Exciting Stuff:)))

Hi Everyone,

Nostalgia on page 36 of the Dec issue!!  So exciting!!!!!

This weekend I got the most exciting package in the mail from France.  I received the newest copy of the best selling French magazine Pratique Des Arts.  And if that wasn't exciting enough my painting "Nostalgia" was on page 36 in the International Portfolio section!!  The editor said it would be in this issue but until you see it in person it just doesn't seem real.  So needless to say I'm over the moon about this!  One of my goals for 2010 was to be in a major publication, I'm not sure I thought this was attainable, but you gotta dream big, right:))  It feels great to receive validation.  Not only that but our blogger buddy Kara Bigda was also in the issue.  That's some kind of special bond:))))) 

"The Night Before Christmas" WIP 9.75" x 9.75" watercolor on paper

I'm also going to give you a sneak peek at my newest painting.  Crystal Cook and I pose a  challenge for each other on a monthly basis and this month it was my turn to choose the theme.  I chose the word "Believe" as our inspiration.  My painting is almost completed but I'm calling it quits for the night so I'll have it posted in the next day or so.  Until then I'm sharing a glimpse:))

"Stacked" Gallery Award at Randy Higbee's 6" Squared show

I also wanted to share that I received a Gallery Award in Randy Higbee's 6"Squared exhibit in Costa Mesa CA, earlier this month!!  Extremely happy, I also have a sale from the show. 

And for a little Christmas cheer here's a picture of my boys with Santa.  This is the first year Steven, my 5 yr old would dare to go near Santa.  And because his brother would go so would Sam.  And let me tell you Steven didn't waste any time spitting out his list, which I will add was a surprise to Mommy so there may have to be another order filled at the North Pole.  Steven also was super concerned about where Santa had parked his Sleigh.  So cute:)

Carrie

7 Links Challenge

Hi Everyone,

A 7 links challenge has been spreading around blog-land.  This challenge lets you take a step back reflect and share some of our posts again.  I have really enjoyed reading everyone else's choices. My friend Sandra of Sandraws has challenged me, you really must visit her blog, she does some amazing work.

The challenge asks you to revisit:

Your most beautiful post
Your most popular post
Your most controversial post
Your most helpful post
A post whose success surprised you
A post you feel didn't get the attention it deserved
The post you are most proud of

Then tag other bloggers and it goes on and on. I think this is a great idea because there are some gems hidden in most bloggers archives so this is a great way to dust them off and let them be seen again.

So here are my 7 links:)


Your most beautiful post


http://carriewaller.blogspot.com/2011/04/nostalgia-final-large-version.html

This painting really had so much meaning.  Personally and artistically I think this painting is a success.

Your most popular post

http://carriewaller.blogspot.com/2011/01/pomegranates-and-cranberries-finito.html

This was interesting.  I wasn't sure which post was my most popular.  So I had to look through them all.  So by a few comments here is my most popular.
I finished this painting around the Holidays, on a deadline of course, and behind of course.  There was lot going on and we had family in town but I after a few all nighters I finished this painting on time and entered it into the Montgomery Art Guild Exhibit.  I was thrilled to find out that is was one of 76 paintings chosen out of almost 400 entered to be included in an exhibit at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Art.

What a surreal moment to walk in a museum and see your own artwork on the wall.  A proud day for me:)

Your most controversial post

I'm not really a controversial artist so  I had to dig deep to figure this one out.  The most controversial thing I've posted about was a personal decision to commit to this blog and to painting a painting a week.  I wasn't sure if I could do it, if I would burn out, or what this journey was going to be like, but I did it.  I plugged away week after week and I'm still here.  I will say it has been one of the best and most satisfying decisions that I have made in my life.

Your most helpful post

http://carriewaller.blogspot.com/2011/04/nostalgia-work-in-progress-and-little.html

 This post was fun and I had a good response.  I posted about my process and how I work as an artist.  I find it very interesting to see how other artists work.  I think this is the best way to learn.  We all work a little differently and you never know what little tip you may pick up that can change your life.

 A post whose success surprised you

http://carriewaller.blogspot.com/2010/10/exhibition-success.html

In this post I talked about winning my first, first place award.  I wasn't surprised by the support and congratulatory comments for winning, I was surprised at the response to the emotional struggle I had to enter into a competition.  I was so nervous and excited and overwhelmed by the process of entering an exhibit and I described it all in this post.  So many fellow artists identified and cheered me on.  It was extremely encouraging and motivational.


A post you feel didn't get the attention it deserved
 I'm going to cop out on this one.  I really haven't had a post that I felt was ignored.  Of course in the early days of my blog I only had a few comments here or there, but that's to be expected.  Other than that it's been pretty consistent.


 The post you are most proud of

http://carriewaller.blogspot.com/2010/02/its-carnivale-time.html

This post was early on in my blog, but it was a turning point for me.  I was really scared of color and this painting was one of my first ventures into the wonderful world of color.  I was encouraged by comments and it really pushed me to the next level.  I gained confidence and really realized that this whole painting on a regular basis thing just might be the way to go.

Now I'm challenging
Virginia Floyd
Olivia Quintin
Nancy Laliberte
Kelley MacDonald
Julie Hill
Tag your it:)

Hope you enjoy today's it was a trip down memory lane.

Carrie

Work In Progress and FAV 15%

Hi everyone,

watercolor on paper WIP 8x8

This week I have a work in progress.  I found this little birdie pitcher and I knew I just had to paint it.  So I paired it with one of my favorite flowers, hydrangeas.  I think it's going to be a sweet little piece.

"Nostalgia" watercolor on paper 23.5 x 37.5

I was very happy to hear that my painting "Nostalgia" made the FAV 15% for FASO's (Fine Art Studio Online) Bold Brush contest for the month of May.  It's one of my favorite paintings so I'm thrilled to have it recognized.

Hope to have a finished piece up soon:)

Carrie

Crawfish on Newsprint

watercolor and ink on paper 6x6 $195.00  BUY NOW

Hi Everyone,

I hope everyone had a nice holiday weekend.  We traveled to Louisiana last week to spend Easter with my husband's parents.  We had a lovely time.  We celebrated by having a crawfish and shrimp boil.  As soon as I heard that we were going to do this my mind went to where my mind always goes-- to art!   So while everyone one was drooling over dinner, they had to patiently wait while I photographed these beauties.  It wasn't until I got home that I realized they were sitting on a newspaper discussing the oil leak and the 1 yr anniversary of the BP oil spill.  So a painting was born.  I will probably revisit crawfish because they are really gorgeous in color and I got some great shots of them. 

I'm also happy to announce that my painting 'Nostalgia' the 6x6 version sold at the Randy Higbee Gallery.  The 6"squared show is in full swing and chalk full of gorgeous available art.  'Dinner at Eight' is still available as far as I know, so check out Randy's site and take in the fabulous art. 

'Nostalgia' SOLD                              'Dinner at Eight' Available

Steven got his crayons out and created a nice picture for you this week.  I'm glad we're back into using colors:)

Hope everyone has a fabulous week,

Carrie

Nostalgia (Large Version)

watercolor on paper 23.5 x 37.5

nos·tal·gia/näˈstaljə/Noun

1. A sentimental longing for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.  

This chair belongs to my Grandma.  I have seen this chair my whole life sitting on her back porch.  Many a green bean have been shucked sitting in this chair.  My Grandma's house has so much meaning for me.  It is my home base, the place I think of when I hear the word "home".  Growing up we moved a lot, but every Summer was spent at my Grandma's.  So when I heard that she is planning on selling her house it shook me to the core.  Logically I know that it's time, she's in her 80's and even thought she gets around phenomenally well, that won't last forever.  Logically I know that even if the house is not in her possession the memories will still be there.  But, I feel like I'm losing my "home".  I'm sure it is also making me aware that she will not always be there.  So with all of these feelings and thoughts racing through my head I remembered taking a picture of this chair.  This chair that has been there my whole life and by the looks of it several lives before mine.  The day I took the photo reference, my Grandma wasn't quite sure why I wanted to take a picture of that old chair.  And she wasn't sure why I needed to move it out in front of her hydrangea bush with all of it's blooms deteriorating, she told me she planned on refinishing that chair and I should wait until then to take it's picture.  But that old chair is the epitome of beauty to me.  It's been around and all of it's peeling layers of paint make it all that much more beautiful!!  So when the house is gone and my Grandma has passed I hope to own that old chair, to remind me of "home".

Steven posing with "Nostalgia" just to give some scale:)

Spring Offering

watercolor on paper 6x6 "Spring Offering"

Hi Everyone,

Oh, what a week this has been.  So many exciting events have taken place.  It started off as a fabulous week last Sunday.  I won 1st place in the LWS (Louisiana Watercolor Society's ) Captial Waters Art at the Archives show.  My painting "Venetian Canal" was the winning entry.  I also recently found out that my painting "Urban Abstraction" was juried into the LWS' International Show.  I'm shocked and amazed that I got in first time, it's very competitive.

Venetian Canal

I also had several e-mails come rolling my way congratulating me on my article in the "Military Spouse" magazine.  A month or so ago I was interviewed by the magazine, I had put it in the back of my mind, but it's out for those who subscribe.  I'm still waiting to get my copy so I haven't seen the article yet, but I've heard its good.  It was fun getting e-mails from other military spouses that art artists.  Good to know I'm not the only one out there:)

Mid-week I got my acceptance e-mails from Randy Higbee.  I am absolutely thrilled that 2 of my paintings will be in the Higbee show in April.  Some stiff competition let me tell you!!  He received 1200 entries and only accepted 400.  Thank you again for all of you that helped me decide which paintings to enter.  "Dinner at Eight" and "Nostalgia" will be in the show:)

Montgomery Museum of Fine Art

Friday my wonderful and supportive in-laws drove in from Baton Rouge to spend the weekend and babysit the boys so that Brian and I could attend the opening reception for the Montgomery Art Guild's museum exhibit.  I was fortunate enough to have a painting juried into an exhibit at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Art.  It is a spectacular museum, one of the top fine art museums in the US, and I have a painting hanging in that beautiful space.  I'll post some pics soon.  The exhibit is terrific.  Saturday the juror held an art talk.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to go, I wasn't sure I could handle super critical feedback.  I decided to go and I'm glad I did.  The talk was very beneficial and I learned that the judge isn't a fan of literal art.  I am flattered that she chose my painting to be part of the exhibit since it's really not her style. She predominately chose abstract pieces as the award winners.  I'm not going to change my style, because I like representational art but I did take from that, that I'm going to strive to have more of an emotional meaning to my work.  It was a bit nerve wracking to give a spontaneous presentation about my work, especially since I followed an abstract piece and the artist ended his presentation with the statement that "literal art annoys him" such a great intro for me:)  I restrained from beginning my talk with and now for some "annoying literal art"

 Sunday, Brian and I attended the reception for the Energen art competition in Birmingham, AL.  I have to say it was the swankiest reception I've been to so far, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Art's is a close second.  Energen had live music, terrific food, beautiful decor and an open bar.  It was a very fun afternoon.

I hope everyone has a fabulous week!  I'm completely inspired after my super arty weekend!!  I'm off to paint:)

Happy Creating,

Carrie