... so.. this painting is done with ALL DANIEL SMITH watercolor!
yep... i need/want/have to try to integrate away from WINSOR NEWTON.
so i threw myself into this painting... with a new palette and plenty of new pigment. most of the color recommendations came from Sandy Maudin's workshop class. each student told me their favorite pigment -- and i threw in a few more -- to make my palette complete.
i decided to mix things up even further -- by trying new subject matter -- fish.

so..here's the first installment of the development of the painting---
colors used are:
Prussian Blue
Quinacradone Burnt Orange
Rich Green Gold
French Ultramarine







Posted by Picasa

Pescados from Ecuador Watercolor

These last few stages are pretty self evident.... The development of the piece takes place-- pretty much from fish to fish. i leave the final fish for the last-- the lightest in value and the center of interest.

the total painting has a brief feel to it... which i enjoy. there are many many statements of mine that are overworked -- and i'm trying my best to keep things fresh and abbreviated now.
enjoy !

Pescados from Ecuador
watercolor on Arches 300 lb cp
22" H x 30" W
2008
email for purchase

Posted by Picasa

11 September 2008

Figurative swimmer.........

this painting needed to be tweaked..... i started it over a year ago.. as part of the "Bad Girl" series of work. but.. after reinspecting it from the flat files... i decided it needed some fine tuning! in particular -- i added another Prussian Blue wash to the background-- and got ride many of the 'saved whites' in and around the figure.

with the current status of light in my studio-- i sometimes leave too many whites... which then flatten the painting.

i like the feel and mood of the figure. i also like the overhead perspective... and acidic palette fits the woman's attitude.

What Did You Say?
watercolor on Arches 300 lb cp
22" H x 30 " W
2008

email for purchase
Posted by Picasa

05 September 2008

~~Mosaic Swim~~

I was interested in trying out a new paper.... the Twinrockers brand... with handmade surface and edges. it's a gorgeous, receptive paper....which allows the paint to swirl and settle into the graininess of paper. i used a more organic pigment... Cereulean, Maganese, Veridite Blue, Opera, Transparent Burnt Orange... which held up magnificently.

i like the paper.. and i will use it again.

Mosaic Swim
watercolor on Twinrockers 300 lb cp
20" H x 20" W
2008
Posted by Picasa

02 September 2008

Evan's Twenty Two Year Portrait!


Okay guys... here it IS-- a small tutorial on how i paint a portrait.

as many of you know.. i am painting a portrait a year... of my son. this is his 22nd portrait!
i feel privileged and honored to capture him as he marches from childhood to adulthood. it's been a wonder and joy to watch his personality emerge -- and his maturity evolve.
i hope you enjoy viewing them -- as much as i have painting them.
if you'd like to see the OTHER portraits--- please go to my web site:
http://www.carol-carter.com/ and look under GROWTH PORTRAITS.

Evan at 22
watercolor on Arches 300 lb cp
40" H x 30" w
2008


Posted by Picasa

Evan's 22 Year Portrait- part deux


here are the final few stages-- there are many more -- but i condensed it down to these 9 digitals.
enjoy.!



voila!