Sunday Night

August 27, 2006

Last week was incredibly busy. But it was not what you would think.

My grandson Matthew needed adult supervision. He finished summer camp but has not started first grade yet. I spent the week at my son and daughter-in-laws house helping out.

It was a very good week, spent with family. Matt was enrolled in a morning soccer camp run by UK Elite. Matt had two terrific coaches, Phil from England and Katrina from Ireland. They worked very hard to give the 6 year olds the basic skills. Matt worked very hard and was incredibly focused for a 6 year old. I was very proud of him.

The afternoons were spent hanging out and some drawing time.

Saturday Night, not lonely, very busy.

August 19, 2006

Hello, everybody!

Happy birthday to my son, Kenneth. He hit the big 37 today. We will celebrate tomorrow when we are all together. It has been a quick 37 years, seems like it was just yesterday.

This past week went very well. I finished my still life that I was painting with my mentor's critique on Thursday like we planned. I am very pleased with it. The oil painting is a 16" x 20" still life. It's name is "Sugar Rush". "Sugar Rush" went on sale this evening on ebay, listed under self representing artists, Carolyn Needleman.

Five other oil paintings went up in addition to "Sugar Rush". You will be able to view all if you go to EBay's web site.

I have been spending an hour a day working on graphite drawing studies, in addition to oil painting. I am pleased with my results so far. My drawing skills needed work, as I was getting "rusty."

Life is good, remember to count your blessing and see the beauty around you.

Carolyn

Mid Week

August 16, 2006

This week has been a very productive week. I finished four oil paintings, including "Jill's Garden 2" The other three paintings need names. Have to ponder about that.

I am doing some graphite sketches to help my hand and brain coordination. They are going well, which should please my mentor, Lori. She urges me to do a little each day to keep my skills moving along in the right direction.

Speaking about Lori, I will be seeing her tomorrow. I expect to finish the painting that I have been working on (with her critique). I have been thinking about a name for it, yes names again. I think "Sugar Rush" will be right. You will understand when you see the painting!

Six of my paintings are going to go on sale this week end on Ebay. I will post them on Saturday eve, around 8:00PM. You can view them under artistnj or self representing artist, Carolyn Needleman.

Bye for now. Remember to see the beauty around you. It can be found in unexpected places.

Carolyn

A Day that is Satisfactory!

Friday


The last few days have been most satisfactory. My painting has gone well and I finished three pieces that were "hanging around" uncompleted. All small floral pieces. They are now drying and need varnishing. They also need names! Woe is me, names! I need inspiration.

I also went back to another incomplete work, "Jill's Garden, 2" I re did the entire background. The piece now has the look that I am trying to portray. All of the flesh tones now have to be re done plus her hair. Jill will be finished, God willing by this week end.

This afternoon was spent in Pennsville, NJ working with my mentor, Lori Levin, in her studio.
I had started a still life that she set up for me before I went away on vacation. It is a 16" x 20" original work with some of my favorite items. (Books, choc chip cookies and Coke Cola!)
It's not as basic as it sounds as there are other items in the still life, but you get some idea of what I am talking about. The work went very, very well today and I should complete it next Thursday.

Thanks go to Lori for all of her good advice, comments, and critiquing. She has helped me to look at my work from a different perspective and has helped me to discipline my bad habits.
(Some of the bad habits are still there, but I am working on corrections.!)

Enjoy each and every day. Remember to stop and smell the flowers.

Carolyn

It's Wednesday already!

I thought that I would do a post before going to bed, but it's Wednesday already! I haven't even gone to bed yet.

Yesterday, Tuesday was a good art day. I worked on a piece that has given me trouble for awhile. I think I have worked out the problems. It is a still life of various pots, pans, bottles and fruit and vegetables. It's a melage of kitchen items and cooking items. (Cooking is one of my favorite things.) I need to let several passages dry before I continue with it.

Tomorrow, which is now today, will see me work on another composition, in the mean time.
Children at the beach will be the theme. I have several interesting photographs that I took while on vacation on the West Coast.

Bye for now, remember to see the beautiful things in life. They are all around you.

Carolyn

What a bummer!

Today, Monday, didn't go quite as planned. I thought that I would get started doing compositional drawings on my next several works. Well, that turned out only to be a thought.

I got caught up in financial matters and household matters. Paying bills, working on the budget for this month and calling in repair men for various household problems.

When all is said and done, the day is now finished.

The good thing is, I did all of that today, and tomorrow looks to be free for art. I hope!

Remember to look on the bright side of things. When you have your health you can do many important tasks and come up smiling.

Carolyn

Back in Good Old NJ

I returned home from my two week trip to Seattle-Tacoma area and San Francisco, CA on Monday evening, August 31st.

What a good time! I was able to spend time with friends and family, enjoy their company and indulge my passion for art and beautiful scenery. Who could ask for anything more.

The art galleries held many interesting pieces of work. I especially enjoyed Leroy Nieman's.
I viewed six paintings of his at a gallery in San Francisco. I loved each and every one. His technique is vibrant and very much alive. What a master!

The beginning of this week was devoted to all of the mundane things one has to do when one returns from vacation but......the end of the week was devoted to painting.

I finished a composition that I had begin before I left for the West Coast. It is three roses in a glass vase. I will let it dry, then photograph it, varnish it and put it up for sale.

Many new ideas are forming in my head for new works. I will most likely start a new piece using my photos of my trip out west. Several of my shots are just calling out to be represented on canvas.

Remember to enjoy each and every day. There is much to be discovered.

Carolyn