The Way Things Work

Here is the commission I mentioned in my last post.  My patron provided the props, each has a personal significance. There are a few messages in the arrangement, you might be able to find some of them.

The Way Things Work
Oil on linen panel
12" x 16"

SOLD

A couple of blue horses

Sometimes an object will just grab me. That's what happened when I saw these two little horses.

About a year ago I started the Blue Horse on Red, as a demonstration during a class. I didn't get it finished, and it waited in my studio for many months. I knew I would paint the other horse, and finally got to work on Blue Horse on Green at a gallery demonstration. Didn't get that one finished either.

But the day came when I just couldn't wait any longer to put these two ponies right. For one thing, they were a great experiment in high chroma! Not much in the way of subtle grays here. Since they are only 6" x 6", though, the viewer is in no danger of being over-dazzled.

Blue Horse on Red

Blue Horse on Green

6 x 6

oil on linen panel

SOLD

Four Inch Brush, another First Friday Demo

Many thanks to photographer Paul Younger, who came to the Upstairs Studio First Friday opening and took this shot of me with my painting, my glass palette, and my set up.

The subject is another old tool I have had for a while, just waiting for the right moment to paint it. Because I try to work quickly on demo paintings, a simple object is best, but I added the cloth to liven up the color. Besides, brushes and color go together!

You can see my mixtures of pink and pale yellow paint, to match the fabric, on the palette. My green and violet mixtures are also there, but outside the photo.

The first sketch, getting the composition in place. You can still see my initial grid. The panel is 8 x 10.

The block-in is about done here.

First color pass, looking like a painting now. I had fun incising the individual bristles with the pointy end of my brush.

I continued to work on Saturday, and this is what it looks like now. It is not necessarily finished. I will let it dry for a few days and look it over for needed refinements. Then the "official photo" will go to the website.

This process is what I teach in my weekend workshops. There is still space in March, April, and May. Please contact me if you are interested in signing up.
info@carollambertarts.com

Cosmos

In the middle of winter, it's nice to see some color.

12" x 10" oil on linen panel

To purchase, contact me at info@carollambertarts.com

Self on Palette

Every November the University of Alaska Student Union Gallery hosts a juried exhibition of self portraits. It's called No Big Heads, for its requirement that no portrait exceed 12" in any dimension. My submission, painted on a very beat up old palette, slightly cut down to meet the size requirements, was just juried in. It's really handy to have the paints laid out on the painting!

I always try to do something a bit whimsical for this show. Here are some entries from past years:

Self with Copper Ore (on copper)

Self with Drapery


Self with Bowling Girl and Giant Goose


Self with Magpie


Oil on wooden palette
Approximately 12" x 9.5"

This one is not for sale.

The Tin Sheep

This is the second painting from the Peter Van Dyck workshop. This time I used a linen panel. The surface stayed a bit oilier, but I liked how it went.

This is the same flowered napkin featured in the Russian Sugar Bowl painting (see the August 1, 2009 post). Quite a contrast, isn't it? I was worried it would steal the show in that little sugar bowl painting, so I made it more uniform. But in this painting I found that the sketchier treatment had more visual interest for me, and it didn't steal the show.

I found this tin sheep (or is it a cow??) at a yard sale full of funky stuff in Seattle. August is a great month for finding cool still life stuff! I was really attracted to the strange colors of the rust and wear on this object.

8" x 10" oil on linen panel

To purchase, contact me at info@carollambertarts.com
$480 plus shipping, unframed

Woman with Orca and Sea Glass

This piece is a little fantasy, you can make up your own story to go with the image. Several Alaska references here, the orca of course, and the sea glass, which was collected on Kodiak Island. The rocks and the shell come from the beach at Homer, Alaska. The little woman figure has been in the family for years, I have no idea where she is from, but I like her attitude!

6" x 8" oil on linen panel

To purchase, contact me at info@carollambertarts.com
$280 plus shipping, unframed

Hacky Sacks

This is the second demonstration painting from my appearance at the Fireweed Gallery in Homer. I love these little guys, they are so colorful, and useful too!

6" x 8" oil on linen panel
SOLD

Swedish Horse

I usually bring a selection of small, colorful objects for my painting demos. This is the first of two paintings from the Fireweed Gallery demo 2 weekends ago. I lived in Finland as a child, and have great fondness for these little horses! Every home seemed to have at least one.

6" x 8" oil on linen panel
SOLD