Miss Kolden Impressionist Painting

                                                                       
                                                                       "Miss Kolden"
                                                                      Masonite Board
                                                                       For sale here.

There is something peaceful about painting. I hope that is one thing that might show up in my paintings.

I've noticed in my portraits, this one included, that the eyes never look directly at the viewer. My goal is to make them look slightly relaxed and approachable.  I say, "Slightly." I also mean, "amused, thinking, shy, or busy."

Today it was a delicious temperature,  in the 70's. It made me wonder how these ladies in the1800's and early 1900's wore all of these long sleeves and long dresses, etc. in the summer months? And happily cooked over a wood stove. One thing we know. they probably weren't cold. Whew!

The garden will start popping open  flowers like popcorn after a few warm days. I can't wait to paint some of the gems. Hopefully their happy faces will be obliged.

Van Gogh's Birthday

                                                                 
                                                                   Mind Word Threads
                                                                           Acrylic
                                                                           8 x 10
                                                                        Carol Yap


Yesterday, March 30th was Van Gogh's birthday. I must say I did think of him when I used a palette knife for this painting yesterday.  For me the palette knife gives energy and vibrancy to the canvas regardless of the color used. Van Gogh used brushwork for that. He could paint four green vegetables against a green background and it looked great.  Do you think he had those moments during painting where you feel you are balancing on the brink of disaster or genius? Which is felt momentarily about half way through a painting, but dissolves as you continue to paint. There was an "Aha" moment for me when I looked into this painting and saw a resemblence of myself. This was painted from an old black and white photograph of one of my ancestors. The image was about the size of my thumb so it didn't give me much to go on, but was a start.    

Mind Word Threads is now available at Saatchi Art 

                      

Electric Portraits

                                                                           SOLID
                                                                 Acrylic on Hardboard
                                                                       10 x 8 inches
                                                                         Carol Yap

Anyone need their portrait painted? I have completed three portrait paintings in the last week and it's given me confidence to continue. This fine gentleman above is my Great Grandfather who passed before I was born. I do know this about him that he loved dark, strong coffee and worked hard from dusk to dawn for his family. Hopefully this shows in the painting? I think the energy is present at least. I will move forward onto the next fourth portrait.

I've listed a few more recent acrylic paintings for sale online at Saatchi Art. You can view my painting there by this link. There are many artists there that have been through art school. Since I didn't go to Art School there is a bit of white empty space in that box area. Gah. I will work hard and try to fill my portfolio with great art. I do believe that art is alot about emotions mixed with color and composition, brushwork, etc. Emotions I understand. Color I understand. It's funny because there are no two artists "exactly" alike. With every painting I create it's like weaving Emotions, Color, Brushwork, (or texture) and composition together by my internal creative genius. Some days present some days hiding. Everyone is born with one inside. We just have to wake it up and make it work, work, work.              

Seven O'Clock Painting

                                                                        Seven O'Clock

                                                                            Acrylic
                                                                          Carol Yap

I've had a crush on teal and orange for a bit now. Teal always represents the tropics for me like Tahiti, Fiji and those faraway-warm-South-Pacific places. Then there are the beautiful vintage Mexican wedding dresses in teal that are striking, too. A teal tablecloth, flowers and fruit are the next best thing to the balmy, beach. Who can pass up flowers? 

This painting is titled Seven O'Clock because that is when the first rays shine through the window lately.  I used a  8 x 10-inch hardboard panel, acrylics and a palette knife. Every small painting I paint I feel like I see a little growth. Do any of you see it? No need to answer that!  It is for sale now with Saatchi Art. It is such a joy to paint. Sure we might have a little frustration, but we figure it out, and sail on.    

Nine O'clock Painting

                                       
                                                                       Nine O'clock
                                                                          Acrylic


Spring is starting to announce it's arrival. Today two Canada geese arrived. I believe one of the two is from some eggs we hatched out years back. Yes! The other day as I was taking a coffee break I loved how the light was on the table with my oranges so I had to paint it. It's finished and I have listed it with Saatchi Art  Feel free to link over.

I read the best quote for us artists the other day on Instagram.

Pablo Picasso, "Painting is manual; it is physical. You find in the materials with your hands. You have a blank piece of canvas. The picture is already there. You scrape for it. It's like digging potatoes."

The Paris Review no. 32 Summer Fall 1964

PleinAir Salon Contest

Reminder to all artists.  There are only a few more days left to enter the annual PleinAir Salon Contest. Grand Prize is $15,000. That should get everyone's attention. It surely got mine. There are also First, Second and Third prizes as well.  It's only $35. to enter first painting and $15. for each painting entered therafter. Just what exactly are the judges looking for? Find out here. Exciting! Deadline is March 15th at midnight. I'm hoping to enter.

Here is the link to submit photographs of your best outdoor paintings. Winning art gets featured on the front of PleinAir Magazine plus you will get to stand center stage in Monterey, California in April and receive check and mingle shoulder to shoulder to some of the best Plein Air painters around. Sublime.

Table Conversation Art

Table Conversation

Acrylic

Carol Yap

This red coffee cup is from United Airlines It really has been around the world a few times. My mother had sang praises about them to the stewardess. Just the right size, shape and weight. She has never liked large coffee mugs, but then she doesn't need coffee daily like her daughter.  The stewardess said she could keep it if she liked since they were changing over at that time to different cups.     

I used a palette knife for this painting for an expressionist and impressionistic feel. This past week I managed to get up a Carol Yap Facebook account. Hop over to visit.  We've been hit with cold weather and snow here on the East Coast. Shoveling again. I have coffee. I am fine.  

Carol Yap Artist