Here Today, Gone Tomorrow (Halloween still life)

watercolor on paper 17 x 22

So my boys were really excited about this still life, can you imagine why?  Steven, my 4 yr old, couldn't wait until I was done photographing this one, so he could get his hands on the loot, and Sam, my 1 yr old, could not understand why he couldn't get the giant candy corns off of the watercolor paper.   The whole thing is very fun and Halloweeny!  I'm going to use this as my October entry for the Artists Helping Artists, monthly painting challenge.  The challenge inspired me to do themed paintings for each month, the idea being that at the end of a year you have art to put in a calendar. In addition to that I think it's pretty great to have revolving art.  How fun to keep it fresh and have 12 months art. 

Don't forget to check out my incredibly talented friend Crystal Cook's blog.   She is having a fantastic contest where she is giving away an 8 x 10 watercolor portrait of your choice, click here for details. Also, please let her know that I sent you her way:)

Steven is still on a crayon kick, since school started.  Here is his latest creation.  It looks like there is a red heart, too cute.  On another note, I'm probably the only Mom at preschool that was running late this morning because the light was great in my kitchen window and I had to photograph my newest still life.  Oh, well, Steven will have something to talk to his therapist about when he's older:)

Thank you to everyone again for all the great comments and support.  I also have some new followers, Welcome!!!

See everyone next week,

Carrie

Scarlett (still life with red apples in candlewick)

watercolor on paper 20 x 24

This weeks painting is in response to a new monthly challenge that the Artists helping Artists --http://artistshelpingartistsblog.blogspot.com/-- blog is hosting.  This is the first challenge for this site and the theme is September.  The idea being that each month you do a painting based on the theme of that month and in one year you have material for a calendar.  I thought it was a terrific idea.  They also have a fabulous blog radio talk show that you can access via the above link.  I'm a bit obsessed with it!  The hosts Leslie Saeta --http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com--and Dreama Tolle Perry-- http://dreamatolleperry.blogspot.com/--share crazy amounts of wonderful info that any artist will find pertinent.    They are also both super duper talented artists so check out their blogs.

So back to this weeks painting.  When I thought of September, I thought of back to school, the end of summer and fall.  Apples came to mind, an apple for the teacher, which immediately made me think of red apples.  I wanted to incorporate fall colors in with the fabric, so as I was preparing for this still life, I was too impatient to go to the fabric store and purchase something, so I looked around my house and low and behold my kitchen curtains were perfect.  So my painting had a "Gone with the Wind" moment, down came the drapes and into the still life they appear.  I'm titling this one "Scarlett", my witty little homage:)  I think the curtains were a great contrast to the apples and had the fall colors I was looking for.  As if the striped fabric wasn't enough of a challenge I grabbed my husbands favorite dishes, which we were given when we got married.  It's his grandma's candlewick that he called marble dishes when he was a kid because of all the glass balls that adorn the rim of the dishes.  This is my first time painting glass and I have to say I loved it.  I'm beginning to realize I love a challenge.  Once I started this painting I just didn't want to stop.

kitchen area, see the curtains:)  Also I refinished this table recently, goes so much better with my furniture now.

Hope you enjoy and I'll let you know when it's posted  on the Artists helping artists blog.  And I encourage all you artists out there to participate in the challenge, deadline is the 15th of Sept.

I also want to thank all of my followers new and old and everyone that takes the time to comment via the blog or facebook.  I love reading them and it really motivates me.  I just love the blog world, such a support system.

Have a great week!

Carrie