Summer Day Lily

Orange Day Lily on Patterned Plate watercolor on paper 11 x 14 BUY NOW

 Once again our yard is in full bloom with day lilies.  I am forever appreciative of the former residents that planted just about every color and variety of day lily.  They are beautiful and I look forward to this time of year.  I'm sharing my day lily painting with you.  I plan on doing another one as soon as I'm finished with my commissioned painting that I'm working on.

photo of day lilies from our yard

Hope everyone is having a fabulous Memorial Day weekend.  As a military wife I am certainly thankful for all of our men and women serving our country past and present.

Carrie

Architectural Details

watercolor on paper each square is 12 x 12

 This week I'm working on a commission piece, so I thought I would share some of my older paintings.  I did a series of Architectural detail paintings from our travels in Europe.  Every where we went I was on the hunt for round details.  The top left is from a church in Cambridge, England, the top right I thought was from a museum in Prague, but when I was looking through pics the other day I noticed that this detail was on the ceiling of the Musee D' Orsay, in Paris.  The bottom left is from the Palace in Versailles, France and the bottom right is a manhole cover in Paris.  I painted them all in a monochromatic scheme with Schminke's sepia, one of my favorite colors





Here they are framed. I had them framed at my Mom's frame shop.  She does a gorgeous job, check out her blog here.  I have these hanging in our Master bedroom above the bed.  I'd show you the whole room but I didn't have time to make my bed this morning:)  Don't judge me, I have little kids and a busy life, and I don't always get my bed made. oh well:)  Anyway they are still favorites of mine.  I still keep my eye out for round architectural details when I'm out and about.  I recently found a great one in downtown Montgomery so I will be painting that in the not to distant future.

Steven painted a nice group of paintings this week.  They are lovely abstracts.  Wish I could paint abstracts like him.

See you all next week,

Carrie

James Toogood

This past week I got the opportunity to attend James Toogood's workshop in New Orleans.  I always find it fascinating to see how master artists paint, their methods, and procedures.  Mr. Toogood was fascinating to watch.  He is extremely detailed, precise and knowledgeable about the medium of watercolor.  He begins the process with a perfectly accurate drawing.  He plays with the composition adding things in to a photo reference, taking things out and sometimes making things up. He is after the perfect composition.  He also has a little whimsy and fun adding in funny text on signs.  He also likes to play and make little abstract paintings where he can within his perfectly precise image (in reflections of the water or in chrome or metal).  His passion for paints shines through.  He talked in depth about the actual make up of the paints.  Read the labels you will be surprised, it will help you to understand what color you are actually using.

I took away a lot of great info and was fascinated with his process.  A few things that I will be incorporating is more underpainting.  He also would put a light on top of a dark, which for watercolor is a little different.  I have to say I was a little taken a back when I saw him do this.  He is not afraid to use a full body paint and really apply heavy paint.  I will also be utilizing my ruling pen, which I haven't used since my Graphic Design days in college.  Another good tip I picked up is to print out your reference in different versions, a lighter, medium and darker photo.  Helps you to see what's in the shadow and let you make better decisions in what effect you want to achieve.  His workshop was also a nice refresher in perspective, particularly thinking about atmospheric perspective.

I didn't get very much painting done during the workshop but I'm anxious to put these tips to use.  I have a commission piece to work on first, but will soon get to my workshop painting. 

Mr. Toogood didn't complete a painting in class he showed us different techniques as his demos, so I found this on-line.  Here is the link to the article.

Hope everyone has a fabulous week.

Happy Creating,

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:)

Mother's Day, Teachers gifts and Weddings, Oh My!!!!

Hi Everyone,
Another gift season is upon us!  Mother's Day and Father's Day are right around the corner.  End of school is almost here and you wouldn't want to forget the teachers.  And Wedding Season is in full swing.  What better gift to give than the gift of art.  It is a one of a kind way to say you're special.  I have answered all of your gift giving challenges.  I now have gifts available in several price points.  Gifts will come wrapped and ready:)

In addition to the gifts below I have prints available at Imagekind.  Get your print framed through their services it's economical and they have great frame and mat options.  I've seen  the end result in person and the prints and frames are beautiful.  You can't go wrong here!

I also offer commissioned works and have original paintings available.  Check out my available works here.  For purchasing and commissioning information click here.

Make your gift the most memorable this year:)

Gifts for $25 and under

Carrie Waller Fine Art Tote Bag 13" x 13"  $20 BUY NOW

Carrie Waller Fine Art Gift Certificate $25.00 BUY NOW
not valid on Imagekind purchases

Gifts for $35.00

Nostalgia Framed Print 4.5"x4.5" print, overall dimensions 10.25" x10.25" $35 BUY NOW

Parisian Produce Framed Print 4.5" x 4.5" print overall dimensions 10.25" x 10.25" $35  BUY NOW

Gifts for $50.00

Carrie Waller Fine Art Gift Certificate $50.00 BUY NOW
not valid on Imagekind services

Gifts for $100

Carrie Waller Fine Art Gift Certificate $100.00 BUY NOW
not valid on Imagekind services

Gifts under $200.00

"Crawfish on Newsprint" ORIGINAL watercolor on paper 6x6 $195.00  BUY NOW

"Hydrangeas in Soup Tureen" ORIGINAL watercolor on paper 6x6 $195.00  BUY NOW

"Lavender Tulips" ORIGINAL watercolor on paper 6x6 $195.00 BUY NOW

"Glasgow Abbey" ORIGINAL watercolor on paper 6x6 $195.00 BUY NOW

"Parisian Produce" ORIGINAL watercolor on paper 6x6 $195.00 BUY NOW

Gifts over $200

Check out my original Available Works

All purchases can be made through Pay Pal by clicking on the BUY NOW links.  Pay Pal is fast and secure and accepts major credit cards.  E-mail if you are interested in using another payment method carriewallerart@gmail.com.

See you next week,

Carrie

Crawfish on Newsprint

watercolor and ink on paper 6x6 $195.00  BUY NOW

Hi Everyone,

I hope everyone had a nice holiday weekend.  We traveled to Louisiana last week to spend Easter with my husband's parents.  We had a lovely time.  We celebrated by having a crawfish and shrimp boil.  As soon as I heard that we were going to do this my mind went to where my mind always goes-- to art!   So while everyone one was drooling over dinner, they had to patiently wait while I photographed these beauties.  It wasn't until I got home that I realized they were sitting on a newspaper discussing the oil leak and the 1 yr anniversary of the BP oil spill.  So a painting was born.  I will probably revisit crawfish because they are really gorgeous in color and I got some great shots of them. 

I'm also happy to announce that my painting 'Nostalgia' the 6x6 version sold at the Randy Higbee Gallery.  The 6"squared show is in full swing and chalk full of gorgeous available art.  'Dinner at Eight' is still available as far as I know, so check out Randy's site and take in the fabulous art. 

'Nostalgia' SOLD                              'Dinner at Eight' Available

Steven got his crayons out and created a nice picture for you this week.  I'm glad we're back into using colors:)

Hope everyone has a fabulous week,

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:)