Bromeliads Watercolor

Bromeliads have always been a favorite of mine.  I've never felt safe in painting them ....  they seemed too complex.

But... I did see some beautiful ones at a garden in South Carolina.

I had to paint them.

This is a small maquette...  of ones that I'd like to do larger.  It didn't take long to get into the rhythm of the leaves.  The strips leave make for a strong design element.

An artist from St Louis-- Phyllis Plattner -- painted these in the 80's.  I fell in love with them.  I never thought there would be a way for me to compare to her beautiful paintings... but I did try!


Bromeliads
watercolor
12" h x 12" w
2012

look for these in a larger scale soon.

End of the Day Iris Watercolor

Iris's are my love.  I used to grow them in my garden.... and photograph them incessantly.  I painted them every spring-- because they usher in the promise of warmer weather.

Now... I go to the Missouri Botanical Gardens to photograph all the iris's.  There are so many lovely varieties!


This partiular iris was a challenge.  The use of complimentary colors helped me resolve the issue of making the background unify with the foreground.  I wanted to create scale and impact by having the bloom being half the size of the paper.  The petals and the buds are off-center -- and create an interesting composition.

I never tire of painting iris!


End of the Day Iris
watercolor
40" h x 30" w
2012
almost finished some tweaking needed

Don't Leave Me Behind Tulips!

So...   I have been working on my third painting on FABRIANO paper.  I returned to Spring and familiar subject matter--- TULIPS!

I wanted to see how the paper performed and how the paint handled in the manner that I need it to-- Wet and loose!

So far-- I'm really pleased with the way it's turning out.

I deliberately stopped working on it-- so I could gain perspective.    I want the last tulips to be the center of interest and the most dynamic.  I need to make sure that they will be done with clarity and right color choices and value.


Don't Leave Me Behind Tulips
watercolor
25" h x 40" w
2012
in progress

Fabriano again!

I have decided that I needed to paint an IRIS this spring.

They are one of my FAVORITE flowers... and now in full BLOOM!

The best place to find them is at the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Off I go to photograph them on Friday-- before the big rain storms.

There are dozens of varieties.. and so many to choose from!

It is always exhilarating to see them!

The last two days I've been trying the bloom on the FABRIANO paper.

Here is a painting after two days of work. I have to finish it later-- as there are pressing things for me to accomplish over the next fews days.

I promise to post the final result of this when I finish -- so you can see how it concludes!

Long live IRIS!

Flame Thrower

watercolor

40" h x 30" w

2012

in progress

Big Blue- Iris Watercolor

Big Blue iris watercolor has found a home. I am happy to say -- that 2 of the 3 monumental iris paintings I did last year have found placement.

It is a wonderful to have them move on to be my "ambassadors."

I love to see them appreciated!

This painting is currently getting framed- so I will post the final presentation later.

Big Blue

watercolor

40" h x 50" w

2010

sold

Work in Progress- watercolor and acrylic

So.. i haven't added much to the blog lately... and that's because i haven't been excited about what's going on in the studio! but.. here's some new work... two swamp paintings...both unfinished... but both are promising.
the image is the same.... a view of reflection from the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary outside Naples, FL. i like the simplicity of the reflection... but working with the different mediums will change the final results enormously.

the approaches to each mediums are vastly different... and i won't go into that here. but... suffice it to say.. the watercolor has the reflection yet to be added.. .[probably Prussian Blue with French Ultramarine]... darkest values in the front... grading to lighter values towards the edge.
the acrylic, well.. there is so much layering yet to happen... glazes... marks, values, edges.. etc. i am also going to add the reeds themselves.. in lime green at the top. anyway, the development of these paintings can be tracked here...

also.. i added more value and detail to the pescados. i like the piece.. and am forcing the eye... more and more to the center image... the red gaping mouth of the fish. it's better to do finishing touches.. much later in a paintings journey... you are clearer and with more perspective.. less attached..


Corkscrew Swamp
watercolor
25" H x 60" w
2008

Corkscrew Swamp
acrylic/paper
25" H x 60" W
2008

Pescados
watercolor
22" H x 30" W
2008

Clear As Day- Acrylic

I'm currently in FL-- seeing relatives as well as the Naples art scene. There is no lack of economy here.. and the area seems to be thriving. I talked with galleries -- and they all report good sales and robust inventory. I think the West Coast of Florida is buffering the economic slow down. I was also struck by the amount of foreign travelers in downtown Naples. This will bolster tourism. The galleries were wrapping and shipping many paintings...yay!

I'm not sure that I would want to stay year-round in Naples-- but I would definitely consider an extended stay during winter months. The real estate looks pricey -- so you would have to stay "near by". But I didn't seen any cutting-edge art--- so there's definitely room for new artists and new ideas!

Corkscrew Sanctuary was a highlight of my trip-- and I garnered many images that will work themselves into new paintings. What a beautiful place! There were so many birds, gators, insects, and reptiles. It was the original Florida... which is fading so fast.

I can't wait to get to the Everglades next winter~

Tower Grove Lily
acrylic
48" H x 24" W
2008

Napa Valley watercolor

A view of 80% completed watercolor of some leaves and grapes during Crush time in Napa Valley last October. It was a golden time --- sunlight and leaves were warm and yellow. I worked on this watercolor for a few days -- but wasn't able to finish it. As soon as I get back from my trip - I will resolve some final areas.

I like the kaleidoscope of color, pattern, and abstraction. Here's to watercolor!


Sara's Napa Valley Front
watercolor
30" H x 22" W
2008

Exhibition in Ecuador Summer 2008

Carol Carter desde Fundación Gedisos-Sede Ecuador Guayaquil
HABIENDO CRECIDO EN FLORIDA, USA, EL AGUA ES MI PRIMER IMPRESIÒN VISUAL MAS FUERTE DE UN AMBIENTE PARA LA ACTIVIDAD HUMANA. EN MUCHO DE MI TRABAJO, EL AGUA PROVEE EL CONTORNO PARA FIGURAS ANÒNIMAS. ACUARELAS DE DESNUDOS, ASÌ COMO TAMBIÈN DESNUDOS EN BLANCO & NEGRO ESTAN EN MI PORTAFOLIO. LA BAÑISTA DESNUDA - ACUARELA EVOCATIVA Y SENSUAL ES MI TEMA PRINCIPAL.
LAS PINTURAS CONTIENEN UNA CONTÌNUA DUALIDAD: CLARIDAD Y AMBIGUEDAD; SANTUARIO Y AMEN...
03.11.

Pond Watercolor

This watercolor is a rework of a piece i hammered on last summer. i was never really satisfied -- and after many months of consideration -- decided to return to it.

it is fuller now with better scale and focus.

i was always taken with the background water.... and not the reeds -- so this time around... i spent much more time on the reeds... deepening them.. and bending them with value and shadow.


Early Light
watercolor
25" H x 60" W
2008

leftover sunflowers-- acrylic

i think it's finally... done!

you know.. sometimes.. when you work on a painting.... you work and work-- only to get fatigued.. and have to put the painting aside.

that's what i did with this piece. i couldn't figure out how to draw it to conclusion... everything was "right".. but it just wasn't complete.

i put it away.... and began the acrylic swimmer.

yesterday.. at the end of day.. i brought it out and reviewed. i saw exactly what i needed to do! and.. on top of that.. i had the courage and emotional distance from the 'making' of the piece.. to do the change!

the changes aren't that obivious but slight additions of stems and texture... here and there.. mainly to the top of the silhouette of flowers.

NOW.. i really like it.. and i'm happy that it's done!

Leftover Sunflowers
acrylic
48" H x 24" W
2008

Sea Grape Continues- Acrylic Botanical

This sea grape painting was sacrificed to learn new techniques and materials. i am seeking to deepen the richness of my acrylics.. and broadening my technique. i took a smaller/older acrylic -- and painted another layer. the sea grape became my test-kitchen. i like painting... when you don't have to worry about 'results'.... you are only concerned with learning. there is some 'rolling' of paint involved here -- and some spritz w/ toothbrush. also, a variety of new glazes and pigments from Liquitex.

as a result... i like the painting now.. it has more character and individuality than before. it seems to mimic the crusty ol' sea grapes that hang about the edge of the beach.

i am going to resolve on more passage in the sky.. and then frame and enjoy for a while.

Sea Grape
acrylic
16" H x 20" W
2008

Sweet Calla- Floral

This tiny little watercolor was done a few years back... 2004 to be exact. It hangs proudly in a home on the West Coast.

I was surprised to see it... and really enjoyed the 'glow' around the flower-- and the way it was framed.

Calla Lily
watercolor on Arches 300 lb cp
14" H x 4" W
2004

Tobacco Sunflower Floral

Here is another acrylic tutorial. I like to share the various stages it takes to make a painting. I find it fascinating and helpful myself.

Each stage takes time.. and over all -- I think there's about two week's worth of work here.





I begin with a slight outline-- and under paint with Cadmium Orange.

I then add the deeper purples -- mixed in with Liquitex Baltic Gray and Baltic Green.

After most of the passages are defined according to value and weight-- I am free to add the background.

The subject flower is then "taped off" -- so that the image will be protected as the background gets painted.

There were a couple of attempts to get the background color right. I took great care to blend the right softness to add volume of space.

The first background had more orange. Subsequent layers took that away-- but you can always see little remnants and underpinnings of previous layers.

Mid State Sunflower Floral

The layering continues-- and painting in the intricate greens and greys give form and share to the cascade of leaves underneath the blooms. The flowers themselves are painted in deep purple -- to resemble end-of-summer timeliness. The weight and sense of summer's turning -- was what I'm trying to capture.

Tobacco Sunflower Floral

These are the last few stages of the floral. There are many more -- as you would expect... but too many to post.

I added yet another layer of depth and glaze today -- finishing off the surface and deepening color.
Cadmium Orange and Dioxazine Purple we rolled on-- adding flexs of detail and color. that pops
I can see this framed with a heavy black frame.






Voila!

Tobacco Sunflower
acrylic
48 " H x 24" W
2008

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