Sunday, September 20, 2015

Kaleidoscope

© Carol J. Stevens       22 x 22"      mixed water media

The versatility of acrylics is fascinating.  Recently, I experimented with the ancient art of marbling using this modern water-based medium.  The bursting color and yin yang patterns found their way into a painting that’s history began in 2005.  

Between then and now, I’ve alternately added scraps of old paintings and more paint, thus embedding not only the materials but my thoughts, memories and passing fancies into the layers held together by acrylics adhesiveness.  Ultimately, the need arises to organize it using the principles of art and my intuition until dominance is achieved and only then can I begin to understand its meaning.

Ohio Watercolor Society 
“Watercolor Ohio”
Travel Show Award, 2012

“Acrylic Works 2- The Best of 
Acrylic Painting” Book



Saturday, September 19, 2015

Navigating the Night Skies

© Carol J. Stevens     30 X 22"      Mixed water-media

This painting developed over several difficult years.  Invited to make an altered book with a friend’s class,  I began to prepare for the book ahead of time, 
collecting various things to include.  My feelings and words spilled out into the book, and onto this painting.   

I was navigating through some treacherous waters, relying on strengths gained from previous battles with myself and life in general. The book, painting and I all came into the sunshine.  By the time the class began, my first and only altered book was almost complete.

Friday, September 18, 2015

Tapestry

© Carol J. Stevens            22 X 22"      mixed water-media

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Wish You Were Here

© Carol J. Stevens       18 X 25"      mixed water-media on Yupo

While vacationing in Myrtle Beach,  I discovered these ladies enjoying sunshine and sisterhood, as I had often done with my friends.  Days later, at home again and exploring the qualities of Yupo, these ladies pleasantly popped back into my mind and onto my yupo. So I spent another lovely afternoon again enjoying their camaraderie.

No Wake Zone

© Carol J. Stevens          21 X 23"       watercolor on Yupo

This piece was selected by Mel Stabin  for the OWS  2011 Annual Show.  I'd sent in 2 choices.  He chose this one over "Wish You Were Here"   HUMMMMM

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Spirit Dance

© Carol J. Stevens        22 X 22"        mixed water-media

My Mother would clean her house painting brushes by scrubbing them on the basement wall and announcing "Well, at least the wall is clean!"  I watched, fascinated as the multicolored chaos grew.  Now I too scrub and drip paint 
onto my works in progress and onto scraps of paper for collage thus 
creating that same chaos.

When the drips and scrapes start speaking to me, I listen and scrub until their meaning becomes clear, rather like reading tea leaves.  My Mother lives and dances in me! 

Ohio Watercolor Society  
“Watercolor Ohio 2008” 
Prizm Award 

Cuyahoga



© Carol J. Stevens          16 X 20"       Acrylic on canvas

Swimming and boating in Lake Erie on hot summer day has always been one of my favorite pastimes.  Boating up the Cuyahoga River under the many bridges of Cleveland is a feast for my eyes.  The lines of the crisscrossing iron work, the industrial dirt, grime, rust textures, the shapes created by the juxtaposed  bridges and their mechanisms and amidst all those beautiful grays the pops of color from caution signs and graffiti send my mind into a whirl of images.  The bright blue sky and passing clouds flip the switch of highlight and deep shadow to create even more excitement .2014  

Portals and Passages

© Carol J. Stevens        30 X 30"      Acrylic on canvas

Wanderlust

© Carol J. Stevens        30 X 30 "      acrylic on canvas      

Monday, September 14, 2015

Scarab

© Carol J. Stevens         17 X 23"     mixed water-media on Yupo

Scarab’s history began our first night back in our Florida home after it had been closed up for six months.  The last thing I did before falling asleep, exhausted from cleaning, was to throw a little paint on some Yupo.  During the night I awoke and decided to see how it was drying.  Only then did I discover a huge black Palmetto bug doing the breast stroke across the still damp Yupo.  After I smashed and flushed him, I saw his beautiful marks.  Too late!  He was gone before I could thank him.  His mark was my first layer to build on but can still be found and so this painting is dedicated to all who love water media, be they human or bug. 

Leesburg Art Association 
“Spring Show”
Best of Show, 2013 

National Watercolor Society
“Annual Exhibition”, 2013

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Blue Nude

© Carol J. Stevens      22 X 30"     Acrylic on paper 1997

Friday, September 11, 2015

Star Stuff

© Carol J. Stevens      22 X 22"       Mixed water-media on paper

Volcano

© Carol J. Stevens                                                         1996