FROM THE IDAHO STUDIO OF CHARLEEN MARTIN

BIG SKY COUNTRY

BIG SKY COUNTRY

18  x 18 ACRYLIC ON TEXTURED WOOD PANEL

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PIECE PLEASE CLICK HERE

or visit my Website at

WWW.CHARLEENMARTIN.COM

or visit my Blog at

WWW.CHARLEENMARTINSTUDIOS.BLOGSPOT.COM

"Edge of Red" mixed media tree landscape by Carol Nelson

 

It took me a while to do this latest one in my tree series.  The two canvases measure 24x20 inches, and 24x36 inches.

Various kinds of art paper were used, including corrugated paper, lace paper, watercolor paper, and Egyptian papyrus.  The sides are painted red - I like red.

The underpainting was red, with a layer of gold gesso over it.  This gives the painting a warm glow and soft sheen in places.  The most fun part to do, for me, was the freehand branches which were  mostly negatively painted.

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

"Glowing Stones" mixed media geologic landscape by Carol Nelson

This painting glows because the rock shapes are painted on aluminum foil with transparent Golden fluid acrylics.  The light bounces off the foil and back through the paint glazes, giving a remarkable glowing effect.

For more information, click here to see my website.

Art of the Carolinas

The website for Art of the Carolinas is now live.  This fabulous event will be held November 7 - 10 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Choose from over 100 workshops taught by top art instructors from around the country.  I am thrilled to be part of this exciting gathering of artists and art manufacturers.

Look for me in the list of instructors.

Click here to see the workshops I will be giving at this colossal art event.  Notice that both the workshops I will be presenting are sponsored by Golden Artist Colors.  All paints and mediums will be supplied by Golden.

I hope to see many of you in November, but remember, space is limited, so sign up soon!

Linda Bell Mixed Media Artist --- Painting called Twitter

www.lindabell.ca

This painting started out as an abstract but morphed into this rather mellow looking Cape Buffalo. When I added the birds to his back - the name became obvious. 

"Lavender Sky" mixed media abstract tree landscape by Carol Nelson

Lavender Sky

This is another in my tree series featuring various collage elements.  Careful inspection reveals lace paper, corrugated paper, and watercolor paper all covered securely with crystal clear epoxy resin.
For more information, click here to go to my website.

"Gemstone 16" mixed media geologic abstract by Carol Nelson

Gemstone 16

This is a demo from my recent workshop in Lacomb, LA.  It's the 16th in my Gemstone series.  I never tire of doing these it seems.

COMPROMISE by Carol Schiff

Thank you for visiting today!

www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

"Outside the Box" mixed media acrylic abstract by Carol Nelson

"Outside the Box"

I just got back from my 5 day workshop for Jerry's Artarama in Raleigh, NC.  I got the artists in the class used to cutting, pasting, stenciling, stampling, gluing, waxing, texturing, and, oh yes, PAINTING to create their masterpieces.

They learned about ironing tyvek, cracking foam plates, waxing faux batik, making trees out of failed paintings, 50 shades of green, making their own stamps, adding texture with modeling compound, rusting metal paint, and using burlap, corrugated papers, foils, epoxy resin, and more in their work.

They learned about economical substitutes for expensive art materials.  They learned about putting their art on the internet.

Me pointing to the Jerry's sign.

We don't have a Jerry's store in Denver, so I was thrilled to walk through their "candy store."  Not far from this Raleigh retail outlet is their 100,000+ square foot warehouse, which sends art supplies to the WORLD.  

Special thanks to Sharon DiGiulio, Stacy Stover, and Joe DiGiulio from Jerry's for taking care of me and anticipating my every need.  And thanks to North Carolina artists Sandra, Debi, and Dianne for hounding Jerry's to bring me there!

"Beach Patterns" mixed media abstract by Carol Nelson

"Beach Patterns"

This is another demo I did at a workshop last week.  It's a variation on my foam plate abstract Gemstone series.
It has mica flakes, texture paste, and epoxy resin over all.
Love that stuff.

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

Gemstone 14 - abstract landscape by Carol Nelson

Gemstone 14, small 6x6

 

Gemstone 14 large 10x10

You may think you're seeing double.  You are.  I used the small 6x6 Gemstone 14, which was an "effortless abstract" I did for my workshop in Texas (Wenmohs Ranch) last week, as a template for a larger painting.

I've been telling my students that doing small paintings is like doing a sketch or workup for a larger work, so thought I had better practice what I preach and show you an example.

Sometimes smaller work does not enlarge well.  The charm of a small gem of a painting will not translate into a larger format.  I think the key is to USE the smaller image, but not to be a slave to it.  If you need to modify the larger painting by adding more detail, then do it.

For more information about these paintings, click here to go to my website.

"Tapestry" mixed media contemporary abstract by Carol Nelson

Tapestry

detail

detail

with frame

I love how this painting turned out.  It has so many different materials in it - a virtual mixed media smorgasbord (copper, aluminum, pewter, crackle paste, stucco mix, etc.)

Want to know a little secret about this painting?  It's a redo.

I did the first version (above) in 2009.  My goal then was to incorporate a number of metals in an analogous color scheme abstract.  I guess it was so analogous that it was boring.  So I added more texture and beefed up the contrast - does that sound familiar?

For more information on this 40x30 painting, click here to go to my website.

"Copper Illusion II" mixed media rusted metal by Carol Nelson

Copper Illusion II

detail

This is a redo of a painting I did about a year ago.  There is no copper in it.  I created the look of corroded copper/iron using aluminum foil and my iron paint.

I think I'm ready for Hollywood.  I can work in the prop department whenever they need something to look old and rusty.  LOL

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

Mini Abstracts by Carol Nelson

 

Nine Mini Abstracts

3 minis in my kitchen

These are so cute - I just love them.  The amazing thing about them is that each one is one of my used up palettes!  I mix my paints on foam plates.  There's a lot of paint going into the trash, so I decided to RECYCLE.

Each one is mounted on a 4x4 piece of MDF board.  Amazingly, they all seem to compliment one another.  To see each one individually, click here to go to my website.  They are available for $50 each - perfect for that spot of color - see my kitchen display above.

"WHEELS KEEP ON TURNIN'" mixed media abstract with rusted iron paint by Carol Nelson

Wheels Keep on Turnin'

This was a little demo piece I did for my Park Hill Art Club class.  I was demonstrating rusted iron paint and also emobssed aluminum foil.

The photo doesn't show it, but the center part with the embossed
foil is very shiny and beautiful.  The dark spots in the upper right are mica flakes that look alternately dark or shiny depending on how the light hits them.

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

"RUSTIC COLLECTION" 12080, mixed media abstract rust painting by Carol Nelson

Rustic Collection

detail

This painting has a variety of textured collage materials.  The part I'm most excited about is the rusty area shown above in the detail photo.

It is actual rust that was activated by painting copper sulfate solution on a paint containing iron filings.  After a little while, the dark gray iron paint begins to rust - a very beautiful , if unpredictable, look.

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

"GEMSTONE 10", acrylic mixed media landscape by Carol Nelson

Gemstone 10

Wow, here is my 10th gemstone painting - I can't believe I've done so many of these.  I just started teaching a 5 week class in Denver on mixed media.  This was one of our first projects.

These effortless abstracts are a good introduction to acrylics and abstract composition.  The class always enjoys doing them and most students are successful right away.

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

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My workshop in Dallas at the Artist's Showplace was a lot of fun.  What a great group of enthusiastic artists I had!  I introduced them to all kinds of mixed media techniques and materials.

Below are just a FEW of the interesting works they created.  To see more, please click here to go to the album on my Facebook page.

"FUSION III" - return of "lost" painting by Carol Nelson

"FUSION III"

This is an incredible story.  In 2007, I dropped off two paintings at a gallery in Loveland, CO.  The names of the paintings, done in similar style, were Fusion II and Fusion III.

Some time later I received a check from the gallery for the sale of Fusion III.

Time went by.  I FORGOT about the other painting I had at the gallery.  I know, it's like forgetting about one of your children, so I'm a bad mom.

A few days ago, I received a call from the gallery saying they were closing, and that I should come and get my painting.  When I went to pick up what I thought was Fusion II, there was THIS painting, Fusion III.

I was shocked, because of the two, this one was by far, my favorite.  I had this painting marked "sold" on my website for 5 years!  They took good care of it, and it's just as beautiful as I remembered.

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

"Iron Strata" 12078, mixed media abstract by Carol Nelson

Iron Strata

detail

This painting features the simulated rusted iron that I talked about in the previous post.  In this case, the iron effect is done on torn strips of 300 lb watercolor paper.

I've always wanted to achieve the look of rusted metal for use in my paintings, and now I finally know how.  It fits right in with my favored color palette.

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

"Golden Season" 12077, mixed media tree collage by Carol Nelson

Golden Season

This is a warm up for my mixed media tree workshop coming up this Friday and Saturday.  I wish the photo showed the cool paper I used on the background.

It's called red rosin paper and I found it at Home Depot.

"RED ROSIN PAPER is a high quality, single-ply sheathing paper, which is widely used in built-up roofing systems as a “first layer” protective barrier. This environmentally friendly paper is manufactured from 100% recycled fibers. The fibers are set in alum to resist bleeding. It is a multi-purpose building paper used as a physical barrier protection throughout all phases of general construction."

You know me, I'm always on the lookout for possible substitutes for expensive art materials.  This paper has kind of a rosy color and has a nice weight to it.

I actually bought a roll of this paper not to use in my work, but to use as a cover for my work table.  I had a sheet of it protecting my patio table as I was using spray paint on some other things.  I liked the look of the overspray areas.

My latest kick is using Rustoleum Hammered spray paint.  It's meant to go on metal, but it looks fantastic on paper too.  With the red rosin paper, I had to prime the paper with another color first before spraying the metallic hammered paint. 

For more information, please see my website.