Skyy

"Skyy" orignal watercolor by Carrie Waller 30" x 20" on Arches 260lb paper

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Holidays!  I can not believe that 2014 is knocking on our door.  2014 is already starting off with a lot of change for us.  It will be an interesting year.

Here is my newest painting "Skyy".  I painted this for my mother and father in-law.  They just celebrated their 40th anniversary.  I decided to paint a large painting for them for a combines anniversary/Christmas present.  I got delayed in starting the painting because our whole family came down with the plague right before Christmas!  So I had 6 days to finish this painting.  I paint slowly so I was pushing it.  I had a conversation with my 7 year old, hoping he would give me a nice little pep talk and assure me that I could get it done in time but the conversation went more like this, Me-"Steven do you think I will get this done in time?" Steven-"Well, Mom you have 6 days and I've seen it take you 2 weeks to get a painting that size done.  And you're not even done with the drawing, so, no, I don't think you'll get it done in time."  But even with my critic I managed to finish just in the nick of time:)

I named this one "Skyy" because most of the bottles in the painting are Skyy vodka bottles.  My in-laws had been collecting blue bottles for me.  When it came timer to set this up I thought boy they went through a lot of vodka.  But as I was cleaning all of the bottles I started seeing permanent marker notations on the bottles and remembered that these had been confiscated from the dorms at the University where my father-in-law works.  So I have a bunch of alcoholic college students to thanks for the subject matter:)

I saw on Annie Salness' blog that she shares what she's listening to while she paints so I'm borrowing that idea because she introduced me to a new podcast that I love, so I thought I would share with the class what I was listening to and watching while painting this painting.  Podcasts--Artists Helping Artsits, Alec Baldwin's, Here's the Thing.  Movies-  "The Family Stone", "It's Complicated"
TV Show--"The Foster's" on Netflix.

I'm already on to my next painting and I can't wait to share it with you.  My subject matter is something that will no longer be available in the U.S. soon, any guesses?

Carrie's Favorite Things

Hi Everyone,

Since I'm slow on the painting front at the moment I thought I would share my favorite things list:)  I would love to hear (read) some of yours in the comment section.

I'll start with the most life changing tool I use for my art.  My Ipad, full sized, please!  It has truly transformed how I paint.  I use it for taking reference photos, and I paint from my I pad.  The image is amazing way better than any printed off photograph.  If you haven't tried it you need too!!!

My favorite paints are Daniel Smith watercolors.  Their Quinacridones are the best.  They are limited and will run out in the next few years so stock up now.

My favorite brushes are Richeson brushes.  Daniel Smith sells a set that I've been using.  It's the Laurin McCracken set and it has a size 2, 4 and 6 kolinsky sable.  But I've been hearing so much about
Rosemary brushes that I'm going to have to try those as well.

My favorite pencils for drawing are mechanical pencils.  You can get the tiny details without having to sharpen your pencil all the time.  I'm cranky if I can't find a mechanical pencil in the house:)

My favorite paper is Arches 260lb.  Because 140 is too thin and buckles and 300lb is too thick and soft.  260lb is just right:))  Thanks to Paul Jackson for turning me onto this paper.  I did hear that Canson bought Arches so I'll probably be purchasing quite a bit of this before Canson starts making it.

My favorite thing to watch while I'm painting are movies.  I love streaming movies and shows through Netflix and Amazon video which comes free if you sign up for Amazon Prime.

My favorite movie at the moment to watch while I'm painting is "It's Complicated" starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin.  Love, love, love this movie and have watched it a thousand times.

Another favorite movie I watch is "Something's Gotta Give".  I know you're probably wondering how can you watch a movie and paint? Well, I'm not a music person.  It gets on my nerves when I'm painting.  So I love having movies or shows on.  I mostly listen but am able to watch too, I'm a multi-tasker.  Talking to other people that have trouble listening to music while creating I think that I have to have by brain engaged, listening to talk, or pod-casts, or talk radio.   Music makes me think to much and I need to be able to zone out to paint.

Not only do I love Something's Gotta Give for the movie but who wouldn't want to create here

Or live here.  I just love the interiors in this movie and would love to have a house that looked just like this!!

And because I love her desk so much in Something's Gotta Give I had to buy this one when I found it at an antique store.  It's my painting desk.  It was in a legal office in New Orleans and is solid wood and really old.  I love it!  I put the glass top on it, it doesn't quite fit so I'll have to order one.

If you haven't listened to this podcast you have too!!!  Artists Helping Artists is the best blog radio show out there.  Tons of free marketing information and interviews with amazing artists.  There is something for every artist.  You can find it on itunes for free or you can listen right on the website.  You must tune in.  A new show airs every Thursday and I've co-hosted often.

And this is what I use every day.  I love EOS sweet mint.  It's an organic product.  It's amazing and addicting.  Love it!!  I also love Burt's Bees, I'm for anything that is all natural and not tested on animals and that is an amazing product.  I wear the color rhubarb and raisin in lieu of lipstick because it does just as good a job.

I hope to do a favorites things list more often because it's just fun:))  Tell me some of your favorites:)

Carrie