"Tropical Tapestry" mixed media contemporary floral hibiscus flower © Carol Nelson Fine Art

Tropical Tapestry

As I sat around at an art show this weekend, looking at my own work, it dawned on me that this painting could be a horizontal, as well as a vertical presentation.

As a matter of fact, I like it BETTER as a horizontal.  I had to do a little tweeking, however.
Here's the original vertical format:

                       

 

You can see, all I did was add 5 green Egyptian papyrus leaves, and some green squiggly lines.

For more infomation, click here to go to my website.

"Fiesta Bouquet 2" heavy texture impasto floral © Carol Nelson Fine Art

Fiesta Bouquet

It's time to think flowers again.  I did this painting a few years ago and it's time for me to let it go, even though it goes really well in a spot in my home.

You can see in the closeup picture the heavy impasto effect that was achieved with a palette knife.

For more information on this 16x20 painting, click here to go to my website.

"Spring Eternal" 12076, acrylic floral triptych © Carol Nelson Fine Art

Spring Eternal

This is a redo of a painting I did a few years ago.  Here is the original version:



and here is the redo:

 
The biggest difference, of course, is thebackground going from black to butterscotch.  There are other added notes of
yellow-green and turquoise.



As you can see, it is painted on three 5x7 gallery wrap canvases.  I've shown them right next to each other, but you could also emphasize the triptych abspect by leaving a small space between them.

For more information, click here to go to my website.

"FOREVER BLUE" mixed media flower blue hydrangea © Carol Nelson Fine Art

Forever Blue

I'm out of my comfort zone of earth tones with this one.  I had a terrible time trying to adjust the color.  My camera is not good at picking up mauve.  Some of the pinks are a little too vibrant, but you get the idea.

I hope you can see all the texture in the detail shot.  Once again, I used painted Viva paper towels for many of the petals.  I love how it looks like I cut up canvas and added it to the painting.

For more information, click here to go to my website.

"ORANGE DREAM" 12053, mixed media flowers red poppies © Carol Nelson Fine Art

Orange Dream

What fun I had with this vibrant floral painting.  The flowers, vase and some other areas are made from used paper towels that I had cleaned my brush on.

The diagonals in the piece give an edgy quality that adds to the drama of the piece.  The closeup shows the texture of the paper towel (I use Viva) that closely resembles the weave of the canvas.
How cool is that?!

For more information on this painting, click here to go to my website.

I have to brag a little...

 

 

Can you believe this size of this epicactus flower?  It's the size of a dinner plate!  The plant is kind of ugly - a long gawky thing with fleshy, cactus-like leaves/stems.  But OMG, when those blossoms open - what a show!  The flower only lasts a couple days, then it's wait 'til next year.

"PASSIONATE," 11021, daily painter vibrant floral © Carol Nelson Fine Art

"PASSIONATE"

This painting is an experiment.  It's painted on yupo paper that was texturized with spider webbing  - the kind you string around your house on Halloween.  I used acrylic paints, but the effect is better using Robert Doak watercolor concentrates.

Using acrylics alters the process somewhat because when they dry, they tend to trap the webbing, making it hard to remove.  The photo does not show the intricate color flows very well.

For purchase information on this 13x10 painting, click here to go to my website.

"BE MINE" 11009, daily painter original oil flowers still life ©Carol Nelson Fine Art

"BE MINE"

My favorite part of this little gem is the vase.  It looks SO RED.
Once again, I was having fun pushing the delicious, juicy oil paint around - with one of my new brushes.

Oh, the ecstasy of it all.

For purchase information, please click here to go to my website.

"BLOSSOMS 3, 10157" textured impressionist floral © Carol Nelson Fine Art

"BLOSSOMS 3, 10157"

As you can see, this impressionist floral is also heavily textured. For purchase information, please click here to go to my website.

"BLOSSOMS 2, 10156" textured impressionist floral © Carol Nelson Fine Art

"BLOSSOMS 2, 10156"

You can probably see the similarity in style between this painting and the previous one, "BLOSSOMS 1".  The sheet of wc paper I used for this painting had these high chroma warm colors plus splashes of dark blue going across randomly.  Even though I didn't incorporate the splashes into the design, they add a random quality I like.

For purchase information, click here to go to my website.

"BLOSSOMS 1, 10155" textured impressionist floral © Carol Nelson Fine Art

"BLOSSOMS 1, 10155"

If you saw the two previous posts, Mini Abstract 1&2, you would know how I painted this floral.  It was the same technique of randomly applying texture and paint to a sheet of heavy watercolor paper - letting the painting paint itself in a way.

The trick is finding the painting on the sheet where you have mixed all these colors.  When I found these flowers, all that was defined, more or less, was the pots.  The left pot had some texture marks I had made using a comb.  It looked like it could be a clay pot.

Using a 1 inch brush, I quickly laid in the suggestion of blossoms. It's important that they be painted loosely.

For purchase information, please click here to go to my website.

"FLOWER BUCKET," 10137, daily painter original floral painting © Carol Nelson Fine Art

This loosely painted bucket of flowers was just fun to paint.  The flowers pretty much flow into one another giving a painterly image.

The bucket is loaded
with several colors, reflecting the flowers and the table.

For purchase information on this 6x6 oil on panel, please click here for my website.

"KALEIDOSCOPE," 10133, daily painter textured poppy floral original © Carol Nelson Fine Art

I took a few shots of this painting in progress so you could get an idea of the process. The first step (not shown) was to put on the texture by sculpting the petals using acrylic modeling paste.

The under painting on the background shows through in the final painting in varying degrees. You can see if you click on the finished painting to enlarge it, that my brush work is loose. I'm not trying to "stay inside the lines." I think it adds to the visual interest when there is movement and suggested forms.

Notice too, how the flower forms overlap one another, leaving varied and interesting negative space. Students often have a tendency to paint individual flowers that don't touch one another, ending with a stiff, unnatural arrangement.

This large 36x24 acrylic on canvas painting is available. Please click here to go to my website for purchase information.

"SPRING ETERNAL 2," 10131, daily painter textured floral still life © Carol Nelson Fine Art

No painting is safe hanging in the home of an artist! This large 24x48 painting has been hanging in my bedroom for two years. Actually, the third one down is the previous incarnation of this painting. You'll notice the original version had a dark brown, solid background - dramatic, but kind of depressing. For two years, I've looked at it wondering what was wrong. Today I took it off the wall and said to myself, I don't like it and I'm either going to totally ruin it or make it better.

It had a coating of Soluvar varnish on it which I had to remove with mineral spirits before I could begin revamping the painting. Almost everything I did to it was on the background areas. I can't believe how much more vibrant and colorful it looks now. Amazing, really.
For purchase information, please click here to go to my website.

"DAPHNE'S DAISIES," 10126, daily painter original floral still life © Carol Nelson Fine Art

Daisies are always cheerful looking flowers. Well I guess all flowers are cheerful, but their big, round centers make it seem like daisies are looking at you - and not in a creepy way.

I started this painting out on a panel painted brick red. I let it show through here and there. It always adds a little sparkle when you do that.

The pot was supposed to look like metal, but I think it looks more like pottery. Either way, I'm OK with it.

This 6x6 original oil painting on panel is available for $85, including shipping in the US/Canada. Click here to go to my website for purchase information.

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COLORADO RESIDENTS: If you live in the Denver area, you might be interested in taking my 10 week class called "Creating with Acrylics." I will be teaching this class on Monday mornings from 9am - noon. The class is sponsored by the Park Hill Art Club and will be held at Park Hill United Methodist Church, 5209 Montview Blvd, in Denver. Cost for the class is $74. Intermediate level. This class will explore various ways of using acrylic paints and mediums to create fine art. There will be strong emphasis on abstract composition and mixed media painting with a variety of materials.

To take the class, you must be a member of the Park Hill Art Club for $30/year. This is a very reasonable fee because the club sponsors two indoor art shows per year as well as a full range of fall and winter classes, workshops and demonstrations. Registration for membership is only during the month of August and closes on 8/23/2010, so you can't put this off. For membership registration, and a catalog of upcoming classes and workshops, please contact Marcia Williams, marlwilli@earthlink.net.

GOLDEN POPPIES 1, 9102, textured poppy floral painting © Carol Nelson Fine Art

I haven't painted any poppies lately and was having withdrawal symptoms. Usually I've painted them on a canvas ground, so this painting on MDF panel was something new. I really like the way the sculpted petals look on this smooth surface.
For purchase information on this beautifully framed piece, please see my website.

BLUE HEAVEN, 9099, textured blue hydrangea flowers © Carol Nelson Fine Art

I enjoyed doing a hydrangea commission so much last week I just had to try doing another one. This one is on 6 x 6 inch panel and also features use of abundant texture. For purchase information, please see my website.

POPPY

I don't usually show the frames around paintings, but this particular frame looked so good around this giclee print of my original painting, Poppy, that I had to post it.
This professionally done giclee print is a limited edition of 50. The print measures 11 x 14 and the outside dimensions of the rich, black wood frame measures 18 x 21.5 inches (45.7 x 54.6 cm). Printed on canvas, the giclee is is identical to the original oil painting and comes with a certificate of authenticity with my signature and the edition number.
Giclee with frame is $275, including shipping in the continental US. Please contact me at carolnelsonfineart@comcast.net and get an early start on your Christmas shopping.

Red Roses, 9067

A client who recently purchased my Yellow Roses painting wanted me to also paint red roses, so this is what I came up with. It felt so godd to be painting again. I think I actually had withdrawal symptoms.
This original 6x6 oil painting is sold, but I can always do another similar one. For more information, please email me at carolnelsonfineart@comcast.net.

Fuchsia, 9045, original floral painting

Need a spot of color on your wall? This fuchsia closeup may do the trick. As things are starting to really green up in my yard, the garden centers are gearing up for the spring onslaught. I'm remembering this pot of fuchsias I had hanging on the patio last summer. I like the double flowers which have all these folded, twisted petals. For purchase information on this painting, please click here for my website.