Art Blog - Caroline Henry

In "Curiosity" a curious little dog meets a turtle on his path and they exchange examining looks. The animals are painted in sumi-e ink. Layered behind them are various papers, and the little picture is outlined in purple marker. Sometimes, doodling around with art, one finds oneself telling a story. First came the small dog, then the question, "What is he staring at?" A turtle in the path emerged. The viewer is invited to continue the story. Do they exchange looks an then each go on its way? Does the dog, in rather typical terrier fashion, back up and bark to test for reaction? Does the turtle retreat into his shell? Does a conversation begin. The story might change each time the picture is viewed. Meanwhile, we don't have to sacrifice the elements of art for the sake of narrative… Continue reading… 0 comments

This is one of those sketches you create when you just want to sit down and imprint the day and place in your mind. A warm sun toned down by a jaunty breeze, a coffee, a sketchbook, and a happily placed bench provide everything you artist's soul could desire at this moment. The flow of ink over the smooth bristol paper is a joy. So the pen records: A small lighthouse overlooks a harbor and bay. Sailors take advantage of sun and wind. Other people stroll the breakwater or enjoy the beach. The relaxed busy-ness of a day at the shore creates the narrative of this 6" by 6" drawing (15 cm by 15cm) The potential buyer will probably also recall precious moments at waterside as I do writing this on a brisk January day… Continue reading… 1 comment

I'm beginning to slowly re-edit some of my previous listings on ArtId.com. I've discovered that I was a little too ready to let the art speak for itself, when in fact, a wordier approach not only gives the viewer a greater understanding, but also increases the chances to be picked up more by search engines. I think as artists we grow as we create new works. Likewise as representative of our own art we learn with each new effort and become better at presenting our art to the world. I love the technique I used so this work. The continuous line is a challenge, but it also loosens up the work and gives it a sense of vitality. Right now while care responsibilities are keeping me close to home, this little drawing takes me to one of my favorite places… Continue reading… 0 comments

A row of white houses with flat black roofs line a cliff. The slopes above them are forested and across a misty distance rise blue topped hills. Left to the viewers imagination is whether they look down upon a valley, the sea, or a lake. The opening for the image is 3.5 inches by 5.5 inches. The frame is 8.5 X 10.5 inches. It was a challenge photographing this one for the internet, because the reflective glass covers the entire frame and I really wanted viewers to see it in the frame which does so much to complement the rooftops and the many shades of green. (See the Small Works gallery in my studio pages.) I like the peacefulness of this scene. I can easily imagine one of those houses as a place for meditation and renewal… Continue reading… 1 comment

A Pelican frequents the harbor, here standing on a favorite post. This small work of art combines scratchboard and watercolor. The scrimshaw like effect of this media combinations seems to especially suit nautical subjects. 5" by 7" painting find a place anywhere or group nicely with harmonizing pieces. Brown pelicans frequent the Pacific Coast of the US, taking on a slightly awkward appearance when on land, and showing elegance in flight. I used the weathered gray-white boards of a harbor structure for contrast behind the brown feathered bird. A touch of watercolor brings in the sky reflection in the harbor waters and the colors of the great sea bird… Continue reading… 0 comments

Gold resist outlines the shapes of brilliant color in this landscapes painted in silk dyes on a circlet of silk. Sunrise upon green fields, a pine tree, and a meadow scattered with white flowers promises a lovely day. Usually when I paint on fabric it is in creating accessories or garments, but occasionally it is a pleasure to do for purely decorative purposes. Silk painting requires the lightest of touches. Lovely loose freehand works may be created without resists, but for this piece I chose to use a gold resist to highlight the golden light of sun in early morning. Perhaps the happy feeling of this little landscapes reflects my own joy in the beginning of day… Continue reading… 0 comments

I just posted a framed painting/drawing built around an ACEO card. "Coffee Cups" invites an amused and joyful view of life. Ordinary objects are given importance in the ink and marker drawing, and that same drawing is complimented by its embossed paper background and the surrounding mat and frame. Yet at only 8" by 10" framed, it does not demand a lot of wall space The popular 2.5 by 3.5 inch art cards may be kept in albums and storage boxes, but they also make some very nice framed art. From an artist's viewpoint, small art is a wonderful way to work when life takes you away from your studio or the great outdoors and you must achieve something within a small work space. From a collector's viewpoint small art allows us to enjoy more works of art than we might think we have room for… Continue reading… 0 comments

Original pastel shows three tangerines next to a celadon vase with an abstract water lily leaf pattern in blue. A blue silk cloth lies under these objects and a peach colored wall is seen behind them. This small pastel is on 5" _ 7" Ampersand pastel board, and will be shipped in its 8" _ 10" frame. I love working with the toothy Ampersand pastel board. It hangs on to the pastels extremely well. Notice the repeated shapes and colors accompanied by eye pleasing variation. The purple shadows and the fruit break the blue into a larger and a smaller segment, and the vase breaks the larger segment for three blue shapes. The three rounds of fruit are each smaller and paler moving back on the picture plane… Continue reading… 0 comments

A red zinnia fills a 5" by 5" square. This is not a classic miniature which takes a larger subject and renders in on a tiny scale, but an approximately life size flower. However is is rendered in a fairly painterly representation that does not claim to be the flower but pleasing lines and colors that will certainly put you in mind of a flower. The blush tone of the background plays a bit with the reflected color we often show in white fabric in more complex floral paintings. It is rather pleasant sitting on an easel among other loved objects although I can well imagine someone finding a wall spot for it. I like the layering that is so apparent in zinnia blossoms, as though they were advertising their complexity… Continue reading… 0 comments

Scratchboard drawing with watercolor tint of the northern California coastal village, Mendicino, as seen looking out across one of the inlets along the Mendicino Headlands. The fog above the village was created by using steel wool to remove the india ink while leaving a good deal of gray. This allows the crisp whites of the village buildings, including the church steeple, to stand out as the whitest whites in the painting, calling attention to the village which actually takes up only a small part of the total surface area. The rock, shown in the light red-browns tints common along this crumbling coast, is shadowed by the deep blacks of the india ink, supporting the rugged quality of the cliffs… Continue reading… 0 comments

Acrylic iris is bright yellow on a blue background with spring green leave and stems suggested. It's a "goes anywhere" size of 4 inches by 6 inches. Some times it's just fun to create something small, quick, and bright. Minimal thinking and planning, maximum spontaneous creativity. If others like it great; if they don't you've had so much fun with it that that's okay, too. After patiently working my way through a couple of iris paintings and a landscape with ducks, all in watercolor with multiple glazes (which I liked doing, too) this little painting was a nice change of pace… Continue reading… 0 comments