Don't miss the place to be....

UPCOMING EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS

I AM HONORED TO HAVE MY ART ON THE GARDEN TOUR POSTER

The above was painted outdoors in the hot sunlight in Corrales last August.

In a few weeks I will add the other exhibitions coming up for me.  I will be participating in the 

"The Garden Show" at Sumner Dene Gallery in downtown ABQ.  This promises to be a big event!

Corrales has two plein air events scheduled this year...tell you later!

INSPIRATION AND GILDED PAINTINGS!

INSPIRATION AND GILDED PAINTINGS

Inspiration is the "soul of the art".  

Snow at Dawn in Albuquerque...a photo waiting to be painted

Inspiration comes from so many wonderful places.  It is constant.  Over the many years I have been painting there have been only a handful of times when I didn't know what I was going to paint.   I am thankful for that.

I wrote a long newsletter two days ago available on my website.   There is more information/ideas there on inspiration though the main topic was on gilded paintings.  You will there a "how to" and several new paintings gilded with gold, copper or metal leaf.

Leaves in the Sky

Golden Music

Day Twenty-Two: "Clouds Lifting"

Lifting Clouds
Little Gem
6x8 oil on canvas mounted

Can you believe I am within eight days of finishing the challenge.  I know I can do it now!

The state fair ends today here in Albuquerque and I am curious how the attendance has been.  We've had some rain during the fair, and desert people stay away from the fair when it rains.

But as you can see in my painting the clouds lift, and often the sun is out during the day.  The sorghum field is no longer bright yellow.

Sometimes I struggle with a painting; not this one.  There is more brushwork in this painting than palette knife, but both were used.

Click here to buy on dailypaintworks.com

Day Eighteen: "Courtyard Gate with Trumpet Vine" SOLD

Courtyard Gate with Trumpet Vine
Little Gem
8x6 oil on canvas mounted

I love reading everyone else's blogs about the progress they are making in the thirty day challenge.  Do you agree it has improved our painting skills?

Trumpet vines with pods are everywhere most of the summer.  The plant is pretty, it is messy, and it spreads.  Eventually the trunk can be the size of a small tree.  We love the plant in spite of its minuses.

Click here to buy on dailypaintworks.com

Day Seventeen: Hollyhocks and Blue Gate SOLD

Hollyhocks and Blue Gate
Little Gem
6x8 canvas on board mounted

Prowling in my little neighborhood subdivision...riding my bike instead of walking....snapping photographs of people's plants, gates, walls, and doors.  I have found plenty of painting material on my street alone.  As usual there is inventing....this gate was a different color, the stucco was a very light PINK and the hollyhocks were roses.
Well, at least today I didn't move any trees!

I had a struggle with this painting initially because I originally did paint the stucco light pink.  It took me a while to figure out the painting needed to be warmer!

To purchase or bid on this painting, click here.

Day Fourteen: Alemada Wetland I SOLD

Alemada Wetland I
Little Gem
6x8 oil on canvas, mounted 

Because the flight path for migrating birds follows the Rio Grande Valley, there are several wetlands in New Mexico.  Alemada Wetland I is painted facing the sun, therefore the trees and in cool green.  On Day fifteen of the challenge, Alemada Wetland II is facing away from the sun, therefore I the trees have sunlight on them. These painting side by side are really terrific.

Today is Day Fourteen of the thirty day challenge...a challenge it is.  Can I take a break soon?  Yes, in sixteen days!

To bid on or purchase this painting, click here.

Sorghum Harvest

Sorghum Harvest
Little Gem
6x8 oil on canvas, mounted

DAY TWELVE of the thirty day challenge



When I arrive at this point on my almost daily bicycle journey, I see a field of yellow sorghum nearly ready for harvest.  Here in the city of Albuquerque we have open spaces, some of which are part of the state park system.  The crop in this field is rotated yearly and is feed only for birds migrating from the north who winter in New Mexico.  We have Canada Geese, Sandhills Cranes, Snow Geese and others.

The scraggly trees are Cottonwoods, native to the bosque area of the river.   The trees are old and no longer regenerate by themselves because the river is dammed and doesn't flood anymore. They are now being replanted...just stick a live twig in the sand near the river, and than twig is soon a tree.

To purchase or bid on the auction, click here.

DESERT PLANTS IN BLOOM III

Desert Plants in Bloom III
Little Gem
6x8, oil on canvas mounted

Day Six of the Thirty Day Challenge...


Another day on the bike trail soon after the sun was up.  There was more moisture in the air as it rained a tiny bit last night so I saw a rainbow in the sky during my ride.  Hot air balloons were up too with one silhouetted against the rainbow.  What a sight that was!

Today I rode in a different direction and found many more blooming desert plants at an inner city plant and wildlife preserve.  Living so near the Rio Grande and the bike trail is a blessing.


To purchase, click on the link under the photograph.

Painter's Journey

"Turquoise Potting Bench"  6x8 oil on canvas, mounted


Since 1998 I have been on my journey as a painter.  It is been fun, intense, stressful, happy, disgusting, laughable, but always full of opportunity.  Now the journey has taken a new and exciting turn that involves both painting and the Internet.

Painting daily, or almost daily, is my goal.  Posting on my website (www.carolhopper.com) and www.DailyPaintworks.com, blogging on www.carolhopper.blogspot.com  and interacting on www.facebook.com/carolhopperstudio have also become part of being an artist in the Twenty-First century.  Technology cannot be avoided but is always second to painting.  

Having fun is one of the top priorities and painting "Little Gems" is very enjoyable.  I am using a palette knife more and intense color more.  My work is more Impressionistic.

I hope you will sign up to follow me on my journey!