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

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 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: Coastal Crow

Many photos came together for this image of a bird I love — a crow. All the pictures were taken in Port Townsend, Washington and then I added strips of red, orange, and turquoise. So much fun to do, so difficult to describe . . .

Here's a link to my "birds" collection if you'd like to see these images in higher resolution:
https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/collections/birds

©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

Recently uploaded to Fine Art America: "Lowering Sun"

Various gel prints came together for this image, which almost looks like old papers torn from a wall, or an impressionistic painting. I’m particularly drawn to the Asian vibe, with the red, black, and yellow colors.

To see this image in higher resolution, here's the link:
https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/featured/lowering-sun-carol-leigh.html

©Copyright 2019 Carol Leigh

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

"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

Recently added to Fine Art America: "Fishing Vessel "Vivian"

This is a composite of the fishing vessel "Vivian," in Astoria, along with a number of other images also taken in Astoria -- one of my favorite photo locations.

I offer two versions -- a full-frame image and a square version -- so that buyers have a choice. Frankly, in this case, I prefer the top picture because the "3M" at the top isn't cropped, nor is the word "Astoria" at the bottom.

Either way, I'm fond of the complementary blue and orange colors, the overall grungy and weathered look, and the subtlety of ropes and masts in the background.

Here's a link to the picture(s) at Fine Art America/Pixels: https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/featured/1-fishing-vessel-vivian-astoria-oregon-carol-leigh.html

Copyright ©2019 Carol Leigh.
 

Most recent work: "Candle Flame Pastel"

Inspired by a Chzechoslovakian matchbox label, I transformed the concept of "be careful with fire" into a more simplified, abstract image that has a pastel/chalklike vibe.

I just uploaded it this morning.

To see the details up close, here's a link to the image: https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/featured/candle-flame-pastel-carol-leigh.html

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.