Good Samaritan Hospital, Mt. Vernon, IL

I am delivering these two pieces to GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL in Mt. Vernon, IL for installation in their permanent collection.

The hospital is currently being built-- and almost ready for grand opening.  Several national artists have been chosen to install unique and site-specific works in the lobbies throughout the hospital.

There will be a grand opening later this Fall to tour the facilities.  I look forward to being part of their collection and having my work installed in a healing environment.

Thank you Good Samaritan Hospital for including me!


The Italian Suite
acrylic
16 panels  12" h  x 12" w each
8' h x 8' w overall installation
2010

Sweet Magnolia
watercolor
22" h x 30" w
2011

ITALY-- new painting

This is the 54th painting I've begun for the Italian show. I need about 65 to fill the 3500 sf space.

This show how I begin each piece...there's only a couple of hours work.

It will remain unfinished for a while... but I will resume working on it soon!

Enjoy

Italy 124
acrylic
10" h x 30" w
2010

Italy-- finished the 53 painting- acyrlic

I finished the painting of the stairwell --- it is peculiar... but very Italian.
The color palette is similar to the rest of the show -- but there is also a pastel edge.

The bottom photo is an installation of several of the 20 x 20 paintings. I don't exactly know how they'll be installed at CEDARHURST -- but this is one approach.

Italy 123
acrylic
20" h x 20" w
2010
finished

Italy installation
acrylics
20" h x 20" w
2010

ITALY -- acrylics

I have two days to finish these paintings.

The top one is new-- started yesterday... and being worked on this week.

The bottom one is giving me trouble. I don't know why-- but it isn't grabbing me as it should.

Somewhere along the way -- I lost the spark.
I know I will get it back-- but I have to set it aside.. and let it fade in the background of my desire and consciousness.

Then.. after a while... I will bring it out again... and see it with 'fresh eyes." Immediately -- I will know what to do~ !

It's always easier to solve paintings after you are dispassionate about the conclusion.

Sometimes I think -- we fall in love with what we "paint"..and not with what we "see."

Italy 123
acrylic
21" h x 21" w
2010
unfinished


Italy 120
acrylic
30" h x 40" w
2010
unfinished

Italy

Oh how I am loving to paint!

The Italy show is coming down the pike. I am happy to say -- that most of the last pieces are going fairly smoothly.

I am encouraged by the fact that they have a good home.. and nice presentation at the end of my journey.

I am also excited about the fact that if they find home... they will enable me to travel back to the place and gather more information.

I long to take Evan -- and show him what a cool country it is ... as well as see Siena and the Chianti countryside.

Ahh... perhaps next summer.

I invite ALL my blog viewers to come to the exhibition this winter... and entertain the idea of collecting a piece.

Italy 119
acrylic
21" h x 21" w
2010
second state


Italy 89
acrylic
21" h x 21" w
2010
finished- but being tweaked.

Italy Exhibition taking shape-- ACRYLICS

I have begun to see how the Italy show will come together. It's been a month of hammering out these small modular paintings...and connecting -- interconnecting them- both with imagery, palette, and subject.

I've finally settled on having them appear in the room.... in a horizontal format. They will all hang evenly... but with spaces between and differing sizes.

I am now.. really stoked about the show.. and can't wait for extended time in the studio to finish~! Look for a later winter- early spring opening.

I'm thinking of naming the exhibition-- LITTLE ITALY. What do you think?


Installation view

4 small acrylics on Ampersand



Italy 17
12" h x 36" w
2009
email for purchase
carolcarter@gmail.com

Italy: Acrylic Paintings on Ampersand

Today was a day when I worked on two new paintings to add to the series. It was a smoother day in the studio --- because I protected my time there.. and didn't have to subdivide it.

The Arno painting was the first completed... and then I developed the Sunflowers.

I will let them sit for a while -- before adding the final touches.

Italy 13
acrylic
12" h x 12" w
2009
unfinished

Italy 14
acrylic
12" h x 12" w
2009
unfinished

Napa Palm- Acrylic

This acrylic was produced a few years ago for a show about Napa Valley. I have since added other layers and depth. The vertical format is especially striking ... when it's in the gold frame.

The palm has a majestic and calming presence.

Napa Palm
acrylic
40 " h x 15" w
2007

Looking Inside/Looking Outisde- acrylic

almost done with this painting.. promise!

i keep revisiting this painting... i don't know why... perhaps it represents a challenge!

however.. i really like it now.. and am glad that i stuck with it.

i plan to have it photographed professionally.. so that all the sides of the painting are in focus. my digital camera can't seem to do this.

so... here's to persistence!


Looking Inside/Looking Outside
acrylic
40" h x 50" w
2009

Tom Seghi Studio- Miami Beach

My visit today... to Tom Seghi's studio was awesome. He was a St. Louis artist- who left the Midwest to come to Miami Beach 20 years ago. He's highly successful and exhibits and sells internationally. I was so impressed with his studio and home -- and accomplishments. I knew him back in the 80's when we were both early career artists. His web site: http://:www.seghi.com will give you a brilliant overview of his work.

He was very helpful in giving me a practical guide to integrating into the Miami art community.

Thank you TOM!

Acrylic- Pondscape

I have been working on this painting for the last few weeks... hoping to have it done before going to FL... and seeing the REAL EVERGLADES! but, alas.. I couldn't draw it to conclusion. I do like parts of it.. and I will finish it later. It's a nice composition ... and soon.. it will take on a life of it's own.


Pond
acrylic
25" h x 50" w
2009
unfinished

Still Holding On-- acrylic

this is the latest version of my acrylic. i don't plan to work on it anymore.... because i'm getting ready to frame.

i like some of it... i like the effort i put into it... and i really like the fact that it taught me something.


Still Holding On
acrylic
40" h x 50" w
2009

Cold Day- Acrylic

Here's to working on the acrylic of the swamp! i like the steps taken today... painting/repainting the water to pull it together. in fact, i really like the direction this painting is going now.

there's room for more work -- but... the richness and fullness are now back. The inky reflection -- is filled with depth and texture... greens and earth tones...

It really pays to stay with your work-- even when you feel like moving on.

Corkscrew Swamp
acrylic
25"h x 50"w
2009 unfinished

Acrylic work

A day in the studio -- balmy, warm ... perfect for working. i had time to reconsider some older pieces-- before moving on to some new work for the weekend.

Untitled
acrylic
20" h x 24" w
2009

Untitled
acrylic
40" h x 50" w
2009

Untitled
acrylic
40" h x 50" w
2009

January 4 Show ready to go!

Today -- the show for EAST CENTRAL COLLEGE -- was wrapped, packaged, and stacked -- ready to go~

delivery date is WED.... what a great exhibition this will be!

largely figurative watercolors--- mostly medium to small scale.

i will be driving the work there... and see the space myself.

the opening is January 23rd -- please come if you are in the area.



Also i did some work on the 'reflection" painting -- acrylic on paper.

It still has a way to go .... but.. working the dark passages was my effort today.
I'll rework the water tomorrow~


Corkscrew Swamp
acrylic
25" h x 50" w
2009

Still Working

I had time today.. to take some big risks in two paintings that were hanging around the studio --

I enjoyed adding depth and richness in ways that were unseen to me before.

i have a dispassionate distance from the work now -- and that enables me to risk the total painting to learn something.. and therefore -- come up with a better statement.

both of these paintings have been on the blog before... you may be familiar with the.

now i feel fairly certain about the direction they're heading in... i feel challenged and enthused by work on them today.

Looking Inside/Looking Outside
acrylic
40" h x 50" w
2008

Still Holding On
acrylic
40" h x 50 " w
2008

Two Still in the Works-- acrylic

so.. .i'm still working on these paintings. it's been slow -- as the weather is cold and makes me want to hole up inside and NOT paint!

but... i managed to make a few decisions -- despite my reluctance.

i have loads more work to do ... but i feel that the swimmer one has a real chance to move now. i took some risks by changing the water.. and now i have to bring out the highlights and richness.

the upper swamp painting... needs to be set aside at this point -- so that i can gain a perspective. i'm too attached to what i've already done... and that's never good! i may even totally rework the water... so that it has a different cooler palette. but.. all in good time!

check in again later.. and you'll see progress.

Corkscrew Swamp
acrylic
25" h x 50" w
2008

Looking Inside/Looking Outside
acrylic
40" h x 50" w
2008

NEW VISONS- American Contemporary Gallery

Other terrific artists in the exhibition- NEW VISIONS:

Tony Henson
Alan Soffer
Steven Pearson