In the Studio : New Paintings in Progress

In the studio:  Almost finished with this pair of paintings. Working on a new 

concept for a series called "Waterline" - happy with the direction these are heading.

Works in Progress - Studio View- www.heidicarlsenrogers.com 

Inspiration for the Waterline paintings - I could spend the whole day staring into 

the water - the rhythmic movement is so mesmerizing.  

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iPhone Sketches: Wildflowers

A wildflower stem that I picked this morning that was growing on the side of the road.

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The colors spoke to me & I had to bring it back to the studio to photograph! 😊.

Wildflower Color Study 1
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Wildflower Color Study 2
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Wildflower Color Study 3
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Wildflower Color Study 4
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Wildflower Color Study 5
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Article in the Newspaper!

Very grateful to Jocelyn Murphy for the article she wrote about the WomanMade:NWA show in yesterday's newspaper. So surprised & excited that my painting was included!

Link to Article

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About: Flower Portrait (Woman)

Flower Portrait (Woman), 2016
Acrylic, Gouache and Pencil on Canvas (Horizontal Diptych), 60" H x 72" W
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Flower Portrait (as a Woman)

Originally for the show, I was going to create a large painting that studied and explored the color pink, as this is a hue that is typically associated with women and being feminine.

But I shifted to thinking about the piece more in terms of the current series I am involved with called Flower Portraits, where I paint large abstracted drawings of flowers.

I decided explore both of those ideas together to represent what is to me a distinctly feminine symbol – a pink flower.

This flower is not a specific bloom, but one that is made-up - a compilation of the lines and shapes of flowers that I keep with me in my mind.

The shades of pink in the painting express the full life cycle of a flower in terms of color.

The colors speak to the grit and perseverance of the journey where a flower seeds, grows, buds, blossoms, then slowly starts to fade, eventually falling back to the ground where it began.

There is beauty throughout the changing stages of being a flower/woman – the colors tell that story as they fluctuate between vibrant and muted; fresh and withered; dewy and ashy; pale and deep.

The underlying surface is rough and gritty, representing where a flower comes from symbolically – dirt or soil.

Above the horizon line, the upper canvas focuses on the time in the life of a blossom when it is in the state of being exquisitely and most abundantly alive – fully beautiful.

The lower horizon tells of the fading, quieting, and greying that happens as the flower’s life cycle is winding down - when it will be brought back into the earth.

On the horizon line itself; the colors cross over into one another – swaying between youthfulness/blossoming and quieting/aging.

The piece was done in two parts because I thought one canvas could not express or hold the full story of the flower and her life cycle.

Even though this is technically a portrait, I wanted the painting to read in a landscape format with a firm horizon line because I consider the landscape to be extraordinary – something that feels monumental and expansive. I represent the “woman as flower” symbol as the same – powerful, beautiful, intricate, complex, with a presence that spills over the edges of this canvas.

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Upcoming Art Show - WomanMade:NWA

I have had an opportunity this year to be part of a women's art show called WomanMade:NWA that opens April 18, 2016.

I've been working on two distinct sides - first as the one who proposed, crafted, and helped curate the show, but also on the artist end - participating as a painter and creating a piece that will be shown alongside the other women artists.

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We asked the artists to submit a piece that represented their “signature” creative work. Optionally, it could include or explore a topic, symbol, or idea that comes from a uniquely female perspective.

I chose the latter and created a painting called Flower Portrait (Woman) shown below.  More about the painting in the next post.

Getting this new painting photographed & ready for the upcoming WomanMade:NWA show that opens in a few weeks.
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Color Inspiration: Fresh + Faded Roses

 Wanted to share a few of the flowers I have been referencing for my new Flower Portrait (Woman) that will be in the WomanMade:NWA show in a few weeks.

I have been photographing the blooms as they age and pulling inspiration from both the fresh and faded colors.

Color studies inspired by roses.
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Color Inspiration = Roses
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Color Inspiration = Roses
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Color Inspiration = Roses
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Color Inspiration = Roses
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Color Inspiration = Roses
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Touching up the edges of my Flower Portrait (Woman) painting so they are super-white.  BTW, this is upside down! :)
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New Series on Paper - Feather (Bluejay)

Feather (Bluejay) II - Acrylic, gouache & colored pencil on paper - 25.6"x19.7"
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Feather (Bluejay) I - Acrylic, gouache & colored pencil on paper - 25.6"x19.7"
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Inspiration = Feathers that I found on the ground outside of my studio.

Feather (Bluejay) II - Acrylic, gouache & colored pencil on paper - 25.6"x19.7"
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Feather (Bluejay) I - Acrylic, gouache & colored pencil on paper - 25.6"x19.7"
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In the Studio: How a Painting is Packed & Shipped

I often get asked how a painting is packed and shipped.  

Here are a few pictures showing the packing process for a mediums size canvas (36"x36") that was sent to a buyer directly from my studio.

Larger painting canvases are picked up by Freighters & Craters at my studio.   They take care of building a custom crate for the artwork & then take care of the shipping & delivery...and are lovely to work with! :)

Glassine outer wrap - done!   

These are the wooden crates that I have made for shipping paintings - pre-lined with white foam. I'm adding an extra layer of cheerful green bubble wrap! 💚 

If I can fit it safely around the painting in the crate - I add a bow so it will feel like opening a present when it arrives! :)

All packed & ready to be picked up by UPS.

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New Collectors! :)

One last look at this painting before I start wrapping it with glassine paper - getting ready for shipment.

So grateful & honored to have this going to new collectors in Utah.

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New Series on Paper - Feather (Bluebird)

Feathers (Bluebird) II - Acrylic, Gouache & Colored Pencil on Heavyweight Fine Art Paper, 19.7" x 25.6"
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Feathers (Bluebird) I - Acrylic, Gouache & Colored Pencil on Heavyweight Fine Art Paper, 19.7" x 25.6"
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Studio Sketches

Mid-afternoon in the studio, I decided to do some painted sketches and take a break from the giant painting I am working on.

I am really procrastinating...and need to get back to work! 😊

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Studio Visitor

This very funny & fuzzy little man hung out with me in the studio this week - I was dog sitting for some friends.

This is Simon's late afternoon "I am bored" stare!

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New Painting in Progress

This is the under painting for a large piece that I started last week. I've been working on building up the surface layers and am drawing on it with conte crayon today to create an underlying structure...

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Grateful

So grateful and excited that this group of Air Drawings found a new home in Portland, Oregon this week.

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Color Inspiration: Orchid

This orchid was the inspiration for the Flower Portrait (Orchid) painting in the previous post. 

Every time I went into my studio to paint, I would pass by this orchid which was sitting on a table nearby. When the sunlight would hit the petals, they just glowed with this beautiful fuchsia color. 

The color made such a connection with me and I loved the elegant shape of the petals. I couldn't get it out of my head - so I knew it would be my next painting!

The pic shows the color matching I did in the studio.

Flower Portrait (Orchid)

Acrylic, Gouache & Pencil on Canvas

36" H x 48" W

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Flower Portrait (Orchid)

Acrylic, Gouache & Pencil on Canvas

36" H x 48" W

www.heidicarlsenrogers.com

www.heidicarlsenrogers.com

iPhone Sketches: Lines in the Snow

Hello snow!  I headed out to walk this morning and was distracted with the way the light was hitting the tire tracks in the snow and the way the lines interacted with each other.  Inspiring start to the day!

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Color Inspiration: Purple Pansies & Orchids

A few of my iPhone "sketches".  I wanted to capture the vibrant colors & texture of these beautiful blooms.   The surfaces felt like sueded velvet.  I was really drawn to the delicate edges and their irregular yet perfect shape.   

These inspired the "Flower Portrait" painting below.

Flower Portrait (Pansy), 36"H x 48"W
Acrylic, Gouache and Pencil on Canvas
Heidi Carlsen-Rogers

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In the Studio: Love Knot (Flamingo) - Stages of a Painting

I have flamingos on my mind after posting earlier this week.  Wanted to share a painting (& the stages) from this summer inspired by my pink feathered friends!  

Love Knot (Flamingo)
48"H x 36"W
Acrylic, Gouache & Pencil on Canvas
Heidi Carlsen-Rogers

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Color Inspiration : Flamingos

Since today is National Bird Day, I wanted to share a few photos of the flamingos that I absolutely adore (and am slightly obsessed with!).   Any time I am in Sarasota,  my first stop is the Sarasota Jungle Gardens to spend time with my pink friends.  

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iPhone Sketches: Birch

Last year a mini-tornado came through our area.  

The next day early in the morning I went to the park for a walk.  Many of the trees were damaged from the wind.  Sections of their bark had been torn off and were sprinkled all over the grass. It reminded me of how it looks after it snows, but with pieces of bark on the ground instead of snowflakes.  It was beautiful and surreal at the same time.  

I collected some of the bark as I thought the markings were really interesting.  These soft colors inspired my Blueprint Botanical (Birch) painting below.

Blueprint Botanical (Birch)
Acrylic, Gouache & Pencil on Linen, 36"x36"
Heidi Carlsen-Rogers

Blueprint Botanical (Birch)
Acrylic, Gouache & Pencil on Linen, 36"x36"
Heidi Carlsen-Rogers

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