Flowers in the Abstract

Flowers in the Abstract
8x6 acrylic on canvas
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"FLOWERS IN THE ABSTRACT"

"Flowers in the Abstract",  8x6, acrylic on canvas with a double mat.  It isn't often that I choose to paint with acrylics.  I am so used to painting with oil and the slow drying process that fast drying acrylic paints are a challenge for me.  But I love this painting and think I should do more like it.  The colors are very harmonious.












NORWAY TRIP
Many of you are wondering when I will be painting scenes from my recent trip to Norway. 
 I am still processing that trip, especially the darkness of the Arctic and the very short days. 
 I had so few hours during which time I could take photos and actually see the landscape. 
 Living in very bright New Mexico I have to rethink "light" when painting Norway. 

Below are photographs taking during the brightest daylight hours
 in Hammerfest (the northernmost town in the world) 
and 
Kirkenes located in extreme northeast Norway 
very close to the Russian border.

CRIMSON TIED

CRIMSON TIED

A

Gift for your

loved one

http://www.carolhopper.com/store/p127/Crimson_Tied.html

Crimson Tied
10x10 oil on museum quality board
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MINT CONDITION

MINT CONDITION

a super tasty treat from Gold Rush Cupcakes in Albuquerque
Read their description:

Mint condition-Not a flaw to be found! Our mouthwatering chocolate cake is filled generously with vanilla cream, covered in a swirl of chocolate cream cheese frosting, sprinkled liberally with bits of Andes mint candies and a whole Andes mint. This cupcake is one of our most popular because it’s perfect in every way!

Mint Condition
5x5 oil on canvas covered panel
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SUNFLOWER POWER

SUNFLOWER POWER
5x5 oil on canvas covered board
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Sunflowers 

show

strength and warmth

This palette knife painting is 

rich with texture 

and has lively moving palette knife strokes

The lit set up I love the small flower on the left and want to include it

Block in with transparent colors…using a brush

Starting to develop using a brush and palette knife….
left side looking very ugly and not working

Handy Wipe Out Tool to the rescue.  Ouch…

What I thought was a Good Idea

Was a Failed Idea

  

PAPER HEART

PAPER HEART
5X5 oil on canvas covered board
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Painterly
Luscious thick paint
Brush and Palette Knife


VALENTINE'S DAY
gift

with

LOVE

CUPCAKE V

CUPCAKE V
5x5 oil on canvas covered board
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This little cupcake is really for the bath!
Don't lick this one
please


I have returned from my wonderful
NORWEGIAN CHRISTMAS

In February
 I will complete Norwegian paintings

But January
is only for still life

and the
THIRTY PAINTINGS IN THIRTY DAYS
CHALLENGE

CUPCAKE IV

CUPCAKE IV
6x6 oil on museum quality board
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Chocolate and Pink

I love both…
whipped cream too!

Sketching on white canvas with transparent paint

Block In complete with transparent paint
What will be near white is blocked in with Indian Yellow 

Starting to develop with opaque colors 

Nearing completion with background moving toward rose instead of red

This method of painting was taught to me by
Dreama Tolle Perry

The finished painting has some very slight fracturing taught to me by
Julie Ford Oliver

CUPCAKE III

CUPCAKE III
6x6 oil on museum quality panel
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What a fun time it has been to paint the cupcake series.  Each one has been a challenge in its own way. All of the cupcake paintings have been done from life, a still life set up lit by a daylight lamp.

Thank you Leslie Saeta for creating another thirty day challenge.  Being a daily painter has helped me improve my skills in so many ways.

CUPCAKE II

CUPCAKE II
6x6 oil on museum quality board
Click here to purchase.

So today I am flying for many hours
true
returning from Norway to the Land of Enchantment

Cupcake Series HAD to be done in advance

Primarily red painting would make a wonderful Valentine's Day Gift

CUPCAKE I

CUPCAKE I
oil on museum quality board
6x6
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WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE CUPCAKE?

A cupcake, in British English is
a fairy cake
In Australian English is
a patty cake or cup cake



The first mention of the cupcake can be traced as far back as 1796, when a recipe notation of "a cake to be baked in small cups" was written in American Cookery by Amelia Simmons.
The earliest documentation of the term cupcake was in "Seventy-five Receipts for Pastry, Cakes, and Sweetmeats" in 1828 in Eliza Leslie's Receipts cookbook.

History from Ask.com

MY SUPER DUPER PETITE STUDIO

PETITE STUDIO OF CAROL HOPPER

DAILY PAINTER

Artists and friends are interested

 in the tools we use

 our methods and techniques

 and seeing our studios. 

 I invite you in to my studio today AND I invite you to join with me in my latest addiction, Pinterest.  

Very neat and tidy  ALWAYS
Lighting from window, color corrected bulbs overhead and Ott Light

Storage galore, under the counter

Drawer always open during painting

Palette open
 drawer with brushes open
still life set up and lit with color corrected Ott lamp

Yes, also a laundry room
sink to wash brushes
and shelf for paintings in drying stage
more storage for art supplies

Palette sitting on rolling taboret which is really for wine bottles

Mat is memory foam

CARDINAL ON CEDAR

CARDINAL ON CEDAR
5x5 oil on canvas covered board
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Beautiful snowy day
Door County
Wisconsin

I have not painted any bird for a long time
I love them
and make sure I keep the bird bath full
and thawed
even in the winter months

Yes
we have cardinals in
New Mexico too

WINTER SUNSET, pastel painting

Winter Sunset
pastel, 16x24
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"Winter Sunset", 16x24, pastel, framed under glass with triple mats.    As a child, I fantasized a Currier and Ives Christmas.  I studied Christmas cards, love the churches lit for services, sleighs, horses, snow and especially the book/poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snow Evening" by Robert Frost.  This painting represents me as a child.

carolhopper.com

CHRISTMAS 2013

First Step in Decorating

My grandson Eli and I
are going on the
ADVENTURE
of our lifetimes.

Going, doing, eating, experiencing
CHRISTMAS
as we have never before experienced it.


NORWAY


So
I planned no decorating at home
until
I just had to
even though I won't even be here

Here are my first steps
Need more red and
tons of fresh greenery



Below is a link to the most uplifting
beautiful
videos I have seen.

Enjoy

http://www.wimp.com/upliftingaffirmations/

CHRISTMAS GOOSE

CHRISTMAS GOOSE

5x5 oil on canvas covered panel

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Finished Painting

Drawing and 1st transparent color

Panel completely covered with transparent paints

Correcting drawing with handy wipe-out tool

Laying in opaque colors with palette knife

Developing greens, shadow and bill size


I am participating in a Christmas painting event called 


PAINT A MASTERPIECE BLOG http://www.paintamasterpiece.blogspot.com

Voting takes place daily but you didn't know that, did you?
Please go the website above and vote for my Christmas Small Paintings.  Go back and vote for all December Date entries.

PLEASE

HEART LOCKET

HEART LOCKET
5X5 oil on panel
click here to purchase

   I set goals for December to daily

 paint only from life

write that for which I was thankful

and to do something kind for another or myself 

I am doing well on the first two but not well on the last.  

I need to get out of the studio or the house and find too many excuses

it's cold

it's snowing

my head hurts

The HEART LOCKET painting is for all of you

to remember

someone you love

to hang on the Christmas tree

or frame

or display on a tabletop easel

HERE'S TO LOVING DECEMBER

REMEMBER

REMEMBER 

5X5 oil on museum quality board

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Remember

a painting 

for the holidays

either framed or displayed on a tabletop easel

soft, gentle, quiet, yet a celebration

Painting process including drawing and blocking in

Developing painting after entire canvas has transparent paint

WITH LOVE

WITH LOVE, 10x10, oil on museum quality panel.

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I am a big celebrator of the holidays.  I used to insist my husband celebrate my half birthday as well as the actual birthdate.  Then I got older so one of those is enough.  

So December is a big month for me…Christmas and my birthday (21st).  And of course December goals.  There are three things I want to accomplish this month.  

     a.  Daily writing of all for which I am grateful

     b.  Paint daily from life (no photos this month; more presents to come)

  c.  Celebrate every day by doing something special (part of my daily writing too)

Gift in Blue

GIFT IN BLUE

10x10, oil on museum panel, unframed.  Click here to purchase.

It is that time of year…gifts for Christmas, and then comes Valentine's Day.  I love to wrap and usually choose a color scheme for the gifts, decorations, and the tree.  

My Set Up brightly lit

Partial block in completed when canvas is covered

Painting being developed and first of opaque colors added

Developing bow more….realizing package color is wrong