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 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 and Jam

I just delivered this painting to the good people who commissioned it. The commission is for 3 paintings, all to be placed above doors in their kitchen. Look for the next two in the series on the blog soon.

It was so pleasant to see their delight at how the painting turned out. We planned it together, sitting in their garden, eating melon, while the apples ripened nearby and raspberries grew alongside the house.

When I came to collect some props, though, a moose had eaten all the apples still on the tree! Luckily, some were picked before the moose arrived, and I gathered leaves off the tree, so I had what I needed. They had just finished their jam making for the year, so that was handy. These raspberries actually came off my bushes, where I had a small crop still hanging on as the weather cooled.

Thanks guys, for giving me the opportunity to do this painting, it was fun! I have been holding off taking commissions, but am available to discuss commissions as of now.
Oil on panel, 8" x 14"

SOLD

Roman Recipe

Gardening is a pleasure on so many levels. First, the fun of growing the stuff (and these things smell lovely!) Then, after harvest, I get to paint them. Then we eat them. The Roma tomatoes and rosemary are from my garden, and someday I will grow the garlic too. The dish is a very old piece of Dresden china.


6" x 8" oil on linen panel

To purchase, contact me at info@carollambertarts.com

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

Bok choi start to finish

Here is the beginning of Veg Van painting #2 (see earlier posts for #1). Below are in-progress photos of the bok choi detail. I have been working on the bok choi for about a week, while also bringing other parts along more slowly. This first view is the toned linen, the sketch of my design in india ink, with the bok choi and some zucchinis roughly blocked in. Please forgive the uneven lighting, the left side is not really so dark.


I have added some shadow, and more surrounding detail.


Loosely sketching in the white veins on the leaves gives me some landmarks, and establishes the rhythm of the of the form.

Here I have started to refine the shapes and lines, and the zucchinis are also coming along.


Those green beans on the left have morphed into scallions! And the napkin under the blue jar is gone. The stalks of the bok choi are looking good now. especially against the background red. Further refinements to the leaves, finishing some detail on the lower leaves.


Many hours later, the bok choi is nearly complete. There may be a few touches when the rest of the painting is brought up to a similar state of completion. One of the zucchinis will get a little highlight. The sprig of mint will also be completed later. I'm happy with how this is going, I think it will look good on the veg van.

Raspberries

The berries in our back yard finally ripened! I waited all summer for a chance to do this painting. This piece draws on my current inspiration, late 18th c and early 19th c still life. At some point I will do a larger piece, but first I wanted to try a this on a small scale. This was more like a three day painting than a daily painting, I wanted to develop it beyond a sketch.

6" x 8" oil on linen panel

To purchase, contact me at info@carollambertarts.com
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

My Strawberries

From the garden.
Available at Fireweed Gallery

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