What Makes Me Paint Today

I find that observing rather than recording what I see works much better for me when I paint. What's on my daily observation list today? I get lost in the water in the shower, rain coming off the roof, puddling in the driveway, little gems on the spider web and the river a walk away, as it goes back and forth to the ocean. Here's some work that's come out of past observations. Some of this will be available as prints at my sale on July 20-21.

Fresh Landscapes

I've been working on some more abstract landscapes. These are still in progress, using oil bars and poppy seed oil paints. Big inspiration in the backyard from peonies, new baby RI red chicks and spring rain that turns everything bright and pink and acid green. Can you tell Helen Frankenthaler has been an inspiration lately?

The Church Collections

Yes, it's time. I want less stuff and more room for my art. So I'm sending some of my collections back out in the world for someone else to own and care for. ebay seems so impersonal. I want to know they are going to good homes. I'll post one a week for sale on my blog and FB. So keep your eyes open for... the purse collection, the white vase collection, the little chair collection, the ruby glass collection, one or two or three of the plate collections, yes and some of the hat collection.

I Heart Green on Friday

pssst... I know I tell everyone I love all colors equally but green and I definitely have a special relationship. Green with green with green I can't get enough of. The clay artist Meredith Dittmar knows how to make a whole lot of greens hum together. 

I Heart Green on Thursday

Bakelite. Don't get me started. Especially chunky, carved, dangling, warming, fragrant, lickable, seductive green bakelite. Even bakelite wanna-bees, I am in love. Some choice finds on etsy.

To steal these right out from under me go to banginbangles for the carved bracelet, buttons can be found at baklijewels here, that maple box here, get the bakelite look chain from ivorymorgan here, and it will hurt but the carved green onyx bracelet you can get from janeleven here.

Nature Contained in a Book

My friend, Roanne Robbins is a wonderful force of nature, with mother nature's sometimes overlooked lovelies. She can take the lowliest twigs, bit of moss, whisper of shard and make an arrangement that will stop you, draw you closer, and catch your breathe. Ro does it all very casually with a little yeah, whatever twinkle. I love walking around my yard or any little patch of green with her. The trickle of information and inspiring possibilities she shares is genius. And I very rarely throw the overused "G" word around. She's written a book with Sara Begg Townsend for Storey Press that guides you through 4 seasons of container gardening. Beautifully executed, with photos by John Gruen, the book gives practical information that is a starting point for your own creativity. I keep sneaking peeks inside to remind myself Spring will come again and there's still a lot of beauty to be found outside my frozen door step. For more Roanne inspiration go to her blog, Nature Contained here.

Seduce Me

For weeks prior, I always anticipate Valentines day with lots of romantic, sweet possibilities. Then all of a sudden it's here. Yikes do I have enough candy hearts to spell out exactly how much I love my sweetheart?  Maybe not completely, but what it really comes down to is stopping and looking at each other and acknowledging he or she still makes the knees wobble. I am a sap, the whole falling in love and chemical attraction thing fills me with wonder and actually cracks me up. How do we go toward one person and not the other? Guess it is a lot of science. Or smelling they tell us. I've become totally addicted to Isabella Rossellini's Green Porno on the Sundance Chanel. If you haven't seen the series, sit with your valentine and giggle through these little shorts on how animal's mate. But be prepared, even though the sets and costumes are fabulously kitchy, and have child's play quality, there are A LOT of penises. And some shocking facts about how animals and bugs make love. Isabella writes and performs and the talented Andy Byers created the sets, costumes and wrote the score. I am green with envy, I would have loved to have done all of it. To see the whole collection you can go here.

Art Show Opening September 16

My latest collection of abstract watercolors will be shown at Crowell's Gallery in New Bedford, MA September 16 through October 9. If you're nearby, please stop by for the opening reception September 16 from 6-9. Vivipary is what I call this body of work and you can definitely feel the labor pains around here as Kate, Paul and I pull the last bits together for the show. For those of you that have helped grow my list of followers, thank you so much. Great job. I'd love to send out some more free tiny art and you have till the 15th so nudge those online pals. If there is anyone I've missed please let me know. It's easy to loose track with peeps introducing themselves through email, facebook, tweetie birds.

8.10.10 Color Swatch

Pantone Swatch No.185

yes 
dear Summer has really got 
the green thing down.

but she get's a little fatigued 
by the new midori bugs, 

tender blades, blair,
acid flair and myrtle glades

with peridot twinkles.

so when august 
steams onto my emerald lawn,

satisfied Summer lets out a

celadon sigh and squeezes 

all of her verdent vim

into the happy fat fruit of 

the tomato plant.

just in time for my saturated,

grass stained painter's

peepers to say yes, yes, 

yes to red.
-Alyn Carlson

Tim Knowles, wish I'd thought of that

Since the Wizard of Oz I've suspected trees can talk to each other and occasionally dance. And now after seeing Tim Knowles work, I know they can draw. This work is so simple and elegant and moving. You can read more about his process and other projects here.

Kool-aide Dyed Yarn Ring

Cast silver, kool-aide dyed, handspun yarn. Pretty dang cool by robarye, here.

Hello Grass

I finally did my first mow this past weekend. I had a foggy memory of that first spring lawn mower power but you're never prepared. My chickens were drunk on the greeness of it all.They've worked so hard in the last month fertilizing it. wooohooo. I couldn't stop staring at the acid mouth watering verdant lush sweep. It isn't really green till you mow it. Levi and I mowed a path to the back meadow and we just had to do some skipping on the way back from the compost. ahhh... green has arrived. Go ahead get those toes on some soft tangy blades. You know you want to.

Image from evanlevine's flickr photostream

I think women (and men) like to photograph their feet

Nothing like the first time in spring when those pretty toes get to be exposed to sun and grass and soil. Gotta get the boots, the shoes, the socks off ASAP. thank you flickr pals- No.1- Benedyct Antifer, No. 2 Edri Ana, No. 3 Kate_Elizabeth,  No. 4 Psycherika, No. 5 Robarye, No. 6 Owlbookdreams, No. 7 jamelah, and the last is from kadiwow.

5.26.10 Color Swatch

PANTONE No. 583

oh you newbie you

you pip squeak of a hue

with your two front teeth missing

there always seems

to be a rebirth coming from

your directional field

my toes become magnets

when you show up in spring

always a grin 

on your face when you face us 

with your

complete eager 

agreeable

hopeful

skipping 

sweet

stain of earth juice
-Alyn Carlson
Photo- 
Levi at 5 months by Mippy

Chalkboard Paints That Aren't Old School

My art installation for the restaurant, Trafford is taking a turn. A florescent turn. I discovered Hudson Paint Company's line of wonderful chalkboard paints and haven't been able to stop. Using chalk board paint and scraps of wood I've been collecting from a local factory that makes large plywood cable spools, the cost of materials has been very little. Here are the first look at some of the elements I'm working with and piling up. The palette I found around the docks- oranges, blues, reds combined with some greens I love, the project is starting to take shape. I've been combing some vintage books about sea creatures, paying attention to fish tanks and what's usually below the water surface around here. Not sure where it will end up. Won't be another seafood restaurant in white and navy.

Opening the Kimono a Bit More

A few more beauties from Jenna Goldberg.

A Little Sun for Fun Friday

Yes, yes, yes, really happy the last week and a half is coming to a close. I feel like I may have a true weekend coming up. By Sunday we should be done with the bulk of the flood clean up and I can get back to the usual craziness. Some pretties for you with that yellow I've needed all week.

Top found on etsy here. Middle you can find here. And bottom piece here.