Heavenly Clouds

If I were to close my eyes and imagine what heaven might look like, it would be exactly like what I see here on earth in our skies. Such color, space, atmosphere and softness is difficult to imitate on a two dimensional surface. The sky is my ever changing landscape it is more engaging then any television or video show, and though I can sit and look at the same spot everyday it is in constant change and never looks the same. This six panel gallery wrapped oil painting is 30" x 30" when lined up side by side. It can be spread apart to open up the airiness quality I try to capture as the image wraps around the side of the canvas. Price $1200.00

Sunny Clouds triptych

This is the view I first saw when I was looking for a new place to live. I remember the realtor opening the door and I could see straight through the sliding glass doors out to this beautiful vista. I knew at that moment that the house was for me, and before I looked at anything else I said "I'll take it". That is how it has always been with me as far as places to live in. I forget about the practical in terms of how big is the space and what condition is the home. If I am not moved visually by the house and it's surroundings then I cannot live there. When The realtor asked me if I wanted to see more details about the kitchen I sort of looked at her in surprise as if something so mundane as where I would be cooking my food mattered to me. So here is the view from my living room and porch and I count myself blessed every day to be fortunate enough to have this feast for my eyes. In a world that I feel I understand less and less every day I find some comfort in the constant beauty that I am surrounded by.

This painting is painted on 3 Gallery wrapped canvases 10" x 10" in size using oil paints. The price for the triptych is $600.00
To view some of my commissions of my portrait work as well as paintings of the village of Key West visit my website at www.portraitsbycaren.com

Two Palms in the Sunset

It is Christmas in the Keys, glorious weather, sunny days, pastel clouds and warm breezes. I do not need to stray far from my own backyard to see beauty everywhere. As I pass the sixth holiday in a row without seeing my 19 year old son, I am filled with deep sadness and a sense of powerlessness. With the love, joy and excitement of the holidays the loss of my son stings that much more. In a country in which we hope for justice, I am still overcome by the corruption and injustice of our legal system. As I write this and while I was painting Two Palms in the Sunset simultaneously in Illinois the corruption surrounding their Governor is a constant reminder of how much we need to clean up our government. My painting is clear, the colors I choose are clean and there is no ambiguity as to how I am feeling.There is no deception behind the painting, what you see and how it provokes your feelings is what you get. I painted this with the mind to bring warmth and cheer to my viewer, in a time which is filled with such uncertainty. This painting is done in oils and considered a plein-air painting as it was done on the spot, Two Palms in the Sunset is done on a 20" x 20" Gallery wrapped canvas, price is $399.00

Cloud paintings

My latest series of paintings have been of the clouds of the Keys. When I first moved to South Florida I was not particularly impressed with the landscape, it can be quite flat and boring. Several years ago I moved to Key West and was awestruck by the beauty of the atmosphere caused by being a tiny island surrounded by water, and the luscious and ever changing cloud scapes. I found that no matter how my day went, that if I set aside 15 minutes each evening to view the sunset I would be calmed and reminded how lucky I was to be able to witness such beauty.

As an artist I am very aware of my surroundings and the atrocities that continue to go on in the world, these clouds became my soothing balm at the end of each day. Painting the clouds are very challenging as they are constantly moving, they are made up of air, thus light is passing through them and changing all the time. Clouds have the ability to stir all kinds of emotions from reminding you of your childhood when you spotted bunnies hopping through the sky, to the angry red sunsets that follow on the heels of a hurricane. So instead of painting objects I am attempting to capture feelings and emotions. Take a look and follow my cloud series, hopefully they will make you smile or bring calm to your soul