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

Recent addition to FAA: "Mourning Dove in the Morning"

Most of my montages are photography-based, to which I then add torn, hand-painted papers, Japanese calligraphy, maybe some circles, etc. until something begins coming together for me.

And that's what happened here.

I photographed this mourning dove, who was dozing in a tree, on a foggy morning in southern California. The tree shape was great; the bird was a bonus. 



The final result, to me, looks like something that’s been in a scrapbook for a long time, has maybe suffered water damage, other papers have stuck to it and have been pulled away, leaving traces behind, etc.

To see more detail, to see what this picture looks enlarged, here’s the link: https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/featured/mourning-dove-in-the-morning-carol-leigh.html

As always, thank you for looking at what I make.

Image Copyright ©2019 Carol Leigh

Most-Visited Pictures This Week . . .

Every week Fine Art America sends me a variety of information, including what were my most-visited pictures the previous week.

Here are three examples of what people were looking at . . .

The "Santa Fe Crows" image has been a particularly popular one over the years, and is a particular favorite of mine as well. Here's the link to the original at Fine Art America: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/santa-fe-crows-carol-leigh.html

The next one, "Papers," I described this way:

"An ink-stained book cover, hand-painted rice paper, torn papers from an old Japanese book, gold foil and more comprise this collage."

The link to the original: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/papers-carol-leigh.html

And finally, a mixed-media piece called "From Books." (This was part of a large sale last month, 48 images, all revolving around my collages containing postage stamps. Forty-eight all at once! Woo hoo!)

My description for this picture on Fine Art America is:

"As is typical, I have photographed some of my physical collages, some stamps, torn papers, pages from old books, boat reflections, ink stains, and more to put this photomontage together. It's a fun, never-ending, always-changing process."

The link to the original:  https://fineartamerica.com/featured/from-books-carol-leigh.html

As always, thank you for looking at my work.

All images copyright ©2019 Carol Leigh

Small pleasures . . . Naranjo

On August 5th, 2012, I posted a photo to my blog that I had taken in Santa Fe at the farmers' market.

Although I rarely photograph people, I liked the look on the face of this man as he watched his wife arrange flowers.

A couple days later,  I received an e-mail from the man's son. His father had passed away in December. He saw his father's photo on my blog, liked the colors, and wanted to purchase a print.

The easiest and most cost-effective way for me to do this was to upload the photograph to Fine Art America. That way he could select the size/price/format he wanted and would quickly receive the photos. And if other members of his family wanted prints, that could be easily accomplished. And that's what happened.

I don't mean for this to be an ad for Fine Art America. What I really want to say is that I'm pleased I created something that had meaning for someone else.

And now, when I return to the Santa Fe Farmers' Market, it will no longer be just a fun place to photograph, but will have an especial poignance for me, remembering the look on the man's face, standing next to his wife, surrounded by flowers.

Here's the link to my blog post: http://carolleigh.blogspot.com/2012/08/national-farmers-market-week.html

And here's the link to FAA so you can see how it's presented to the customer: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/naranjo-carol-leigh.html

Small pleasures . . .

Image copyright ©2012-2019 Carol Leigh

Most-visted pictures this past week

 Every week Fine Art America sends me a variety of information, including what were my most-visited pictures the previous week.

It's interesting to know, but I'm not sure what use I can make of it. Should I make more square-y things because this one's been popular ever since I posted it back in 2012?

Is indigo and red a powerful color combination, hence the visitation? (Well, perhaps -- I should experiment more with it. Maybe.)

And the plane's tail section? Maybe it's the composition that's attractive? The unusual shooting angle? I don't know.

And the brown fishing nets? Why is that one so popular? I know why I like it, but what's the appeal for others?

All four of these have sold regularly over the years, for which I'm grateful. And they continue to sell, which I find interesting.

I often wonder if I should have a consistent style, a consistent look. But no, from what I'm seeing people purchasing, it seems to be a mix of my abstract montages as well as more "normal" photography of representational (recognizable) subjects.

Here are the links to these four pictures, if you'd like to see them up close and in higher (much higher) resolution:

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/fiery-red-and-indigo-one-of-two-carol-leigh.html

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/autumn-reflections-carol-leigh.html

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/lockheed-constellation-carol-leigh.html

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/fishing-nets-carol-leigh.html

Sold earlier this year . . . 15 pictures to fill a wall

In March of this year I was contacted by a designer who wanted a wall of "nautical bits" for her client.

The client had already decided on the photos he wanted, and he wanted 15 of them, all of which would be laid out on the wall, individually framed.



It was an interesting concept, and although each image was small, taken as a whole I can see how the combination would have impact.

These are three examples of what the client selected. Fun project!

For more pictures of these nautical subjects, I have a gallery at Fine Art America here:

https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/collections/boatyard+bits

All images copyright ©Carol Leigh 2019

Sold earlier this year . . .

I created this image in late 2016 and it's sold numerous times as a print. But when someone ordered the picture as a throw pillow this past March, it took me aback. It looked great as a pillow! Just great.

It's fun to see one's art presented in a different manner. So unexpected. Such a surprise.

To see the details of this picture, here's the link:
https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/art/standing+ground?searchType=title

All images copyright ©Carol Leigh 2019

Recently added to Fine Art America . . . "Breakwater Abstract"

Ink spatters on a very old Japanese book combine with hand-painted papers, Kanji calligraphy from the cover of an old ledger book, and a rusty piece of metal to create this soft yet bold image.

I particularly like the feeling of standing on a rocky breakwater, watching waves splashing up, looking out to sea. Do I plan this ahead of time? No. I begin by looking at my photographs, wondering what if I add this, what if I add that, and then follow whatever happens. Most of them end up in the trash! Or I set them aside to work on another day.

There's always something new, something different, which makes it all worthwhile.

To see more detail, here's the link: https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/featured/breakwater-abstract-carol-leigh.html 

And here's the link to the square version: https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/featured/breakwater-abstract-square-version-carol-leigh.html


Images copyright ©Carol Leigh 2019

Recently added to Fine Art America . . . "Shikoku Warmth"

There is a “pilgrimage route” on the Japanese island of Shikoku, and at each shrine or temple, you may have your book stamped with a singular stamp as a remembrance of your visit.

I have such a book in my collection, and this circular image from one of the temples has particular appeal. It’s intrinsically lovely, and to me, carries a sense of mystery.

I combined the stamp with some hand-painted papers I made and came up with this warm-colored abstract image -- both in a vertical, "full-frame" version, as well as in a square format.

If you'd like to see more detail, here's a link:

https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/featured/shikoku-warmth-carol-leigh.html

©Copyright 2019 Carol Leigh

Sold June 8, 2012 . . . Lockheed Constellation

This is one of my more popular images at Fine Art America/Pixels, selling for the first time on this date in 2012. At one point it was featured on the opening page at their website, which gave it a big boost, and for which I'm grateful.

The plane's pretty cool, isn't it? That unique tail structure, the way it looms large in the frame, the unusual angle.

Here's how I described it at Fine Art America: "Tail section of a Lockheed L-049 TWA Constellation vintage airplane. I'm seeing a lot of people ordering this as a print on metal, and yeah, that's a great choice. The metal print will echo the metal of the plane and will make the sharp picture even sharper."

It all works. And I'm pleased that others think so, too.

Here's the link to a more detailed version: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/lockheed-constellation-carol-leigh.html 

Copyright ©2019 Carol Leigh

"Hot Days Cool Waters"

I finished this image last night and added it to my pictures on Fine Art America / Pixels this morning.

It's made using two different gelatin prints, combined and blended together.

I'm particularly fond of the robin's-egg blue colors complementing the vibrant golden/orange colors up top.

Here's the link to the picture if you'd like to see the details: https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/featured/hot-days-cool-waters-carol-leigh.html

©Copyright 2019 Carol Leigh

Interesting to see what buyers choose . . .

When someone buys two or more of my pictures, I enjoy seeing how the combination looks together.

For all I know, each of these pictures hangs in a different room, but the link between all three is obviously a southwestern or Native American vibe, especially since the buyer lives in Idaho.

The first combines images I shot in New Mexico, called "And the Rains Came." Here's a link to the original and its description: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/and-the-rains-came-carol-leigh.html

"Signpost Up Ahead" is the title of the second picture, also a photomontage that contains a pattern from the side of a fishing boat, various painted papers, and painted circles. Here's a link to the original: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/signpost-up-ahead-carol-leigh.html

And the third picture, "Santa Fe Windows," is yet another photomontage, with the windows coming from a photo I took in Santa Fe, as well as bits of architectural detail I found walking around the town. Here's the link to the original: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/santa-fe-windows-carol-leigh.html

Three photos to one buyer, each dramatically different, yet the same sort of "feeling" in all three.

©2019 Carol Leigh

Most recent upload to Fine Art America / Pixels

Quite often, when I offer a picture on Fine Art America / Pixels, if I think it'll work well as a square, I'll include that version, too.

Sometimes I don't know which format a potential buyer might like better, so I offer two choices. Ha! But maybe that makes choosing even more confusing!

These two images were recently added to my "train gallery" here: https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/collections/train+art

This photo was taken at Portola Railroad Museum in California -- one of my favorite places.

Copyright ©2019 Carol Leigh.

Latest work: "Heart Collage 653"

I’m making a series of heart collages that I turn into notecards or postcards to send to friends. The components aren’t really planned, just whatever scraps I find on my art table at the time. It’s fun, easy, and makes me feel good!

This one consists of a piece of brush-cleaning paper, a torn scrap of silver-painted paper, and a heart cut from a gelatin print I’d made.

The original card was sent off to a friend yesterday, but before it left, I brought it into the computer to be able to offer it for sale at Fine Art America / Pixels. Here’s the link: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/1-heart-collage-653-carol-leigh.html

Blue Enso on Plaster

Just finished the other day . . .

A blue Enso circle seemingly floats above a horizon line of warm red, yellow, and orange. I like the comforting colors, the complementary blue/orange combination, and the overall texture.

You can see this picture larger and in more detail in my "Circles" gallery at https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/featured/blue-enso-on-plaster-carol-leigh.html

All images Copyright ©2019 Carol Leigh.

Pleasantly surprised . . .

Most of my work sells as prints (framed or un-framed, printed on metal, more popularly as canvas wraps, etc.), so when I saw these two pictures that sold as tote bags, I did a double-take. They look great as totes! Not every picture works on a tote bag, and if I think it won’t, I don’t offer it. But these do!

I’ve purchased tote bags from Fine Art America for myself and to give as presents. The bags are well made, the fabric feels and looks like canvas, and the artwork appears on both sides of the bag. I’m proud to give them as gifts.

To see these two images at Fine Art America, here are the links:

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/motel-and-pool-sign-route-66-carol-leigh.html

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/southwestern-bear-mosaic-carol-leigh.html

All images Copyright ©2019 Carol Leigh.

Recent work . . . "Page 0419"

I am creating handmade Japanese ledger-style (daifuku) books, each page being a collage of old Japanese book pages, my own handmade papers, handmade prints, paint, and numerous other items.

I particularly liked how this page looked as a standalone image, and so brought it into the computer to make a digital print. This way I have the best of both worlds: cutting and pasting and painting in the studio, and then the computer processes afterwards, doing little tweakings here and there.

Here's a link for more information at Fine Art America / Pixels: https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/featured/page0419cl-carol-leigh.html