Thursday, February 27, 2014

WINE WITH CHEESE AND GRAPES

WINE WITH CHEESE AND GRAPES

6x6 oil on museum quality board
Click here for purchase on DailyPaintworks.com



Interior Painting?
Still Life Painting?

Both

I am so grateful to have a lovely home
lovely unnecessary objects
food and wine

Come join me for tea time snacks
3 PM everyday

I promise

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

WHAT'S TO KNOW Encaustic Mixed Media

WHAT'S TO KNOW
Encaustic Mixed Media
10x10 on cradled panel
Click here to purchase on DailyPaintworks.com


Oh what fun I had creating this piece!

THE NINE SQUARES

were made by pouring resin on top 

FUN OBJECTS

 that I had put in the silicone baking tray made for mini brownies.
The resin set up overnight and hardened clear.
I poured lots of COLORED BEESWAX MEDIUM  on the board
and added my tiles melting the wax around them with my 

VERY HOT HEAT GUN

The words "Whats to Know" is impressed into the wax with 

METAL LETTER PUNCHES

Now you know it all, so there is nothing left to know!




Monday, February 24, 2014

LOVE SONG II

LOVE SONG II
Encaustic Mixed Media 16x16
Click here to purchase on Dailypaintworks.com



This is one of my favorite Encaustic paintings which continued to be be developed as more mixed media elements were added to it. The Yellow Rose is from an oil painting I had done earlier and then printed the image on silk organza. It didn't show up enough so I incised the wax around some of the petals. Because I am temporarily reducing the number of hours spent in daily painting and playing more, I am finding delight in sharing my previously almost-hidden Encaustic Paintings.  My next blog will mention some movies I am seeing...catching up there too.

What is ENCAUSTIC?
(noun) - Encaustic (which also goes by "hot wax painting") is an ancient technique. The artist heats beeswax to the liquid stage, then mixes in pigmentation. The resulting medium is applied to a surface (typically wood). After the artist has everything "just so", heat is applied to the whole business, which results in a fusion of colored wax and wood. (Yea, verily -- they become as one...an extremely durable one, at that.)
Before the wax cools, an artist can do all sorts of things to his or her encaustic piece. Metal tools or special brushes can shape and/or texture the substance (layers of which can be anywhere from thin to relief-map thick). One may even affix objects (such as coat hangers, or light bulbs) into the wax. Additionally, an encaustic can be polished to a final sheen, or reworked (through use of heat, again) as much as necessary until the artist is satisfied.
The earliest and best-known examples of encaustic are the Fayum mummy portraits from Egypt (ca. 100-300). The ancient Greeks often used this technique for mural painting, but today encaustic is mostly confined to easel painting.  (copied from About.comArtHistory)
My encaustic teacher has become a dear friend of mine though I have not seen her since I studied with her. She's my Encaustic sister-in-art, works too hard, can't stop herself, but is a Master in all that she does.  Visit Helen DeRamus.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

MELODIES

MELODIES
ENCAUSTIC MIXED MEDIA
8x8 on 1inch cradled panel
Click here to purchase on Dailypaintworks.com


This week I am going to share some of my Encaustic mixed media paintings I did a while ago.  I love the smell of the beeswax,  the wide variety of materials used, and the freedom to create without thought of representation. "Melodies" includes Sumi Japanese painting ink, torn paper, and three ceramic one inch tiles.  No frame is needed and "Melodies" is ready to hang.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

FLOWER SHOP VI

FLOWER SHOP VI
Framed, 5x7, oil on canvas covered board
framed has a rich mahogany finish

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE



These beautiful flower shop paintings
are a 
series

Choose one 
or 
more



Monday, February 17, 2014

FLOWER SHOP V

FLOWER SHOP V
framed 5x7 oil on canvas covered board
frame has a rich mahogany finish

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE


This lovely painting features 
mainly one type of flowering potted plant
 rather than a wide variety of cut flowers 

 This painting is part of the flower shop series

Some possible combinations below


Flower Shop I
Flower Shop II

Flower Shop III

Flower Shop IV








Sunday, February 16, 2014

FLOWER SHOP IV

FLOWER SHOP IV
5x7 oil on canvas covered board
frame has a rich mahogany finish

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE




When you visit your relatives or friends
first
visit the flower shop

Take flowers 
OR 
small paintings  as a gift

Friday, February 14, 2014

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

NINE PAINTINGS FOR VALENTINE'S DAY
Click here to purchase

VALENTINE PAINTINGS
ONCE AGAIN

    I love holidays,
birthdays
even half birthdays

Yes I shared this with you several days ago 
but today is a must.

Happy Valentine's Day
to my wonderful
blogging
friends

I love everyone of you
dearly

   

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

FLOWER SHOP III

Flower Shop III
Framed, 6x8 oil on museum quality board
Available soon at upcoming show
FLOWER SHOP III
 6x8, oil on museum quality board.

I am painting a series of flower shops for an upcoming show at the New Mexico Cancer Center Gallery, a NM top ten gallery. More information will be posted soon.

Oslo, Norway,  New Year's Eve Day, 2013, shops were open though little else was.  The day was misty, warm, and no snow was anywhere to be seen.  On this day in Oslo there was about six hours of daylight, an increase of three hours over that which I had experienced only days earlier in the Arctic.

 This was a most unusual trip, with many experiences never had before and likely never to be experienced again.  I am truly grateful and
recommend we always be ready to delight in the
 unknown.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Flower Shop II

Flower Shop II, Framed
5x7 oil on canvas covered board
Available Soon
'FLOWER SHOP II"
5x7. oil on canvas covered board, frame has a mahogany finish.

I have painted flowers for years so after a recent trip to Norway where there were flower shops on nearly every block, walkway, street corner, all transportation stations and malls, I couldn't wait to paint flowers in flower shop settings.  See the series on www.carolhopper.com

I have been asked by the curator of the New Mexico Cancer Center Art Gallery (Gallery with a Cause) to include my flower shop series and my cupcake/dessert series in the upcoming spring show.   Very soon I will be able to provide a link for purchase of the paintings.  Purchase of these paintings assists cancer patients with medical bills.

One more note:  Due to multiple problems I no longer use Google + as so many of you had trouble following me or commenting on my blog.  Join Friend Connect, or sign up by email, and especially comment below on my paintings.   I want to hear from you.  And if you are still having trouble, let me know!


Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Flower Shop I

"FLOWER SHOP I"

 oil on canvas covered board, 5x7, frame has a mahogany finish.

I love painting series, and I love painting flowers.  In the past my flowers were very often close up individual ones.  I still have a few of those available on my website at www.carolhopper.com.  

For several months I have been painting smaller, more affordable works of art and transitioning to more fields of flowers or in this case, flower markets.  While in Norway recently, I fell in love with the ubiquitous flower stalls and shops.
This painting is framed and ready to hang.