Ballard Park, Original Oil on Canvas

 

I had not painted outside in two years, so this was quite a challenge. It was one of those paintings I had to improve upon in the studio. It was exhilarating to be outside in beautiful weather, painting with my friends.

Carmen

https://carmensart.etsy.com

Polkadot Cottage Dancing

 

Yesterday our painting group, Pieces of Eight, had a fun challenge. We picked a noun, an adjective, and a verb from three columns of random words. I had "Polkadot Cottage Dancing." It was a relaxing and enjoyable day of painting and drawing silly things.

Carmen Beecher

carmenbeecher.com

Dreaming of Dali, 10x8 Original Oil Painting

 

My niece Kate is the owner of Paradise Found, a wonderful succulent nursery in Sarasota. She gave me 

these beautiful eggs from her free-range chickens, and I just had to paint them. We had been to the 

Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, and Kate loved his paintings with tiny figures and buildings in the background. 

That moved me to create this Dali-inspired work. You have to look closely to see Kate and her chickens.

Carmen Beecher

 

Summer Storm, Pasture Landscape, Small Original Oil Painting 10x8

$155

 

If you cross Highway 60 in Central Florida you will often see a scene like this, with dark storm clouds approaching and sun on the pasture in the foreground. I love this kind of light. This scene reminds me of my childhood in "Old Florida". 

Carmen

Yellow Tree, 8x10 Cold Wax Oil Painting

I am experimenting with cold wax, which gives a finish similar to Encaustic (hot wax). It is tricky and messy, and this is many layers of oil mixed with wax. All the effort can't be appreciated on a computer monitor because the layers and the waxy surface aren't visible. A lot of artists do abstract art with cold wax, which is very effective. They just play around with each layer, putting it on, scraping parts off, scratching designs, etc. until they get the desired result.

Carmen Beecher

Pieces of 8 Rocks!

In the spirit of Brevard Rocks Florida, we had a rock-painting session this week. We are going to place them at "The Loom" installation in the Eau Gallie Square Park. The structure was an Eagle Scout project, an art installation featuring objects from nature. 

Above, l. to r., Carmen, Denette, Jean, and Donna.

We got a good start, but we will be painting many more rocks to enhance The Loom. Stay tuned.

Wildlife Refuge, Florida Landscape 8x10

Buy on Etsy 

This is a scene from the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, which is a very diverse spot to visit. It has jungle-like trails, marshes and the Cape Canaveral Seashore. This marsh is on the Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, a popular spot for birders. 

Carmen