Well, this is pretty cool!

I didn't realize how good this photo looks when it's on a tote bag from Fine Art America / Pixels. At least, not until a customer purchased it today. I'm going to have to order one for myself -- it looks like an actual basket tote, rather than a photo plonked onto canvas -- at least it does from this picture. Thank you to the customer who opened my eyes this morning.

 

Year of the Rooster

 

I was just playing around with papers, wondering what I could do with this colorful Lunar New Year stamp from 2017. The colors really caught my eye, so I used black, red, and gold to enhance and complement the stamp. My original version was tall and narrow; I also have it in a square format, where the stamp is more prominent. Gotta say, I like them both!

Both formats are available at Fine Art America / Pixels. To see a high-resolution version, here's a link to the square picture:

Year of the Rooster

©2020 Carol Leigh

Recent work: "Old Envelopes"

 

Old collages and new colors come together in this mixed media piece. I particularly like the bright blue colors combined with a slash of red-orange at the bottom.

To see a high-resolution version of this piece, here's a link to it on Fine Art America/Pixels:

https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/featured/old-envelopes-carol-leigh.html

Thanks for taking a look at my work.

©Copyright 2020 Carol Leigh

Recent work: "Time Shift"

This image began as a physical collage, to which I added hand-painted papers, postage stamps from my collection, a photograph of pilings sticking out of the water, a sketch of Mt. Fuji, and more.

I really like the big, bold red element, as well as the tiny little image of Mt. Fuji bottom right.

To see a high-resolution version of each of these pictures at Fine Art America / Pixels, here's a link for you:

https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/featured/time-shift-carol-leigh.html

Copyright ©2020 Carol Leigh

Recent work: "Harbor Departures"

When I created this image, I quickly realized it would work equally well as a full-frame horizontal and as a square, so I uploaded both versions. Each has a different feel to it, which I like.

Here's how I described them:

The more I worked on this piece, the more I began thinking of Japan and ships coming and going. I made it using my own calligraphy, my own marks, stained papers, and circles.

To see these photos as high-resolution images, here's the link to one of them on Fine Art America/Pixels:

https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/featured/harbor-departures-number-one-carol-leigh.html

Copyright ©2020 Carol Leigh

Recent work: "Distant Hills" photomontage

 I completed this work at the end of January this year, and here's how I described it:

As I was making this piece, I got the feeling of a pilgrimage from sea to mountains. The forms were created by using torn papers, a cut-out circle, water stains on cardboard, Japanese hankos (signature “chops”), and more. 

For me, it's a calm, monochromatic, quiet piece of art. Something that's especially appealing to me in these "interesting" times.

To see a high-resolution version of this picture, here's the link:

https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/featured/distant-hills-carol-leigh.html

Image copyright ©2020 Carol Leigh

The eucalyptus project continues!

I’ve added a few more eucalyptus pictures to the ones I posted last year. I’m thinking this is probably a project I’ll be doing for the rest of my life!

If you’d like to see the high-resolution versions of these pictures, here are the links:

Eucalyptus Leaves in Fall - https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/featured/eucalyptus-leaves-in-fall-carol-leigh.html

The Law of Attraction - https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/featured/the-law-of-attraction-carol-leigh.html

Shades of Eucalyptus (Vertical Leaf) - https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/featured/shades-of-eucalyptus-vertical-leaf-carol-leigh.html

Images ©2019 Carol Leigh

Recent work: "Exact Fare"

There's nothing like a scrap or salvage yard to get my juices flowing. I can look at the scene and then immediately begin moving in closer and closer to frame exactly what I like, rather than an overview of a hodgepodge of "things."

The scratches, rust, and weathered paint on this old vehicle really added to its character. The “HAVE EXACT FARE READY” sign added even more.

I hope you like these two versions.

If you'd like to see these pictures blown up to high resolution, here's a link to my "Industrial Art" gallery.

https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/collections/industrial+art

Images copyright ©2020 Carol Leigh

Mail Art

For the past 8 years I’ve been (sporadically) making postcards and other mail art. Some are handmade collages, some are digital, and (more often) some are a combination of both. I also make envelopes, but we won’t be talking about that now!

Why make mail art? They’re not exactly huge sellers. It’s just that they’re fun to create. If they sell, great. If not, I still had a good time in the studio!

The top one’s my latest, focusing on a Noh (Japanese stage play) mask I photographed at a mask-carver’s studio in Kyoto, Japan. I added old postage stamps from my collection, bits of stained papers, and more.

Below the mask are a couple of the many I offer at Fine Art America/Pixels. If you’d like to see them in higher resolution, just click the links below.

The card “Do Not Affix Stamp” was used as part of a Dolcezza clothing line last year, which was rather exciting!

All images copyright ©2020 Carol Leigh.

Noh Mask
Do Not Affix Stamp
Mastodons Are on Their Way

Recent work: "Big 5 Postcard"

I hadn't made any "faux poste" cards in awhile, so the other day I came up with this one.

I uploaded it to Fine Art America (why not?), and here's how I described it:

This postcard consists of some painted and walnut-stained papers, drips of walnut ink on a piece of waxed paper, a big “5” I’d stenciled onto a painted page, and more. The orange stamp is an old Internal Revenue stamp. The triangular stamp is called a “Cinderella,” a totally made-up, fictional stamp that’s a part of my collection. The rest? Various bits and markings that I included in the mix. Oh, and there’s part of a letter someone wrote her family.

Overall, just a fun montage to put together on a rainy day. No deep meaning, unless you can find something I can’t!

If you'd like to see a high-resolution version of this picture, here's the link:
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/big-5-postcard-carol-leigh.html

Copyright ©2010 Carol Leigh

Last work of 2019 . . . "Antique Japanese Postcard 945"

This was the last piece of art I made in 2019. And yes, I know it has (yet again) a Japanese vibe to it, I consider it different simply because of the color palette. There aren't any browns, beiges, sepias, solid blacks, etc. here.

I have a collection of old Japanese postcards from the late 1880s, and one of them forms the basis of this mixed-media collage -- the blue in the upper left. I added some of my own scribbles, postmarks, and a Japanese postage stamp that was issued in 1947. My own hand-painted papers are what created the unusual color palette.

Whenever possible, I make a square version of the original so that my buyers have a choice. Sometimes a square, or a number of squares, works better than one "full-frame" image.

To see these in high resolution, here's the link:

https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/collections/asian+influence

Images copyright ©2019 Carol Leigh

Recent sale: Japanese Matchbox Labels

I have a set of Japanese matchbox labels, probably from the very early 1900s. The printing quality on them isn’t very good, with most of them being out of register. But that’s what I found rather charming about them. I’m also thinking that maybe they were “factory rejects!” There’s no advertising on them, so perhaps they just didn’t make it through “quality control.” Who knows?

These would look good individually or as a grouping — perhaps printed on metal to make the colors really pop.

Here's the link to the full-resolution versions of these pictures if you'd like to see them in greater detail:

https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/collections/designer+series+japanese+geisha+matchbox+labels
A buyer from New York purchased these two (of the 12 that are available). I hope they look superb wherever he or she decides to put them.

Images copyright ©2019 Carol Leigh.

My art on snow skis . . . cool concept!

Although I don't have a photograph of the actual skis, this is what the ski manufacturer sent to give me an idea of what the skis look like. It's an interesting concept -- original art displayed on snow skis.

So now I've got my art incorporated into a line of clothing made by Dolcezza in Montreal, as well as on snow skis. How cool is this?!

Images ©Carol Leigh 2019.

Recent work: "Small Tags"

These are small collages that I originally made as tags to go into the pockets of an accordion book. They looked good in the book, so I've added some of them to my body of work at Fine Art America/Pixels.com.

Here's the link to the collection, where you can see them at high resolution:

https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/collections/designer+series+small+tags

Images ©2019 Carol Leigh

Recent work: "Calligraphically Speaking"

Japanese characters from an old book that have been folded, spindled, and mutilated to become something else altogether.

I made a series of three different images, and then, just because I could, made a diptych (two in the same frame) and a triptych (three in the same frame).

Do the characters have meaning? I could say something zen, like yes, they mean "clouds crossing sky," or "breathe deeply," but no, I just made scribbles. You, however, could make up something yourself...

To see these in high resolution, here's the link:
https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/collections/designer+series+calligraphically+speaking

©Images copyright 2019 Carol Leigh

Well, this is a first . . .

I received an e-mail from a woman in Colorado who wanted to use this image (called "Fire on the Water") on a pair of skis! No one's asked for that before, and I thought it was a great idea.

She said she'd send a picture when they're done, and I can't wait to see how they look. I think they're going to look fierce!

Image ©2019 Carol Leigh

What every artist wants to hear ...

This picture, that I call "Inherent 2," has sold numerous times over the years. I'm so proud of it because it is totally unique to me. Someone else would have a tough time figuring it out and replicating it.

That's irrelevant right now, however, because of what a recent buyer wrote to me. She said:

Good afternoon!  

I just received this gorgeous piece of modern, Southwest art you created (Fine Art America did a good job of reproducing your work) and I am so grateful to have you in my home. The colors and design take my breath away every time I look at it. 

I rarely write emails of this kind, but wanted you to know how much I appreciate your talent and execution. You fit beautifully in my natural, modern living room and I will look for your work often in the future.  Thank you again for offering your work to the public.  You make me very happy.

I was stunned. Isn't this what every artist wants to hear? I'm happy my work makes her happy and am happy that she wrote me to say how happy she was!

Here's a link to the picture on Fine Art America if you'd like to see the details up close:
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/inherent-number-2-carol-leigh.htmlhttps://fineartamerica.com/featured/inherent-number-2-carol-leigh.html

Image copyright ©2019 Carol Leigh

Triptychs!

If the format and subject matter lend themselves to it, I'll sometimes make a triptych, a combination of three pictures all contained in one frame. The result is a larger piece -- with more presence -- that works well on a large wall.

And that's what I created here for these three photomontages of boro paper from a kimono packet, protective paper packaging designed to keep the kimono, carefully folded inside, dust-free.

To see what these look like larger and in full resolution, here are links to them both:

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/kimono-triptych-060704-horizontal-carol-leigh.html

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/kimono-triptych-060704-vertical-carol-leigh.html

Images copyright ©2019 Carol Leigh

Recent work: "Exaggerated Eucalyptus Leaves"

The eucalyptus theme continues with this piece, where I purposely made the leaves outrageously vivid, yet kept the texture and shadowing intact. Too much fun.

Here's a link to the image at Fine Art America/Pixels if you'd like to see the image in full resolution:

https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/featured/exaggerated-eucalyptus-carol-leigh.html 

Images copyright ©2019 Carol Leigh

Recent work: "Three Eucalyptus Leaves"

Eucalyptus leaves have gotten my attention lately and appear now in a lot of my art.

What is it about them that's appealing? Well, I like their subtle colors, how each leaf is different, and their elegant shapes and curves.

In this piece (shown both as a square and full-frame) I've exaggerated the leaves and have added a handpainted paper I made.

And yes, I realize the irony of saying I like the subtle colors of the leaves, yet punched them up to make them VERY colorful!

Always nice to have options.

P.S. To see this work at full resolution, here's a link to it at Fine Art America: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/1-three-eucalyptus-leaves-carol-leigh.html

Images copyright ©Carol Leigh