Easel Update: Work in Progress...take a look!

Pepper Pot

(newest work in progress)

This is not a great shot but it is also in the early stage of work.

Small 8x10 still life...enjoyable challenge for me.

This is on a panel.

***

Summer Wind

(almost finished)

8x10

oil on canvas mounted panel

I posted this on Facebook yesterday after finishing for the day.

Nice response to it. And...my husband said WOW...that is always a nice comment coming from him. Appreciated. :o)

*** 

This painting will help Bristol Friends of Animals Shelter, Bristol RI

should it eventually sell when I post it finished.

It is a pleasure for me to base paintings on Emmi as my model and still feel the connection to her as I paint.

Sometimes I just use her pose, sometimes her coloring, sometimes a true representaion.

The main thing is even from the Bridge she is still an inspiration and a practical helper to those animals in need still trying to just get a chance at a life by being rescued and rehomed. The sale of my artwork of her helps to do that.

***

All my work in 2012 that sells goes to Charity 100%

***

There are paintings still available for sale to help rescue.

Just scroll through my posts here on the BLOG

or visit my website at this LINK:

CAROL CHRETIEN ~ ORIGINAL OILS & PRINTS

***

I will be updating that1 site this week.

email me if you have any questions!

carolchretien@aol.com

thanks

Carol

A Bed of Roses ~ Calico Cat, new painting for rescue

A Bed Of Roses

oil on canvas mounted panel

9x12

CAROL CHRETIEN
SOLD

***

Available to help Tabby's Place A Cat Sanctuary rescue.
100% donation goes straight to the rescue.
100.00
email to purchase: carolchretien@aol.com
paypal welcome.
***

This painting was presented as a work in progress last week, now it is ready to go.
The colors are stunning in person. I am not quite sure the monitor is capturing them very well.
It is an ultra smooth canvas mounted panel. So easy to frame in a standard size with shallow depth!
I will be posting this for ART HELPING ANIMALS on
DAILY PAINTER's GALLERY tomorrow, June 9th.
If you want to snag it before it posts just email me.
I enjoy painting cats and hope this kitty helps some cats in need.
TABBY'S PLACE is an awesome rescue and deals with some medically challenged cats.  You can visit their site here:
Tabby's Place Link
they do wonderful work.
****
Thanks so much for helping artist's help homeless animals.

One Down...a bunch more to go! "Lantern Light"

SOLD

LANTERN LIGHT

10x10

oil on gallery wrapped canvas

CAROL CHRETIEN

***

So...finally have some work that is dry enough on their first passes to paint! Started with this one because it was the closest to being done and I needed to have something to post on DAILY PAINTER's GALLERY for Saturday.

That was democratic I think. I understand we have 5 days of RAIN coming so drying time is very slow.

I am thrilled to have things to keep working on for the next wet week!

***

I have been wanting to paint the lantern and I needed a cat subject so I thought "Siamese" would go nicely here with their dark face and dramatic blue of the eyes against the warm background.  Here you have it.

***

Cliche' ??? I don't know but I do know I am happy with it.

so if you want to help YOUR FAVORITE RESCUE...make the purchase...it is 100% donation right to the rescue.

100.00
SOLD

DONATION WENT TO
SAVE THE DALS

carolchretien@aol.com

this painting will post tomorrow on the WEB for sale.

***

and as ever, thanks for your time and attention!

Carol

Preview...WORK ON THE EASEL- WET PAINT

WET PAINT

works in progress...

The brushes have been busy!

New Original Oils

Here are a few of the pieces that I have been working on in the Studio.

They are keeping me out of trouble, I think. LOL!

Titles are in progress too! :o)

Moonlight Serenade

collage mixed media

oil over paper on canvas

***

Circles of Life

oil on Ampersand Panel

***

Lantern Light

oil on canvas

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Boston Bakery

oil on canvas

***

Should be finishing up a few this week...it has been so humid that the paint dries slowly between sessions...The method behind the madness is to have a few going at once but I got a little carried away with inspiration since painting Emmi (see previous blog post) and there are 17 unfinished pieces around the studio waiting for their turn for the big finish!

***

All work posted for sale will go 100% to help a rescue do their work.

original paintings may be reserved

email me: carolchretien@aol.com for any questions.

***

visit my website to help

BEAGLE RESCUE LEAGUE

with their

LAB TO LEASH

project

purchase a Print and it all goes to the challenge:

CAROL CHRETIEN ORIGINALS

It's ALL Good...on the easel....

New Work On the Easel 

"Watching Me...Watching You, Again"

When I get stuck ....as I did last week...no painting, no inspiration, I turn to Emmi

She always comes through for me.

I have a million images of her and she is so alive in my heart.

This painting came forward and presented itself to me,

A gift from my sweetie...maybe it will be offered for sale to help others,

maybe I will keep it...it is all good.

Leo walked into the studio and said..."It's my Emmi"

yes, yes indeed.

***

Yesterday it came together...before I started painting in the morning,  it was a horror.

I hated what I was pushing around on that canvas...then I started to paint.

She appeared and won me over.

***

That is the magic of art...it does not always go in the direction you think it will.

Oh...there are parameters but something dead and mechanical is not my way.

I can't just draw something out and follow it like a plan.

I have to have the alchemy or mystery of what will join me on the canvas. It can't be simply a formula...do this, put that here...it has to have some magic to it.

So Thursday I half heartedly grabbed a canvas ...looked through a bunch of Emmi images to stoke the fire and then I just started in.

Reached the snag...hit the wall...looked at 2 days of painting and thought

"well this looks like crap...it is not speaking to me at all"

Then ...yesterday we turned the corner and there was the magic.

Today?

The Muse came into the studio and I started 6 ...YES, six new pieces. 5 of them I feel will make the grade...1 is iffy. And they are all different.

I am renewed. I am gratified. I feel blessed.

Maybe they will help homeless animals.

We'll see.

It is not, after all, all up to me.

***

Living like I really mean it,

Carol

peace & cheers!

Call of the Wild...prints now available

Both original oil paintings have SOLD but they are

now offered as Art Prints.

Huntress Moon

***

King of Cats

***

Now available in Prints on my Website:

www.carolchretien.com

Visit the Galleries

***

the service is a "direct to you" purchase

you can order right from the site.

Zoom feature available to see the detail before you purchase.

The sale will go to rescue as a 100% donation

to help homeless animals.

Please note: the first 3 prints sold of "King of Cats" will benefit

BIG CAT RESCUE of TAMPA BAY

***

There are a variety of subjects in Prints now on the site.

***

NEW ORIGINAL ART is also available on my site.

email me to purchase or with any questions

carolchretien@aol.com

any time!

***

As always, thanks for viewing my work

and following my journey of using my art to help charities.

Helping homeless animals is my passion.

When the Muse Takes Over...

You never know what will present itself!

DETAIL VIEW

UNTITLED WORK IN PROGRESS

CAROL CHRETIEN

***

Sometimes you struggle. Sometimes you work for what seems like days...

then you have those times every Artist knows where you hold the brushes and 

something else just seems to take over.

After working all day on some detailed paintings that really have to have somewhat accurate angles and such I was about to stop for the day and then much to my surprise ....my hand reach for a canvas and all of a sudden there was a LION staring back at me.

This is what I mean by the Muse just doing her own thing. I had NO intention of painting this Lion today or any day in the near future. I have a bunch of in-progress paintings of Urban Scenes that I am ambitiously working my way through. I have been thinking about paintings with beaches and children playing...

BUT...today this majestic Lion...this King of the Cats decided he needed to appear here.

So there you have it. He is going to be quite wonderful...no thanks to me! 

I am just a cog in the wheel.

I am doing my job by showing up.

***

as with all my work this year...

it will eventually be offered at 100% donation to a rescue when ready to go.

***

you just never know...but isn't it nice to be able to still be surprised?

HA HA!

truly.

Karma, Drama, Dharma and the Dance...

Huntress Moon

by

CAROL CHRETIEN

PRINTS AVAILABLE

http://www.carolchretien.com/

to view and print on demand

all sales will be donated to rescues

***

So here's the thing...all my work in any form until the end of the year is being donated 100% to non-profit rescues. Rescue is where my heart lies.

If you know me or know my work or my passion that is not news.

The reason for this is that millions of pets are disposed of in this society on a disgustingly regular basis and yet we are such a "pet friendly" society. We spend billions on our pets. We have pets in almost every household. 

 And yet, and YET millions are put death every year.

 SPAY AND NEUTER, people!  can it be said enough?

***

So you have these dedicated volunteer rescues, and some of the well funded larger ones like Best Friends who really pack a punch in scope and education of the public...but it is the little guy, the grass roots efforts, the "regular"  people in the trenches...that I am compelled to pour my work into. 

And this need to paint and share it... is Soul Work for me. 

So I am already beyond gratified that ANY work I have done has been able to help even a little. 

Last year I was hardly able to give anything to rescues as I was sidelined. But now as I am back in training, while I still work on the old shoulder injury, I am able to create work again that helps. Blessings and joys I can't even describe. 

Painting is magical.

Piece of white canvas, a bunch of scruffy tubes of oil color and some brushes...

POW! A painting comes to life. Amazing to me! I still don't understand it myself.

But I do love the magic of art. And then...Alchemy! It becomes more than itself, more than just a pretty picture...it can actually transform to help others. It provides green energy to homeless animals or other charities.

***

While I was "deployed" from my old life and unemployed by the new nature of the "business of healing" and all kinds of internal Drama that ensued from that chapter of my life...You know the part of life where your story starts to sound like a bad country song?...the Karmic light started to shine again.

What do you do?

You shed the old skin and you shake the drama off your karma and you start the dance! I've been dancing and spinning and flying, ever since.

(Insert Snoopy Dancin' image here...you get the picture!)

***

That is where I find myself today. I am so thankful I have the Muse back in my corner, I am thankful that the old life is behind me, I know I have a chance to still do for others in a way that is practical and gives a little ease to bad situations and comes from my own hand. Offered lovingly.

I am an Artist.

We always wish we could do more. There is so much need. If everyone does their little part then it all comes together in a much bigger way than the parts of ourselves. 

That, to me, adds up to hopeful.

 And isn't it wonder-filled to begin from a hopeful place?

***

I am working on all kinds of new art with new enthusiasm and painting subjects and different things I have not done in years. So freeing and so much fun. 

Join in the Dance.

***

Stay Tuned!

Peace and cheers,

Carol   

Gifts ~ who is the REAL beneficiary?

MEET

BIG POPPY!

I did...he is a beautiful and gentle boy cat who meets and greets you by climbing into your lap and giving you so much peace and joy just to pet him.

PURRFECT companion for the person who wants a feline friend to sit with, read, watch TV or a movie and find your zen moments with.

WHERE IS HE?

at the

BRISTOL ANIMAL SHELTER

10 Minturn Farm Rd

Bristol RI

http://www.friendsofthebristolanimalshelter.org/default.asp

and Friends of Bristol Animal Shelter

(raising funds for the new facility)

have only one thing that you need to know....

THEY CARE ABOUT FINDING FOREVER HOMES

for

HOMELESS ANIMALS IN NEED.

Below is the link to the FACEBOOK PAGE of those needing homes.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/media/set/?set=a.1738889082042.99085.1533113486

****

Recently they put out the call for DONATIONS of cat food.

Always, there are cats and kittens needing care and a place to stay while awaiting adoption.

Several people stepped up to the plate and stopped by (see address above) to drop off some food.

THANKS on their behalf.

YOU ARE WONDERFUL!

***

Times are tough for the whole country...every little bit helps.

Whatever you can do...one extra bag while you shop or a Grocery or Walmart gift card designated for pet food. ANYTHING! is SO appreciated for THIS shelter or YOUR local one.

It's all good.

Please give what you can. Time is also something these non-profits can use.

Walk a dog, pet a cat.

~*~BELIEVE ME~*~

YOU will be the beficiary of the Blessing!

***

Those of you who know me...

(Keeper of Secrets)
oil
...know I have a passion and mission to use my artwork to help wherever I can.
You also know the last year has been pretty tough for me to be able to do that with a miserable shoulder injury that I am fighting my way back from.
I was given the GRACE to paint this little painting above (using my Rainbow Bridge cat Emmi as my inspiration, yes, she is STILL helping homeless cats!) and to my great surprise it sold internationally almost as soon as it was listed.
(PLEASE visit ART HELPING ANIMALS , link is on the page here, to see the work of artists with a passion to help!)
That little painting helped
TABBY's PLACE & BRISTOL ANIMAL SHELTER
with all proceeds going to both.

So who gets the true blessing?
In this case ....ME!
I got to give once again to honor my EMMI who provided the inspiration,
and do the work I seem to be called to do.
***
Give what you can, the delight in doing it is multiplied many times.
Help homeless animals...they need us!
Thanks so much!
and please check out the animals in your shelter who are looking for your love.

Two Weeks...and then...

EMMI

Two weeks have gone by since Emmi crossed the Bridge and it still seems like she will come walking into the room at any moment.

I got some nice cards and emails of condolence...thanks so much.

This past week I got a chance to stop by Bristol Animal Shelter and got a huge reminder of just how adorable kittens are and the temptation was great but with Lizzie being 13 yrs old in a few weeks, it is just not the time to go down that road.

But...the joyfulness of cats and especially kittens...oh my! They have 2 little tigers (and many other wonderful animals for adoption, I might add) that are about the age of when I brought Emmi and Dinah home.

I was in heaven watching them pounce and tumble and play together. Ahhh.

I can't help it but I keep thinking of girl names....hahahaha!

Someday...someday....

I also think about the paintings that will come from that whole experience so I DO look forward to when the time is right.

In the meantime...Lizzie is more precious than ever...and I am so thankful for her generally good health. The age issues are manageable.

Leo and I spend a fair share of time kissing her and showering love and attention, as if she would ever be denied!

I am also looking forward to Fall and returning to the studio with new eyes.

I am hoping that starting out small and testing the waters with some painting time will work well with all this therapy to the right shoulder.

Somethings got to give.

That is the intention I have put out to the universe...so we shall see.

Who knows where it might take me.

***

The painting above is one of my personal favorites ...I painted this one many years ago of my Emmi and it was the painting I used to teach myself about painting eyes.

It is 14x18 and it hangs in our living room in the Lizzie and Emmi collection of portraits.

I am very fond of the close-up contemporary composition of this painting.

It is not a large piece but it commands attention on the wall.

Fun to paint with all the color, strokes and details in a small format.

So happy now that I did this piece. She had "the look" and it still gets to me.

~~~

A Time For Giving...

From now until the end of the year we are thinking about

How Can We Help?

***

The 14th Annual Four Paws Charity Auction for Homeless Cats and Dogs

November 20th 6:30-9:00PM

at HAWTHORNE COUNTRY CLUB

Dartmouth, MA

www.animaladvocatesma.org

These 2 framed prints of my original oils will be part of the Auction this year!

100% donation

If you are in the area, please consider this event for helping homeless animals!

There will be many different items available beside artwork.

They do a wonderful job all year long working to help homeless animals.

share your blessings!

Labor of Love...

The Call Home

12x12

oil on canvas

CAROL CHRETIEN

***

This is the updated version of the work in progress.

This painting is based on the idea that each animal is accompanied over the Rainbow Bridge on their way Home with a guardian that helps make the transition easier for them.

I love painting my vision of Angels with Animals...it gives me great joy while I paint this topic. I know we are surrounded by the grace of angelic presence throughout our lives and their assistance is always available to us when we need it most.

~~~

This painting is available

150.00

with 25% of the sale going to

Friends of the Bristol Animal Shelter

http://www.friendsofthebristolanimalshelter.org/
***

Please visit their site to see what pets are ready for adoption.

If you would like to purchase this painting and help the rescue just

email me.

carolchretien@aol.com

Art Helping Animals

Catching Butterflies

This painting of Emmi sleeping in the studio was briefly offered for sale last Spring. It was a moment I caught of her at her most angelic time. I pulled the listing and decided I loved it too much to sell. I am glad I painted it and still have it in my collection. Emmi is 16 yrs old, she was 8 weeks old when we got her.
Hard to believe the time flies by so fast....but it does. She is still the feisty little thug we know and love (well maybe Love is too strong a word from Lizzie's view point! Ha!!!) but she is adorable in her own Emmi way.
I am so thankful she is still in our lives!

The original painting is not for sale but the print is now available on my website www.carolchretien.com if you are interested in seeing the prints I have included (so far) in that grouping...just take a moment to view.
As I go through some of my image files I will be adding more to the collection.
As with all my work a portion will be donated from sales as promised to help homeless animals.
thanks for visiting!

APRIL BLUES - finished work

The "Year of the Cat" series of oil paintings started half way through 2009. The first 3 paintings in this 12x12 format sold. This is the 4th painting (April) in the group. They are connected by a cat and a color. My monitor is not picking up the color RED that is in the background or on the wooden edge of the planter's base, but it is there. This is a very substantial painting. The eyes of this cat are not exaggerated. "Brie" has incredible blue eyes that just draw you in and I love painting white animals.

This painting is now listed on www.arthelpinganimals.blogspot.com as well as on my own website www.carolchretien.com and is available for sale. If you are interested in purchasing just contact me. FREE domestic shipping, 150.00 12x12 on gallery wrapped canvas.

I will be donating 20% of the sale to help BRISTOL ANIMAL SHELTER the place where I got my inspiration for the work and also an additional 10% to TABBY's PLACE cat sanctuary, an ART HELPING ANIMALS supported rescue. Two rescues will benefit. More cats will be helped.
I will be posting this painting on the DAILY PAINTER's GALLERY for the Thursday posting, representing Art Helping Animals.
contact me if you are interested in this painting: carolchretien@aol.com
STAY TUNED!

IN THE WIND - March #3 -Year of the Cat

SOLD

IN THE WIND

12x12

oil on canvas

***

This is the latest painting in a 12 painting series the first 2 have sold.

Representing the month of MARCH this painting is inspired by the work being done by

TABBY'S PLACE

a cat sanctuary

150.00

20% of the sale goes to this wonderful rescue.

***

The series is a very fun challenge to myself to imagine this whole group of totally original paintings by either finding the cat that inspires the scene or planning the scene and then finding the purr-fect cat!

Below is a little collage of what we have so far...it is always neat to see them together.

I think it is an elegant series so far and even I don't know how it is going to unfold!

The artist is also the observer...and that is exciting for me.

ALL 3 HAVE SOLD!

The next painting is representing APRIL will be based on my idea for a vintage scene

but the cat model hasn't been decided as yet.

***

STAY TUNED!

On The Easel ... coming soon for Bristol Animal Shelter

"Our Differences Make Us Who We Are"

8x10

oil on canvas

This is a new piece that I have started for Bristol Animal Shelter in Bristol RI. http://www.friendsofthebristolanimalshelter.org/About-Us/

This was one of their beautiful cats named Duet. I was given permission to use some of their adoptible pet images for paintings that will help the shelter. As I was scrolling through my reference files today I came across the image that suggested the painting. A white cat with one yellow and one blue eye. The title came to me before the paint was on the canvas....Stay tuned for the finish...

and support your local shelter!