Candy Apple Red

Hi Everyone,

'Candy Apple Red' original watercolor on paper copyright 2011 Carrie Waller BUY NOW

Today I have a delightfully, delicious, subject:)  I have been wanting to paint candy apples all Summer.  Fall came speeding towards me and I thought, good I'll see if I can pick some up at the store to paint.  Well, I was disappointed because they always have to ruin a good shiny apple with the addition of peanuts.  So in the name of art I had to figure out how to make some.  Steven was my Soux Chef.  We made an entire batch of absolutely beautiful to look at but break your teeth off if you ate them candy apples.  I photographed them ad nauseaum in every kind of light and configuration, decorated with them in my kitchen for a week and then deposited them in the garbage.  Hope you like my 'Candy Apple Red'

Steven's Fall pic 8.5 x 11 crayon on paper (See his tree and all of the leaves at the bottom)

Steven's original watercolor on paper 8.5 x 11.  This one is a little more abstract, see all of shapes at the bottom.

Steven was in the swing of things and has 2 lovely artworks to contribute to our post.  He is at the age now where he starting to get frustrated if he can't get his artworks to represent something instead of just throwing down his colors in an abstracted way.  It is interesting to watch the journey of a young artist.

Have a great Monday, everyone.

See you Wednesday:)

Carrie

Norman Rockwell Behind the Camera

Hi Everyone,

If you could have any super power what would it be?  Okay, I'm going to tell you mine, but don't think I'm too strange:)  I have always wished I could make myself invisible and be able to slip through walls in this state.  Why? you ask?  Because I love to see people's homes, how they decorate.   Maybe it goes back to my roots as an Interior Designer, but I just love taking a tours of homes.  So when I stumbled across this book "Norman Rockwell Behind the Camera", I was instantly interested.

This book gives you the inside scoop on how he set up his paintings.  His models and the stories he told in his paintings.  As the daughter of a photographer I always thought you wanted to spontaneously catch a moment, and that creeps into my thoughts on paintings sometimes.  However, one of my favorite things to do is set up a still life and photograph it.  So I just loved seeing Norman Rockwell's process. I'm sure this will have an influence on how I set up my paintings in the future.

I'd love to hear how you set up your paintings.  What does the behind the scenes look like in your artistic space?

Carrie

Pink Hydrangea in Bird Pitcher

Hi Everyone,

watercolor on paper 8x8 BID NOW

Here is my finished painting.  Isn't it sweet:)  Something so delicate about this one even though it's so dramatically lit.  I joined Daily Paintworks and this painting is in my first auction on their site.  So head on over and check it out.  I'm excited about being part of this site.

I'm ever so optimistic that I will have a work in progress to share with you on Friday.  We shall see.  Tomorrow I'm taking the boys to the zoo.  They've been crazy little monkeys this week so I feel a visit to the zoo is appropriate.

Hope you're having a fabulous week.

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

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

Mini Hydrangeas in Soup Tureen

watercolor on paper 6x6 $195 BUY NOW

 This week I painted a mini version of one of my favorite paintings.  I think everyone is getting anxious for warmer weather and what says it better than some beautiful flowers.  Hydrangeas are some of my all time favorite flowers, especially the blue ones.  We have been having a lovely Summer preview at my house, it's been in the 70's and sunny, wish I could send our weather to everyone:)

I also now have prints available at Imagekind click HERE to check them out.  There is also a tab at the top of my blog that will direct you there.  It's super cool, you can order them just as a print, framed or as a canvas.  Right now they are on sale 10% off and free shipping.

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!!!

Carrie

Pomegranates and Cranberries WIP

watercolor on paper 18 x 24

This week I'm posting a WIP.  I did a small version of this painting recently and I'm working on the larger version as a competition painting.  I have to have it finished by Thursday.  So I have just pulled an all nighter and I'm only about half way finished, aggghhhh!!  Wish me luck folks, because this is a busy week.  My hubby is promoting to Major in the Air Force, so we have a party planned for that evening.  We also have family coming into town, to have a late Christmas and be here for the promotion.  I may be living on an IV of Diet Mt. Dew.  Oh, well, you have to do what you have to do.  I certainly could use some elves right now, I'm sure a few could be spared, it is a down time for them:)

Also check my post from New Year's here.  I have posted my top 10 paintings from 2010 and my top 10 goals for 2011.  What are your goals?  I'd love to hear them.  I'm so grateful for all of the comments on that post and I promise I will thank each of  you soon.  Happy New Year everyone!

Carrie

Illuminated Pumpkins

 watercolor on paper, 20 x 24

I think Fall is finally here!  The temperature has finally dropped from the triple digits into the 70's all in about a 24 hour period.  Inevitably our allergies are in full swing, but maybe our electric bill will be lower:)  I've been burning the midnight oil to get this painting finished.  I'm getting ready for my first two exhibits.  I have a lot framing to do in addition to everything else.  I've been trying to decide what to enter.  I'm excited and nervous.  I'd love to hear everyone's stories and any advice about your experiences.

This week I decided to paint my favorite Villeroy and Boch, glass blown, pumpkins.  I just love them.  I bought them when we lived in Europe at the Villeroy and Boch outlet.  I loved, loved, loved shopping there.  We bought all of our china there and lots of other trinkets.  Our china was featured in my Hydrangea still life. I just love decorating for Fall and including these gems into my decor.  I think the glow that cascades across the marble is pretty incredible.  It's firey and glowing and just makes me feel like Fall is here.

I'm re-posting last weeks painting because it is my October entry for the Artists Helping Artists monthly challenge.  It's a great challenge, by the end of it, I should have enough paintings to have a calendar.

 Steven painted some wooden leaves this week.  We are going to do a lovely Fall project with these, so stay tuned to see what we do with these beauties.

Also this is your last chance to enter Crystal Cook's fabulous contest.  She does incredible work, who wouldn't want to have their own Crystal Cook original.  It's very easy to enter, only takes a minute.  When you enter please let her know I sent you:)

Thanks to all my followers new and old!  It is so awesome to hear such great feedback.  It is so motivational.  It is terrific to have a support system.

See you next week.

Carrie