Portrait Watercolor Finished!

Life in the FAST LANE has finished.

I worked again on this portrait to bring it to conclusion.  Here is the FINAL VERSION.


I like it now-- it reaches a new level for me.   It was good that I abandoned it for a few months.  I really became detached-- and didn't care what happened to it-- as long as reworking it taught me something.

I had a freedom when reworking it.....  and things progressed from there.

It's good to return to former paintings--- that are quite measuring up--- and bring about a different, more resolved statement.



FAST LANE
watercolor
22" h  x 30" w
2013

Portrait Commission FINISHED!!

The commissioned portrait is complete.

I will send to the client soon....

Thanks so much for letting me share with you.

It has been refreshing painting people... after two months of painting bugs!!


Portrait
watercolor
15" h x 22" w
2013

Delivery of Artwork

Today I delivered a large watercolor -- Marriage-- to a favorite client. She had also purchased two portraits of her kids last summer which were installed.

I was thrilled to see the portraits -- and captured them here.

The painting of Marriage will hang in her stairwell.

Thank you Holly!


Marriage
watercolor
35" h x 45" w
2009

Two Portraits
watercolor
28" h x 36" w
2009

Shanghai, China

This self-portrait watercolor was accepted in an exhibition in Shanghai, China today.

It will be neat to see it in an international competition so far away.

www.shzjjwatercolour.com

Two at Fifty
watercolor
22" h x 50" w
2006

AMERICAN ARTIST magazine- DEC 09

Here is the article in AMERICAN ARTIST magazine for DECEMBER 09.

It's a brand new article on the GROWTH PORTRAITS written by M. Stephen Doherty, editor-in-chief.

A lovely article on the development of the series -- and one that I will be proud to share with everyone.

Please look for it in your newsstand or favorite art store.

I would love to hear from you -- after you read it.

I feel very honored seeing my work in print.

Thanks again Stephen-- I appreciate all your insight and sensitivity.


American Artist Magazine
December 2009

Portraits!

the portraits have landed!

well.. let's just say... 'they're done...'

ah.. yes... i finished the double portrait of zoe and cal... and am waiting to schedule an appointment to show them to the client.

here they are!

Zoe and Cal
22" h x 30" w each
watercolor on Arches 300 lb cp
2009

Portrait of the Day- watercolor

this larger scale portrait of zoe is finished. i have to work on her brother -- Cal today... for the commission to be complete.

they are a cute couple of young adults....

it's been fun to work on this... getting to know them just a bit.. and bring their personality to life on paper!


Zoe
watercolor
22" h x 30" w
2009

Evan's 23 Portrait- watercolor

i have been doing a watercolor portrait a year of my son. this is his 23rd portrait [well, i've done a few more than 23...] ...

here he is as the happy college graduate.

the complete series of this work can be found on my website: http://www.carol-carter.com/ under GROWTH PORTRAITS.

it's been a wonderful endeavor. i first imagined that i would end the series at age 21... but now i've set the high goal of continuing the portraits for as long as i can.

Evan 23 Years
watercolor
40" h x 30" w
2009

Watercolor Portraiture

I spent the last two days.. doing 2 portraits of the same little girl. One for the child's parents.. and the other for the child's grandparents.

Each painting is similar.. and distinct!

Back to back portraits have their challenges and virtues. It was easy to make them related... and also... try to make them different.

The client picked them up as soon as I was finished -- very fine!


Baby Karakus
watercolor
20" h x 20" w
2009
commission



Baby Karakus
watercolor
15" h x 15" w
2009
commission

Self Portrait

this self portrait i did a couple of years ago. it's currently being exhibited at DRAGONFIRE GALLERY in Cannon Beach OR. i found it recently on my computer -- and thought i'd share it here. i like it -- because the gaze is a bit distant and wondering. you sense a bit of vulnerability in her expression--


self portrait
watercolor
40" h x 20"w
2007

available for purchase

Hit the Road- Ready to go

i'm having a small exhibition at East Central College in Fulton, MO next week. it will hang for a month. i framed up these two paintings to include.


Metamorphosis
watercolor
35" h x 45" w
2008


iSelf
watercolor
35" h x 45" w
2008

The Saga Continues!.... acrylic

so... after returning home.... i had the chance to sneak back in the studio for the afternoon.

there was something refreshing about being back to work... with a new perspective. i had absolutely no hesitation about jumping in and mixing things up.

i took a former painting -- and reworked the background. the painting changed course dramatically.... and now it's time to address the foreground. tomorrow.. i'll have additional hours to bring the foreground out with layers of glaze.


i like days like these... where being frivolous and decisive make good artistic progress.

an artist must always remember to 'allow the process to be the teacher'... and not get too precious with the results.


Still Holding On
acrylic
40" H x 50" W
2008

Seeing Through Surface Tensions- acrylic painting

This smaller acrylic is incorporating a few new techniques-- mostly a softness and matte finish to the face. Also, harder, more graphic approach to other areas. This adds drama and an abstract quality. I'm also trying out Cobalt Teal -- Golden Acrylic paint in the water.

It's not quite done... but I wanted to get something on the blog before i take my trip to Tampa/Naples FL tomorrow. I like finishing a painting up to a point... and then letting it "sit" for a while. It gives it a chance to breathe... and allows me a chance to get perspective on how to finish.

I will be returning to the studio in a couple of weeks. I am flying south to check out a few places for art marketing and inspiration. When I return-- I'll be driving an exhibition to Annapolis MD for a show in December.

http://www.americancontemporarygallery.com/ will be the venue! All are welcome to come. The opening is December 5, 2008 6 - 10 pm. I will be there... and look forward to seeing you.

Please come!


Surface Tension
acrylic
16" H x 20" W
2008

put yourself in your paintings- acrylic

this portrait is a new approach [for me] to acrylic painting. i'm doing more ground work.... preliminary stuff -- BEFORE i even begin painting. also.. i tried putting in a warmer ground-- the cadmium orange and yellow light -- underneath the total painting ....makes the image warmer and adds richness and glow.

i like the composition and the energized brushwork in the background. i'll try this again in a different palette. i'd like to bring out the eyeglasses more prominently.

Makin' Mischief
acrylic
18" H x 20" W
2008

watercolor portraits

Two portraits i worked on the last few weeks... for clients from Ecuador. the y are smaller format-- and straightforward in presentation. the goal is to capture "likeness'... without sacrificing watercolor technique. i love doing portraits. it's very satisfying to create a painting that resembles someone... and with that... creates an emotional attachment for them!

Cecilia
watercolor on Arches 300 lb cp
15" H x 22" W
2008


Adriana
watercolor on Arches 300 lb cp
15" H x 22" W
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.

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

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

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!