Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Aunt Clara

© Carol J. Stevens     Watercolor on gessoed paper

During the summer of 2000, my art friends and I decided to meet weekly to draw each other.  Our poses were limited only to as long as we could stand to hold them.  This 
painting, along with Red Glove, is one of a series of paintings depicting strong women, the ones who seem to be more grounded to the earth.

Ohio Watercolor Society 
“Watercolor Ohio” 
Travel Show Award, 2001

Kentucky Watercolor Society 
“Aqueous USA” Travel Show Award, 
2003

Friday, August 14, 2015

Empty Nest

© Carol J. Stevens            Watercolor

© Carol J. Stevens     Watercolor              
"Abigail"


© Carol J. Stevens     Watercolor       
"Jared"

After handing up my paint brushes of collage years (1963) and getting after a "serious" life of art teaching, marriage and family,  I discovered in the 1980's that unfortunately a divorce was necessary.  My two children were truly hurt by this.  My beloved Mother dies in 1989.  I turned to my long lost love, painting and choose watercolor.  I' d learned little in collage and forgotten that.  Self teaching, books and many workshops with a variety of instructors were needed. As I learned the colors and techniques and I found a real comfort in painting the likeness of  my loved ones.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Croton

© Carol J. Stevens     Watercolor

My 1996 trip to Hawaii was for a month with my paints and a bathing suit.  I started in Maui, where I'd slip out each night and steal a colorful croton leaf to add to the growing painting.  The weather was sunny and bright as were the leaves.  We moved on to rainy Kauai which resulted in two rainy paintings.  I couldn't paint on the sunny croton on a rainy day or vice versa.  It was then that I realized how my feelings and surroundings affected my painting and was reflected in it.

Monday, August 10, 2015

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Angels in their Painting Dresses


© Carol J. Stevens       30 X 22"     poured inks on paper

"Angels in their Painting Dresses" (above) was entirely poured, not a brush or hand on it.  It resulted from all the experiments in my backyard with Maxine Masterfield's book, inks, the garden hose, and sunshine.  It was fun and messy!  1994

Below- Summer in Myrtle Beach in our painting dresses.

Thelma, Polly and Marilyn