I created the fighting cock painting as a result of recognizing forms when I sat down to do an abstract. My first intent was a very abstracted work but I soon saw the shapes forming while I was painting and it resulted in this abstracted painting of two birds fighting.
It is acrylic on canvas.
This painting is 24″ x 30″ (61cm x 76cm) and is available for sale. The colors included in the painting are Cadmium Yellow, Pyrrole Red, Green Gold, Iridescent Pearl, Interference Blue.
Italian Tree Abstract © 2012 MFCarter
I have always liked the form of the Italian Poplar tree. The tree is a cross between the Black Poplar of the old world and the Cottonwood tree of eastern North America.
The similarity of the poplar tree to this painting was by accident. I was simply listening to my heart and working by instinct in its creation. The realization of the similarity of form came only after a friend who was quilting with my partner pointed it out. I think I must have been working at some instinctual, subconscious level and repeating a form that I had seen in nature.
The painting is 30″ x 24″ ( 76cm x 61cm ) and was completed this past week using acrylic paint and sand for texture. The colors included in the painting are: Lime Yellow, Indian Yellow, Pyrrole Red, Gold, Titanium White, and Umber.
“Italian Tree Abstract” is available for sale as well as gallery display.
In an Instant © MFCarter 2012
This painting was inspired by a conversation that I was having one morning with Mario. We were talking about how things can change in what seems a blink of an eye. Things such as health, a job, a loved one, a lifetime… the list is long. Whatever you care to name; it can leave you quickly and with a sense of loss, of gain, of comfort or abandonment. These feelings can be overwhelming and rapid.
Life and time are like this. Things change, simply change, no matter how hard you try to grasp them and hold them tight – maintaining them and nurturing them. Change is always there and it sometimes occurs much more rapidly than you or anyone else could ever think possible.
Like a lightning bolt traversing the night, things in your life can blaze and fade quickly, almost as if they never existed at all and yet they leave a mark in the retina of your eye that no one else can see but can change you forever.
This painting is acrylic and gold leaf over canvas and is sized 24″ x 30″. It is available for sale.
Copyright 2011 MFCarter
Composed – serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress; “the performer seemed completely composed as she stepped onto the stage”; “I felt calm and more composed than I had in a long time”
One of my most recent works. It was inspired by the idea of Composure and how to represent the concept graphically through color and design. I choose to interpret it as a series of nested quadrilaterals. Going from an exterior red canvas or agitated state to an interior black rectangle representing composure.
The canvas is 24” X 30” (60.96cm x 76.2cm). The red is a mixture of acrylic and sand and all other colors are acrylic. The black area is covered by glass beads. The reflective areas are iridescent acrylics.
This painting is for sale as well as a number of others which can be found at my web site.
All enquires should be sent directly to mfcarter2@gmail.com.
Anthropomorphic – adj, ascribing human form or attributes to a being or thing not human, esp. to a deity.
I have been interested lately in exploring balance and vaguely anthropomorphic shapes. This is the first painting in the series. I approached it a little differently this time and started with a black and sand covered canvas. The sand provides a text that I love to see, almost a velvety look.
The paints on this are all acrylic.
Painting size: 30″ x 24″
I recently discovered information for Burlington City Arts. Their mission is to create a relationship between art and the community by integrating the arts in the education, business, and economic development. In short they advocate for artists and art enthusiasts.
They provide exhibition opportunities through their own curated spaces and through a corporate leasing program intended to place art in public spaces. They also maintain a database of works and local artists to assist in making connections with people and businesses who are interested in art.
As an artist, they provide a simple form to fill out to become part of their list of artists. They currently have more than 200 artists with works available. I took the time and made digital copies of my artwork and provided them with the necessary forms for selling and leasing my works. The process was relatively painless though it did take a while to compile a list of current works in the appropriate size and resolution that they required for digital images.
For me, the jury is still out on this group but they seem to be very positive and supporting. For me, the proof will be if they manage to exhibit my work or make a connection for me with people who are either interested in purchasing or leasing my art.
Their website is located at http://www.burlingtoncityarts.com/
I had an idea of what I wanted to do with this painting but I wasn’t sure if I could get the texture the way I wanted it. I used a large amount of sand in all the paint on the canvas. The sand helps to provide a very visual, almost tactile texture that is not quite like velvet. It makes people want to touch the painting to feel its texture. The photograph at the left really doesn’t do the texture justice.
I have also incorporated some glass beads in the red and pinkish portions of the painting to provide some additional reflectivity of light.
The statement that I am trying to make with this painting is about the trials and tribulations of life. They are unavoidable. The dark portions represent the dark places in our spirits while the pinks, reds, and oranges represent various levels of positive every day occurrences. All of these things go together to make the texture of our lives. When in balance, as I believe this painting is, it makes a harmonious whole that is quite beautiful.
I hope you find the beauty in this painting and in your own lives. Let me know what you think.
Trials and Tribulations
Acrylic, Sand, and Glass
24” x 30”
This painting was an experiment for me.
I wanted to bring out even more texture when I paint so I decided to mix the paint with sand.
In addition, I wanted to go lighter and use colors that were not bright nor as warm as what I usually use. Instead, I went for silver and a lot of white, yellows, and browns. Of course, I couldn’t resist a hint of red.
I am very satisfied with the result.
I recently completed a painting called Rain on my Window. I have started using acrylic paints in addition to oils and one of the things I totally love about acrylic is the ability to combine it with water to make the paint even more fluid.
This painting represents several firsts for me. It is my first painting on this scale. It is 7 feet wide by 4 feet tall. In addition, I painted it on wood. The truth is, I just could not face stretching a canvas across a frame at this size. While I know that some of my friends enjoy this part of the process, it does not warm my heart. I was very intrigued by painting on wood and I was curious at how well it could work at this size. Overall, I am very happy with the whole process and very contented with the result.
I hope you enjoy the result as much as I do.
Rain on My Window 2
Acrylic on Wood
7ft x 4ft