Work In Progress: Retro Pop

"Retro Pop" work in progress 11" x 12" watercolor on 260lb Arches cold press

Finding painting time has been challenging lately.  We are starting to get prepared for our move to Japan.  Between that and spring break and birthday parties and our normal hectic life it's getting a little crazy around her, but I did manage to make some progress and I think with 1 or 2 more painting sessions I can get this one done:)  I really love this painting and am planning on doing a series.

I'm also hosting Artists Helping Artists (#1 art blog radio show) this month.  This Thursday is the 4 year anniversary! I  can't tell you how influential this show has been and how much I have enjoyed listening to it and now co-hosting regularly.  It has truly changed my life.  If you haven't listened you must.  If you are already a fan I could use your help.  Leslie and I would love to know if you have any favorite shows?  What advice has helped you out as an artist that you heard on the show?  We would love to share your comments.  Just leave them here on my blog or on my Facebook page or e-mail them to me carriewallerart@gmail.com

I have a workshop coming up this week that is sold out but I do have a few spots for my workshop "All that shines:  The art of painting glass in watercolor" May 15-17 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  If you are interested click here for details.

Carrie

Friday Feature: Carol Nelson

"One nineteen 12-072" by Carol Nelson

Hi Everyone,


This week Carol Nelson is the Friday Feature.  I came across Carol on facebook.  Her abstracts have me mesmerized.  They are beautiful, organic, vibrant and just plain cool. She can do it all aside from abstracts she has some beautiful landscapes and still life paintings on her site.

To see more of Carol's work check out her blog and website,

How did you get your start?  What’s your artist journey so far? 

I was an art major when I started college, but finished with a scientific degree.  Art was on the back burner for many years, until one day I came across Maxine Masterfield’s book, Painting the Spirit of Nature.  It inspired me to buy all the stuff I need to try her technique.  

"Gemstone 9 12071" by Carol Nelson

That was followed by several years of trying different media, and finally settling on acrylics and mixed media.  I also paint portraits in oil, but the majority of my work is mixed media with an emphasis on experimentation.  I love to try new things.  

If you had told me 6 years ago that I would be teaching workshops in mixed media around the country, I’d have thought you were nuts.  I found out I love sharing my knowledge of contemporary abstract acrylics with other artists.

Where were you born? Duluth, Minnesota

If you could live anywhere where would you live? I love living in Colorado, where the sky is blue and the seasons are dramatic.  I like to vacation near the ocean, but love coming home to my mountains.

"Gemstone 4 1000 12047" original by Carol Nelson

What’s your favorite thing to paint and why?  The most consistent theme in my work is my Geologic Abstract Series, which includes my new Gemstone Series.  Many of my paintings are suggestive of the rocks, cliffs, and canyons of the West.  

Could you talk about your painting techniques?  I strive to have deep, vibrant color, and unusual textures in my work.  I often incorporate metals, metal foils, metal leaf, modeling compound, art papers, printed papers, and a variety of textural elements into a painting.

Do you have go-to paints/colors, what are your favorites?  I work exclusively with Golden Fluid Acrylics for the abstract work.  My favorite color is Quinacridone Nickel Azo gold – it ends up in almost every painting.  For my portraits, I use Grumbacher Pretested Oils.

"Gemstone 8 12069" by Carol Nelson

Do you have a favorite artist?  Who has been your biggest inspiration?  I love abstract expressionist
artists such as Diebenkorn, Rauschenberg, and Rothko.  Since Masterfield’s book started all this, I’d have to say she was the most inspirational to me.

What have been some of your crowning achievements?  Just found out last week that one of my paintings would be on the cover of the new Blick catalog, and also that I am a finalist in The Artists Magazine annual competition.  
My biggest achievement, however, is the continuing popularity of my workshops, where I can show other artists how to be more creative with acrylics and mixed media.

"Orange Dream 12053" by Carol Nelson

What are five things you would like to happen in your life in the next five years? Dream big here:)
I’d like to see my work on the cover of some of the major art publications – the Blick Catalog is a start!  It would be nice to be so in demand, that top galleries would seek me out (does that EVER happen?)


What is your advice for other artists who are just getting started in their career?   There is no substitute for miles on the brush – paint every day.  Join online and local artist groups.  Take workshops and classes.  Start a blog.   Visit galleries often.  Enter competitions.

"Parkview 3 12020" by Carol Nelson

What is the best advice that you have received as an artist? Start a blog.  Then a website.  My whole internet presence started with putting myself “out there” in cyberspace.


SPEED ROUND!
Chocolate or vanilla? vanilla

Your dream vacation spot?  Seychelles

Book or movie? Movie (don’t have time to read books).

Favorite author? Margaret Mitchell

Favorite movie? Blues Brothers

Romance or comedy?  comedy

Favorite dessert? Apple pie

Night owl or morning person? Night owl

Thank you Carol for your insightful interview!



Carrie

A little of this and a little of that!

I have been a total slack when it comes to painting.  I drove the boys to Charleston, SC last week to visit my family with high aspirations of painting but did absolutely no painting.

From Left to Right , Me, My Mom (Judy), my brother Chris, Steven in the middle and Sam on the right.  As a side note my Mom and I get credit for no make-up selfies:)

My Mom and Step Dad, Steven and Sam

There was a lot of this!

And a little of that!  Happy Birthday to my Sam Man who is turning the big 5 today.

Isn't that cool.  I call these light saber lights:)

I did find some inspiration along the way.  I love it when businesses utilize artists in their design.

And I saw these at an artists studio today.  I'm going to make the wreath:)  A reason to save all of my empty tubes:)

I'm back to painting today so I will have some work in progress posted on Wednesday:)

Carrie

Friday Feature: Diane Ziemski

Hi Everone,

"Tops and Bottoms" by Diane Ziemski

It's Friday again.  Today I bring you a very talented watercolor artist that I have had the privilege to get to know during my time here in Arkansas.  It has been great being in shows together.

To see more of Diane's work visit her website .

How did you get your start?  What’s your artist journey so far?

I have a degree in Home Ec, so in college took a lot of design courses, but never painted until I retired from education at age 52. I considered myself crafty but not artistic. I had moved from a small town in Arkansas to Little Rock, and had just met and married my husband Larry who was USArmy retired.  My sons were both in Medical school and it was then, upon my husband’s urging that I begin a new hobby.  Since I had done exhaustive needlework, I decided to paint and chose watercolors as my medium.  I began by getting books and learning how to paint. simple…..  well, not really, but I did and with inferior products and tools, but I painted for long periods of time each day.  I have taken as many workshops as I could since then, and have been fortunate to have been able to attend workshops with and to paint with many wonderful artists through the Mid-Southern Watercolor Society. I now consider myself a professional artist, and am included on the teaching artist rosters of both Celebrity and Cunard Cruise Lines. I was juried into several international exhibits, many regional exhibits, and have received my signature in the first watercolor society I joined .  

Where were you born?

I was born at Shepards AFB in Wichita Falls. Texas, but was raised in Arkansas.

If you could live anywhere where would you live?

Little Rock, Arkansas was my choice of places to live when I retired. I still like it here.

"Yellow Rose After Texas" by Diane Ziemski

What’s your favorite thing to paint and why?

Portraits in watercolor, because it is just such an intense feeling to see those faces appear on that white paper.  Flowers would be a close choice, because of the vibrant colors. But my husband still says I paint Baskin-robbins style, a different flavor each month……

Could you talk about your painting techniques?  

Since I am self taught, my techniques are probably not the best to encourage new artists,  but they work for me at the moment.  I mostly paint wet on dry, and with strong pigments, I only do washes when I am working on a portrait, and then do up to 12 layers or more, but on most paintings I try to get in and get out on the first time, I do paint by shapes, and sections at at time.  I love having very dark, bold, and bright strong colors. My favorite dark backgrounds are with a dark purple, dark turquoise and dark green all mingled.  I do not like to draw, so when I found out I can make a print of a photo and then use graphite to transfer the drawing to paper, I was elated.  I am a computer geek and so this process was just was I was looking for. I am a decent photographer and now that cameras are digital, I take literally thousands to use as subject matter.

"Jackson" with work in progress shots by Diane Ziemski

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

My go to colors are the entire Daniel Smith list of paints. No, I do not have them all, but I do have a lot of them, and this is my favorite brand of paint. I have a huge palette, no I have 4 or 5 palettes, which in most artists minds are too many colors, but that is what I learned with and continue to use. I have one palette for portraits, but always have the others nearby and open. The Rose painting that got accepted into Splash was using about 15 different yellows, BUT some of my all time favorites are hematite, indigo, Quin coral, and naples yellow.  

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

Cindy Agan for her portraits, Birgit O’Connor for florals

I have taken workshops with both of these ladies and am still in touch with them.

"Lady Bug" by Diane Ziemski

What have been some of your crowning achievements?

“SPLASH, 11 The best of Watercolor”

Watercolor USA

22^nd Blues & Heritage Festival Poster from my hometown of Helena, AR

Texas & Neighbors Juried Exhibition

Mid-Southern Watercolorists Signature member

UAMS Rockefellar Cancer Center purchase

Portraits of my children and grandchildren

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

Travel as much as my husband and I can

Have one of my duck paintings chosen as a Duck Stamp

Have a painting juried into the American Watercolor Society

Have a gallery owner come to me and ASK to represent me.

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

Practice, don’t give up, just practice more, and it is never too late to learn new things.

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

Paint what you see and feel. there is no right or wrong way, just your way.

"Secondary Jiggles" by Diane Ziemski

"Primary Jiggles" by Diane Ziemski

SPEED ROUND!

Chocolate or vanilla?  chocolate

Your dream vacation spot? Oregon coast

Book or movie? book

Favorite author? Anne Rice

Favorite movie? Gone with the Wind

Romance or comedy? Romance

Favorite dessert? Cheesecake

Night owl or morning person? morning

Work In Progress. Slow Progress:)

Hi Everyone,

I haven't made much progress since last time I posted about this piece. Life has a way of getting in the way sometimes:).   

The kids and I are currently on Spring break in Charleston, SC. It was a long 2 day drive where We spent a lot of time looking at the back end of trucks. Lots of traffic, uggghhhhh. But we made it and hopefully in between doing stuff and visiting with my Mom, Step Dad and Grandma I will get some painting. I have some deadlines and commissions to finish before our big move to Japan. Speaking of our move we now have our plane tickets. Starting to feel real.  We are scheduling movers this week, agghh!  

Since we are moving and our computer will be caught up in shipping to Japan and I've gone Mac and won't go back we purchased our first Mac lap top. I love it and bought a cute red case to put it in. Have I mentioned red is my favorite color. 

Carrie

Friday Feature: Nicky Campbell

Friday Feature: Nicky Campbell

 Hi Everyone,

Today I have Nicky Campbell as my Friday Feature.  Nicky is a watercolor artist out of 

Johannesburg, South Africa.  I was struck by her interesting compositions and bold colors.

  I look forward to seeing her creative paintings in the future.

To see more of her work visit her facebook page.

How did you get your start?  What’s your artist journey so far?

I have painted and drawn since I can remember. I was fortunate to grow up in a family of artists, crafters

 and writers but when I got married and had children my paints were forgotten buried deep in a cupboard 

somewhere. A couple of years ago I started getting ill and eventually lost my vision completely. Thanks to

 the most amazing neuro-surgeon I came out of hospital with my vision but was unable to work anymore. 

I was at home with nothing to do and felt frustrated so I pulled out the paints that were buried deep in my

 cupboard and started painting. First I painted eyes because I had almost lost my vision then the people

 around me that I thought I would never be able to see again. I was hooked and haven’t stopped painting 

since. My paintings are a celebration of life and all the people I love in it!

Where were you born?

Johannesburg South Africa

If you could live anywhere where would you live?

Africa is my home, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in the world but I would love to travel and visit 

as many art museums and galleries as possible!

What’s your favorite thing to paint and why?

I love painting people more than any other subject .I love having someone’s personality come to life as

 paint them. Every face has a story to tell.

Could you talk about your painting techniques? 

I still have so much to learn so I haven’t got a set technique. With every painting I try a new technique that 

I’ve learnt from studying other artists .I do spend hours drawing because I believe it doesn’t matter how 

well you paint if your drawing is wrong your painting won’t work. Then I build up my paintings in layers

 of glazes. I am not a fan of masking fluid so I preserve whites by painting carefully and wet on to dry as 

I find I don’t have control when I paint wet onto wet.

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

My favorite paint is Winsor and newton.For portraits I mainly use Ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, burnt 

sienna and rose madder. My absolute favorite colour is ultramarine blue; I would quite happily do 

monochrome portraits with this colour.

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

That is a hard question to answer, I don’t think I have a favorite artist .At the moment my biggest

 inspiration is J.M.W Turner .His watercolours have amazing atmosphere and light .He continuously 

experimented which I think is the key to growing as an artist.

What have been some of your crowning achievements?

The biggest so far is being brave enough to make being an artist my day job.

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

1. exhibit my paintings
2. sell my paintings
3. Have a beautiful studio of my own
4. Travel to Italy to paint
5. Most of all to still be able to get up and paint every day.

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

Paint what you love. Learn all the rules and then be brave enough to break them. Paint or draw a little bit 

everyday and most of all have fun!

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

To not only practice painting but to study art history and learn from the masters.

SPEED ROUND!

Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate without a doubt !

Your dream vacation spot?

Italy , I have wanted to visit Italy and explore the amazing art history since I was little girl .

Book or movie?

Movie so I can paint while I watch

Favorite author?

Agatha Christie.Theres nothing better than curling up one of her crime novels and a cup of coffee.

Favorite movie?

Dirty Dancing

Romance or comedy?

Romance

Favorite dessert?

Chocolate Mousse.ALWAYS

Night owl or morning person?

Night owl definitely. My children refer to me as the one who roars in the morning !

Thank you so much Nicky:)

"Retro Pop" Work In Progress

"Retro Pop" Work in Progress  10" x 11" by Carrie Waller

I'm so excited about my newest work in progress with the working title of "Retro Pop".  I took a lot of photos during a sunny photo shoot last week and I'm just thrilled with the photos and can't wait to paint a series of these paintings.  I wanted to have the vintage bottles in a contemporary/pop art kind of style.  I know you can't tell a whole lot from the small amount that I have painted but I can't wait to paint my way through this one.  I will be sharing work in progress shots on my Facebook page so you can see updates there.

Carrie