Pop-Up Sale Coming Soon

Tectonic

You are about to be inundated with my art.  (I know you love that about me.)

I joined a pop-up shop by Annapolis Arts Alliance which will open for two short months beginning Sunday, November 4,

My art will be discounted during this sale and only in the shop.  If you see the piece for sale online, you will see the regular price.  You will only be able to get discounted pricing in the shop.  So come visit at 230 Main Street, Annapolis, MD  21401

Tectonic
24" x 24" acrylic on stretched canvas
Available on Etsy for $870
In the pop-up shop $500.

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.

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.

Sparky

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


See the rest of the 30 in 30 participants here.

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.


See the rest of the 30 in 30 participants here.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Spring Member Show May 7, 2017

Come see me and my art this Sunday, May 7, 2017 from 3-5 pm during the Spring Member show for Maryland Federation of Art at Circle Gallery, 18 State Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Member shows are always a fun time.  Enjoy a glass of wine, a few nibbles, and mingle with artists (like me!) and art lovers.

http://mdfedart.com/portfolio/87/

Painting Two Needs a Name

Final

I wanted to reveal the final painting near the end of the challenge.  The creature has no visible legs, and we're not quite sure where he ends as he curls around a large, blue egg that could be his sibling.

Mythical creatures have long been a fascination for me and this painting was wonderfully fun to create.  I have more creatures to spur your imagination (nightmares?) coming soon.

30 in 30 Blog.

Painting Twelve -- Tectonic

Part One

Lots of drama with this painting.  I love these deep, rich colors and I intend to keep this one very dark.

Maroon, varying shades of deep turquoise, and black are applied with a palette knife.

Part Two

I kind of knew where I was going with this painting from the beginning but as I went, it really screamed lava meets water and I added bits of steam to accentuate that feeling.

30 in 30 Blog.

Painting Six -- Fascinator

Part Three

I wanted to keep this a monochrome painting and I'm happy with this result.  I didn't add a lot from the previous painting.

Liquid white and liquid black (black that I mixed from Ultramarine Blue, Sap Green, and Crimson, blended with Matte Medium and water) were splattered on with various palette knives.

See The beginning of this painting here, and the mid-stage here.


30 in 30 Blog.

Painting Five Continues

Part Two

The streaky areas of blue and grey have blended together here and virtually disappeared.  It wasn't the effect I was after but I still like it.

Liquid white and liquid black are splattered and allowed to somewhat blend together.  Crimson accents are added for interest.

See the beginning of this painting here.


30 in 30 Blog.

Beginning Six

Part One

Pretty soon it will be no secret how much I like turquoise and grey.

I started with a very light wash of warm grey around the edges and in the darkest area and then allowed that to dry.
Light grey, black, and turquoise are applied in patches with a palette knife and blended with a dry brush.


30 in 30 Blog.

Beginning Five

Part One

This painting began with the upper third a light tan and the lower two thirds a green that was somewhere between an olive and a fern.

This current look was achieved by dribbling paint along the top edge and adding lots and lots of water and letting the paint cascade down.  The black was added via Pipette and allowed to run in a couple directions before lying flat.

There is some light glare here and I may use these shapes as inspiration later.



30 in 30 Blog.