Well Traveled Paintings

"The Night Before Christmas" 6" x 6" watercolor by Carrie Waller

"The Night Before Christmas" 6" x 6" watercolor by Carrie Waller

"Falling For You" 6" x 6" watercolor with 22k gold leaf by Carrie Waller

I'm happy to announce that I have 3 paintings on their way to California to the 6" Squared, Randy Higbee show.  This is the 4th time that I've participated in the show.  It's always been a super fun and positive experience.

In other news I'm attempting to paint for our Holiday show on Dec 3rd at Local Colour Gallery in Little Rock, AR.  But this overcast, cold weather is getting me down and I miss the sunny skies that we always had in Alabama.  I'm hoping when we move next summer it's somewhere sunny.

I also wanted to share how some of my collector's framed their leaf and acorn.  A good framing job just enhances art so well.


I wish everyone a Happy Turkey Day and if you're traveling be careful out there:)

Carrie

The Night Before Christmas

Hi Everyone,

"The Night Before Christmas, In Texas That Is" 6" x 6" watercolor by Carrie Waller

Today I'm sharing a couple of new Christmas paintings:)))))  I think I have another one or two up my sleeve before it's all over this year.

When we were moving this summer I found this childhood book of mine, "The Night Before Christmas, In Texas That Is".  I knew that it would be the inspiration for this years painting.  I knew immediately that I wanted to find a glass cowboy boot to put the milk in, do they make those?  I stopped in at my local antique store that day and what did I find, a glass cowboy boot.  It was fate!!!  I was just about to make some star cookies to complete my set up and I found a box of star cookies at the grocery store--yay, made that easier and they had white frosting, I was going to do a gold color but I love the monochromatic quality of this piece with that pop of gold and red.  Anyway, why Texas you ask? I plan on doing a series of these Christmas paintings based on places I've lived and even though I was born in Indiana we only lived there for a year before moving to Texas.  Sooooo most of my early memories are of the Lone Star State.  Are any of you Big Bang Theory fans?  I get such a kick out of the fact that Sheldon is from Texas, he'll start singing songs from Texas that I had to learned in grade school, just love that!!  Living in Texas you learn songs like, "Deep In the Heart of Texas" and "The Yellow Rose of Texas".  You also learn how to "Texas Two Step" in the first grade and how to square dance.   When I was a kid I was fascinated that it was illegal to pick blue bonnets the Texas state flower and was worried I would accidentally pick one an end up in jail:)  I have very fond memories of my Texas upbringing (we lived in Dallas and Houston in case you were interested:)

Here I am in my Texas gear, I think it's state law that you own a cowboy hat:))

The second Christmas painting that I did was a smaller version of a painting that I did a few years ago.  It's slightly different but I just love this composition.  I think it was a huge help that I had painted this larger the first time, made all of those details like the balls on the candlewick dish and glass and the powdered sugar so much easier with this smaller scale.  This one is just alive with Holiday cheer:))

"The Night Before Christmas" 6" x 6" watercolor by Carrie Waller

Have a great week everyone:)

Carrie

The Christmas Spirit

Hi Everyone,

Thought I would take you on  journey to Christmas paintings past and share some of my paintings from last year. 

"The Night Before Christmas" 9.75" x 9.75" original watercolor by Carrie Waller SOLD

 The above painting won Outstanding Watercolor for FASO Bold Brush Contest December 2011

"Let It Snow" original watercolor by Carrie Waller SOLD

I love snow men!!  I collect them.  This was the first snow globe I ever painted.

Hope you are faring well with your Holiday preparations.

Carrie

Great Balls of Fire

"Great Balls of Fire" or "Celebration" original watercolor on paper 6x6 SOLD

Hi Everyone,

I feel a huge weight has lifted:)  My workshop is over and it was fabulous!!!!  I had the best group of ladies to instruct.  It could not have gone better:)  And right after that Crystal Cook and I were featured guests on Artists Helping Artists blog radio show, we survived and didn't sound too crazy:)  I was so happy to be interviewed with my friend Crystal, I couldn't have asked for a better experience.  Leslie Saeta and Kelley MacDonald asked us fabulous questions and made us sound good!  If you missed it here is the link it's the broadcast on 4/26, click here.

My first 3 day workshop, fabulous group of ladies:))

And ta da I finally finished my ball jars!!!!  So my not so "pc" title is "Great Balls of Fire" my alternate more conservative title is "Celebration".  This painting was a lot of fun and I'm anxious to paint a larger version, but before I can do that I have several commissions to work my way through.  That is a great problem to have:)

And to top off an absolutely fabulous week I sold 4 paintings.  What a week--I'll take a few more like that!

"Tall Drink of Water" SOLD

"The Night Before Christmas" SOLD

"Can It Too" SOLD

Hope you had a fabulous weekend:)

Carrie

San Pellegrino or Tall Drink of Water

Hi Everyone,

original watercolor on paper copyrighted Carrie Waller 2012 32.5" x 20"--There is a little white showing top right, I have to take a better pic tomorrow, my camera battery died.

I'm 98% of the way finished with this piece.  I have a little tweaking left to do.  I'm trying to decide if I should stick with the title "San Pellegrino"--straight forward or go with "Tall Drink of Water"?  What do you think?  Kathy Cousart left that phrase in a comment last week and I thought it was fitting and clever:)

"The Night Before Christmas" original watercolor on paper 9.75" x 9.75 copyrighted Carrie Waller 2012

My painting "The Night Before Christmas" was awarded Outstanding Watercolor for the FASO Bold Brush Competition month of December.  I'm thrilled and super excited about this:)

And on the home-front we're 2.5 months into Brian's 6 month deployment, almost half way over:))  And the big news is Sam, my 2 year old, peed in the potty for the first time last night.  If you're not a parent you may not be as excited about this, I understand, but for all of those that have been there or are yet to be there, that is a major accomplishment.  I for see a diaper free future, woooo hooooo:)))

Have a great Monday:)  See you Wednesday!

Carrie

The Night Before Christmas

"The Night Before Christmas" original watercolor on paper 9.75" x 9.75" BUY NOW

Hi Everyone,

I have just burned the midnight oil to complete my painting "The Night Before Christmas".  Crystal Cook and I pose a challenge to each other each month and this month it was my turn to come up with the theme.  Immediately the word "Believe" popped into my head.  So that was the inspiration for our entries this month.  Ironically even though I came up with the challenge I really had no idea what I was going to paint. But my idea quickly came to me as I was watching my little boys get so excited about Christmas.  These are fun years.  It is such a magical time when you have little people to experience the Holidays with.  So even though the components of my still life were becoming clearer to me I still had to round it all up.  That took some time.  We didn't own a copy of The Night Before Christmas that I could readily find, so off to the bookstore we went.  Once I settled on a copy that I liked the cover art, I then had to bake cookies and find the perfect dishes to display the cookies and milk in.  I of course went to my old standby the Candlewick dishes.  Oh, and I also had to wait for a day with sunshine to get the perfect photo reference.  There was a lot of planning in this painting.  But finally it all came together.  So I present to you my answer to believe "The Night Before Christmas"

"Christmas Magic" 6x6 original watercolor on paper by Crystal Cook

"Prince of Peace" 6x9 original watercolor on paper by Crystal Cook

 Here are Crystal's answers to the challenge.  I have to say my jaw always drops when I see her new paintings.   She does the most beautiful portraits.  The light she captures and glow are just amazing!!

"Anticipation" 23.5 x 32 original watercolor on paper by Carrie Waller

I also wanted to share with you that my painting "Anticipation" received the award of Outstanding Watercolor in the November Fine Art Studio Online Bold Brush Competition.  I am extremely grateful and each time I get validation, it pushes me to try harder and push myself to the next level.

I'll see you Friday!!!  Hope you're Holidays are in full swing and you're not up to your eyeballs in wrapping paper and tape.

Carrie

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