Deep Sea series

Had professional photos taken of three of my favorite pieces from the monotype series I made earlier this month. I've decided to exhibit them as a group, in separate frames:

Below: "Deep Sea 1," "2" and "3." Each: Acrylic on paper, 29" H x 20.75" W

Two new series

Here are a couple of new series.

The orange series is finished; each of the three pieces is 40" H x 32" W.



This blue series is in progress; the first two pieces are finished, and I still have three more coming along. The paintings themselves are made; I am just completing the process of mounting them on cradled boards (16" H x 12" W).



I have just finished compiling a detailed grant proposal, which I'm about to send off in the mail this morning. Also, my summer semester at the college where I teach wrapped up last week, and I've just submitted the final grades on line. So, lots of projects finished, ready to take a little rest before I plunge back into summer teaching next week!

New works in orange tones

I've started working on a new series in a brownish orange color. I haven't been able to resist the urge to use this particular color; maybe it's a reaction to all the blue-greens I've been painting with lately, as this is their complement. Or maybe I'm looking ahead to fall (interesting, as it's nearly the first day of summer). Whatever my reasons, I've never worked with this color before, and I'm enjoying the discovery of its nuances. (This is the first painting of a series of three, in acrylic on canvas, 40" H x 30" W).



Here is a detail:

New monotypes

Made a series of 6 new monotypes over the weekend, using the Degas method of pressing a piece of paper against the wet surface of a "failed" painting.





Here is a detail:



Not sure how I'll display these, as they are all different sizes and they look good individually, as a separately framed group, or in a conjoined row. I also have some fabric that's a similar color, and I might paint on the fabric and then collage it into strips alongside the monotypes, as in these older pieces:



We'll see ... so many possibilities!

Stephanie Clayton celebrates the color of paradise

Stephanie Clayton celebrates the mysterious color AQUA with an online exhibit at her blog. She was kind enough to include my work ... check out the show, here!



Above: "Current 1" by Catherine Carter, acrylic on canvas, 30 inches square, 2010

Student works from Art of Botanicals class

Here's a selection of the many lovely works created by my students during the Art of Botanicals, a professional development class for art teachers, that just wrapped up today at the Danforth Museum School in Framingham, MA. For information on upcoming classes, please visit the school's website here.

Please note that some of the students have a website, so click on their name if you'd like to know more about them:

Colby Caravaggio's art, below:



Leigh Faramarzpour's art, below:



Jennifer McCarthy's art, below:




Anne Sargent Walker's art, below:

A little rusty

My painting style might look free and easy, but if I don't apply the layers in exactly the right order and consistency, I get a big mushy mess!

I haven't painted for about a month, and last night I realized It Was Time to head back to the studio. I had two big canvases (56" x 32") all stretched and ready to go, and I had an idea that I wanted to make more of the ultra-loose and wet-looking works I've made most recently.

So I cranked the tunes, grabbed a brush, and headed forth. But I had forgotten the order I was working in when I made those watery-looking pieces! I got way too much paint on there, but I was too excited to stop, so I just kept on splashing. I ended up with this non-descript Pollocky-looking scramble!

BUT, I had lots of fun, and now I remember exactly what steps I need to work in to get the effect I want. So I'll paint over these two canvases and give it another shot.

I think painting is like working out. When you take a break for any length of time, it takes a while to get yourself back into fighting trim!