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: "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

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 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

Latest work: "Kimono Package Montage 08"

LATEST WORK - “Kimono Package Montage 8”

One of the latest in my series revolving around an antique kimono “packet,” which I’ve described as:

I have an 1828 wrapper for a kimono that is gloriously soft and weathered and yet sturdy. I have photographed various bits and pieces of the wrapper and then have combined those bits and pieces to create a variety of photomontages, montages that are slightly different, yet honor the spirit of the object. 

It’s made of old, used “boro paper,” multiple layers pasted together so that it’s thick and very soft. I’m reveling in what this kimono wrapping paper is offering, and I hope you enjoy seeing my interpretations of it.

Every month or so I get this packet out to see what other images I can create using it, seeing it with “new eyes.” 

The top photo shows the original version, but I also created a square version to give my customers more options.

Here's the link to the work in Fine Art America if you'd like to see it at 100% resolution: 

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/kimono-package-montage-08-carol-leigh.html

All images copyright ©2019 Carol Leigh

Customer comment . . .

Sometimes customers of my work leave reviews on Fine Art America, which I find really helpful. The reviews let me know if FAA is doing a good job at their end (printing and shipping) and if I've done a good job at my end (sharpness, processing, etc.).

Fine Art America sold this picture ("When Worlds Collide") to a customer in Minnesota recently. Here's his review:

"This is a quality piece that hangs beautifully on our wall. The frame and matting are of very good quality and we are well satisfied with the purchase. The only drawback is that we should have ordered non glare glass."

His comment about the non-glare glass is good for me to know. I'll mention that in my description on Fine Art America, and perhaps the next person to order it will be able to take that into consideration.

Here's a direct link to the picture at FAA:

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/when-worlds-collide-carol-leigh.html

Image 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

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

Recently added to Fine Art America . . . "Woman of the Kurofune-ya"

Featuring a 1980 Japanese postage stamp, this montage consists of various antique Japanese papers, inks, and my own hand-painted papers. The oil painting on the stamp was done by self-taught artist Yumeji Takehisa in 1919 and was issued in October of 1980.

To see a close-up of this image, here's the link:
https://carol-leigh.pixels.com/featured/woman-of-the-kurofune-ya-photomontage-carol-leigh.html

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.
 

My first sale with Fine Art America . . .

This is the first picture I sold at Fine Art America, back in 2012. It's a mixed-media piece, a combination of various old Japanese papers, called "Red Sun."

I didn't know if it would sell, since it's rather different. But being different has made all the difference. This is the type of image I enjoy creating, that makes me feel I'm an "artist," something that photography only occasionally gave me.

So I continue to create what I love, upload it to FAA, and go on to the next. Although a lot of my "straight" photographs do sell, it's mostly my mixed-media collages and photomontages that people are attracted to. And hooray for that!

To see the details up close, here's the link: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/red-sun-collage-carol-leigh.html?product=art-print

All images copyright ©2019 by Carol Leigh.

SOLD: Three "postal art" pictures . . .

I make a lot of postal-oriented pictures. Some are physical collages, others are physical collages that I’ve brought into the computer and tweaked a bit, and some are photomontages done entirely in the computer using my own photos, my collections of stamps, postal ephemera, and more.

I love making these pictures, but I realize they’re not appealing to everyone. I offer them at Fine Art America / Pixels because I like them, and maybe there are some kindred spirits out there who will find them appealing, too.

So when I saw these three come up as having sold the beginning of the year, I was pleasantly surprised. They are matted and framed exactly as the buyer wished (well, except for the bottom one). They make a good-looking combination, don’t you think?

Cote d’Ivoire
This is a print of a physical collage I made using hand-painted papers, handmade papers, Japanese rice paper, and two different vintage postage stamps. Here’s a link to the picture at Fine Art America: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/cote-divoire-carol-leigh.html

Nikkou Sunshine
This is a print of a physical collage I made using a spring-like Japanese stamp, handmade paper, and a monoprint on Japanese rice paper. Here’s a link to the picture at Fine Art America: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/nikkou-sunshine-carol-leigh.html

San Francisco 1952 Air Mail (Square Version)
Minimalistic photomontage incorporating photos of a postage stamp, the side of a truck, a rubber-stamped number, and more. I also created an elongated rectangular version of this image. Here’s a link to the picture at Fine Art America: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/san-francisco-1952-air-mail-square-carol-leigh.html 

(In the sale announcement that FAA sent me, apparently this photo was corrupted, and doesn't appear the same way the previous two do. Pixel mysteries . . .)

Copyright ©2019 Carol Leigh.

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.