Oil painting after Chardin – WIP – approx 8 x 10″ on canvas paper
Begonia leaf – graphite and colored pencil in sketchbook
Rhododendron leaf – graphite and colored pencil in sketchbook
Hydrangea – graphite and colored pencil in sketchbook
Miss Lucy from the St. Croix markets – Watercolor for #worldwatercolormonth
The Husband and I recently went to see the band Kansas at the Thomas Wolfe arena in Asheville. As we were driving to the venue we ran into some friends.
US: We are going to see Kansas.
Them: Asheville gets the best bands…40 years later.
I wasn’t expecting much, but Kansas was actually pretty good. As we left the Husband said “They sounded as good as they did on my 8 track cassettes!”
I’m still taking the “nature’s notebook” botanical drawing class. I just started an oil painting class. I haven’t touched oil paint since the mid seventies which is interesting because I was only a toddler in the mid-seventies. 🙂
We did our first painting, above, as an exercise in looking at values. We used one color and white. I used burnt umber and copied a still life from Chardin, suggested by the teacher who is big into the old masters and which auto-correct wants to change to chardonnay. Perhaps if I had some chardonnay while painting, it would have been easier, but I am not entirely displeased with the result.
I have not been neglecting my watercolors. Above is a picture of Miss Lucy from St. Croix with a reference kindly supplied by Bonnie Luria, formerly of St. Croix and now comfortably settled into Asheveille, NC.
Happy 4th of July everyone. (And even if you don’t celebrate it as a holiday, it’s still the 4th of July and I hope it’s happy for you.) Thanks for looking.
50 comments
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July 4, 2016 at 12:17 pm
Li_B (@lifesastitch)
Vignetted Miss Lucy is my favourite. I always like the ones with techniques I want to develop. And that melty watercolour look…
July 4, 2016 at 3:55 pm
Carol King
Hi Li, Thanks for your comment. Yes, that melty watercolor look! It’s a challenge but fun to do.
July 4, 2016 at 12:41 pm
Kk2n777
Love everything you have done. The sepia oil is academic and demonstrates your proficiency with the medium. Your pencil drawings are very delicate and watercolor appropriately loose. I can’t wait to see more of everything! Good for you!
July 4, 2016 at 3:56 pm
Carol King
Thanks K, Now I need to start working on my figures to get them as good as yours.
July 4, 2016 at 12:42 pm
anne farmer
Love the shine on the leaf, and the lady is gorgeous
July 4, 2016 at 3:56 pm
Carol King
thank you Anne.
July 4, 2016 at 1:05 pm
Suzanne
Carol, you are so talented on so many ways. Happy Fourth to you and Matt!
Suzanne
Sent from my iPod
July 4, 2016 at 3:57 pm
Carol King
Hi Suzanne, Happy 4th back! Hope all is well with you.
July 4, 2016 at 1:12 pm
jeanbohlender
Nice!
July 4, 2016 at 4:00 pm
Carol King
Gracias!
July 4, 2016 at 1:25 pm
neihtn2012
Your Chardin looks like the original, without his colors. Miss Lucy exudes with her charm and humor. It’s an excellent portrait.
July 4, 2016 at 4:00 pm
Carol King
I’ll have to try a chardin with color this time. Thank you for your comment on Miss Lucy.
July 4, 2016 at 1:57 pm
outsideauthority
You are really showcasing your talents with this post! The botanics really stand out, you can tell you’ve really spent time looking. Looks like you are having fun too!
July 4, 2016 at 4:01 pm
Carol King
who knew how much I had to stare at these leaves and flowers to be able to draw them correctly. But you are right, I am having fun. Thanks for your visit and comment.
July 4, 2016 at 1:58 pm
RHCarpenter
Your posts always have me laughing out loud and making others want to know “What are you laughing at?” Your colored pencil work is outstanding!! Happy 4th 🙂
July 4, 2016 at 4:02 pm
Carol King
glad you enjoyed the post and got a chuckle out of it too. This is the first time I’ve used colored pencil and had a bit of an issue with it, but I’m enjoying it.
July 4, 2016 at 2:13 pm
Rebecca
All the above are beautiful, but I think the shine you have on the vessel (and the contrast with the textures of the other items) in the oil painting is especially stunning. More, please! 🙂
July 5, 2016 at 10:26 am
Carol King
thanks Rebecca. I’m doing another class and may try a landscape.
July 5, 2016 at 10:30 am
Rebecca
I look forward to seeing it! 🙂
July 4, 2016 at 2:50 pm
nicsearth
So much art, your new life is clearly agreeing with your creativity! I love these botanicals you’re working on and the tonal piece is really good.
I’ve vaguely heard of Kansas but can’t think of any of their music! Must go Google them!
July 4, 2016 at 4:03 pm
Carol King
You may know “carry on my wayward son” and “dust in the wind” by Kansas. Google those. Thanks for stopping by.
July 4, 2016 at 3:37 pm
memadtwo
I especially love the leaves. (K)
July 4, 2016 at 4:03 pm
Carol King
Thanks K, I like the leaves too.
July 4, 2016 at 5:19 pm
jimmyboi2
Lovely! Really enjoying seeing your work – am especially enamored of the botanicals (which auto-correct wanted to change to “enraged at Bohack’s.” Kidding. Really love the botanicals!
July 5, 2016 at 10:25 am
Carol King
Enraged at Bohack’s LOL! I remember Bohacks.
July 4, 2016 at 7:07 pm
BRENDA REID
Happy 4th baby girl!
Your artwork is just beautiful 😊😊😊
Sent from my iPad
>
July 5, 2016 at 10:25 am
Carol King
Miss you Brenda! Thanks.
July 4, 2016 at 7:37 pm
Susan Feniak
Wonderful! Glad to see your beautiful art Carol. Happy 4th
July 5, 2016 at 10:27 am
Carol King
thanks for stopping by and commenting Susan.
July 4, 2016 at 8:18 pm
urbansketcherschicago
Happy Fourth to you too! Good to see that you getting into oils, and very good to see and hear about Old Masters approach – it’s the best! This is Alex, btw. I am in my Urban Sketchers account and am too lazy to switch :).
July 5, 2016 at 10:28 am
Carol King
Hey Alex! So nice to see you. Thanks for your comments. Please to have a comment from Urban Sketchers Chicago. 🙂
July 4, 2016 at 8:39 pm
Joan Tavolott
Happy 4th of July!!! I hope they do the 4th up big there so you aren’t too homesick for fireworks. Your oil painting looks fantastic! Love the values. Nice botanical drawings! Glad to see your wc…looks colorful and fresh.
July 5, 2016 at 10:28 am
Carol King
We had fireworks at the local baseball stadium. No Macy’s fireworks, but they were fun anyway. Thanks for your comments.
July 5, 2016 at 4:00 am
Padmaja
Loved the water color work and oil still life , look forward to more oils from you! Have you thought of framing your sketch book pages, they are all so beautiful!
July 5, 2016 at 10:31 am
Carol King
Hi Padmaja! How are you? Thanks for your comments. There will be more oil painting, but I think I’ll still be working in values in the beginning. I’m still working on botanicals, so maybe when I’m finished I’ll frame some. Thanks!
July 5, 2016 at 4:55 am
cathgatland
No chardonnay necessary – great Chardin exercise, and love the begonia leaf especially. Hope your 4th July was good, as was mine 🙂
July 5, 2016 at 10:31 am
Carol King
Hey Cathy, glad you had a good 4th! and thanks for your kind comments.
July 5, 2016 at 10:05 am
Laura (Createarteveryday)
Holy goodness, these are all wonderful but the botanicals? I thought they were photos. Amazing!
July 5, 2016 at 10:32 am
Carol King
Hi Laura, I start out each botanical thinking, “Oh geez, how am I gonna draw this” but then, one step at a time, they come out ok. Although I haven’t posted the ones that have gone awry. LOL! Thanks for the visit and comment.
July 5, 2016 at 9:45 pm
Laura (Createarteveryday)
You are working magic, Carol! My pleasure. I think I start most every drawing that same way lol.
July 5, 2016 at 2:19 pm
Inese Poga Art plus Life
Everything you did was very good. Drawing is such a useful skill. I think the m,ore you draw, the easier it is. I was just having this ability, but I have observed that those who draw and paint from reality, get way better results.
July 11, 2016 at 10:02 am
Carol King
I agree drawing is a useful skill and the more you do it the better you get. But like stage fright, I still start each drawing thinking “I can’t do this!”
July 5, 2016 at 6:14 pm
dani8080
Stunning!!!! You’re so freakin talented, Carol! Miss you!! ❤
July 11, 2016 at 10:03 am
Carol King
Miss you too Dany! thanks for stopping by.
July 7, 2016 at 3:57 pm
ruthsartwork
All of them are so nice. The value study is quite interesting, but I think i like the begonia leaf best. I think I could almost touch it.
July 9, 2016 at 11:34 am
Barry Coombs
Nice work, as usual. I hope you enjoyed your 4th of July holiday.
July 11, 2016 at 5:15 am
June Malone
Fantastic work Carol! You’ve ‘mastered’ oil, coloured pencil and watercolour – each beautifully observed – I really admire you for having a go with new techniques and mediums. You make it look so easy. The oil looks like you really know what you’re doing, despite never having touched them for decades – the botanicals are excellent with all their detail and I love the lost edges on the watercolour – such a simple little image, yet difficult to achieve.
July 17, 2016 at 11:29 pm
violetski
You are so talented dear Carol! Beautiful paintings❤️
September 7, 2016 at 11:05 am
lesliepaints
Hi Carol,
I certainly have some catching up to do! Your botanicals are so cool. The two of the leaves actually have personality and an identity all their own. I think I could locate those two in a pile of leaves (the burnt red coloring on the one and the hole in the other. Oils?!?! You are so lucky. No one teaches them in this area that I can find. Good job on all of these!
March 20, 2017 at 9:53 pm
Nadine
Miss having you in Super Sundays.