Work In Progress: Retro Pop

"Retro Pop" work in progress 11" x 12" watercolor on 260lb Arches cold press

Finding painting time has been challenging lately.  We are starting to get prepared for our move to Japan.  Between that and spring break and birthday parties and our normal hectic life it's getting a little crazy around her, but I did manage to make some progress and I think with 1 or 2 more painting sessions I can get this one done:)  I really love this painting and am planning on doing a series.

I'm also hosting Artists Helping Artists (#1 art blog radio show) this month.  This Thursday is the 4 year anniversary! I  can't tell you how influential this show has been and how much I have enjoyed listening to it and now co-hosting regularly.  It has truly changed my life.  If you haven't listened you must.  If you are already a fan I could use your help.  Leslie and I would love to know if you have any favorite shows?  What advice has helped you out as an artist that you heard on the show?  We would love to share your comments.  Just leave them here on my blog or on my Facebook page or e-mail them to me carriewallerart@gmail.com

I have a workshop coming up this week that is sold out but I do have a few spots for my workshop "All that shines:  The art of painting glass in watercolor" May 15-17 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  If you are interested click here for details.

Carrie

Work In Progress. Slow Progress:)

Hi Everyone,

I haven't made much progress since last time I posted about this piece. Life has a way of getting in the way sometimes:).   

The kids and I are currently on Spring break in Charleston, SC. It was a long 2 day drive where We spent a lot of time looking at the back end of trucks. Lots of traffic, uggghhhhh. But we made it and hopefully in between doing stuff and visiting with my Mom, Step Dad and Grandma I will get some painting. I have some deadlines and commissions to finish before our big move to Japan. Speaking of our move we now have our plane tickets. Starting to feel real.  We are scheduling movers this week, agghh!  

Since we are moving and our computer will be caught up in shipping to Japan and I've gone Mac and won't go back we purchased our first Mac lap top. I love it and bought a cute red case to put it in. Have I mentioned red is my favorite color. 

Carrie

"Incandescent" 18" x 24" work in progress, watercolor by Carrie Waller

Hi Everyone,

"Incandescent" 18" x 24" work in progress, watercolor by Carrie Waller

After pulling an all-nighter.  I am in a much better place with this painting and I may just make my competition deadline.  Feeling slightly relieved:)

Carrie

Beginning again

Hi Everyone,

No  I didn't fall of the planet.  I did however get the flu and so did my husband.  Both my sons were down too, one had a double ear infection and the other pneumonia.  So it de-railed my painting every day for 30 days attempt.  But I did paint, I just didn't have time to post.

"Banned" 18" x 24" watercolor by Carrie Waller

After I finished Banned.  I decided to take a break from the bulbs and switch to another painting I'm planning on doing with my workshop coming up in February 7 &8.  Visit Louisiana Watercolor Society for details.  I want to complete the large painting  and then demo on an 8x10 size.

"Vintage Appeal" 21" x 18" work in progress watercolor by Carrie Waller

So I started this one called "Vintage Appeal".  But I just wasn't finished with the lightbulbs and kept thinking about them and I have a deadline for a competition that I is knocking on my door so I decided to stop and start "Incandescent.

"Incandescent" 18" x 24" watercolor work in progress by Carrie Waller

This is the beginning stage of "Incandescent" I've spent 2 days so far. One day on the drawing and another on the painting.  I need to paint with the speed of light to pull this off by my deadline so wish me luck.

And just my luck when you have deadlines and need to get images resized for competitions my computer decided to do some weird update that screwed everything up.  So after a very helpful conversation with Apple support my computer issue was resolved and after installing my latest Adobe update I think my photoshop problems are in the past.  Phew!!!  Technology is the best and worst:)

Carrie

"Banned" 18" x 24" watercolor, work in progress by Carrie Waller Day #10

"Banned" 18" x 24" watercolor, work in progress by Carrie Waller

So stinkin' close to be finished:)  But these reflected areas of light on the left side of the painting require me to take my time.  I want them to be beautiful.  So I'm stretching it out one more day.

Carrie

"Banned" 18" x 24" work in progress watercolor by Carrie Waller Day #7

"Banned" 18" x 24" work in progress, watercolor by CarrieWaller

Today is the perfect example of why I decided to take part in Leslie's 30 in 30 challenge.  I knew from the beginning I would not be attempting to complete a painting a day but I wanted to keep myself on track while I pushed through working on some larger competition pieces.  Today I am so glad I decided to take part in the challenge.  I normally would not of put brush to paper.  I am on day 2 of a migraine.  I had to drop some art off today and spent a bulk of my day running errands and having lunch with a friend (and yes I can function with a migraine, it's just not fun and I did take meds and a nap to try to get rid of it)!.   On a normal day I would have just chalked it up to a non-painting day but I decided to make myself paint for  few hours this evening.  It may not look like I got a lot done but I did get about 3 hours in and I feel really good about tomorrow.  I have an entire day planned of painting, yay!!!!

Carrie

"Banned" work in progress Day #6

"Banned" 18" x 24" work in progress, watercolor by Carrie Waller

Here is my progress for Day #6.  Not too bad considering the kids had their first day back, I had a migraine most of the day and I got all of the laundry done.  It's a balancing act:)

Carrie

"Banned" 18" x 24" work in progress by Carrie Waller Day # 5

"Banned" work in progress, 18" x 24" watercolor by Carrie Waller

School starts tomorrow, aghhhh!  Not ready for the 7 a.m. wake up call.  Anyone want to volunteer to take the kids to school:)  I'm moving along on my painting.  A little slow.  I took part of the day off.

Carrie

"Banned" 18" x 24" work in progress watercolor Day #2

"Banned" 18" x 24" work in progress, watercolor by
Carrie Waller 

Here is my progress so far.  I'm trying to paint at least 2 lightbulbs a day.  Each one takes 3-4 hours.  I told you I paint slow:)

Carrie

Leslie's 30in 30 challenge "Banned" work in progress

Hi Everyone,

"Banned" 18" x 24" work in progress watercolor by Carrie Waller

I'm participating in Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge again.  This time I have several competition pieces I'm working on so I won't be completing a painting a day but I will be posting my work in progress paintings each day.

My work in progress today is called "Banned".  That is the working  title.  I was out shopping for lightbulbs the other day and had the hardest time finding regular old incandescent bulbs.  My husband informed me that they won't be selling them in the U.S. anymore because they've been banned.  This made me want to paint them.  They are really beautiful.  Stay tuned for each day's post because the reflections and shadows cast are really quite beautiful.  It really feels like a dance.  Can't wait to show you more:)

Carrie

Still a work in progress:)

Work In Progress 16 x 20 watercolor on paper by Carrie Waller

Oh, am I ever the optimist.  I kept putting off posting my painting today, ever hopeful that I would have it complete.  But, it's not quite there.  So here is my work in progress for today.  Sooooo close:)

Funny story, while out driving today I passed a car and I thought boy does that car look familiar.  It looked just like one of the Hot Wheels I just painted:))

Carrie

Work In Progress Wednesday: "Crash Course" working title

Hi Everyone,

I thought I would share my progress.  These cars take forever!  I'm having a hard time being patient and not filling in the background, which is a blown up photograph, while I'm painting the cars, but I want the colors to all be consistent so I will wait.

Carrie

wip sunflowers in ball jar

work in progress, sunflowers in ball jar, watercolor by Carrie Waller

Day 14/30.  Here is my work in progress picture for today's painting.

Carrie

Work In Progress 8/30

Work in Progress watercolor by Carrie Waller 10.5 " x 12"

Thought I would share my work in progress.  I had the best time painting the zinnias.  That is why I love painting commissions because I never would have painted a zinnia if not for this painting.

Carrie

Work In Progress Day 7/30 painting challenge

work in progress original watercolor by Carrie Waller

I'm working on a commission and I knew it would take longer than one day.  I would not want to rush it, so I'll be posting the work in progress pictures as I go.  I think the goal of the challenge is to be pushing ourselves and painting every day.

This painting is a favorite things painting for the client, her favorite flowers, author, her garden and her favorite mug and coffee.  When she said her favorite flower was zinnias I had to go on a hunt to find some.  A local florists, Curly Willow Designs in Cabot, AR picked these from her garden and gave them to me in a lovely arrangement for free.  I just love the kindness of strangers:)  In return I brought her and her staff cupcakes from a local baker.

Stay tuned for more work in progress pics:)

Carrie

Feeling a little all over the place.

Hi Everyone,

I'm a little all over the place lately, literally and figuratively.  We have had a cram packed summer at the Waller casa.  We have moved our household, traveled to New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Charleston, SC, Montgomery, AL and had family visit a few times in between. I've taught a workshop, planned a show for military spouses (click here for details, deadline August 31st, open to artists that are military spouses, a spouse of a retired military member or veteran), forgotten to register a kid for school (problem resolved), had my 6 year old become a 7 year old, I became another year older and almost lost my mind in the process.

Work in Progress, watercolor by Carrie Waller

Another work in progress, watercolor by Carrie Waller

 During all this chaos little painting has happened.  I did manage to finish a commission that I can't share yet, and I'm currently in the research phase of another one.  I do have 2 other paintings going, which is not like me at all, I normally finish a piece before I start another but I've had one dragging on since last March and my current painting is anxiously awaiting.  I'm feeling hopeful that I will log in some painting hours this week, school has officially started.

Left is the beginning of the day, Right side is a happy 1st grader:)

It was an emotional 1st day for for 1st grader, I left him crying at his desk this morning which made me want to yank him out of school and start homeschooling.  However, by lunch time all was right with the world, phew!!!  My youngest is starting Pre-K, we had orientation today.  Tomorrow is his 1st day, say a prayer for us both:)  He left today saying he wanted to come back lots of days to his class, so I take that as a good sign:)  He already has 1 friend from pre-school in the class.  How do you parents do this?  It's going to be a long 12 years of Elementary and then you have to send them off to college, it's just too much:)

Good luck to all those school aged kids that have started their first days, may it be a successful year for you and your parents!  Now I'm off to cook dinner, pack some lunches, lay out some clothes for tomorrow and hopefully get brush to paper for a couple hours:)

Carrie

Friday Feature: Watercolor Wrap Up

Last weekend I held my 3 day watercolor workshop in Mt. Vernon, Illinois at the Shrode Art Center.  I had a fabulous group of students and just like every workshop and any time you get a group of artists together ideas were flowing.  I always think I learn just as much as my workshop participants.

We started on day 1 painting pears.  First in sepia and then in color.  This exercise gets everyone playing in their paint and working on getting strong values.  I also begin the day with a presentation.

Me demoing the green pears.  I paint from my ipad now.  I think I  have a couple converts in the class now:)

On day 2 we began the day talking about my process and how I set up my till life set ups.  I showed a step by step demo of the painting we were going to be working on.  We painted "Spin the Bottle".  Everyone did a fabulous job painting glass, getting their values established and creating the 3 dimensional bottle.

My demo.  Love painting from my Ipad.

Close up of me painting the bottom of my bottle.  Thank you Tracy for taking pictures:)

Me painting "Spin the Bottle".  

Day 3 I talked about my favorite tools and websites, talked a little marketing and favorite books.  We worked on painting ball jars.

Everyone watching me work on Ball Jars:)  Such a great group of students!!

Mixing Greens

I've had several requests to share my green palette and mixing techniques so I thought I would devote todays post to greens.

These are the greens I have been using in my green bottle paintings.  The pans at the top are Schmincke watercolors on the starting from the left is Pthalo Brilliant Grn, Delft Blue (not used in these paintings but wanted to identify what it was), empty space, Sap grn, Hooker's grn, and May grn.  The tube colors below are all Daniel Smith paints starting from the left is Undersea grn, Spring grn, Green Apatite Genuine, Green Gold, Sap Green, Cascade Grn and the end tube on the right is Holbein's Shadow grn.

The yellow I used in this painting is Daniel Smith's Quinophthalone, love this yellow it's in between a cool and warm yellow, kind of a bright fresh neutral.  Love it!!

I also wanted to show my favorite turquoise which is Schmincke's cobalt turquoise.  I always try to sneak a little of this into every painting.  One of my absolute favorite colors.

I always save my paints because I just can't stand to wipe a way paint, feels like I'm throwing money away so I work from dried paints.  Plus I started using pans and they are always in a dry format.  I understand that some artists prefer fresh colors for each painting but I really enjoy using some of the colors I mixed from previous paintings.  Some of my best colors have come out of that.  I do keep my paints segregated by like colors.  So  this palette has only greens.  A tad of orange in there because I used that to mix some of my neutrals.  I always mix my neutral grays by mixing the compliments.  Also my black areas are always a mixture of Indigo and Sepia both Daniel Smith.  But Schmincke makes my favorite Sepia.  

"Going Green" work in progress 18" x 30"

In the painting "Going Green" I began by laying in my lightest colors.  I try to avoid using masking fluid because it can leave such a hard edge, I try my hardest to reserve my whites and paint around them.  It just takes a little more planning but I feel worth it in the end.  So I started with my Quinopthalone yellow.  In the areas that were cooler I laid in a Pthalo Grn mixed with a bit of sap green just to warm it up a bit.  I also lay my darks in right away so I can get the values that I want.  It ensures that the painting is working and helps me to avoid that awkward stage a watercolor can go through if you don't establish the darkest darks at the beginning.  The darks I use in the painting are a mixture of Indigo and Sepia.  To darken any greens I mixed in DS Undersea green or Holbein Shadow Green.  I also mix in a bit of the orange color for a great neutral which in this case was Quinacridone Sienna.

Add caption

I just kept working the above process throughout the rest of the painting.  I followed my reference photo and had my bottles in front of me while I was painting.  If the bottle was warmer and more yellow I stuck with the Quinophtalone yellow and sap greens, in the cooler areas I used phthalo greens and brilliant green.  

If you have any questions I would be happy to answer them.  Leave any questions in the comment section and I'll reply.

Carrie