Friday Feature: Vicki Monette

Hi Everyone,

"Greetings from Nepal" original watercolor by Vicki Monette

Today I have a fabulous Friday Feature:  Vicki Monette.  I met Vicki through the Louisiana Watercolor Society a few years ago.  I had the best time getting to know her a little and her art and story are beautiful.

To see more of Vicki's work visit her website and facebook page

How did you get your start what has been your artistic journey so far?

Art was always an important part of my life.  I grew up drawing and painting, and took art lessons when possible.  My high school had a great art program, which inspired me a lot.  I studied Art Education at Louisiana State University.  After graduation I was offered a job in retail advertising.  So for the next 7 years I drew newspaper advertisements for JC Penney, Woman's World, Godchaux's and  other clothing stores. I loved drawing in pen and ink,  loved the details an patterns of clothing.  The job was absolutely my dream job, and i loved it.   I had to leave that work when we moved to a small town.  I went back to oil painting which I had done since the age of 13.  Then I saw some big bold watercolor paintings that I couldn't get enough of, so I took a class from the artist.  Watercolor has been my first love in art ever since.  I was totally hooked because of the luminosity and beautiful textures that can be achieved with watercolors.  I bought books and DVDs and took workshops to continue learning.   I have met some wonderful artists at workshops, including Carrie.  Having artist friends is a great inspiration to continue learning and painting.

Where were you born?

I was born in Tampa, Florida.

"Massai Market" original watercolor by Vicki Monette

If you could live anywhere, where would you live?

I would live in the country, surrounded by nature.   I love the peacefulness and beauty of country living.

What has been your favorite thing to paint and why?

I like to paint whatever stirs my heart and keeps me awake at night thinking about how that paint it?  My favorite subjects include details, colors, and light and shadows.  I like to paint the people of Africa with their bright clothing and beautiful beaded jewelry.  My husband and I have been to Kenya five times.  we travel there to do Marriage Conferences for African Pastors and their wives.  After the conference, we take a few days for a photo safari.  We just returned a few days ago from our most recent trip.  I am looking through hundreds of photos to see what painting is waiting there for me?  Two of my paintings , "Massai Warrior" and "Massai Woman" were painted of the people I met in Kenya.  Another painting, "Greetings from Nepal", came from  a photo that medical missionaries showed me.  That painting is my favorite right now.  I also like to paint southern scenes.  We live about an hour from New Orleans and I am working on some paintings of the French Quarter now.

"Massai Warrior" original watercolor by Vicki Monette

Could you talk about your painting techniques?

I paint from photos that I have taken.  Sometimes I can only get one photo of a subject, but when possible I like to have many photos to look at.  I use tracing paper to work out my composition.  I cut, rearrange and redraw the picture until I get what I want.  Then I transfer to Arches 300# Cold Press Watercolor Paper.  The paper has been soaked about 5 minutes then stapled to a board.  When the paper is dry, I mask all white areas.  I begin painting from light to dark.  I work around the entire painting in many thin layers of paint, blending and softening edges.  I truly enjoy the painting part of it  so I am not in a hurry.  I love seeing the painting develop.  Most of my paintings have many glazes on them.  I build up layers of thin glazes to get subtle changes of color, depth and shape.  Sometimes I pour the paints on the paper and let the colors mingle and blend to make beautiful lights and shadows.  My "Rockers" paintings are poured.  As I paint I make notes of the colors used and where I used them. I write colors and mixes on a separate piece of watercolor paper.  Sometimes I put sticky tabs on my palette with notes like "This yellow", or "Skin Mixture".  So when my painting time gets interrupted by travel or meetings, I can pick up where I left off.

"Massai Woman" original watercolor by Vicki Monette

Do you have a favorite artist?
Who has been your biggest inspiration?

I do not have a favorite artist, however there are many artists that do gorgeous work and I love seeing their work.

My biggest inspiration has been my family, friends, and collectors who encourage me.

What have been your crowning accomplishments?

A few years ago I started entering juried competitions.  I recently got my signature membership in the Louisiana Watercolor Society.  I am hoping to receive signature memberships in a few more art organizations.

"Rockers" original watercolor by Vicki Monette

What 5 things would you like to accomplish in the next five years?  (Dream Big)

I would like to be juried into more shows and receive recognition, awards, sales.
I would like to have my paintings shown in galleries.  I have done this in the past, but in recent years, I have been slack in chasing this dream.
I would like to write a book of step-by-step art lessons.  I would like to share what I have learned with others.
I would enjoy a month to just paint.  That would be wonderful and hopefully productive.
To dream big, I would like to have a larger studio, with more room.  I guess that is every artist's dream!

What is your advice for other artists who are just getting started in their career?

My advice is to take workshops.  Learn from master painters whenever possible.  Another way to learn is to buy, rent or borrow DVS's and books by artists, and learn their techniques.  Also helpful is to have painting buddies to encourage you to paint.

"Blue Hydrangea" original watercolor by Vicki Monette

What is the best advice you received as an artist?

Paint what inspires you, and paint often.  Even if it is just an hour a day, make time to paint.  It is worth it!

Speed Round

Chocolate or Vanilla?  Chocolate
Dream vacation spot? Hawaii
Book or movie? book
Favorite author?Joel Rosenberg
Favorite movie? classics
Romance or comedy? Romance
Favorite dessert?  Chocolate cake with chocolate icing
Night owl or morning person?   morning

Thank you so much Vicki.  Can't wait to see the paintings that come from your latest adventure.

Have a great weekend everyone,

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

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:)

I Need Your Help--Vote for your Favorites

A

B

C

D

E

F

Hi Everyone,

I've just finished the last of my 6x6's for the Randy Higbee contest.  I'm titling this one 'Nostalgia'.  This chair is my Grandma's chair.  It has been sitting on her back porch for as long as I can remember.  The last time I visited, I decided to photograph this chair because I love all of the age and layers of paint.  My Grandma asked me why I wanted  to take a picture of that old chair, she said she's been meaning to refinish it.  I told her I thought it was beautiful and to please not refinish it, I'm hoping one day to own this chair.  I photographed it in front of her hydrangea bushes.  These also remind me so much of my Grandma's house.  I thought it was fitting that the blooms were at the end of their life, very fitting for the chair.

Now I need your help, I'm going to enter 4 out of the 6 and I really need your opinion.  I have each one labeled with a letter, please choose your top 4 and let me know.  You can leave a comment below, e-mail me at carriewallerart@gmail.com or leave me a message on facebook.  I value your opinion:)

Thanks everyone!  Hope you have a fabulous weekend.  Oh and the deadline is Monday, so please respond in a timely fashion,  I'm very grateful for your opinions and comments!  Please Vote:)

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

Hydrangeas in blue crock

watercolor on paper 18 x 24

So hydrangeas used to be my favorite flower, until I spent several weeks of my life staring at each individual petal until I practically went blind.  This is the second installment of my hydrangea paintings.   This time I set my still life up in an antique crock from one of  my husband grandmothers.  Even though I have spent a tremendous amount of time with hydrangeas lately, I still love them.  I'm having trouble coming up with a title, so I'm enlisting all of your help.  If you have any ideas please leave a comment here or on facebook and share your titles.  I used to always make fun of paintings in museums with obvious names, but I now understand.  By the time you are done painting, you are creatively drained.  So as of now they are Hydrangeas in a blue crock, please, I beg you help me come up with something more imaginative.

I also have a dilemma every time I paint a picture, maybe a fear more than a dilemma, where and how to sign my name.  I thought it was a really silly fear, but when I went to the Paul Jackson workshop he said that he plans his signature into his composition and masks it out.  So this time I did just that.  I like this idea, and will do it from now on. 

acrylic on canvas 11x 14

Steven got back into the swing of things this week and did an 11 x 14 canvas.  The largest one he's done so far.  He did a lovely job!

Hydrangeas in blue crock work in progress

work in progress 

Here is the current state of my new painting.  I was hoping to be further along, but life got in the way:)  We are having a busy week already.  My oldest started preschool:(  He loves it, but I'm having a hard time not worrying that he isn't being cared for the way I would.  It took everything I had not to sit in the parking lot the entire time he was there on his first day.  Aside from that Sam and I have a summer cold.  Nothing is worse than a summer cold, well I guess there are worse things, but it sure isn't fun.  He hasn't been sleeping well, therefore neither am I.  It stinks that babies can't have any kind of cold medicine, poor little guy.  Brian, the hubs, lost his wallet last night, so that pretty much has absorbed any left over time.  The kids and I had to take him to work, because he has no military ID or license.   Fortunately, someone turned his wallet in to Security Forces this morning on base, so he should get it back this afternoon.  Hopefully I'll be feeling more human this evening and can plug away at my painting. 

Carrie