Carrie Holst

Summer Plein Airs

2013-09-01T13:04:00.000-07:00

I have accumulated a big stack of work from paint outs in July and August, some finished - some not. I'll show you a few.

Well, time to head back out there and paint! Thanks for looking + let me know if you have any questions.

Plein Air in the Park

2013-07-05T07:03:00.000-07:00

It's fun to challenge yourself to simplify, let the light and value describe form. Hyon painted with me in this same park a little more than a week ago and she was talking about 'notan,' which to me means see in 3 values. 'Conversations in Paint' by Charles Dunn has a chapter on it with good illustrations and you can check out the short video below. My painting ended up a little more complicated but the underlying structure is there. Some one told me it looked like a very serene little house; I think its a direct result of the light-dark harmony. Have you ever worked with this Japanese design principal? It's just getting back to basics, especially if a piece just isn't coming together. Let me know if you try it :)

Urban Plein Air

2013-06-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

Urban Path - Watercolor = 11 x 14 in

2 Blocks North of the Broadway Bridge and dismantled water tank.

Wednesday Farmers Market

2013-06-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

I was setting up easel and deciding on a composition when a group of street musicians set up right in front of my intended subject. Below is a portion of the finished painting.

Street Musicians - Bottom of the Barrel

14 x 18

Please contact artist if interested in purchase

look for "Bottom of the Barrel" on Facebook

There was so much activity; people, shoppers, dancers! Oh did I mention it was full blow raining by the time I was forced to quit. Here's a little tip for watercolor in high humidity (misting or heavy drizzle) select paper that is hot press or bristol and a smaller # like 80 or 90. You will have a much better chance for saving a few hard edges. I had a great but brief painting session.

Summer!

2013-06-21T10:47:00.000-07:00

Bring on the Sun!

Watercolor sketch 8 x 8

Contact Artist for Purchase

Converting a Camera Tripod to a Travel Easel

2013-06-18T10:09:00.000-07:00

Of course I couldn't have done it without help from my brother in law who made the little 4 x 4 wood blocks and counter sunk the 1/2 inch 'T' nuts an eighth inch. Blocks are 3/4 inch deep. This is how it will look on your tripod;

Last photo shows the bottom of the 'T' nut but when you glue on your painting board with Gorilla Glue you will cover this up. Follow directions on bottle and keep away from the screw threads that will mount to tri pod. My tip here is to buy a ready made frame from a reputable dealer that comes with the 1/8 inch hard board backing and glue that to your adapter. Those boards are too heavy for a 16 x 20 frame and they are not archival. You can put a piece of acid free FC in the frame later. Now that you have glued on your painting support, clip on a piece of watercolor paper and take it on for a test run!

I tried it out over the weekend and I am very pleased with this light weight option over the heavy steel WC easel I usually carry; this one fits in the back pack and will be fine as long as there are no huge wind gusts. Hope you can try this.
*Plein Air Painting is from below Sitka on the mouth of the Salmon River.

Painting Friends Around Town

2013-04-16T13:09:00.000-07:00

Stopped by Muse Art and Design yesterday on Hawthorne Blvd and found Liz Walker doing an Acrylic Demo. I stopped her midsentence and mid painting to snap a pic! Liz is participating in the series,"An Artist Day," to help Art teachers put Art Supplies in the class room. For full details look at this link!

You Can Quote Me

2013-04-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

'You're an Adult so only use the broken crayons if you want to.'

Pencil Sketch

2013-04-11T15:20:00.000-07:00

I had no actual reference as I sketched this. My intent was to just practice hatching lines (evenly spaced strokes with the same pressure) to create a random shape of value. I started seeing some facial features so I brought some of that out with an eraser. I did more of the hatching alternating with an eraser till I put in detail in the eyes and mouth. It is really just a doodle; kind of fun when they turn out to look like something! I need to put the iPad down and do more sketching and get ready for getting outdoors.

In Progress

2013-04-09T12:16:00.000-07:00

Watercolor I started this month has some possibilities but may have to crop it because the tall vase got stuck in the middle. Right now it is the darkest object and that has to change. Ill work on it this week.

Sorry!!

2013-03-28T17:41:00.001-07:00

Sorry I haven't been posting. I'm having technical difficulties

Happy New Year

2012-12-31T13:13:00.002-08:00

Photo Credit; Steve Oberg

Powell Butte

2012-11-15T07:58:00.000-08:00

Pretty Day in Powell Butte, no clouds and almost 60.

Herd has been moved up to fields above canal.

This guy was watching me. Does he know he will be in the freezer next month?

There are also 2 new grand kittys, one for Liv and one for Auggie. This is as of yet un-named number 2, about two pounds now but he has huge feet. He already knows the good hiding places so he may survive the owls I hope! :(

Roller Skates and Buffalo

2012-11-11T22:49:00.000-08:00

Round up at Powell Butte Bison Ranch will be next weekend and there's lots of preparations under way. Hope there is time to take a few pictures. I was recently reminded of the song, "Can't Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd." I agree.

Image; Art Card Edition, 2.5 x 3.5in 'Powell Butte Bison Ranch' .collected

Sandy Fundraiser

2012-11-03T09:36:00.000-07:00

The Daily Paint Works site has already raised nearly $3000 for the victims of Sandy. I just entered this small abstract to the auction; all proceeds will go to Sandy victims and all you have to do is go to the auction site via the little widget in the side bar or use this direct link> Sandy Auction.Carrie's painting and bid. There are close to 200 paintings already so I'm sure you will find something you like. Thanks!

Barn Sketch

2012-09-05T16:48:00.000-07:00

Quick little barn sketch, color added later. Working on a larger piece too but I haven't photgraphed it yet.

It's Been A Busy Summer

2012-09-01T21:59:00.000-07:00

One of the best and most fun events in Portland this summer was family weekend at the Portland Art Museum, Artists from the Rental Sales Gallery painted out all around the museum. There were crowds of interested and curious onlookers. It was a wonderful sunny day, warm, and the park was full of happy artists to experience it. I couldn't resist doing a couple quick sketches myself while visiting with friends.

Mt Hood Plein Air Sketching

2012-08-31T16:43:00.000-07:00

Had a chance to do a little sketching from Beth Verhayden's back yard view and I couldn't pass it up. It's the peak of summer and there is less snow and noticeable aerial perspective. Just a quick sketch for now. I'd like a larger one someday.

Gone to A New Home

2012-08-27T23:22:00.000-07:00

The Painting, 'Columbia Street' has gone off to a new home. I'm sure they will be happy together! (New owner pictured with her new painting.)

Head Hunter

2012-07-10T09:29:00.000-07:00

Watercolor 8 x 8in. titled 'Head Hunter'

Strawberries and Roses

2012-06-20T21:40:00.001-07:00

I picked roses from my Niece's yard and put them in a little retro bottle. I wanted to practice drawing roses so I thought small ones would be easier. My niece also processed 3 flats of strawberries but saved some fresh ones for strawberry shortcake over homemade biscuits. Yum! Feels like summer is here!

Plein Air Watercolor Demonstration, Camp 18, Tuesday June 12, 2012

2012-06-10T14:40:00.000-07:00

Go here for all the details. This is a free demo and open to the public.

Thanks to Celeste Bergin for helping promote this event.

Chicken Scratch Sketch

2012-05-26T15:03:00.000-07:00

'Backyard Chickens' 6 x 6 (Ink on Paper)

Dumpsters @ the Lucky Lab

2012-05-24T16:14:00.001-07:00

An afternoon of sketching with some of the Portland Plein Air Group.

Lunch After the Painting Demo

2012-05-10T15:24:00.000-07:00

Went to a really great figure demonstration at OSA today with Craig Srebnik. He paints in oil but his approach is so universal to any opaque media. Afterwards headed over to the Leaky Roof on SW 17th and Jefferson for Lunch and libations to fulfill yet another scavenger hunt item...... A Beer! A Mirror Pond, to be more specific. Celeste and I sketched away taking full advantage of our model, Loretta! What a trooper she is. :) !! It's going to be a warm sunny weekend so I ought to knock a few more off the scavenger list; stay tuned.