Sublime to ridiculous

Well, perhaps not ridiculous, but oddly attractive and intriguing. I am referring to the Romanesco Broccoli, which is a popular crop here in Alaska. We grow cruciferous very nicely!

These two are from the South Anchorage Farmers' Market. The medium is silverpoint on a kind of sulphite paper called "Plike". It yields a darker line than traditionally prepared silverpoint ground.

Oddities of the Vegetable Family, silverpoint, 9 x 13.5

And here is the sublime, or at least the Rococo, that we find in Alaska during late summer. Fireweed in June is green, straight, and topped with magenta flowers. Fireweed in September is something else entirely.

September Fireweed, watercolor on paper, 20 x 16

For more information, and to find out about purchasing any of these pieces, please contact me through my website, at the following link: http://carollambertarts.com

It helps to get out of town!

I spent two long weekends at my cabin studio and got a lot done. I've been experimenting with different drawing media. The Horsetail ferns are done in silverpoint, the bog blueberry branch is ink and pastel pencil, the birch bark is graphite and white chalk, and the nest is ink and watercolor. Can't wait to get out there again, no distractions!

Basket of Linens

It all started with a lovely detail from Zubaran's Praying Virgin. I loved how this simple set of objects  held their own in the corner of a wonderful painting, and the economy of Zubaran's rendering. 

Hard to find such nice baskets! I found one in a yard sale and removed the handle. Then I rummaged in my collection of old linens, and tried, unsuccessfully, to pose the folds with toothpicks. In the end, I arranged the folds without trying to get so close to my inspiration. You may recall this drawing.

I took the opportunity to play with the image as an etching. This 3 x 4 plate is waiting for me to print a little edition of baskets.

All this preparation was leading up to the painting. Here, finally, is the result.

Basket of Linens
Oil on linen panel

12 x 16

For more information, contact me at info@carollambertarts.com

Memories of Summer

Here are the last florals of the summer, with the flowers that were most plentiful in my garden, nasturtiums and lobelia (some of my favorites!) The piece below also features a red cup I fell in love with, plus some of my collection of glass bits. 

The piece shown below is a pastel on paper. Colorful, isn't it? Pastel just tempts me to go all out with the color, it is such a lush medium. This piece looks great in a mat, the energy is nicely contained, just the thing to brighten a winter day.

Red Cup with Blossoms and Shards
Oil on Linen Panel
9 x 12

Bed of Nasturtiums
Pastel on Paper
11 x 15

For more information, contact me at info@carollambertarts.com

August Floral SOLD!

Not 24 hours after posting this painting on the blog, I had inquiries about availability and price. This afternoon I delivered the painting to the new owners, which was very exciting. As you can see by the photo (that's me on the left), they are pleased, too.

In fact, they expressed a hope that this sale, coming so soon after I published the photo, will inspire others to follow through quickly to inquire about a work they admire. I can only agree! Don't hesitate to contact me for more information when you are interested in one of my pieces.

If you regret missing out on this one, there will be more. I was able to complete a different floral to my satisfaction, to be posted soon. It is very different from this one, less formal overall, but it turned out pretty well. Stay tuned.

August Bouquet

Most of these blossoms were growing in my Alaska garden during the month of August, thus the title. It started as a quickly assembled decoration for the table when I had guests early in August, and eventually became this painting. Those of you who know of my fascination with the artist Raphealle Peale may see some influences here. I like the way he sometimes uses vines as a device to impart a sense of movement to his composition.

August Bouquet

12 x 14

oil on linen panel

SOLD

For more information, contact me at info@carollambertarts.com

Fruit with Dried Sunfower

The sunflower is from last summer's garden. Every winter the birds knock a bounty of seeds out of the feeders, and thousands of sunflowers come up. I thin them for weeks, and eventually have a few small flowers like this one. They come up leggy and tough, and I like them a lot!

9" x 12" oil on linen panel

To purchase, contact me at info@carollambertarts.com

Dark Lily

A favorite embroidered piece, a favorite broken glass (I have a collection) and a lily from the garden last year, all these things still graceful in old age.

14" x 11" oil on linen panel

To purchase, contact me at info@carollambertarts.com

Fireweed in Autumn

These fireweed, gone to seed, were just a few feet from our tent. I admired them every time I walked past, so on our fifth day of painting in Denali National Park, I set up the easel and got to work. I thought for once I would not have the big mountain in my painting, but it got in somehow, just faintly in the background.


Here is a photo of the mountain a few hours later, flushed with alpenglow as the setting sun slanted through the atmosphere. This phenomenon comes on quickly, and the peak of color lasts less than 5 minutes, then twilight sets in. Hard to paint that fast.


Here's the rest of our view that night, the Alaska Range stretching out before us.

9" x 12" oil on linen panel

To purchase, contact me at info@carollambertarts.com
$325 plus shipping, unframed

Fireweed and Cow Parsnips

Another sketch, out behind the gallery in Homer. This particular combination of wildflowers is plentiful all along the roadsides at this time of year in Alaska.

10" x 8" oil on linen panel

To purchase, contact me at info@carollambertarts.com
$150 plus shipping, unframed

Fireweed sketch

Access to my friends' cabin is by 4-wheeler only, and I get to ride on the back, hold on tight, and enjoy the scenery. Riding along next to the railroad tracks, we passed lots of a favorite Alaskan wildflower, Fireweed. It grows tall, and kind of looks like a lot of people wearing pointy pink hats! The blooms start in mid summer, and when they get to the top, we know cold weather is only weeks away.

I couldn't stop and paint these on the ride, so this sketch is based a combination of memory and drawings.

8" x 10" oil on linen panel

To purchase, contact me at info@carollambertarts.com
$150 plus shipping, unframed

And for those of you who, like myself, looked at that last post and thought, "Wow, something funny about that perspective!" here is what I got when I tried to make corrections. Did I get it right this time? Maybe not, but this is a bit better. It often happens that I only see the glaring error after I look at the photograph, even though I've stared at the thing for hours!

Squash Blossom and Nasturtiums

Even though they look exotic, they were grown in Alaska. I saw the squash blossom at the farmer's market and couldn't resist! The nasturtiums are from my garden.
6" x 8" oil on linen panel

SOLD

Lilacs and Teacup

All over Anchorage, the lilacs were blooming like crazy in early July. Once cut, they don't last long, so a painting preserves the moment. With this piece I am also paying my respects to Henri Fantin Latour, the French 19th c painter of superb florals. I follow his lead, but at a distance!
Available at Fireweed Gallery

12" x 10" oil on linen panel
SOLD