'THE SKY DRESSED FOR THE EVENING'

mini 4 x 4" acrylic on panel

comes with a stand for display

'ALONG AJO LOOP'

6 x 8" Acrylic on board

comes with a stand for display

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And then, a few photos from my morning walks around Ajo . . .

Morning traffic in Ajo.  

I love this photo.  I like how the difference in the textures, and colors, play against each other.  Simply stated.

                             

This fellow reminds me of an old Sea Captain, looking out over the sea, wondering what the next day is going to bring.

I caught this just at the right time.

There is a lot of 'rust' in Ajo.  And, most of it creatively used.

Out on Ajo Loop.  Same road that the old Sea Captain is on, and where the inspiration for the second painting above came from.  The morning light on the Cholla (in front) was perfect.  Not exactly my favorite plants, (there's quite a few varieties) but when the sun hits them just right, they absolutely glow.

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

Now we know where the Queen of Hearts went.  

But . . . where's Alice?!

          THE MAD HATTER: 

          "Have I gone mad?"

          ALICE: 

          "I'm afraid so.

          You're entirely bonkers.

          But, I'll tell you a secret.

          ALL THE BEST PEOPLE ARE."

To All you 'Best People'

Have a wonderful week!

Happy Dio Las Muertas

www.charleenmartin.com

DOESN'T THE WORLD FEEL SMALLER?

NOWADAYS, IF ONE STATE HICCUPS, WE ALL HICCUP.  IF ONE COUNTRY COUGHS, WE ALL COUGH.  TO QUOTE A WISE WOMAN "WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER".  THE WORLD IS GETTING SMALLER AND SMALLER.  SO, IN KEEPING WITH THAT THOUGHT, BOTH PIECES BELOW, ARE ONCE AGAIN SMALL.  :)

'SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING'

4 x 4" Acrylic on Canvas

'IT LOOKS COLD'

4 x 4" Acrylic on textured canvas

BOTH OF THE ABOVE PIECES CAN BE FOUND  HERE

 If you receive my Newsletter you already know about the new 'Ajo Artisans' website. Ajo is a very Artsy place and several Artsy folks here (I was not one of them) put together this website to showcase the local work.  There are still more Artisans yet to come on, but please go have a look at those that have already joined.  I think you will enjoy what you see, and if you have a moment to share the site with friends and family, that would be appreciated.

https://www.ajoartisans.org

This is an old abandoned house across the street from us.  The owners are gone for the summer but, in the fall when they return, the plan is for this old piece of Ajo history to be torn down.  We had (another) spectacular Ajo sunset last week and I caught it just at the perfect moment as it momentarily brought this old place back to life.

'Strange things blow in through my window on the wings of the night wind and I don't worry about my destiny.

~  carl sandburg

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

That Sunset.

STAY SAFE . . .

Charleen

Gouache (Ga-wash!)

GOUACHE

I recently taught a class to a group of Artists down here in Ajo.  It was a fun 2 hr. class in painting with India Ink and Gouache.  Gouache is like an opaque watercolor but when it dries it has a somewhat velvety finish. In an ink and gouache resist painting, you draw out your subject on watercolor paper, then paint just inside the lines with the Gouache.  (You let your pencil lines show.)  When the gouache is dry (hairdryer!) you cover the whole picture with Black India Ink and then cross your fingers. When that step is dry you wash the ink off under gently running water.  I just use my fingers (with latex glove on) to help it along. This is where you hold your breath a little because you are never quite sure how the painting will wind up. Where there was gouache it will have resisted the black ink and stained the paper.  Some of the gouache will wash off too and that's o.k. because the color is now stained into the paper. Where there was no gouache (or in some cases it just wasn't thick enough to resist the ink) the black ink will show through.  The finished pieces usually have a fun, somewhat abstract feel.

You can easily see, especially on the cactus piece, where there was no gouache, or where I didn't have it quite thick enough.

Just in case you were wondering, no serious art here!

My favorite of the three

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Just a couple of photographs I took that I thought I'd share . . .

The desert is such a fascinating place.  

A restaurant plantscape

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Clouds of the Day . . .

I actually can see a dogs face (barely!) in the cloud in the upper left hand corner, but I just happen to like this photo because of how the grasses stand out against the sky.  It's those simple things.

Charleen

SO . . . A LITTLE SOMETHING DIFFERENT

PHOTOGRAPHS.

I decided to put my new camera to good use.  I've added an additional category to my Website called

'PHOTOGRAPHY: 
THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE CURIOUS'

There's so much Beauty out there.  I take a lot of photographs which I predominantly use for reference.  I thought I would take them to the next level, sharing them, so if you would like, you could enjoy them in your own home.  Below is my Piece 'Sonoran Beauty' shown used 3 different ways.

SONORAN BEAUTY

To get more information on this Piece as a Throw Pillow,
(available in several sizes)
Please click HERE

To get more information on Sonoran Beauty as a Print
(above example is on canvas)
Please click HERE

AND . . .

If you are in the market for a new Tote Bag and think you might like Sonoran Beauty on yours, you can get more information HERE

(Other products also available)

Advice from a Cactus:

Emphasize your strong points
Be patient during dry spells
You will bloom when it's your time
Always stay sharp                                ~ unknown

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

This is an Ajo Mountainscape but it almost looks like it could be a distant shot of the Pyramids.  I love the sky, because as a painter, those low clouds look like they could have been painted on with thick paint and a palette knife.  Very 3-dimensional.  And, very beautiful.

Charleen

OPPORTUNITY DANCES . . .

WITH THOSE ALREADY ON THE DANCE FLOOR.
~ h. jackson brown, jr.

"MAMA SAYS THE BIRDS ARE SPECIAL ANGELS SENT HERE TO SHARE THEIR MUSIC."

'HERMOSA MUJER'

A little color.  A little influence influence from the sights and sounds down here in Ajo.  The last 2 weekends at the Saturday Farmers Market the local Folklorico Dancers performed.  Their costumes are beautiful ~ full of color. I think the littlest dancer was probably about 3 and she was simply adorable. Unfortunately, I didn't have a good vantage point to be able to catch her in a photo.  

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Ajo 

During the Market this coming Saturday, Artists will be coming from all over to paint murals on the back walls of several of the buildings here in the plaza.  These will be added to the array of vibrant, multi-cultural murals already adorning the walls of several other buildings.  New white under-coating was applied to the buildings and now they wait to be filled with color. Below is one of the existing murals.  I love this piece.  It is so indicative of the area. The Artists name is on the bottom but unfortunately I can't read it so I'm unable to give them credit.

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

A Sunset, if you want to call it that, from the other evening here.  This is across the road from our property.  I like how this photo turned out because, without doing anything, it has the look of an old black and white photo.  This was the actual color of the evening sky. 
And yes, we did get rain during the night.
And yes, when I squint a see a puppy dogs face.

Have a great week!

Charleen

ARE WE EVER ALONE . . .

Not very often!

'ALONE . . . BUT NOT'

(This little piece was bought by a couple who are traveling full time across the U.S.  They buy small pieces of art wherever they go and put them up all over their RV.  They are remembrances of where they have been on their travels.  They said even their cupboard doors are covered!  Honored to be part of those memories.)

'DESERT CONVERSATION'

For more information on this piece please visit my website at:

www.charleen martin.com

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 CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

Amazing to think that on any given day you can look up at the sky and see a whole new painting, free of charge with no hidden fees.  Videos too, as the clouds can change form and move around as you watch.  Bring out the popcorn and the wine.  Time for one of the most beautiful shows on earth.  

Once you have tasted the taste of sky, 

you will forever look up.

~  leonardo da vinci

JUST LIVING IS NOT ENOUGH ...

YOU HAVE TO STOP AND SMELL THE FLOWERS ...

'JUST ONE OF THOSE MEMORIES'

'GYPSY SPRING'

'COMBINED THOUGHTS'

I am down in Arizona and it has been unusually cold (and rainy) for this time of year.  Not complaining though, compared to Idaho we are in the midst of a heat wave here.  But, all this rain and the cold nights are destined to bring out what's called the 'Super Blooms' in the Spring.  That means Lots and Lots of desert flowers!  There are always desert flowers, but when you have weather like this it brings them out in abundance.  I'll keep you posted.  :)

All of the above are 6 x 6 Acrylic
and can be found on my website

www.charleenmartin.com

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I enjoy exploring old, abandoned buildings.  These are just off the highway heading towards Gila Bend.  I always wonder about the 'story' behind such places.  Who lived here?  Whose dream was this?  

I like the lines of this one.

 

Looking through the window of what is left of an old stone home to remnants of a storage shed (where I found the boot below).

I love this one.  You never know who lurks in the shadows!

And, at some point there was a child ...

And then, there's just rust.

Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

NIGHT SETTLING IN ...

By the way,
Happy New Year Everyone!

Charleen

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

WISHING YOU AND YOURS
THE BRIGHTESS OF ALL HOLIDAYS
AND A HEALTHY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

DON'T YOU KNOW YET?

IT IS YOUR LIGHT THAT LIGHTS THE WORLD.

~  rumi

I want to thank you all for your support.

You give life to what I do.

I will see you next year with new work.

'Hopefully' with lots of Arizona inspiration.

charleen