"Banned" 18" x 24" work in progress watercolor Day #2

"Banned" 18" x 24" work in progress, watercolor by
Carrie Waller 

Here is my progress so far.  I'm trying to paint at least 2 lightbulbs a day.  Each one takes 3-4 hours.  I told you I paint slow:)

Carrie

Friday Feature: Olivia Quintin

Hi Everyone,

'Self Portrait' original watercolor on paper by Olivia Quintin

Today I'm featuring Olivia Quintin.  Her art work is so expressive and beautiful!  The way she handles her watercolors are inspiring and I am thrilled to say I own an Olivia Quintin original.  Olivia is French and her English is much better than my French will ever be.  She has kindly answered my questions in English.

To see more of Olivia's work check out her blog  .

How did you get your start?

What’s your artist journey so far?

I am drawing since I was a young girl, but I didn’t have a regular practice.

Was very attracted by every manual labor and more generally, all creative things.

Since I am 10 years old, I sew and I knit !

When I met my husband, he was used to painting.

I looked at him with envy without daring really to try.

He likes painting very slowly and minutely.

This way of painting didn’t correspond to my character! You know we are both opposite characters...

I loved to see watercolors of landscapes end of sea subjects.

One day, I decided to try that medium. It seems to be so light and transparent.

I liked at once.  I bought all the equipment the same day (this day was a real ruin for my bank account) and since this day, I ‘ve painted in watercolor. Until 2009, I painted in a irregular way and for 2 years, I swim in the watercolor!

I hope it will be like that all the rest of my life .

'Elyse' original watercolor on paper by Olivia Quintin portrait of her daughter

Where were you born?

If you could live anywhere where would you live?

I am born in Brittany, France. I spent my childhood in Saint-Malo but my parents were born in Morbihan, where I live today. Always near the sea. I can’t stand very well to stay too long time far away the sea.  I love the place I live the “ Gulf of Morbihan “, so beautiful. I don’t want to live anywhere else.  I am feeling so good here. Colors are beautiful here, always changing, and there are so quiet places!

A lot of painters love Brittany . Do you know Pont-Aven ? Do you know Belle Ile en mer?

'Sunset' original watercolor on paper by Olivia Quintin (This is the painting I own:)

What’s your favorite thing to paint and why?

Well, I first painted Brittany and sea landscapes.

Last year I painted a series of fishes. I imagined their life. Sometimes with human characters.

I did the same with sea birds.  Then I begun to paint flowers, fresh or faded . Expression of how I feel most of the time .  Now, I paint more and more portraits, characters. Friends, family, figures that tells me a story.  Always in a colored mood.

'I Am Woman of 40' watercolor on paper by Olivia Quintin

Which of your paintings was the most enjoyable to paint? Which was the most difficult?

The painting which was so joyful is “ I am a forty years old woman “. Expressed 40 years behind me and 40 years in front of me. Middle of my life. It was so personal.

The most difficult is not a painting. The most difficult thing is to stay free with the painting !

'Rain or Shine on Houat' original watercolor on paper by Olivia Quintin

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

I love Klimt, Claude Monet, Van gGogh.

I love Monet’s look on nature.

What are some of your favorite things or things that are essential to your well being/success as an artist?

Arches paper, a lot of different colors, a good subject and good music ! I am so inspired by music. Jazzy mood, most of the time.  I paint in my studio which is in the attic of my old house .

'Amelie' original watercolor on paper by Olivia Quintin

 Do you have go-to paints/colors, what are your favorites?

Indigo, van dyke brown,  vivid green, lemon yellow, perm magenta, cobalt blue deep, raw sienna.

Do you ever get artist’s block? And what do you do to overcome it?

I don't have an artist block all the time, but my head is going so far away sometimes. I note my ideas on a paper .

'The Red Floral Wall' original watercolor on paper by Olivia Quintin

What would like to happen in your life in the next five years? Dream big here:)

I’d love to live for painting all the day. If ever, my watercolors could allow me to live, it should be the most beautiful dream.

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

Painting what they want and how they want and not what people like.

I think painting has to be sincere to be loved.

What is the best advice that you have received as an artist?

Don’t be afraid ! Every time I paint I have to remember this sentence.

'Grand Duke of Sleepless Nights' original watercolor on paper by Olivia Quintin

SPEED ROUND!

Chocolate or vanilla?

Vanilla. I don’t like so much chocolate. But you know I live near the sea, I am a salt mouth !

Sunny beach or rustic mountain retreat?

Sunny beach ( I paint on the beach sometimes )

Book or movie?

Book !

I don’t watch TV. My daughter has to help me every time... My god !

Favorite author?

Eric Emmanuel Schmitt.

Favorite movie?

Into the wild.

Romance or comedy?

Both !

Favorite ice cream flavor?

Speculoos

Night owl or morning person?

Both ! Days and nights are not long enough to do all I want to !

But a bit tired sometimes....

Cake or Cupcakes?

Cupcakes : they are so pretty !

Hope everyone enjoyed this interview.  A big thank you to Olivia for taking the time for an interview, I've learned more about you and some day hope to visit your town in France:)

See you Monday,

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

Still a work in progress:)

Work In Progress 16 x 20 watercolor on paper by Carrie Waller

Oh, am I ever the optimist.  I kept putting off posting my painting today, ever hopeful that I would have it complete.  But, it's not quite there.  So here is my work in progress for today.  Sooooo close:)

Funny story, while out driving today I passed a car and I thought boy does that car look familiar.  It looked just like one of the Hot Wheels I just painted:))

Carrie

"Nothing Gold Can Stay" Day 27/30

"Nothing Gold Can Stay" watercolor and gold leaf 8" x 10"
$59

This project has really put me in touch with nature.  On my daily walk I am in constant search for changing leaves.  With all of this inspiration from nature I thought this poem was a beautiful accompaniment to this piece.

Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

       ___Robert Frost

Carrie

"Gold Leaf" and demo of the process

"Gold Leaf" watercolor with gold leaf background 9" x 10" by Carrie Waller
Buy Now $59

"Gold Leaf" 9" x 10" another view so you can see how the background changes with it's background
Day 26/30

Hi Everyone,

This is the 3rd gold leaf project that I have done in as many days and the other 2 art works have sold so I decided I will do a few more.  I have to say I'm in love with these leaves and would love to have them all over my house for Fall decor, or any time of the year.  They are elegant, they look good on the wall or the shelf.

I found this leaf today on my walk and I just love all the colors.  We could learn a lot from leaves, the more color they come in the better and the more imperfections the more interesting they are.  They are a metaphor for how we should view the world, embrace all of the colors and imperfections:)

I also had a lot of questions about my process so I'm sharing with you my process.

First I painted the leaf on watercolor paper

I painted the background around the leaf a rusty orange color so that if there are any spaces in the gold leaf they won't be white.

I then apply gold sizing around the leaf.  Wherever you paint the sizing on is where the gold leaf will adhere.  After putting a thin layer of sizing on you have to wait a minimum of an hour for it to set.

I then applied the gold leaf sheets.  These are very delicate and easily rip.  You want dry, clean hands while apply the sheets.

Using a soft brush I rub the gold leaf onto the sizing in a circular motion.  The gold leaf will not stick to any area that doesn't have sizing.

Continue this process all around the leaf making sure you overlap a little onto the gold areas for full coverage.

Voila the finished product:)

Ideal Sunflowers

"Ideal Sunflowers" original watercolor by Carrie Waller

"Ideal Sunflowers" is my day 15 of 30 paintings.  I started this as a demo a while ago and promised it to my mother-in-law when I finished painting it.  So happy that the 30/30 challenge has given me the push to complete this one.
Carrie

A different kind of painting

Hi Everyone,

Master Bedroom

I have completed a commissioned piece since I last posted but I'm not allowed to share it with you yet:( 

So I thought I would share my weekend project.  I was painting this weekend just not on paper.  

We recently moved into this house and we'll only be here for a year so I didn't change the wall colors.  I wanted to lighten this green wall color up so I have white bedding and I wanted to add white lamps without spending  fortune.

So I visited Goodwill and found these 2 beauties for $5 each.  Bought a can of spray paint and voila, new lamps:)

I stopped in at Hancock Fabric store and they had the blue and white lampshade that I thought would be perfect but they only had one, but they were 50% off so I rummaged through their shelves and found the same pattern but in orange.  I came home and pulled out my acrylics and changed the color.

For around $30 I have 2 new lamps and I think they look great in the room.   I now have a hand painted lampshade which would cost big $$ if you were to purchase from a designer store.  The picture in the middle is a beach scene from Ireland that we had blown up.  And of course I have some ball jars with sand and candles.

Thought I would also share some studio pictures with you.  This is my new painting area.  I just love the huge windows.

I hope you have a great week!  Happy Painting!

Carrie

Almost Done!!!!

Hi Everyone,

work in progress by Carrie Waller, watercolor 17 x 35

I'm painting like a crazy woman with too many deadlines looming.  Oh yeah and I have to move (we're military, our landlords sold our house, boo--so we are moving to a house on the same street).  Have a gallery show on May 9th, a commission due end of this week and working on another project that I have a meeting via skype this Thursday and still don't have any concrete ideas, aaaaaghhhhhh!  Oh and the only time I can have a garage sale (HOA restrictions) is on April 27th, so I'm trying to squeeze that in too.

I will get this all done, I just may not sleep:(

Here is where I am at the moment, have to finish this up today.

Carrie

Work in progress Wednesday

"Italian Heritage" work in progress 11"x 14" watercolor on 260lb paper by Carrie Waller

 Hi Everyone,

Here's my progress on "Italian Heritage" watercolor 11" x 14" on 260lb Arches.

 

This is my foot warmer.  He's under my feet at my painting table for every painting:)

I still have a few spaces available in my workshop.  Come join us:)

Carrie

Work in Progress Wednesday step by step pictures of my latest paintng

Hi Everyone,

Thought I'd share my process with you.  This painting is 11" x 14" painted on 260lb Arches with Daniel Smith watercolors.

wip 1

wip 2

wip 3

wip 4

wip 5

wip 6

"Summer Kaleidoscope" 11"x14" original watercolor on 260lb Arches by Carrie Waller