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

Finally, the Veg Van

Actually the van project was completed a while ago, but I was out of town for the last 3 weeks so today I saw it for the first time! Glad that it is out there glamorizing the world of vegetables. I hope people take it in, even if only with peripheral vision, and think about going to get some really good veggies.

More posts soon. Just now am still trying to unpack!

The Veg Van is almost ready

What you see above is the "before decoration" view of the truck, and the next 2 images are of course the designs as they will be applied to the truck. Recognize those paintings?





What do you think, are these eye-catching enough?

If you want to look at the paintings before they became part of the design, look at my posts on 4/5, 4/19, 5/4, and 5/25 of this year.

Fran Durner, gardening writer for ADN, has just posted on her blog Talk Dirt to Me about the upcoming veg van makeover. Please click on the link and read her excellent article!

Many thanks to Alison Arians of Glacier Valley Farms CSA, and all the folks at Graphicworks and Norstar Color for their work on the scans. And a big thank-you to Fran Durner, who has been following our progress for months.

Keep an eye out for that Veg Van and please email me at info@carollambertarts.com and tell me what you think!

And while I have your attention, please come see me this weekend if you are anywhere near Fireweed Gallery in Homer. I will be doing a painting demo all day Saturday, July 18!

Veg Van Painting #2, Completed

Here is the second painting for the Glacier Valley Farm Community Supported Agriculture van. The first painting has already been scanned and is ready for the next phase. This one needs to dry a bit more, then a coat of varnish, then to the scanner. With any luck, the paintings will be on the van by the end of June, if not before. I will post photos of the van once they are in place!

This has been a fun and challenging project, and kept me happily occupied in the studio through the unlovely dust and mud phase of our Anchorage springtime. Now the weather is fine and my outdoor painting kit is all packed. Look for some landscapes soon!

Oil on linen, 12' x 24"

This one is not for sale yet. After we get the image onto the van, I will price it. If you are interested in a purchase, please contact me at info@carollambertarts.com

Veg Van painting completed

Here is the final result of the painting for the vegetable van. I will do one more, I think. After all, the van has 2 sides! I thought about taking more pictures along the way but kept telling myself I was almost finished, so I might as well wait. Then, of course, it was another week before it was really finished. That's how it always is with me, I think I'm almost done, then I'm not. My apologies to those who wanted more "in progress" photos.

I hope if you see this painting driving around town this summer, you will let me know. And please visit the farmer's market too, the vegetables there are beautiful, fresh, and delicious!

Oil on linen, 12' x 24"

This one is not for sale yet. After we get the image onto the van, I will price it. If you are interested in a purchase, please contact me at info@carollambertarts.com

Alaskan Onion

Finally back to painting after reorganizing my studio. I have also been getting my website revised and ready for relaunch (soon!) Here is the result of my First Friday demonstration at Charlie's Club 25. A beautiful Alaskan onion, which came in my most recent Glacier Valley Farms produce box. I love it when vegetables look like they just came from the farm, as this one does. (And I loved it yesterday when it became part of a delicious butternut squash soup.) Thanks to everyone who came by to say hello while I was painting!


6" x 8" oil on linen panel

To purchase, contact Fireweed Gallery in Homer, AK.
907 235 3411

Fruited Almond Bread

Here is the first painting of 2009, depicting a Fruited Almond Holiday Loaf, the beautiful creation of Alison and Dan at Rise and Shine Bakery in Anchorage. It was really hard not to eat it before the painting was finished. It smelled yummy, looked wonderful, and tasted so good when I was all done.

You can have a look Alison and Dan's photo album to see more images of them and their breads. Alison is also a driving force behind the Farmer's Market and Local Foods movement in Anchorage. Thanks to her and her farmer colleagues, I have access to great vegetables for painting and eating, and she provides recipes too!

8" x 10" oil on linen panel
SOLD

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

White Turnip and Carrot

They call the white turnips "snow apples" at our local farmer's market, and they are mild enough to eat like apples! After a very cool summer, we are just now seeing the sweet, fresh carrots from our farmers.

6" x 8" oil on linen panel
SOLD

Broccoli Sprouts

If you don't like broccoli, maybe you have never tasted it fresh, right out of the field. Our farmer's market is one of the things I like best about summer!

8" x 6" oil on linen panel


To purchase, contact 2 Friends Gallery
907 868 4648

Radishes

Farmer's market bounty.

6" x 8" oil on linen panel
SOLD