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

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

A Mother's Love

watercolor on paper 8 x10

Happy Mother's Day everyone:)  There is nothing like a mother's love, so last week when I saw that the DPW challenge was to paint a self portrait, I jumped at the chance.  The picture that jumped into my mind is a photo my husband took of myself and my oldest son, when he was about 2.  Brian captured the perfect picture in my opinion and I knew I would paint it some day.  Yes, this is a watercolor.  I love to paint portraits in black and white because I happen to enjoy black and white portraits.  Most photos and portraits I have in my home are in black and white and this one will join the others.  I'm titling this one "A Mother's Love".  I just love my son's face, he is just so beautiful, sorry handsome (he gets mad when I call him beautiful).  His face is just so full of hope and wonder and love.  I could look at his little face all day.  And I think every mother wants the world for their children and I feel that this emotion comes through in this piece.

See you next week and Happy Mother's Day:)

Carrie

Check out the DPW challenge here:)

Luke

watercolor on paper 8x10

I've been in a Holiday bubble, today I emerged and realized it's Monday, and that it is time to get back into the grind.  Laundry, dishes, rinse and repeat, oh and try to get some painting time in there too.  It's been a great Christmas, my Mom and brother came for a visit.   They are sadly leaving today:(  The boys have had a blast.  It was so fun to watch Christmas through their eyes.  I've been reading a lot of things about it being bad luck to leave your tree up after Christmas.  I do not adhere to this myth and I think it is tad on the Grinchy side strip everything down immediately, so at our house we will still be enjoying the decorations for a little while. 

This week I'm posting a painting I did as a gift for my brother and sister-in-law.  I painted my adorable nephew Luke.  I painted this portrait in black and white watercolors.  I just love black and white portraits.  I think it's timeless and elegant.  Even in my home I have mostly black and white photographs framed.  I may venture into some color portrait paintings, but I think I will stick with a very clean, limited palette.  And I really love leaving a plain white background.

I hope that you have enjoyed your Holiday and are looking forward to ushering in a New Year.  I am looking forward to 2011, a whole new year of endless possibilities.

Carrie