A Covered Bridge Painting-Commision
Covered Bridge Commission 2014
I was recently commissioned to do a covered bridge painting. I love a covered bridge-whether in person, or in a photograph or a painting. Give me the chance to paint one, and pay me for it…YES PLEASE!
A covered bridge in the mountains of North Carolina in the Fall? WOW-could I get a better subject?
I love to paint landscapes, and so this should have been “all in a days work”. But it was actually more challenging than expected. One reason is that I could not get to the bridge to paint it in person. It was in the Western part of North Carolina, but still not a quick trip. My wonderful customer did provide me with quite a few photos. However, all those photos were taken on an overcast and somewhat rainy day. The pictures were taken in the fall when the colors were brilliant, but with the weather-the photos themselves were just about black and white-or like a gray scale. They were also taken in a horizontal format- all pretty close up. My customer wanted a vertical painting with lots of color.
So, here is the test for me the artist-to paint what I DONT see. I started with lots and lots of sketches. When I finally settled on a drawn composition, I began to work on some value studies. Since the photos I was working from were all basically one value…I found another challenge. However, in a way it was freeing, in that I could design and choose to do exactly what I wanted. I am very fortunate that this customer knew my work very well, and had given me total and complete artistic freedom. She even said I could throw in a waterfall, or people. 🙂 Well, this is a rare opportunity, and took a great deal of stress off of me. Commissions can be scary-if you are a people pleaser, which I am. You hope and pray they will love it and that they will see all the love you put into their painting. I am fortunate that I have had great success so far with commissions (knock on wood!). In this situation, it was a special gift for someone she loved-I knew she was happy, but it made my day when I heard HE loved it too.
When someone loves what you painted and enjoys looking at it everyday-it is a wonderful feeling!
#1 Summer Painting: NC Shells
NC Shells 6 x 6
Available 95.00 Framed
A recent trip to the North Carolina Outer Banks gave me a great opportunity to do some painting-and the first one off the easel is this 6 x 6 “NC Shells”. Done on Cape Hatteras en plain air style! It great to combine things I love: being outdoors, being on the beach, being with family, painting, and even having a beer! Things could be worse-no doubt about it.
For the first time ever, I painted sitting down in a chair (Hey, it was vacation!), which was certainly different. It gave me a great chance to get up close and personal with my shells.
The only disadvantage: Sand in my beer. Oh well, better luck next time!
Perceptions of Beauty: Art, Life and Shells
Recently I was at a celebration being held at the beach. I was responsible for some of the decor for a particular evening, including picking up lots of beautiful sea shells to incorporate into the design. As I was gathering up the “beautiful” shells, the thought occurred to me that my choice of shells may not be pleasing for the others. That the shells I had in fact picked, could be perceived by others as “ugly ducklings” My selected shells did not look “perfect” at all, but they were beautiful in a way that was attractive to me. However, I reminded myself that this was not about me. I really did want to please everyone involved and so I tried looking for shells that “they” would like. Hmm. What do people want in a shell? What attracts you to a particular shell? Perfection, character, something standard, or something unusual?
Funny, kind of like saying what do people want in art? Or what do people want out of life? Some people want money, some want time, some want change, some don’t want change. In art some want it to “match” their decor or a color scheme. Others just fall in love with a piece of art and get it, knowing it will be at home, somewhere in their home-they just love it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right?
I wondered what “most” people would find beautiful.
I was thinking that maybe the “average” person might think that these shells were the “best”. They are traditional looking shells, and all are in good shape:
“Traditional Shells”
But, what about these shells? They are smooth as glass to the touch, like they have been sanded to a silk like surface with years of sand and ocean washing over them. They are a sensory delight in the hand.
Shells that are smooth
Or what about these cool shaped shells? I call these my “guitar pick ” shells. Some remind me of a guitar pick and there are couple that remind me of shark’s teeth. They are so neat!
Guitar pick Shells
But also beautiful are these shells with vibrant color:
Shells with deep color
Or these with great pattern:
Shells with pattern
Here are some I liked for their reflective, almost metallic properties:
These were special because they had a hole in the middle (I put ribbon through them and hung them from a sea branch bouquet).
Shells with holes, aka “Holy Shells”
And finally-this one: Depending on how I looked at it, it reminded of me of either the cochlea or a fortune cookie.
The Cochlea/Fortune Cookie Shell
Now, I have my favorites, but for now i will keep those to myself. What I do want to know, is what is YOUR favorite, and if you know why, tell me. Which ones would you have picked up from the sand and taken home?
Just Ducky: A bathtub painting
“Just Ducky” is my first “bathtub painting” . This is something very different for me, and so far has gotten an excellent response. I have always loved doing “interiors”-that is paintings of scenes inside a home/barn/office, and while this does go in that category-I think its in a genre all its own!
“Just Ducky” 8 x 10 by Beth Carrington Brown
Fishing time in the art studio
“Gone Fishing” 6 x 6 95.00
It’s always a good time to go fishing and also to paint. It’s nice to put the two worlds together! This particular painting is my entry to the Daily Paintworks challenge. See link to my DPW gallery for more on that. 🙂
I’m thrilled with how this turned out and would love it if anyone wants to send me photos of their latest catch for me to paint.
I’ve done some catching myself lately but the fish haven’t been quite as interesting or paintable. For the upcoming fourth of July I will be doing some fishing down at the Pamlico River-stay tuned and see what’s catching!
Gone Fishing is a 6 inch by 6 inch painting and is available for $95.00
“Gone Fishing” 6 x 6 95.00
Sunflowers with Lisa Daria
“Sunflowers with Lisa” 6 x 6, Bid Now in the Daily Paintworks Auction
I painted these sunflowers during a workshop with Lisa Daria. I loved experimenting with how she positions her still life settings. Looking down at the subject was a new thing for me, and it was lots of fun! Sunflowers are beautiful and fun to paint!
Painting with Lisa Daria Kennedy
Lisa’s demo
I recently had the opportunity to take a workshop with prolific daily painter Lisa Daria Kennedy. I have followed her work for a couple of years, and was thrilled to get the opportunity to paint with her. One of the things I found most intriquing about her personally was that she gets up early (still dark outside) and completes a painting first thing each morning. She, like everyone else was facing the distractions of daily life-that can easily pull you away from your craft. Having a studio in my home I am very familiar with being taunted by laundry waiting to be washed or dishes to put away. I too am an early riser -5:30 each morning. I need the time of quiet, to “wake up” before my family stirs and requires my attention. But could I use that time to paint? That was a thought.
Check out Lisa’s daily paintings: http://lisadaria.blogspot.com
Lisa Daria Kennedy Demo during Raleigh, NC workshop
“Moo are You”? The Cow paintings continue..
“Moo are you”? 6 x 6
I am still enjoying painting cows, and this little one “Moo are You” is no exception.
How could I not paint the sweet face on this precious calf?! “Moo are You” is 6 x 6 before framing and has just been hung at the Waverly Artists Group Gallery and Studio in Cary. Any other available cow paintings are there, or can be seen/purchased through my Daily Paintworks link.
Thanks for all the encouraging comments you have been giving me!
Beth
Cowabunga: Cow Art!
Here’s looking at Moo! 5 x 7
As of today I am on my 5th painting in a series of cows-The cow art has come to me, inspired by a recent trip to west Texas and by a family member who is currently obsessed with the bovines we have met. Cows are sweet and fun to paint-suprisingly colorful too-so, it’s right up my alley!
Beach Art: “Ahh”
“Ahh” 6 x 8, $95.00
The beach, and art-a wonderful combination! I painted this while sitting on the beach, right behind this lucky woman who was as relaxed and enjoying life. This is what I would like to be doing today! Enough said!
I paint because I love it.
I paint primarily in Heavy Body acrylics, though I do tinker with others at times.
I paint En Plein Air. Really, there is nothing better than standing under a shady tree at the water’s edge, with a nice breeze, and painting what I see!