Hi Everyone,
This week's painting is the answer to the February Cook/Waller challenge. The theme was "love letters", appropriate for Valentine's Day! My painting may be a bit unconventional. The "love letters" in my still life are from my husband to his little boys. The photo in this still life is from the day that Brian left for his deployment. I'm so glad I captured this moment. Any time I looked at this photo during the first month Brian was gone I cried. I'm very proud of my hubby sending is boys a letter, letter writing is not a strong suit of his:) The glass globe is positioned to Afghanistan, and one of my favorite parts of the painting are the reflections of the star on the chrome airplane. When I was drawing the composition, I was so caught up in capturing the shapes, I didn't even realize that the stars where there, a happy little revelation that came through as I was painting. Painting this piece was a therapeutic experience, I was able to finish in one day, it really flowed quickly and I was focused the entire time.
On a funny note, I set this still life up in my dining room, which has the perfect window for capturing afternoon sun. I set it up and was waiting for the perfect light. I sporadically would check to see if the light was right throughout the afternoon. I know after setting up many a still life that around 4 p.m. this time of year is when the sun comes pouring through my window. So about that time I went into the dining room and noticed something white billowing from my still life. It took my brain a minute to process what was going on. The glass globe was acting as a magnifying glass and when the sun hit just right the flag started smoking. The thought never crossed my mind that I might burn my house down setting up a still life. I'm so glad that I was right there when it started to catch fire!!! So during the process of trying to capture a heart-warming, patriotic moment, I did the most un-patriotic action, tried to burn a flag. Happy to report that the damage to the flag minimal, I don't think I'm in danger of imprisonment:)
Here is Crystal's brilliant answer to the Cook/Waller challenge. There is such a wonderful and emotional moment captured in this painting! I just love her warm, glowing, beautiful colors. The way Crystal manages to capture the pure joy a mother has for her children is amazing! I just marvel at her paintings:) Pure and simple, she's awesome!!!!
See you Wednesday,
Carrie
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| "Love Letters" watercolor on paper by Carrie Waller 12" x 12" |
On a funny note, I set this still life up in my dining room, which has the perfect window for capturing afternoon sun. I set it up and was waiting for the perfect light. I sporadically would check to see if the light was right throughout the afternoon. I know after setting up many a still life that around 4 p.m. this time of year is when the sun comes pouring through my window. So about that time I went into the dining room and noticed something white billowing from my still life. It took my brain a minute to process what was going on. The glass globe was acting as a magnifying glass and when the sun hit just right the flag started smoking. The thought never crossed my mind that I might burn my house down setting up a still life. I'm so glad that I was right there when it started to catch fire!!! So during the process of trying to capture a heart-warming, patriotic moment, I did the most un-patriotic action, tried to burn a flag. Happy to report that the damage to the flag minimal, I don't think I'm in danger of imprisonment:)
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| "Love Letters For Mom" watercolor by Crystal Cook 6"x6" |
Visit her blog here:)
Here is Crystal's brilliant answer to the Cook/Waller challenge. There is such a wonderful and emotional moment captured in this painting! I just love her warm, glowing, beautiful colors. The way Crystal manages to capture the pure joy a mother has for her children is amazing! I just marvel at her paintings:) Pure and simple, she's awesome!!!!
See you Wednesday,
Carrie
This is an awesome painting! The colors, the composition, the story behind it... wow! Your work always amazes and delights me. I don't know how you create such beautiful, intricate pieces so quickly.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful painting and a wonderful story to go along with it. I'm delighted to hear you won't be imprisoned for flag burning.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful one Carrie....so inspirational and personal.
ReplyDeletegr8 picture...
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful, Carrie. So rich and complex. I love all the objects in the painting and the story behind them. Terrific!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Glad you got there just in time.
I am still laughing. :)
ReplyDeleteOne could write a news story on this incident. :)
Anyway this piece is just as perfect as all your pieces.
Carrie, what a brilliant painting, and so very full of meaning and emotion!
ReplyDeleteAs for your set-up, I don't think you are in any danger of prison-time for flag-burning!! :) :)
Really great and so personal to you. Thank you for sharing with the world. I hope letter writing never goes out of style.
ReplyDeleteOh so beautiful and touching! And to think you did this in one day! Funny story too . . . Eeeeiy! Good thing you caught it just in time. Glad you and the boys are feeling better back up and at `em!
ReplyDeleteCarrie...so touching and a bit funny with the pyro-stuff. Thanks so much for sharing such an intimate part of you and your family.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and touching. Love the whole composition and that each piece means so much to you. That comes across. Only you could work so hard with such a complicated set up and then just happen to start a forest fire:) Wonderful painting and just chock full of fun stories to go with it.
ReplyDeletesuch a lovely post and wonderful painting. Thank you to your family for your sacrifices for our country.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what I can say, that hasn't already been said. I'm always speechless anyway with your work. You are uniquely awesome!!!!!
ReplyDeleteDianne
Beautiful painting and wonderful story to go with it. This painting is so well planned and well executed, and it captures the heart. Great job.
ReplyDeleteI love this painting Carrie... and love your post just as much!! There is so much feeling that went into this piece! That's what makes this painting so beautiful. I love the reflection of the star in the airplane as well!
ReplyDeleteOh, Carrie! This is just beautiful and brings tears to my eyes! Wonderful work!
ReplyDeleteOne day! Wow, this is so lovely and touching. Scary about the fire.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this painting - Not just for the painting itself, but for the story behind it. Will you keep it? It really is a painting with so much meaning. I looked for the stars reflected and can see why it's easy to miss things like this. That is the beauty of painting isn't it? Really 'seeing' every little detail that we would normally miss.
ReplyDeleteI must admit, I felt a little uneasy about reading the letters! I felt as though I was being reeeeally nosey, lol!
And as for accidentally almost burning the flag - well I had to chuckle at that one! Thank goodness you were there! :0)
You are an amazing woman with a huge heart, and every piece in this 'quilt' of a still life shows it. So skillfully renewed, so beautifully painted - you'd better make prints of this one!
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love the story about you almost setting fire to your props/house/life. It's always something, no?
You are an amazing watercolour painter!
ReplyDeleteCarrie your still life makes me want to cry and he's not even my husband! What a beautiful memory to capture in paint. Congrats on your fantastic blog and website and all of your recent awards. You're on fire too!!
ReplyDelete