Poppy Garden, 12x36 acrylic SOLD

See (scroll down) the 5 steps involved in creating this painting.

After wiping off the excess burnt umber wash, you will see that it stays in the creases created by the acrylic medium you put on the canvas in step 1, giving depth and enhancing the three dimensional effect. You may have to repaint some of the lighter colored edges of the petals. Final varnish and, voila, you have a beautiful, highly textured painting.

I wish you could see what this photo does not show. The petals catch the light, especially under a spot light, and really seem to jump out at you. This painting is available. It is framed in a black, wood, shadow box frame that shows the painted edges of the canvas.

SOLD

Poppy Garden - step 4

Step 4: After paint is dry (since it's acrylic, this is no time at all), brush a watery wash of burnt umber over the entire painting. This is not for the faint of heart, but trust me. Do not go to lunch, or walk the dog, or even take a prolonged bathroom break at this time! WHILE THE WASH IS STILL WET, gently wipe off excess with a damp paper towel.

You will see that the burnt umber has a unifying and calming effect on the entire painting. The poppies, painted in cad yellow deep, cad orange, Napthol red, are almost too bright without the wash.

Poppy Garden - step 3

Step 3: Paint the background. Notice I'm not being very careful about being about defining leaves, stems, etc.

Poppy Garden - step 2 (cont.)

More painting

Poppy Garden - Step 2

After allowing the acrylic medium to dry and harden up (3-4hours), you're ready to paint. Since this is a 1.5 inch deep gallery wrap canvas, I will paint the flowers around the edge also.

Poppy Garden - Step 1

This will be a series of entries showing, step by step, how to create a textured acrylic painting of poppies. Poppies are an excellent flower for this technique because of their large petals (ok, they're also my favorite). I have taught several workshops to artists groups on how to achieve this technique.

Step 1: The petals are "sculpted" with a mixture of acrylic heavy gel and modeling paste using a palette knife.

Copper and Clay 2, 11x14 oil

This is another larger version of my previous post of Copper and Clay. I really like painting these reflective surfaces. They look like they're difficult to paint, but it just takes careful observation. Paint what you see, not what your mind thinks a copper pot looks like.

Red Roof, 16x20 oil

This is one of the paintings from my website analyzed on Empty Easel at http://emptyeasel.com/2007/05/24/submitted-paintings-by-carol-nelson/ . Dan, who writes a daily blog on art related matters, and does artist reviews, is featuring my work today. I can't believe how "right on" his comments were about my work. He noticed everything I was trying to express on each of the featured paintings.

Bada Bing, 5x5 oil

Bing cherries on a checked cloth. I like the name of the strip club that Tony Soprano likes to hang out at - the Bada Bing (for those of you who watch the HBO series, The Sopranos).

Nine Poppies

This original painting is sold, but it is available as a limited edition giclee. Each fine art print is signed and numbered with a certificate of authenticity. Printed on canvas, and sprayed with UV protectant, each print is exactly the same as the original. For sizes and prices, please see my website at www.carolnelsonfineart.com. Of all my paintings, this is one of my most favorite because of the subject and glorious colors.

Bonsai, 5x7 oil

My husband says this painting is boring. Perhaps it is, UNLESS YOU'RE REALLY INTO BONSAI! This is my one and only bonsai plant and I've kept it alive for 10 years. Every now and then, I get out my miniature pruning snippers and shape it up a bit. I appreciate the ART of bonsai and I think my next bonsai plant will be a deciduous tree that drops it's leaves in the winter.

Chinese Takeout 2, 5.5x14.5 oil

I loved painting these takeout containers in red (see earlier post), so thought I'd rearrange them and make them shades of blue. This painting is on masonite with a 1.75 inch wooden cradle - no frame necessary.

$225 includes shipping. To purchase with Paypal, please see my website (www.carolnelsonfineart.com) for Buy Now button.

Harvest 1, 5x7 oil

When I was a little girl, I remember my Mom doing lots of canning. We had a special room in the basement called the "fruit room" where she stored her home canned foods. (My mean brother used to lock me in the fruit room and turn out the light...but we won't get in to that). I remember seeing Ball canning jars like this one in her canning supplies.

What I like most about this painting is the way the black and white checkerboard sets off the tomatoes and is slightly distorted in the glass. SOLD

Fruit & Silver 2, 5x7 oil

This is the second one I did for the demo at my gallery. The first version of this still life was 11x14 (see earlier post). SOLD

Stoplight Peppers 2, 5x7 oil

If you've been checking out my blog for a while, you may remember this painting. Actually, it's another version of the painting. Last Saturday I had to do demo "small paintings" at the gallery in Golden, Spirits in the Wind. I wanted to work on something where I had already worked out any problems, so as not to embarrass myself. (Is that cheating?) SOLD

Canyonlands, 10x12, acrylic collage SOLD

This abstract suggested the canyons of the Western desert areas in Utah. I liked the contrast of the metallic portions with the surrounding earth tones. This piece sold the day after I made it, so I didn't get to enjoy it for myself very long. SOLD

Copper and Clay, 5x7 oil

This old watering can was a mess when I bought it at a thrift store. A little polish made it gleam like new again. Reflective surfaces are fun and challenging. SOLD

Roundup, 12x24, oil

The thing I like best about this painting is the way the horses are backlit by the late afternoon sun.

Three Amigos

This is one of my favorite paintings. The original is sold, but giclee reproductions on canvas are available. Each is professionally printed, signed and numbered, and comes with a certificate of aunthenticity. Unframed prints available in 11x14 for $75 and 16x20 for $100. Standard shipping rates apply. For more information, please email carolnelsonfineart@comcast.net.

Antique Poppies, 12x12, acrylic

This is one of a series called Antique Poppies. Using acrylic mediums, the petals are sculpted on the canvas before painting, giving a 3D appearance. I've taught this technique in several workshops. After painting, the entire canvas is given a wash of burnt umber acrylic, which then settles in the crevases created by the acrylic medium. The wash tones down the intensity of the colors and gives an "antique" look to the painting. SOLD

To purchase this painting, please see my website, www.carolnelsonfineart.com

Follow the Sun, 12x24 oil

I call these flowers daisies, but I think there may be another name for them. They are so cheerful. They exhibit phototropism (I remember SOME of my botany) by following the movement of the sun. This is one of two paintings on the subject. See my website for the other.