Friday Feature: Carol Marine

Hi Everyone,

"Coy Cherries" by Carol Marine

I am so excited that my first Friday Feature for 2014 and is none other than the legendary Carol Marine.  Carol first caught my attention when I read that she had started daily painting while her son was napping.  Being in a similar predicament it gave me inspiration.  Carol's daily paintings have turned into a creative outlet to a full time job.  Not only does she paint daily is also highly in demand for workshops and her and her husband David started Daily Paintworks site.  She is a true inspiration and her art is phenomenal.

To see more of her work visit her blog,  Facebook page,  website and daily paintworks gallery

"Piled in a Corner" by Carol Marine

How did you get your start?  What’s your artist journey so far?

I always loved to draw and paint. I went to college for it because I couldn’t think of a single other thing I wanted to do with my life. Unfortunately I didn’t learn much in school because the professors were far more concerned with the concepts and politics behind the art than any actual skills or techniques. I was lucky enough to marry the man of my dreams my last year of school, and he supported me while I got my career going. We adopted our son in 2005 and I heard about the daily painting movement 1 ½ years later. It made so much sense for me to do one small painting each day during my son’s nap, and eventually I started selling them from my blog. I’ve been doing that, and teaching about daily painting, ever since.

"A Little Light" by Carol Marine

Where were you born?

I was born in Sheridan, Montana, but my parents moved to Harper, Texas when I was two. I don’t remember Montana except from subsequent visits there.

If you could live anywhere where would you live?

In Eugene, Oregon, which is where we live now! We moved here two years ago after our house in Texas burned down. Best move we ever made!

What’s your favorite thing to paint and why?

I don’t know that I could pin this down to just one thing. It changes from day to day. Right now I am most intrigued by painting people, though it’s probably what I am currently worst at.

"Cowabunga" by Carol Marine

Could you talk about your painting techniques?  

I think if I had to give my style a name it would be painterly realism. I prefer to paint alla prima (all in one go, OR wet into wet), whether large or small. I paint from life as much as I can, but use photos when it is more convenient.

Do you have go-to paints/colors, what are your favorites?

I use a limited palette. For most paintings I use titanium white, cadmium yellow light, cadmium red medium, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue and burnt umber. Sometimes I’ll add in cadmium yellow lemon, permanent rose and phthalo blue.

Do you have a favorite artist?  Who has been your biggest inspiration?

This one is also incredibly tough to pin down. My first love was John Singer Sargent. I’m also a big fan of Normal Rockwell. A few living favorites are: Jill Carver, Jennifer McChristian, Karin Jurick, Susan Lyon, Julian Merrow Smith, Colin Page … I could go on and on.

"Straight Up Egg" by Carol Marine

What have been some of your crowning achievements?

Marrying my best friend, adopting the most wonderful kid in the world, and oh yeah, being asked by Random House to write a book about daily painting (available in the fall of 2014), teaching sold-out workshops, starting www.dailypaintworks.com, and being able to make a living doing the thing I love most.

What are five things you would like to happen in your life in the next five years? Dream big here:)

My life is pretty perfect right now, but I would love to start TAKING more workshops rather than just teaching them. Specifically I would like to learn more and get better at painting landscapes and people.

What is your advice for other artists who are just getting started in their career?

Paint every day.

What is the best advice that you have received as an artist?

Paint every day.

"Fancy Shoes" by Carol Marine

SPEED ROUND!

Chocolate or vanilla?

Vanilla

Your dream vacation spot?

Big Bend National Park

Book or movie?

Either, depending on the mood

Favorite author?

Nevada Barr

Favorite movie?

Garden State

Romance or comedy?

Romantic Comedy

Favorite dessert?

All of them

Night owl or morning person?

Morning

Thank you Carol:)

How To Find Your Painting Style and Lose Weight At The Same Time!

Have you ever had a sleepless night, or if you're like me up till the wee hours painting?  If you answered Yes, you've probably seen an infomercial or 2.  In that hour of t.v. magic you are convinced that you can have fuller /straighter/shinier/curlier hair, look 20 years younger, have sparkling floors and be 20lbs. lighter all for the low, low price of $19.95.  Have you ever noticed the fine print?  *Results are not typical!  Do you know why that is?  Because there is no magic pill, no magic product :(  Just like everything in life it takes hard work and perseverance.  I know not what you wanted hear!!!

I've recently been re-listening to the podcasts of Artists Helping Artists radio show.  I've been listening to all of the artists interviews.  Leslie and Dreama do a fantastic job of grilling, I mean politely asking, these artists those questions that inquiring minds want to know.  Do you know what these artists have to say when asked the question, How does an artist find their artist style?  These master artists, Kevin Macpherson, Scott Christensen, Greg LaRock, Carol Marine, Karin Jurick, etc. all had something to say.  Guess what they all said, they all had a common thread--They just weren't that focused on finding a style!!!  In fact some of them weren't even sure they had a style, that's right folks, these artists, that we love and adore and can spot one of their creations from a mile away, weren't even sure if they had a style!!!  It just wasn't a priority!

What was priority was painting, painting with passion, painting what they wanted to paint and not what they thought would sell, and doing a lot of it.  Painting miles, and miles of paintings, painting daily, just showing up and doing the work!  Paint, Paint, Paint and then Paint some more, and guess what your artistic voice will emerge.  Just like everyone has a unique fingerprint and their own unique handwriting, that style will emerge!  And just like we evolve and change in our life our style will evolve and change with us!  So relax!  Problem solved, just take that task off your plate!  Isn't that freeing?  Focus on painting that is the answer! 

So I challenge you to ditch this notion that you have to have a style.  Let's try it together, for the next month, just don't worry about it, free yourself and the rest will follow:))) 

Now maybe if I could just figure out how to paint while on the treadmill I could kill 2 birds with 1 stone:)

I'm still running my mini-print give-away until Friday!  If you're interested in participating check out the Monday's blog post HERE

See you Friday Peeps:)

Carrie