Introspection

Introspection, 6" x7" original watercolor on Arches 260lb by Carrie Waller

Hi Everyone,

So I got a little distracted this week and completely abandoned my painting from last week to start another one.  Of course I will be coming back to my glowing jars, but I got a little antsy and decided to participate in DPW challenge from last week.  Confession time, I get really frustrated with the DPW challenges because I feel like they are geared toward oil painters a majority of the time.  I am probably the only one that feels that way, it's just my opinion anyway.  So, I was pleasantly surprised that last weeks challenge was to paint a rose, and you could use your own photo reference and not confined to someone else's mediocre photo.  I just so happened to be sitting on some great photos of roses that my husband's Aunt had sent me.  So I allowed myself to start a new painting as long as I started and finished in one day.  I did it:) 

I will have to say after painting in yellow I remembered that yellow is a difficult color to paint with in watercolor.  It's very easy to lose the glow and end up with mud.  It is also extremely difficult to photograph, but it was a fun exercise and a happy distraction with that said,  I promise to have more work in progress pictures of my ball jars on Wednesday.

Carrie

Friday Feature: It's Baaack, Melissa B. Tubbs

"Urban Lion" by Melissa B. Tubbs original pen and ink

Hi Everyone,

Friday Feature is back, my summer hiatus is over and I'm back with a great interview to start off this season.  I met Melissa through the Montgomery Art Guild while I lived in Alabama.  Her work is Ah-maze-ing!!!!!!  This lady can wield a pen like nobody's business.  Melissa has been published in Strokes of Genius 2: The Best of Drawing Light and Shadow by North Light Books, has her illustration as the cover of a series of Strathmore's drawing pads and has a Christmas ornament in the permanent collection of the White House, these are just a few of her many accomplishments

To see more of her incredible work check out her blog.

How did you get your start?  What’s your artist journey so far?
I have been an artist all of my life (my mother has kindergarten report cards that say “Melissa finger-paints well.”

I have a degree in visual design from Auburn University and spent 25 years in magazine publishing. I first began creating pen-and-ink drawings when my sister needed a Christmas present for her father-in-law. She asked me to create a pen-and-ink drawing of his house. It was my first pen and ink and was a slower than usual process as I figured out what I was doing as I went along.

As word-of-mouth spread, I received more commissions. It finally got to the point where I needed to find more time to create the drawings or stop doing them. I chose to quit my office job and become a full-time artist. I have had opportunities that I would never have dreamed of (created a Christmas ornament for the official White House Christmas tree in 2001, created two drawings for Strathmore Artist Papers drawing pad covers in 2010-2011, having my work published in three books to name a few). I have been a full-time fine-artist for 15 ½ years and I have never looked back.

"Cloverdale Playhouse" by Melissa Tubbs original pen and inkn

Where were you born?
San Antonio, Texas. My father was in the Air Force stationed at Randolph Air Force Base.

If you could live anywhere where would you live?
Right where I am, Montgomery, AL. It is warm, just the right size and I can get anywhere from here.

What’s your favorite thing to paint and why?

Architecture because of the great shadows it casts and the wonderful detail of ornamentation.

Could you talk about your painting techniques? 
I begin with a contour drawing and then proceed to use layers of straight and curved lines to create the values of the subject. As few as two or three layers for light areas (sometimes leaving an area completely without lines) to many, many layers to create the darkest dark areas. It is those final dark, dark shadows that make a drawing “pop.” I prefer to work on drawing paper because I don’t like the stiffness of illustration board. I also like to use the smallest pen point size because the lines have a more refined look than the thicker lines of larger pen points.

How did you arrive at your current style?
It was a natural process from teaching myself how to use pen and ink.

"Angel and Ivy" by Melissa Tubbs original pen and ink

Do you have a favorite artist?  Who has been your biggest inspiration?
I discovered a wonderful artist, John Taylor Arms, who created etchings of architecture from the about 1913until the early 1950s when he died. They are finely-detailed images of European cathedrals, the architecture of Venice and of Mexico. He felt that he had been “born to draw Gothic architecture.” He wanted those who saw his prints to have the same emotional experience he enjoyed in the presence of the great cathedrals and other imagery he represented. I feel the same way.

"Tera Cotta Faces, Goatman Sculpture" by Melissa Tubbs original pen and ink

What are some of your favorite things or things that are essential to your well being/success as an artist?
Strathmore 400 Series drawing paper, Rotring Isograph pens, interacting with a good art community (working alone, you need some people you can be around who understand who you are and what you are doing), finding a gallery that is as excited about selling my work as I am about creating it, seeing the great big smiles on clients faces when I deliver my drawings, and remembering that God gave me the ability to do what I do.

Do you have go-to paints/colors, what are your favorites?
When my granddaughter was little, she asked me, “Don’t you get tired of just using black?” I told her, “No, I love working with black.” Because I love working with value.

"Carnegie Hall" by Melissa Tubbs original pen and ink

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

1. Complete my drawing project “Celebration & Preservation.”
2. Travel to Rome, Venice and Florence, Italy
3. Representation by a reputable gallery in the Northeast.
4. Write, illustrate and have published two children’s books I have worked on off-and-on for years.
5. Be the recipient of the Rome Prize and/or a Pollock/Krasner grant.

What is your advice for other artists who are just getting started in their career?
Create the best art that you can, never stop growing as an artist and persevere—nothing happens over night, it’s a process and a journey.

"Auburn Oak" by Melissa Tubbs original pen and ink

What is the best advice that you have received as an artist?
Pick one thing that you like and do well and stick to it—I chose drawing architecture with pen and ink.

"Patrick Doughtery Stick Sculptures" by Melissa Tubbs original pen and ink

 SPEED ROUND!

Chocolate or vanilla?
Chocolate

Sunny beach or rustic mountain retreat?
Both, beach in fall and winter, mountains in summer.

Book or movie?
Book, everything is more vivid in the imagination.

Favorite author?
Currently, Louise Penny. She writes wonderful mysteries.

Favorite movie?
Rear Window

Romance or comedy?
Depends on my mood.

Favorite ice cream flavor?
Jamoca Almond Fudge

Night owl or morning person?
Used to be a morning person, now I’m a night owl.

Cake or Cupcakes?

Cupcakes—keeps me honest on portions.

Thank you , Melissa.

Work In Progress Wednesday

6x8 original watercolor work in progress

Hi Everyone,

I'm sharing some more of my work in progress (wip).  I'm working on this for the fabulous Crystal Cook.  I hope you don't get too tired of this painting because I'm planning on doing a large version.  The subject is pretty magical and I'm just itching to paint it at a large scale. 

I'm blogging this to you at 2:32 a.m.  A pretty typical blogging time for me, because I gravitate to night owl status very easily.  I thought I would share with you a typical painting evening at the Waller casa.  You would think that if I were painting into the wee hours it would be pretty quiet around here, but that is not usually the case.  Tonight I let the munchkins stay up a little later to watch the Olympics, I mean that is pretty exciting stuff.  The only problem with this is that when my kids get over tired they just get wired, so it took us a few books to get calmed down which now puts me at 11:30.  Then I had a little fb, website and blog business to tend to which always takes longer than anticipated.  My oldest child is still awake at this point (a natural night owl also) and he decides to "check" on me and see why I'm up so late.  So I went back in the boys room and tucked him in again.  I finally make my way upstairs to paint, I have a pounding headache but I'm going to paint my way through the pain and get some brush to paper.  The dog starts barking, have to go down let him out of his kennel and outside.  Put him back in his kennel, back to painting.  I'm happily painting away and get a text, it's my husband, texting me from the bedroom to check on Sam (I can't hear the boys from my art area and I "forgot" the monitor which is in the bedroom.  Go downstairs, Sam fell out of bed, still asleep, just crying in his sleep.  Pick him up, rock him, back in bed.  Back upstairs to paint again.  At this point I'm ready to hang my brushes up so I photo my work in progress and trudge back downstairs to blog to my wonderful blogging friends.  As I'm writing this my cat his meowing/ crying her little heart out because she wants me to come to bed, so she can sleep on me.  Guess I better wrap it up before the dog hears the cat and starts barking and wakes the boys up.  It's a regular circus around here:)  It's a miracle I ever finish a painting:)

See you Friday, I'll have a brand new Friday Feature:)

Carrie

Classic Beauties

"Classic Beauties" 5" x 10" original watercolor on 260lb Arches by Carrie Waller

Hi Everyone,

Today I'm sharing my sepia version of my pear painting.  Painting in sepia is a great way to really understand values and make sure you are getting your darks, dark enough to make your lights pop.  I started this exercise in the workshop I taught earlier this summer and just now finished it up. I love painting in sepia and when I first started painting in watercolor I painted only in sepia.  I really think it helped me get where I needed to be when I started adding color into the mix.  Sepia also has such a beautiful "old world" feel.

And here is a work in progress I'm working on for one of my favorite people in the art world:)  I'll have more work in progress pictures on Wednesday.

I've been watching the Olympics this weekend.  The stories of these amazing athletes has inspired me to push myself.  All of these Olympians are following their passions and pushing their limits further than they ever thought they could.  I want to do the same with my art and career.  This is my dream and my passion.  I have even more commitment and dedication.  I'm going to push my limits.  If they can do it, so can I and so can you!!  We have to "just do it" :)

See you Wednesday:)

Carrie

Best of Friday Feature: Prabal Mallick

Friday Feature: Prabal Mallick

Hi Everyone,

I met Prabal Mallick through blogging.  He is a self-taught watercolor artist living in  Bangalore, Karnataka, India.  His works are beautiful and always take me away to his exotic locale.  He paints fantastic landscapes in his own unique style with amazing atmospheric perspective .  I always look forward to checking out what he's up to next.

Check out his blog here 

Untitled by Prabal Mallick watercolor 22 x 30

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

Carrie, first of all it is a great pleasure being interviewed by you. Thank you.

I was drawing as early as I can remember. My father is a musician and he encouraged me a lot in my childhood. Then in high school my teachers and friends thought I was good at painting and I got a lot of encouragement there too. I had two wonderful art teachers who guided me there. But art was never a serious thing for me that time. Then I went on to do my engineering and painting took a back seat.  After engineering I got back to painting, but somehow the relationship was not working anymore. By the way I had been doing oils all this time. Then about four years back by some random coincidence I came across watercolor works of some wonderful artists and the rest as they say is history.

Where were you born?

I was born in Bhubaneswar, capital of Odisha in eastern part of India.

If you could live anywhere where would you live?

Somebody said, “its not the place, but the company that matters.” But yes I wont mind a secluded village somewhere in Goa. J

"Chilika Stills" by Prabal Mallick watercolor 15 x 22

What’s your favorite thing to paint and why?

No points for guessing this. Landscapes it is. Especially the country side. Nature’s beauty has never fails to inspire.

Could you talk about your painting techniques? 

I try to break up a painting into major washes. This part is very important for me because I do not glaze over a lot. Then come the smaller washes. And finally it is about making statement with minimal brush strokes. And yes I also rely on watercolor to paint itself like most watercolor painters.

I love all of your landscapes.  Do you paint from sketches, life, or photos or some combo?  Could you expand on this?

Thank you Carrie. It is great to know that. I love painting outdoors the most. But it is not always possible. So in that case I work from sketches done on location. In case of photographs too I make sketches first and then I work from the sketch.

"Chilica Stills III" by Prabal Mallick watercolor 15 x22

How did you arrive at your current style?

I think 90% of the style comes from the personality of the artist. It is always there. The rest 10% which is about the skill set and outlook keeps changing with time. But this 10% is actually very important and one needs to keep working on it for the 90% to present itself clearly. I think I have just started working on that 10% and it will take some good time for my style to get defined on paper.

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

Oh there are many. Van Gogh is my all time favorite artist. Among contemporary watercolor artists Milind Mulick, Charles Reid, Joseph Zbukvic, Alvaro Castagnet are my favorite to name a few. Milind sir’s paintings were the reason I got inspired to do watercolors.

"Plein Air Museum" by Prabal Mallick watercolor 15 x 11

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

To have faith….. When you decide to embark on an artistic journey, you are telling yourself that this will be a never ending and lonely journey which will keep testing you all the time. And the only thing that will carry you ahead on your path is faith.

"Plein Air Tipu's Summer Palace" by Prabal Mallick watercolor 15 x 22

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

In brands there are no favorites as such. I use an Indian brand called Camel. I am quite used to it by now. In colors I use 3-4 varieties of primaries. And in secondaries I have an orange, a magenta and two greens.

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

In no particular order

1. Get much more painting time
2. Study under my favorite artists
3. Go on a painting world tour
4. Grow as a person
5. Improve my skills at least a 100 times over

"Plein Air Lalbaugh Flower Show" by Prabal Mallick 15 x11

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

An artist’s journey has no destination. It is the journey that has to be enjoyed. There is no alternative to practice, which will improve the quality of this journey. Keep reflecting to check whether the direction is your own. And most importantly have faith.

"Plein Air Ulsoor Lake" by Prabal Mallick watercolor 15 x 11

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

This probably is the simplest, but most profound words of advice I received.

“In art no one else can solve one’s problems. One has to find the solutions oneself. One has to find one’s own path. That is when a painter can become an artist. So just keep at it.”

"Princess Khairi" by Prabal Mallick watercolor 15 x 22

SPEED ROUND!

Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate

Sunny beach or rustic mountain retreat?

Hmmmmmmmm.. I think mountain retreat wins with a very small margin out here..

Book or movie?

Book

Favorite author?

Devdutt Pattnaik

Favorite movie?

‘Leaving Home, life and times of Indian Ocean’, ‘Lord of the rings series’, ‘The Matrix’, ‘Andaaz Apna Apna’

Romance or comedy?

Comedy

Favorite ice cream flavor?

Mango, Black currant

Night owl or morning person?

Strictly none. But I love to get up and see sunrise, though I don’t do it.

Cake or Cupcakes?

I love cakes. So both.

Prabal thank you so much for your interview.  I love his answer to the best advice for an artist.  Very insightful:)

Bottled at the Source Work in progress pictures

Hi Everyone,

Thought I would share my work in progress pictures of my newest painting "Bottled at the Source".

"Bottled at the Source" original watercolor on 260lb Arches by Carrie Waller

 Click Here for Price Information

"Fat Bottomed Girls" original watercolor on 260lb Arches 5" x 10" with a 1.5" white border

"Fat Bottomed Girls" is being auctioned at Daily Paintworks, Click Here for Details

Have a great week, see you Friday for Friday Feature:)

Carrie

Bottled at the Source

"Bottled at the Source" original watercolor on 260lb Arches by Carrie Waller

  Click for Price Information

Hi Everyone,

I trust that you are having a wonderful summer!  It is hot, hot, hot here, and I think most places in the U.S.  We are in a severe drought and in dire need of some rain so I guess the Cook/Waller challenge this month is timely.  Crystal came up with the theme of water.  Now, confession time, this challenge was due a while ago but yours truly has been crazy busy.  I think Crystal has been pretty busy also with commissions and summer with the kids.  But I have finally gotten my act together and created my first painting in our new home.  I took the photo reference for this at our old home in Alabama.  I set these water bottles up pool side.  I loved the contrast of the abstractness of the bottle against the abstractness of the pool.  And I love, love, love blue and turquoise, so this painting was right up my alley.  I did change quite a bit from the photo reference.

Check Wednesday for the Work in progress pictures of this painting.

To see Crystal's answer to the challenge click here.

Sammy and I celebrating:)

My fabulous art bag for transporting framed pictures.  (Please ignore my half closed eyes:)

 Also this past Saturday was my hmmmm hmmmth birthday so we had a nice little celebration at home.  My Mom and Grandma had been here the week before so it's been a family filled month.  My Mom made this fabulous art bag for me.  I saw someone at an art exhibit bring in their framed works in bags similar to this and took a picture and asked my Mom to make one for me.  She went above and beyond and reinforced the bottom with a very sturdy fabric and made the hand super durable and it even has a velcro closure.  This will make lugging around framed works so much easier.  It also pads and protects them while being transported.  I already put in a request for an even bigger one:))

"Fat Bottomed Girls" Bid Now--being auctioned at DPW

I also got a little better photo of my painting from last a couple of weeks ago.

I hope you are staying cool and creating lots of great works.

Carrie