HAPPY NEW YEAR !

A LITTLE WHIMSY TO END THE YEAR ...

'WATCH OUT BOYS ... THERE'S A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN'

6 x 6 x 1.5" Mixed Media Collage on Canvas

For more information on this piece Please Click HERE

Cloud of the Day ...

I have to admit ... this one is a little hard to see.  But, I do see a Cat, lying down with its tail up in the air.  :)   There are a lot of formations in this photo so you may do better than me.  

I want to say Thank you to everyone for your support this last year.  It's so great having friends 'out there' ... some of whom I've never met.  I want to wish you all a most 

HEALTHY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

TIL NEXT YEAR ...

CHARLEEN

" Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions.                        Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual."                                                                                                  ~  Mark Twain

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS ...

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS .... ... And all through the house, the dogs lay content, but ... the power is out! Still presents to wrap, Blog to write. Will it all get done? I am beginning to doubt. The computer won't work, the snow's getting deep. But ... the fireplace glows and I'm warmed by the heat. As I put pencil to paper and start to write, I give thought to the fact that I am safe on this night. More fortunate than many, I give Thanks for the gifts ... of Family and Friends, and Freedom of Faith. I give Thanks ... that I am able to give Thanks.

MAY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON BRING YOU THE GIFTS OF FAMILY, GOOD FRIENDS AND GOOD HEALTH. MERRY CHRISTMAS! Charleen (If you also receive my Newsletter than I apologize because you will have already seen this.  But, Time is short and I am literally all 'wrapped up' in Christmas!  :)  Please consider it 'Double the Wishes!)

INTO THE COLD OF WINTER ...

SO ... LET'S SNUGGLE IN TO WINTER.

'SNUGGLE IN TO WINTER'

5 x 7" Acrylic on Textured Wood Panel

For more Information on this Piece Please Click HERE

And, another Cloud formation  for you ....

We were on our way to town after a week of VERY heavy rains.  That little bit of blue peeking out was just such a welcome site.  What I see here are two gruff rain trolls trying to stare down one another.  But, while they are trying to out-do each other, the little blue sky slips silently past them and takes over the sky.

  Moral of the story:  Blue skies are always there for us.  Sometimes we just have to wait for them to get past the turbulence.  :)  

Charleen

HOLDING ON TO FADED DREAMS ...

Most times when I drive by an abandoned home or business I often think to myself  "I wonder whose dream that was? What were they like?  What did they envision?  What made them give up on it? Was it a dream fulfilled or a dream lost?"  Answers I'll never know but interesting to think about.  Interesting to make up my own stories.  

This is from a photo I saw.  It immediately caught my attention and the house made me think of dreams now gone.   I changed a few things but hopefully still kept the feeling of what once was ...

'HOLDING ON TO FADED DREAMS'

5 x 7" Acrylic on Wood Panel

For more information on this Piece Please Click HERE

My head is in the clouds . . .

If you read my second post on Las Vegas you will remember that I posted several Cloud photos I took.  I love Clouds and, as a child, like most of you I'm sure, had fun finding all kinds of wonderful things up there in the sky.  We've had some storms here in the last week and some of the Cloud formations have been stunning.  I had this crazy idea and thought it might be fun to post a Cloud photo each time I do a Post.  If you are familar with the Blog 'The Accidental Artist' (Carrie Jacobsen ~ a very good Palette knife Artist.) then you know she posts a 'Dog of the Day' at the end of each of her Blogs.  Well, obviously I'm not going to do a Dog of the day ~ that idea is taken.  So, I thought a cloud of the day might work and you can have fun seeing what you see. (Or not! :)  Maybe they'll just be inspiration.  So here is the first one and, would you believe it ... I see a Dog!  :)  A Golden Retriever to be exact.  (Sorry, couldn't help myself, but he was right there!!)  Can you find it?

“Some dreams fade away like a current in a stream. Others burn like a light that won't burn out no matter what life throws at you. That's when a dream turns itself into a vision and a true vision won't die”     ~ Scott Coner

CHARLEEN

6 P.M. AND THE NIGHT PEEKS IN ...

A new Painting done on Textured Canvas.  I love working on the Texture ~ especially for landscapes.  I think it adds a lot of dimensionality (word?) to the paintings.  There is a slight problem though if you want to reproduce your work. The Texture doesn't always photograph very well so reproducing those pieces can be a problem. Or, I guess, no problem at all if it just doesn't look good!  If you saw my Blog introducing my Tote Bags (and Shower Curtains and Throw Pillows! :) you'll notice I just have one piece that was done on a Textured Background.  It's called 'Summer Afternoon in Blue'  (http://fineartamerica.com/featured/summer-afternoon-in-blue-charleen-martin.html) I felt that one worked but most others, not.

'6 P.M. AND THE NIGHT PEEKS IN'

10 x 10" Acrylic on Textured Canvas

For more information on this Piece Please click Here:

http://charleenmartinfineart.com/workszoom/1929965

Looking through my Windshield . . .

And yes, this actually is looking through my windshield!  :)  I took this the other morning when the temperature was about 13 degrees.  I was looking through the ice crystals on my windshield at the tree line by my home.  Just goes to prove we don't have to look very far to see the Beauty in Nature.   :)  

It's a strange world of language 

in which skating on thin ice can get you into hot water.

~ Franklin P. Jones

Charleen

THE LAST OF VEGAS . . .

I slipped in my Blog about my Tote Bags before I published this Blog ~ the last I had promised about our recent trip to Las Vegas.  This will be more interesting to some of the Artists out there only because it is all about the Sky.  :)  There are beautiful Skies out there everywhere but I was able to get photos of some I thought beautiful and in some cases, unusual.  Thought they might make some good reference photos or just spark an idea . . .

If you are not an Artist but like to 'see what you can see' in the clouds, then Please have some fun!

Next time I will get down to business again and will have some Artwork to show you!  :)

The sky, a perfect empty canvas, offers clouds nonetheless. They shift and drift and beg interpretation ... such is the nature of art. 

                                                                        ~ Jeb Dickerson,

Charleen

HERE A TOTE, THERE A TOTE, EVERYWHERE A TOTE ... I WISH!

I'm pleased to be able to show you my new Tote Bags produced through Fine Art America.  They've produced prints for me for a while but not too long ago they added Tote Bags to their product line.  I finally had the time to sit down and decide what pieces I thought might be fun as Tote Bags.  The Bags are available in three sizes and the turn-around-time is fairly quick.  If you click the link below it will take you to the main page.  You can then click on whichever photos you like and it will show you what is available in that Design.  

Http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/charleen-martin.html

In the meantime here are a few of the Designs I chose ...

THE BLUES SISTERS: MONDAY MORNING CHAT

  

ARE WE IN ... OR ARE WE OUT?

TWO SISTERS: THE ADVICE II

 and as a throw pillow . . .

SOMETIMES WE JUST WANT TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

 and as a pillow . . .

THE BACKSIDE OF LIFE

RUSSELL CROWE . . . WHERE ARE YOU?

(Russell Crowe once said he liked to sit and talk to his cows :)

There are a few more Designs besides these but this will at least give you an idea. 

"Fashion is what you're offered four times a year by designers.
                                             And style is what you choose." 
                                                                   ~  Lauren Hutton

Charleen

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

 I HOPE YOUR DAY IS FILLED WITH LOVE, LAUGHTER, 

AND WONDERFUL NEW MEMORIES. 

HAPPY  THANKSGIVING!

MANY HUGS ... 

CHARLEEN

ON THE ROCKS PLEASE ...

If you read my last blog then you know we made a recent trip to Las Vegas.  I posted some of the photos I took while there. (Scroll down to last blog)  Last visit it was into the heart of Las Vegas.   This time we go outside the city.  This area is called Red Rock Canyon which is just outside of Las Vegas. To all my Artist friends, Please feel free to use any (or all) as reference photos if you would like.  If you are familar with Carol Nelson's work then you would know why this area reminds me so much of her geological Art pieces.  :)  If you aren't, just click on her name and it will take you to her website.  It's a visual treat!

I don't know about you, but the 'stripes' in the rocks just amaze me.  That was some amazing Paintbrush!  :)

I have one more set of photos that I will share with you next time.  Again, there might be some good reference photos in there for those interested.

And then ... there is my version ...

RED ROCK CANYON

12 x 12" Acrylic on Textured Wood Panel

I just took a small section of one of the photos I took and enlarged it.  I think if I were to do this again I would take an even smaller section and play up the individual rocks more.  

Considering the climate of our Politics right now, I thought this quote quite apropos ...

IT IS MUCH EASIER TO THROW ROCKS THAN IT IS TO GOVERN.

~ Karen Bass

See you soon!

Charleen

COLD, THEN WARM, THEN BRRRR!

I've been gone for the last couple of weeks so I didn't get a lot of Artwork done.  (Some, but not a lot)  We belong to one of many RV Camping Associations with Campgrounds all over the United States. Well, almost all over.  This particular company of course, has none in Idaho (where we live)  :(  or Montana (right next door  to where we live) but, just about everywhere else.  They do have one in Las Vegas, and while that might not have been our first choice when we made our decision to get away, it was the closest (not close ... but closest) one to us where it was WARM.  It was a long drive for such a short time (8 days) but it was worth it.   The weather was a little cooler down there (of course!) than they normally have at this time of year but it was a lot warmer than it was up here so it was still good.  (We are down to single digits at night ...)

I thought I would share a few photos with you.  No ... I don't want to bore you with our vacation photos but thought you might enjoy 'some color'.  :)  And, with my Artist friends out there, you NEVER know what  might inspire the next Masterpiece!

Places to stay?  This is only a smidgen.  And yes, that is a Motel 6 smack dab in the middle!  I couldn't resist, I had to include it. ... this one is all glitzed up (hard to see here) to fit in with the rest of the Neighborhood!

Entertainment?  Who do you want to see?  Again, just a small sampling.  I think EVERYONE  that sings or dances or does magic or makes jokes for a living  ... have all got to be down there at the same time!  If I lived there I'd never go to a show.  I'd be spending all my time trying to make a decision as to which Show I should go see!

The Hotel/Casino New York, New York has numerous variations on the Statue of Liberty.  A beautiful replica outside, but inside, amongst other versions,  you can see her in Pink in a Ladies Clothing shop or made of Jelly Belly's (left) in a Candy Store.  

Since I'm originally from New York this obviously is my favorite.  :)  I even got to have a real New York Pretzel.  (Sorry, they are just not the same out west.)  When I was young, and we lived in a third floor apartment in the city, I used to be able to go out and sit on the fire escape.  Inside New York, New York they have 'streeets' lined with Restaurants and and Deli's and above them are (fake) apartments complete with fire escapes.  I looked past the glitz and savored the memories.  :)

Like heights?  The Stratosphere on the left is over 1000' high with several heart stopping rides and jumps.  One, you literally just hang over the edge.  And before you ask, the answer is an emphatic NO!!

The Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel/Casino is an exact replica of the real one but is just a mere 541'  :)  The night after I took this photo it went dark, and stayed dark for the rest of the time we were there.  At the same time, the Stratosphere changed its lights to Blue, White and Red in a tribute to France, as did several other large structures in the city.  

Art in Las Vegas?  Some of it is rather subjective I'd say.  The big guy (about 2 stories high) on the top left shoots fire out of his mouth at night...  Not quite sure what I was was looking at on the bottom but the bus is a great color!  

And, while you're taking a break you can have Pizza delivered via bike delivery from Pizza Rock.  :)  They are the World Cup Pizza Champions.  Didn't know there was a World Cup of Pizzas.  See, you learn something new everyday.  :)

Since I still have some touch up work to do on the couple of paintings I managed to get done on our trip, I decided this time I would just post two Collages from my Sisters series that are available as prints.  

'TWO SISTERS:  THE GIFTS'

'PRINCESS OF THE MOMENT'

For more information on either of these pieces Please click on the titles.

As you grow older you learn a few things.  One of them is to actually take the time you've allotted for vacation.

~  John Battelle

Thanks for vacationing with me!

Charleen

FROM THE IDAHO STUDIO of CHARLEEN MARTIN

CABIN BY THE LAKE   ~  SOLD

5 x 7" Acrylic on Textured Wood Panel

This panel is not nearly as textured as the last 2 pieces I showed here  (Dear October, I love how you dress ... and  Winter at Broken Limb Falls) but definitely has enough to add interest to the Painting.   

We recently went for a drive so I could take some reference photos of the Tamaracks changing colors.  I had never heard of a Tamarack until I moved West (They are also called Western Larch).  A Tamarck is a 'deciduous Conifer'.  Very confusing to a lot of People.  Deciduous and Conifer are mutually exclusive ... except when it comes to the Tamarack.  It looks like an Evergreen.  It has needles like an Evergreen.  It has cones like an Evergreen.   But, unlike other Evergreens, its needles change color (from green to gold) and then drop off only to come back the following Spring.  

I took the above photo because it seemed like such a paradox to me. Out enjoying the beautiful Fall colors on all the trees around us and then right ahead of us ... that beauty cut and loaded onto a truck. It didn't seem quite right.  Yes, I know we need the jobs, etc. etc. I am probably a little more sensitive to all this at the moment because they are 'clear-cutting' on one of the mountains up behind us.  (They just came up over the ridge this past week and we can already see a big bare spot from our home)   I didn't think that was allowed anymore but that just shows you what I know! :(  

Below are Tamarcks that have already changed color and started losing their 'needles.  

Almost spooky looking aren't they?! 

Hope your November is going well!

 Charleen

The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.

~  Carl Rogers

DEAR OCTOBER ... YOU ARE ALMOST GONE!

'DEAR OCTOBER,  I LOVE HOW YOU DRESS.'

6 x 8" on Wood Panel

I just realized I hadn't posted this Piece and October is almost gone!  

This is another Piece done on a heavily textured wood panel.  The texture is random so the challenge is to find the Painting amongst all the texture.  :)   It was there ... hiding!

All the Reds and Oranges are gone from the Fall colors here.  We are down to just the EverGREENS, the Golds and varying warm shades of Brown.  I posted the following photo in my Newsletter so for those of you that don't receive my Newsletter I thought I would include it here ...

You can see the Tamaracks (or, known by some as Western Larch) turning gold.  This photo was taken not too far from our Home.  We are very fortunate to be surrounded by views like this.  :)  I have a cute story about the local Bears in my Newsletter.  Normally they are up in these hills, but because of the drought this year their normal food supply (Huckleberries.  Lots and lots of huckleberries!) is scarce this year.  So ... our little town has had lots of 4 legged visitors in the last few weeks.  If you are interested in the story you can Click HERE and read about it.  

For more information on 'Dear October ...'  Please visit my Website at

www.charleenmartin.com

"USE YOUR IMAGINATION, NOT TO SCARE YOURSELF TO DEATH, 

BUT  TO INSPIRE YOURSELF TO LIFE."

~  Adele Brookman

WINTER IS COMING ...

'WINTER AT BROKEN LIMB FALLS'

This is one of those Pieces that is already done before you start.  I did some very heavy texture on this wood panel.  Very abstractly, not really with anything in mind.  When the texture had dried and I went back to look at it, I immediately saw the broken tree limb and the rocks.  I also saw Winter.  I suppose it could have been any other time of the year but for some reason I saw Winter which made it a little more challenging.  Winter and cold ...  I guess it is just around the corner.  :(  

LOGIC WILL GET YOU FROM A TO B.  

IMAGINATION WILL TAKE YOU EVERYWHERE.

         ~  Albert Einstein

FEEL THE HEAT ....

'FEEL THE HEAT.  DANCE OF THE SERENGETI.'

I actually did the background on this Piece quite a while ago.  I had an idea for a collage but when I drew it out on the background (chalk) I was't enamored.  I put the background aside and recently brought it back out again.  What I saw this time was totally different.  The background was done with a brayer; the tree ... a brush and a sponge; and the sun is actually collage.  A lot of different elements coming together to create simplicity.  :)

To view this and more of my work Please Click HERE

I HAVE JUST THREE THINGS TO TEACH:  SIMPLICITY, PATIENCE, COMPASSION.  THESE THREE ARE YOUR GREATEST TREASURES.

           ~  Lao Tzu

Have a great Day!

Charleen