I have begun teaching an abstract workshop for adults! This is a dream come true after many years of thinking about it. However there is a learning curve for me to get the desired results from the students. One obstacle is trying to explain how I developed from traditional representational art to non figurative abstraction. This process developed for me over many years and I want to give my students the experience in three short hours. I have come to the conclusion after teaching the workshops a few times that I need to develop two classes: one for artists with previous art experience who want to depart and explore new ways of art making and another class for beginners who have limited practice making art. The beginner class would explore the basic elements of design and mark making. I have done this one once before but I need to advertise the classes to two different audiences in the future.
Carol Barber's hand painted earringsLast Spring and through the Summer I started painting on large paper, 18" x 24" and wooden shapes for earrings. I finished the first release of earrings and sold quite a few, so I am working on a second release for November 2nd, 2019. The earrings are very interesting to make. I have discovered I like quick gestures and a scraping technique the best because of the organic feeling to the paint. Sometimes this works easily but sometimes I really struggle with it. So many factors come into play from paint consistency to how much pressure I use with my hand or tool. I have discarded many attempts. I also have to make the two earrings match in mirror image which is an added challenge. The large paper has helped me to produce many pieces quickly and it is surprising how many layers of paint one piece of paper will take.
"All Along the Watchtower", 18" x 24" mixed media on paper
Check out my new collection, "Touch of Earth", on Fine Art America. This work is from a new series where I am incorporating neutral colors into my palette while exploring line, shape and mark making. The many layers and delicate lines give each abstract piece a rich surface. Fine Art America offers prints in a variety of sizes and on many products. I think the weekender tote bag looks especially nice with my art. Please check it out!
So excited to start 2019 off this way! My art on two labels of red wine for #chestnutoakvineyard in Barboursville, VA.
I did approximately 11 works on paper and they chose these two.
So thankful for the opportunities I had this year! One was creating art for wine labels for Chestnut Oak Vineyard! The first has been released on their white table wine, "Alba".
I have also enjoyed showing with the art group, BozART, this year and our final show is on the downtown Mall, 100 5th St NE, Charlottesville, VA 22902,(434) 260-1533. This is the office of Charlottesville Tomorrow and attached to the Market Street parking garage. This gallery is open during weekly business hours and the show will come down November 30. I have this new work priced on sale for the holidays, so contact me if you are interested. I am also participating in a sale on Etsy from Nov. 20 - 26, 20% off a 100. or more purchase and free domestic shipping.
On October 5th from 5:30 to 7:30 there will be an opening reception at Second Street Gallery and the featured artist is Lana Guerra from New Orleans. She will also be presenting a puppet show at 6:30.
My work will be in the "Backroom" which is really the office area, but I am still very excited to have a presence at this gallery. When I moved to Charlottesville seven years ago, I wanted to do art that was contemporary and could be shown at this gallery. Now after working these years to find my own voice in abstraction, my wish has come true. I am happy to be working in a manner that is abstract, intuitive and feels good to create.
When you go through the gallery you will see that Lana and I use some of the same bright colors such as fluorescent pink and teal but the over all feelings of the paintings are so different. Her art is like punk rock and mine is like jazz. I wonder if my art really is like jazz? I looked up Jazz on Wikipedia and maybe Lana's art is more like Jazz, both originated in New Orleans. I do not know much about music, but I thought Wikipedia would say that jazz was improvisational and playing with the elements of music. However, it didn't really say that, maybe I should ask a musician how they feel about it. I am in love with the art and design elements and I feel I do intuitively play with the elements to make finished compositions. Lana is working in an intuitive stream of consciousness, letting her creativity run wild. I hope to find out more about the narratives she creates on October 5th. She may have purposes and reasons for the stories or she may create them and the meanings emerge. I feel pretty sure the need to create is another common bond between the two of us and not just the same bright colors.
WATER. POISON. DRINK. DIVE. LANA GUERRA 9.7.2018 TO 10.20.2018
Super excited to have three works in the Teeny Tiny Trifecta show at the Second Street Gallery. This is a fund raiser for the gallery and you can also purchase the small works online. Everyone is priced at $100.00! Check them out: https://squareup.com/store/second-street-gallery-inc
Or these are the opportunities to see them in person:
September 5th, 5-7pm: @Season 45 Kickoff PartyYour 1st opportunity to view the works in person in the gallery.
September 7th: 5-6pm: Private VIP reception for the artists and special guests, catered by APimento Catering. A small # of tickets will be released for this event at our event on the 5th. The works in the show will go on sale at 5pm sharp. September 7th, 6-8pm: FREE public First Friday Opening Reception: Teeny Tiny Trifecta. FREE and open to all! Works will continue to be sold throughout the opening on a first come, first serve basis. September 8th: Works will be available for purchase online. https://squareup.com/store/second-street-gallery-inc
I had fun hanging pieces together that have never shown together before. Join me for a beer on Wednesday evening, June 6, from 5 to 8 pm to check it out in person. I would love to see you!
From the Organizer:
Random Row Brewery features Carol Barber for the month of June. On June 6th a reception for the artist will be held 5 - 8 pm. A great time to enjoy art and great beer. Location: 608 Preston A, Charlottesville, VA 22903 Hours: M-F 4:30 - 11, Sat-Sun noon- 9pm, (434) 284-8466
I was so happy with my studio time this year. Making new connections on Instagram and being involved with the Welcome Gallery in downtown Charlottesville, VA were also some highlights. So many things I want to accomplish in 2018: one is getting my art out into the world in an organized way, working on exciting compositions and bringing the magic of working on paper to canvas. I am also working on my teachers' certification. Hope all of your dreams come true in 2018!
The New City Arts Artists Exchange show! I was so happy to be included in the artist exchange this year. I created 16 pieces of similar art to be traded with 13 other artists. So now I own 13 pieces of new and original art and two of my pieces will be sold to help the gallery and Housing2Home. A show of each of the pieces from the exchange will be shown for two weeks at the Welcome Gallery from January 12 – 26, 2018. I hope you can come to the opening, Friday, January 12 from 5PM-7:30PM off the downtown mall in Charlottesville, VA.
Above is my exchange art when it was still together, now it is dispersed among the artists and gallery. Looking forward to seeing you in 2018! –Carol Barber
Ralph Waldo Emerson, “We may climb into the thin and cold realm of pure geometry and lifeless science, or sink into that of sensation. Between these extremes is the equator of life, of thought, or spirit, or poetry—a narrow belt.”
My graduate advisor, Dr. Halide Salam, just posted this quote. It gives me inspiration and new energy. I got into pitching geometry with spontaneous brush strokes from watching clouds interact with mountain shapes on my daily drives. But this is so much deeper. The quote was with an exhibition of the work of the late Jake Berthot.
I am happy the composition that emerged in this painting. I painted on raw canvas and I think the novelty of the experience slowed me down and kept me from overworking it. I was surprised that the painting became about texture. The brush strokes did not readily stick to the raw canvas and this gave a dry brush effect. I thought it was going to be more poured stains and look like watercolor. I will now seal the back and the front of the canvas to keep it from shifting in color.
This painting, Pink Notes, spoke to me in new ways. I find the process of collage so satisfying and an inventive way of working. I have been trying to bring that way of working into painting. This painting has some collage added to it and it has a history of layers but still retains some of it's initial thin washes. This is the first time I thought of shapes not just coming together to construct something but expanding apart and still relating to each other. I love finding those relationships and to me this is visually composing. I have very limited musical knowledge but this process and painting feels like visual music to me. Notes (or shapes) hanging in the air, expanding and leading to another.
Here are some closer pictures so that you can see these beach inspired paintings a little better. I love Golden acrylic mediums, they can alter the paint to be fluid, creamy, transparent or grainy. Perfect for capturing the feeling of the ocean.
I stopped keeping this blog two years ago, about the time I allowed myself to go nonrepresentational in my art. I have grown so much towards art of which I can be truly proud. It is still a journey and new things to strive towards everyday but I love the path that I am on. I caught a glimpse of my art in a google search today and WHAT? Nothing new in two years!?? I have been active on Instagram and my Wordpress but not here. So does that mean I don't exist in the Google world? I guess so. Now let me start working to get you caught up Google. I am going to post some favorites from the last two years and see what happens. Thank you for an interest in my work, I would enjoy hearing from you. Art is my lifelong passion.
I feel like I am doing a 180 from complexity to simplification. But the more abstract my work becomes, the better the response seems to be. I have discovered that the initial drawing from nature is not only essential for inspiration but keeps me happy during in the entire process. Can't let that go.
But simplification is not always simple, these are two versions I want to keep, there are others discarded.
I haven't presented works on papers in quite awhile. I am excited how they look matted, really brings them out. However I have encountered a couple of frustrations when ordering products. One is most frames do not come with wire hanging hardware which is required when hanging in a gallery. The frames I usually order for my paintings from pictureframes.com come with all the needed hanging hardware. Didn't realize what a plus that was. I did think to order some custom mats in a slightly off white because I knew I would not like the bright whites that come with the frames. To me, off white looks better with watercolor paper. But I always forget you have to order backing boards extra. Most of the time when you order a mat you really also need an acid free backing board to go with it. So if you are rushing to get ready for a show, don't forget your wire hanging hardware and backing boards. I will be going out to get mine tomorrow.
I discovered something. Not just creating art that turns out well makes me happy but creating light, joyful art makes me physically happier and less stressed. I hope it is the same experience for the viewer.
Usually I only really like one section of a painting but this painting I only like in its entirety. Maybe that means I am improving?
I have been working prolifically and my art is becoming abstract. The work is leading me to use bigger brushes and prompting me to seek simpler compositions with less shapes. I paint with a sense of motion and desire more transparency of the media and areas of compressed space and overlap in the composition. I love light colors and want to use more of those. I am finding relief in the simplified works on paper not sure why the paintings on board are so complex. Really glad that I tried watercolors.
www.carolbarber.com
Painting for the love of color, the joyous process of layering paint and the inspiration of the wonderful world around us. I have been an exhibiting artist since 2002.
