Monday, August 30, 2010

Scarlett (still life with red apples in candlewick)

watercolor on paper 20 x 24
This weeks painting is in response to a new monthly challenge that the Artists helping Artists --http://artistshelpingartistsblog.blogspot.com/-- blog is hosting.  This is the first challenge for this site and the theme is September.  The idea being that each month you do a painting based on the theme of that month and in one year you have material for a calendar.  I thought it was a terrific idea.  They also have a fabulous blog radio talk show that you can access via the above link.  I'm a bit obsessed with it!  The hosts Leslie Saeta --http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com--and Dreama Tolle Perry-- http://dreamatolleperry.blogspot.com/--share crazy amounts of wonderful info that any artist will find pertinent.    They are also both super duper talented artists so check out their blogs.

So back to this weeks painting.  When I thought of September, I thought of back to school, the end of summer and fall.  Apples came to mind, an apple for the teacher, which immediately made me think of red apples.  I wanted to incorporate fall colors in with the fabric, so as I was preparing for this still life, I was too impatient to go to the fabric store and purchase something, so I looked around my house and low and behold my kitchen curtains were perfect.  So my painting had a "Gone with the Wind" moment, down came the drapes and into the still life they appear.  I'm titling this one "Scarlett", my witty little homage:)  I think the curtains were a great contrast to the apples and had the fall colors I was looking for.  As if the striped fabric wasn't enough of a challenge I grabbed my husbands favorite dishes, which we were given when we got married.  It's his grandma's candlewick that he called marble dishes when he was a kid because of all the glass balls that adorn the rim of the dishes.  This is my first time painting glass and I have to say I loved it.  I'm beginning to realize I love a challenge.  Once I started this painting I just didn't want to stop.

kitchen area, see the curtains:)  Also I refinished this table recently, goes so much better with my furniture now.


Hope you enjoy and I'll let you know when it's posted  on the Artists helping artists blog.  And I encourage all you artists out there to participate in the challenge, deadline is the 15th of Sept.

I also want to thank all of my followers new and old and everyone that takes the time to comment via the blog or facebook.  I love reading them and it really motivates me.  I just love the blog world, such a support system.

Have a great week!

Carrie

31 comments:

  1. Beautiful painting Carrie! You are whipping these out SO fast, and they look amazing :) I love your title too. So cool :) I think this challenge is such a great idea, I've been thinking of doing a seasonal type painting lately.

    And your table looks fab too, you're so talented!

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  2. Carrie,
    Oh those apples. They are sooo delicious. Cant take my eyes off. And the glass bowl is fantastic.. Oh yes the fabric too..

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  3. you have done an incredibly beautiful job on this one. great work Carrie.

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  4. Incredibly realistic! Beautiful painting!

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  5. Thanks everyone!

    Crystal, I have to admit I was a little MIA with my family this weekend. I just couldn't stop painting:)

    Prabal, Thank you so much! Love reading your comments:)

    Gary, Thank you, so glad you stopped by and thanks for becoming a follower. It's awesome to read your comments.

    Sadia, Thank you so much. So happy to have you as a follower.

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  6. This painting is soo well done. I love your work.

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  7. Wow, you made me think of Fall Carrie. Those apples are so delicious; photographically appealing they are surrounded with watercolor flow of sage green. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!
    Thank you so much,
    Irina

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  8. Oy, I forgot to tell you thank you so much for the link on Artists Helping Artists. I am following this blog and already found some subject to share (printing materials from Vistaprint experience)

    Thanks again,
    Irina

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  9. Carrie, what a fantastic painting...really love it! Totally understand the immersion and getting lost feeling...hopefully you have a loving and supportive family like I do, makes the painting come out all that much sweeter. P.S. glass...wow!!! fabulous!

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  10. This is just amazing Carrie. Fabulous lights and darks. Your fabric wow!

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  11. Carrie! You have out done yourself! I LOVE the glass bowl. I can't even imagine how you painted glass..... way cool!

    The deep scarlett color is so pretty and rich.

    How exciting to be apart of a monthly challenge and push your skills and learn new things. I need to learn from you and do something to enrich myself.....

    I love seeing your work each week. Keep up the good work!!!!

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  12. Carrie, I love this painting and it cracks me up that you took down your drapes to make a still life set-up. That's inspiring!

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  13. Just stunning....wait - did I say that before? I think so.
    Wow. Beautiful.
    pve

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  14. This is awesome, Carrie. I also see alot of my blogger friends, Crystal, Prabal, Bonnie, Gary, Julie and Dori are yours too. Look forward to seeing more of your wonderful art.

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  15. Carrie, You are so talented! The stripes and glass are so accurate!

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  16. Bonnie, Irina, Julie, Dori, Wendy, Nancy, Patricia, Carol and Lori, Wow! Love to see all of these comments. I thank each and every one of you. And Nancy I did feel like a crazy lady ripping down my drapes, but all in the name of art. I feel so blessed that each of you have taken the time to leave such wonderful comments.

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  17. Oh Carrie! This is an impressive piece. !! First, watercolor is not an easy medium. The folds in the fabric is wonderful and being striped had to be that much more challenging which you perfected. Thank you for visiting my blog and your kind comments. I'm looking forward to seeing your next painting!

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  18. What a stunning painting Carrie, the light is amazing. Looking forward to seeing more of your work.

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  19. Wow, Carrie! I love your work! The way you painted that glass is...amazing. Amazing. I looked at some of your odler posts, too, and I admire your skill with watercolors. I have always considered that to be the most difficult medium. Your art makes me happy. ♥ Your blue hydrangeas are so beautiful! And, thank you for your comment on my blog today. Happy September to you! I love the calendar idea! (I'm a teacher--love your apples!) ~Kathy

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  20. This painting is a knockout! Beautiful, beautiful!

    Every time I think about Scarlett and the drapes, I think of a Carol Burnett skit. She made a dress out of the drapes, but she left in the drapery rod!

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  21. wow Carrie, this is super! The apples look so crisp and delicious. And the glass bowl and the light are so well done. Great response to the challenge

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  22. Hmuxo, Erik, PaperPumpkin,Virginia, and Deborah, Thank you so much for your comments! It feels like a big cyber hug:) I appreciate each and every one! And Virginia the Carol Burnett skit is classic, so funny! Thank you all and I've been checking out your blogs:)

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  23. There is just so much I can say about this painting, the lighting, the color, the glass, reflections, patterns. This is fantastic work! Love it!

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  24. Thank you Nancie,

    Thanks for leaving a comment, I appreciate your wonderful words:)

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  25. Can not believe the colors you achieve with these watercolors, the mood you portray is beautiful as well. Great job! Thank you as well for your nice comment on my blog I always appreciate them, take care and keep up the great job!

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  26. This is magnificent, Carrie! The folds of fabric are so complex and lovely with the clear glass bowl.

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  27. Carrie, your story is so funny. You, my friend, are an artist on a mission! Great painting!

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  28. Very striking... nicely done! Love the stripes and shiny apples. Must be stunning to see in real life at that large size.

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  29. I love this piece. The color palette is so warm and the whole composition works so well with the dark red and the light. Your best work! Bravo! Your curtains is a testamony that when you surround yourself with only what you truly love.....your own surroundings becomes a conduit for inspiration!

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  30. You nailed that striped cloth, Carrie!

    -Dean

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