Sapphire

One more gigantic, beautiful, shining lizard eye.


See the rest of the 30 in 30 participants here.

Laurel

I accepted a few suggestions for dragons as I was working on this series.  This suggestion came from the organizer of the charity horror convention I attend every year.  Scares That Care is run solely by volunteers so that all the money collected can go to help recipients.  The charity is run by the most caring and giving person I have ever met.  Joe Ripple asked me to paint a dragon in the Scares That Care colors: purple, green, and yellow.  I was more than happy to oblige.

The Laurel plant gives us our beloved Bay leaf, the basis for "Old Bay" spice.


See the rest of the 30 in 30 participants here.

Ruby

"Ruby" has a tail that is a little bit out of control (and those toes!). 

I enjoyed this big swirl and working on getting the light just right on all the curves of the lizard.

Happy Valentine's Day!
Today is my husband's birthday and he is definitely the Chocolate King.  Happy Birthday, Melenman.


See the rest of the 30 in 30 participants here.

Indigo

"Indigo" has some glorious scales to protect him during battles.  Dragons are always fighting battles with knights and other dragons, right?  Indigo is definitely a champion fighter.


See the rest of the 30 in 30 participants here.

Violet

A purple lizard named Violet.  Isn't she beautiful?  I'm having a wonderful time painting these expressive eyes.


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Sparky

Sparky the Dragon looks like a playful companion, doesn't he?  Get the ball, Sparky!


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Fuschia

This dragon has her eye on something she really wants and there is no doubt she will get it with that laser-focused gaze.


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Blush

A touch of warmth in the cheek from Love...?  Excitement...?  Anger...?
I loved this eye so much, I wanted to paint it again.


See the rest of the 30 in 30 participants here.

Pearl

A friend of mine is part of a Dragon Boat team of all women who are Breast Cancer survivors.  Because of my Dragon theme, she asked if I could do a painting of a pink dragon to honor those ladies.  Of course I would!  In fact, I did more than one because, who wouldn't want a PINK DRAGON?!


See the rest of the 30 in 30 participants here.

Confetti

Ice cream, cupcakes, sprinkles, Jimmies... all things you expect to be pink, purple, and lovely.  But snakes?  Oh sure, there are 'snake people' who adore them and think they are beautiful but Average Joe/Jane would not think of them as lovely.  Would you ? 

I have not even hung this painting in the gallery and it is already spoken-for.  Thanks, Friend!

See the rest of the 30 in 30 participants here.

Masquerade

Before I began this painting, I was thinking, "The colors in these paintings are getting a little crazy, maybe I should tone it down a little" and this was the result.  I do love color but tone it down apparently doesn't work very well in my sub-conscious.  I am pleased with this painting even if I didn't tone it down.

See the rest of the 30 in 30 participants here.

Two Point Landing

This guy leapt out of the shadows and onto the panel.  Too close for comfort, probably.  I like that about it.  I want my art to be a little frightening as well as beautiful... something you just can't take your eyes off (maybe because you don't dare take your eyes off it).

Have I mentioned how much I'm loving this series?  I'm working hard to remain 'loose' in my brush strokes... to not over-work each painting.  It looks easy but it's actually quite difficult in practice.

See the rest of the 30 in 30 participants here.

Wonder

Eyes are amazing, aren't they?  "The window to the soul."  But what if it's a dragon?  Would a dragon have a soul?  Would you want to see a dragon's soul?  What if the dragon could look into your soul?



See the rest of the 30 in 30 participants here.

Golden Girl

A close-up view of a lovely lady dragon.

The thought of a view of a dragon this closely is rather frightening but her eye is gorgeous.  The spines around the eye are definitely menacing.

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Dragon Grab

"Dragon Grab"  6" x 6" oil on Masonite panel.

Those claws look perfect for fishing.  Is the fish quick enough to get away?


When I first began my Serpent Series, I had made stencils of scales to be featured as a part of my abstract paintings.  When I talked about my developing series to friends, I also added descriptions of claws and teeth which had not yet made an appearance in my work.  Those descriptions led me to begin these smaller paintings as accessories to the larger, abstract paintings.


See the rest of the 30 in 30 participants here.

Freckles

30 Paintings in 30 Days February, 2018

"Freckles"  6" x 6" oil on Masonite panel.

Welcome back to 30 in 30!  My theme this time around will focus snakes, lizards, and dragons and their various beautiful body parts as a continuation of my Serpent Series of paintings.

My Serpent Series began last year as a number of abstract paintings using handmade stencils of scales in a variety of shapes and sizes.  You can take a peek at some of those paintings as they developed here and here.

This year, I have a gallery show coming up at the end of February where I will display some of the abstract paintings from last year as well as a number of the smaller, accessory paintings that I'm completing for this 30-in-30.  Cutting it close?  Maybe.  Nothing like a deadline to get the artistic juices flowing.  I may hang a few paintings that are not varnished and may not even be completely dry... so if you come to my gallery show, no touching please!  HA!

I hope you enjoy my 30 paintings.

See the other 30 in 30 participants here.

Coming Soon: February 2018 Edition

Oh HI!  Happy New Year!  

Each year I assess my Internet presence and think, "I should blog more... let people know where I'll be, show more art..." but life gets busy and the blog is usually the first to suffer.  If you're on Instagram, you're most likely to see me there when I have new art.  https://www.instagram.com/karimelenartist/

The new year also brings an opportunity to join in the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.  This January, Leslie Saeta is in Europe so the beginning of the challenge will be delayed to February 1.

I know, I could do 30 paintings any old time I want but Leslie's Challenge makes it fun and much more visible to Internet-land than just doing it on my own.

This February I'll be in a special show at Circle Gallery in Annapolis, MD (more about that, later).  I'll be using some of my Challenge paintings in that show, which means I needed to start the challenge early because the gallery gets unhappy when an artist tries to hang paintings that are still wet.

So, look for me here with new art to share, starting soon!!

July/Early August Happenings

Coming Soon:
an opportunity to hobnob with artists.  Scroll down for details.


First though, I have a little inspiration from an artist I have admired for a long time.
Dreama Tolle Perry

Calling

I can only answer to that which calls me.

Often times we feel we should be doing more, something, anything.
We see what another is immersed in and shame ourselves for not wanting, doing, being more.

Overlooking one vital thing.

We can only answer to that which calls to us.

That thing that calls me.
That thing that calls you.
And we each have a unique calling.

THE thing that calls us by name, that wakes us in the night and shakes us gently in our days.
Appearing again and again in unexpected ways and unforeseen times.

It’s important to realize this.

We, you and I, are not missing out on anything that sits in the ‘should’ category.
It was/is not for us.
It is tagged for someone else and is thus calling their name and they are answering that call with all that is within them.

We, you and I, each have our calling and we can only answer to that which calls for us.

With all that lies within us.


Dreama is amazing.  You should check her out.

Also, you should come and see me!

See me and lots of other awesome artists at the closing reception for Midsummer Madness at Circle Gallery, 18 State Circle, Annapolis, MD on Friday, Aug. 4, 2017 at 5pm - 7pm.

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Dangerous Waters

Confession Time.
Art is happening, but it is happening slowly.  And the weather is crummy which makes taking photos of the art that IS happening next to impossible.

I have four new completed pieces.

I started this back in January and wasn't satisfied with it.  I went back to it and made some adjustments and I'm much happier with the result.

24" x 24" [needs a name].

Another for the Serpent Series.  24" x 48" [needs a name].

I have two paintings that I intended to be part of the Serpent Series however, they both have definite shark shapes, which I love.  I'm thinking they might belong in their own series.  I'm open to suggestions for the name of that series.

I showed this one during some in-process stages but I'm really happy with how it has turned out.
18" x 24" [needs a name].  [needs a series name]

This one I did while shooting video for a friend.  I enjoyed this new experience but painting while filming a video is very distracting.  Some day I may try again.  I've got nothing on Bob Ross, that's for sure.
Dangerous Waters, 24" x 24" [needs a series name]

One more brand-new piece is on my easel.  It is a huge 24"x 48" canvas and while it fits the theme of my Serpent Series, it is really a departure from my usual style.  Every time I do something outside of my comfort zone it is an opportunity for growth but what often happens not only with me, but with many artists is, when we get to a point in the middle of a painting, we get frustrated and stuck.  If it's work we are comfortable with, we can power through (or sometimes limp through) to get past the really hard part so that we can finish and be satisfied with the result.  When a painting is a challenge from the beginning though, that middle bit where we get stuck feels insurmountable.  I have paintings I started years ago that are still stuck in that middle bit and I don't know if they'll ever be finished.

I had one painting in a gallery show recently and that is always fun.  Despite my shyness, I do have a good time meeting new people and seeing old art friends at gallery receptions.  Also, I have just entered several pieces into an event online.  I am wary of online events simply because it's really easy for disreputable companies to take your money and you'd have no recourse.  This event was recommended by a friend who is a member of the website, so I felt safe in joining the event.  So far, the number of entries for this particular show is fairly small.  We are nearing the entry deadline so that is a bonus.  Fewer entries increases the odds that I could win a prize.  [fingers crossed]

Follow me on Instagram for lots of cryptic, in-process photos of whatever is happening on my easel and (sometimes) in my life:
http://www.instagram.com/karimelenartist/

I am happy to report that I passed my math course at college and my new job is hard but enjoyable.

Whispers

The Moon peers through the sheer curtain.  She knows me better than I know myself.  Your whisper is like a call and now I am wide awake.  Listening.  Listening.  To you and to the night.  I want to see you but must be cautious.  The Moon watches, waiting.  She knows what is coming next.


I'll show the progress in reverse here.  Start at the bottom of the post if you'd like to see it from the beginning.

I was noodling around with the dark purple and noticed the shape sort of resembled a shark. 

I added two similar shapes in the larger circle and will add a third toward the center of that circle.

Very thin beige and light neutral-grey are added in layers over the background area and in the larger circle so the eye is drawn to the smaller circle at the top left.

Scales patterns in turquoise and purple are added using a stencil I made.  I wanted to add texture to the background area as well as accentuate the circular motion and to indicate that the circles are moving in opposite directions.

 I began with a few dribbles of yellow and allowed those to dry.  Then blue-grey and light neutral-grey are added with a lot of water.  Some areas are allowed to run and other areas are painted into circular patterns.



Sharks.   Powerful, focused, curious creatures. Superior instinct and a remarkable drive for survival.  Actively moving forward through life.  Silent before they attack.


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