Macy's Illumination 2010

Macy's Illumination original watercolor 9 x 12

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Thanksgiving down, Christmas to go!  Can you believe that we rapidly approaching Christmas?  Where has this year gone. We had a wonderful Turkey Day.  We stayed home this year so it was just us but we still got out the fine china:)  Being a military family we can't always celebrate with our extended family and sometimes not even our immediate, I am extremely grateful that my hubby was here this year.  Because of our lifestyle I find it really important to make each Holiday amazing!  Having two little boys also make the holidays so exciting.  Seeing each one through their eyes is so much fun.

The boys and I, Brian's taking the pic on Thanksgiving

This year on Thanksgiving we started of course with the Macy's Parade.  Steven loved it!!  He's obsessed with the blow up decorations that you see at all the stores, and consequently in our yard, so the Macy's parade was like the mother of all blow up figures.  Every float that came on the screen he was exuberant about.  In keeping with this theme I painted the front of Macy's with their beautiful lighted tree.  It's part of the Illuminations 2010 in New York.  My friend Pat gets to go each year (lucky lady) and she graciously gave me permission to use it as my reference. (It's her birthday today, so Happy Birthday, Pat)  This painting is so fun and festive, and who doesn't love Christmas lights.

 

Steven's Christmas drawing

Steven got in on the action this week and did a Christmas drawing for you.  It's ornaments and lights.  He absolutely loves Christmas and the decorating that goes along with it.

Please Vote for my Illuminated Pumpkins

I have an exciting announcement, okay so I may be more excited than you but I have launched my website, www.carriewallerfineart.com.   Yay!!!  I feel important now:)  I also entered into the Bold Brush online contest for the month of November.  So I would love it if you would take a sec and vote for my entry.  It's super easy, you just have to click on the facebook like button beside the painting.  Thank you so much

I have some new followers I want to thank each and every one of you that comments on my blog and follows me along on my journey.  I am so grateful and blessed:)

See you next week!

Carrie

Ornaments

watercolor on paper 16 x 22

It's beginning to look like Christmas, everywhere you go, la la la.  I think everyone is rushing Christmas this year, at least in our neighbor hood. (I will add it does not feel like Christmas, it's still 75 degrees here)   Several neighbors have their lights up including us and a few have already switched the switch, we have not.  My 4 year old is just beside himself already.  He told me tonight "Mommy I just love Christmas".  And he does, just like his Mommy, he loves to decorate.   The lights, the colors, the decoration, the whimsy, Christmas carols,  what is not to love. Oh and the big man in the red suit, we can't leave him out and most importantly Jesus, the main attraction, the reason for the season.  I have restrained myself, we don't have our tree up or the decor in the house up, yet, that will wait until after Thanksgiving, now I can't promise that I won't have the tree up right after the turkey dinner is over.  So this week I'm posting my Holiday watercolor.  I took pictures of the entire process and I'm adding a  fun little slide show to the side of the blog.  The boys had so much fun flipping through these pics on my camera and it really did look like a little flip book, so I thought it would be fun to share.

I don't want to ignore Thanksgiving.  During this Holiday I do want to give a huge Thank you to all of my blogging buddies.  This year has been amazing for me in the blogging world.  I am so thankful for each and every one of you that follows my blog, leaves comments, and in general supports my creative endeavors.  I love hearing from each and every one of you.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Well my friends, what are your Holiday plans?  Do you have favorite dishes you prepare for the Holidays?  Our Thanksgiving menu this year is  turkey (of course), mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing (this year we are trying a new twist and using jalapeno cornbread in the dressing), cream corn (from scratch), broccoli casserole (my Aunt Paula's recipe), cranberry jello mold (in place of cranberry sauce), rolls, fruit salad, pumpkin pie and pecan pie.  So I'm dying to know what is your menu, any family favorites you want to share?


Check this out.   PVE design has done a feature me and my art.  I'm so honored.  Her blog is wonderful and inspiring.

Steven is making up for his absence and created two beautiful drawings this week.  These pictures are of a waterfall, that's all I could get out of him.  They are bold and vibrant.  He does amaze me with his artistic eye.  He picked up a leaf the other day and said "Mommy there is every color in the rainbow in this leaf".  He was right, to the average person it is a brown leaf,  but if you really look at it there were flecks of literally almost every color in the rainbow.  He's amazing!!
  

I entered my Illuminated Pumpkins into an online contest hosted by Fine Art Studios Online.  I would love, love, love it if you would vote for me.  Please go click on this and hit the facebook like button.  Thank you so much!!!

Have a wonderful week!  Gobble Gobble, don't eat too much turkey and I'll see you next week:)

Carrie

Carnevale Revisited

watercolor on paper 18 x 24

water color on paper 18 x 24

This week I'm finishing up my mini-Italy series.  I've had great time reliving memories and capturing them in paint.  I have painted the first painting "Carnevale" 3 times.  The first time I didn't like it at all and quit mid-way through, the second time was okay, but this time I got the intensity I wanted.  I think it is a great companion piece to last weeks painting.  I love how the Buone Feste is all in blues and turquoises with little bits of red and pink and in comparison to this weeks with all of the golds, oranges, and reds with little bits of green.  They are very festive, and I have to say I'm pretty happy with the end result.  I got prints made of Buone Feste and I was very happy with them so I'll be doing the same with this one.  I actually found a place that can scan large works.  I'm really happy about this because these dark paintings with high contrast can be hard to photograph..  

I can't believe we are closing  in on the Holidays!  This year has flown by.  Does anyone have fun Turkey Day plans?  I think we'll be staying home this year, but we're already planning our menu.  I think we'll put our tree up that evening.  Brian already got our lights up this weekend.  He took advantage of the gorgeous 70 degree weather we're having and got them hung, wearing shorts nonetheless.  Hope you had a terrific weekend!!!!

I do want to thank each and everyone one of you that stops by and visits my blog.   I'm so appreciative of this bloggy community.  It keeps me motivated and inspired.  I just passed my 100 follower mark, I can't tell you how thrilled that makes me:)  I started this blog less than a year ago and I feel like I have so much more I can do with it.  I have big plans for next year!!

Also don't forget to check out the Artists Helping Artists blog radio show.   You can download the shows and listen to them in itunes or call in live on Thursdays.  It has given me so much information and entertainment since I started tuning in.  Leslie and Dreama (the hosts) are fabulous, you feel like you're gabbing with your girlfriends, and they have had some fabulous guests and topics.  They also host a monthly painting challenge.  You should definitely participate in that if you are an artist.  

Steven was sick most of the week, so we don't get a masterpiece this week.  He's feeling much better.

See you next week!

Carrie

Buone Feste

watercolor on paper 18 x 24

 Carnivale in Venice is an absolutely magical time to visit.  While we lived in Europe we went every year.  It is out of this world.  People in costume drive up in their gondolas getting out at the dock and walk the streets posing for you in the most amazing places.  As an artist I was in heaven.  I didn't want to go back to the hotel because I didn't want to miss anything.  It's really like being in a movie or some fantasy world.  The entire city is alive with festivities and the scene above captures a street adorned in its festive lights.  The rainy night made for some great reflections.  This painting is a lovely memory and a promise to go back.  What are your favorite travel memories?

 Steven got back in the game this week.  He did a lovely watercolor, he said it has all of the Fall colors in it.

Also check out the Artists Helping Artists November challenge, I submitted my Illuminated Pumpkins.  Don't forget to tune into their blog radio show every Thursday, can't tell you how much information I have learned listening.

Illuminated Pumpkins watercolor on paper

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Fall.  See you next week.

Carrie

Sneak Peak Buone Feste

watercolor on paper 18 x 24

This week has been crazy, so my painting is not complete, yet!!  I had sick little boys, we've been through a stomach bug and now a bacterial infection all in the span of 6 days.  Everyone did mange to perk up for trick or treating and it was a special Halloween because Grandma and Grandpa were able to come for the weekend.  The boys had a ball.  Hope everyone had a spooktacular weekend.

I'll see you next week or maybe before:)

Carrie