I need...

 

 

 

 

This week I started using this little sketch book I bought recently for Zentangle drawings.  It's a pocket book size.

 

 

 

My thought is...how awesome it would be to make a daily calendar with a Zentangle drawing?!  Uhmmm...a concept I definitely can execute.  Along with those Zentangle drawings, a quote will be attached. I definitely can find a quote, but terrible at recalling how the quote was written.  Thanks to Pinterest for many available quotes.

This sketch book comes with me to work as well as my pens. I can't leave home without my art supplies! 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Somehow between work, yoga, sewing, painting and planning another project I found a table for the art studio in my home.  Not my ideal table, but it's a table. 

 

I placed a plastic covering on it to protect the surface. 

 

 

I have two paintings in the photo that desperately needs to be worked on.  I have been too busy lately!  Maybe a few days off from work would be best.

 

 

Now my Pinterest inspiration to redo this table...

 

 

 

Love the skirt and colors. 

 

 

 

I like the idea of painting the top of the table. It may distract me from my art though. Yes, yes it will distract me.

 

 

How many of us have chairs like this?  How pretty is it now?

 

Now I will be off to walk my dog in this lovely cold lightly snowing day.  Then come back home finish laundry, sew and cook dinner.

 

Caroline

 

 

 

Time Goes Slow

Waiting,  feeling lonley and walking in a daze are my feelings today.  Typically I would paint this emotion instead I'll share art that shows these emotions.

Edward Hopper's art always gives me the feeling of longing; longing for something; perplexed about something, in a daze about something. 

 

 

I've been waiting patiently for something that I am beginning to accept will not happen. Perhaps I am wrong, I don't know.  I am perplexed.  Something wonderful came in my life and unexpectedly it's gone.  It's hard to wrap my head around it. Why enter when it will leave? What's the lesson?

 

 

 

As I ask, I walk in a daze of how this is possible instead it continues to hurt my heart. The less I try to think about it the more my heart cries. One answer, one reply, one thought, one direction is all I asked.  I'm waiting for the next day in hopes it can give me the answer, the reply, the thought or the direction.  I have been faithful, prayerful and patient, and shall remain so. I'll wait in silence so I won't wake myself up from the reality.  "If only," as 'they' say. 'Don't wait' they say. 'Move on, forget about it' they say.  "Is there something else, find something else," they say. 

 

I say silently,  "I have faith it will happen."

 

 

 

Are you patiently waiting for something?  I know I didn't state exactly what I'm waiting for,  I will keep that private.  However we are all waiting and praying for something.

 

 

And maybe one day, I can share with the world that my prayers were answered.  My heart is not broken, instead my heart is beating and open to receive the answer. 

 

 

One day, it shall happen. 

 

 

Love,

Caroline

 

 

 

Food For Thought

I was thinking about art school and how we would go to our three hour drawing class and draw a 'still life' that the professor had set-up.  One of the earliest drawings we did was a still life of fruit.  We had the same still life for a few weeks, and had to sit in the same place until it was "completed."  Hence a reason my OCD increased!  We changed to a new position to draw the still life when we did gesture drawings, those are quick drawings that were timed -few minutes to a few seconds!  It is really a quick exercise to get our arms and eyes ready for a longer drawing.  The gesture drawings of mine were thrown out, awhile ago, simply because they were "gesture drawings" not completed pieces.  So to illustrate gesture drawings here is one by Rembrandt. 

The still life that all artist had the pleasure of paining or drawing is a still life of fruit.  Why fruit?  We rather paint the food then eat it, hence starving artist! LOL.  Seriously, it is because of the colors, textures, shapes and shadows it gives off for us to capture. 

Let's take a look at some food art by famous artists:

Léon Bonvin French, 1864 Still Life with Wine, Water, Fruit, Nuts as seen on linen & lavender (l)

Paul Cezanne

Paul Cezanne



Pablo Picasso Cubism | Still life with lemons

Andy Warhol

Roy Lichtenstein, Untitled (Still Life with Lemon and Glass), 1974, Lithograph, screenprint and debossing on paper


And here are some of mine:

 

I know this one does not show food, I wanted to share it.  I painted this in high school. 

 

 

I have this one in my kitchen. 

 

Next time you find yourself in an art museum don't walk by the paintings with food, instead take a moment and look at the brush strokes, the details and the colors.  You will be surprised, it is more than an artist painting a still life of fruit. (is it really black, or did they paint that shadow with blue and purple)  take a close look!

 

Make Art

Love

Caroline

Age of Art

 

 

It is today that I turn 39 years old and spent it making art and drinking wine while clearing my head. 

As I type this I am watching one of my favorite movies, "The Age of Innocence."  Is there really anything so innocence about age or love and life?  During the era this movie/story by Edith Wharton, takes place, men would send their lady flowers with a note.  It's so romantic.  I guess that is their form of our text messaging?! Except texting isn't really all that romantic, unless the guy is a romantic charmer. Anyway, what does this have to do with art?  If you watch the movie, there is so much art in it, it is a feast for the eyes, music for the ears and thought provoking statements about life and love.  The art found in the movie is in paintings, sculpture, architecture, home décor, scenery, fashion, food, hair styles, words that they seem so naturally use as poetry.

 

 

Evidently, I am to spend another birthday single and in a quiet place.  Celebrating a number?  No, I am celebrating patience.  Faithful and patience with life and how the story is being written, and allowing it to be written. Just going along with it one step at a time and one paint stroke at a time. I wonder what Edith Wharton would write to described my paintings?

 

As I allowed my mind to think about "my story," I painted with the flow of thoughts using colors that emotionally connected to my thoughts.

 

I used a new technique that I read about.  Using baby oil and oil pastels and soft pastels.  The baby oil is used to spread and blend the colors. 

 

These are the supplies:

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

First I draw a scribble, it helps me to start painting colors on the white velvet paper.

 

 

 

 

As I layer the colors, the baby oil is used to blend the oil pastels and soft pastels.  Water is not used in this technique.  You can't mix oil and water!  Water can be used with soft pastels.  I did not want to use any water for this painting. 

 



 

 

This painting is not completed.  I am never finished this quick with a painting.

 

 

These are close-up views of the colors:

 

 

Until I finish...I have an announcement!

 

My art has been Pinned!!!!

 

These are the pins someone thought were

pin-worthy!

 

What a nice birthday present, to have my art pinned. :) 

Another kiss from God, telling me to keep making art. 

I am grateful to have made someone smile with my art.  Thank you!

 

You can find me on Pinterest, Caroline C.

 



 

"Flowing"



 

 

"Owl"

 

 

Stay tuned for more...

 

 

Make Art,

 Love

 

Caroline

 

New Lines/New Life

"She couldn't keep her colors inside the lines so, she drew new lines."

This quote helps to explain where I am in my life.  I am trying to draw my lines in this life.  On the outside I seem to have it all, I have the education, the career, the home, the style, the beauty, the fitness, the intelligence.  However I lack the happy joy of being in an art environment, teaching art to college level students and lack an intimate relationship, lack of going to art galleries and museums.  What I lack, is what I am praying about and have faith it will happen. 

The walls have been suffocating me.  Exhaustion of working a 9-5 job that is not creative is starting to make my bones drag.  Even though I can use some creativity in my job, it is still not what my soul craves.  I am really getting numb listening to everyone's problems.  Being a counselor is no longer a joy, it is more of a must listen, must write a treatment plan, must deal with complaints because my feedback came out wrong, and must deal with chronic clients.  Burn out?  Most definitely!

The dream of having an art studio where I can teach art and have a gallery for shows for my students and me would be ideal.  To be able to do this for a living and sustain my life would be a blessing.

Let me dream, hear my prayers, let it come true!

Art take me away!

For now I create my paintings in a bedroom designed for a studio, lately I have been painting these smaller canvas' on my dining room table.  If only I can find a table for the studio, I would be in there, plus it is warmer in that bedroom!

Here are the paintings:

For the most part, it is finished, or in French: Ce est fini. or in Italian E'finito.  (I am reviewing French and learning Italian, so I can at least attempt to use it, when I get to Paris and Venice this summer!)  I will know in two weeks if this group travel is filled and we will be going!  I have faith it will happen!


Make art and Love

Caroline